Dec 06, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Consumer Behavior (B.S.)

Location(s): Brookings Main Campus


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Program Coordinator/Contact

Nicole Klein, Associate Director​
Ness School of Management and Economics 
Harding Hall 100
605-688-4141

Program Information

Students who major in Consumer Behavior will be well positioned to play a critical role in today’s business environment. Through a comprehensive curriculum of courses in marketing, economics, and consumer analysis, students will study how consumers make decisions about their wants of, needs for, and purchases of goods and services.

Accreditation

The Ness School of Management and Economics is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). 

Course Delivery Format

The program offers courses on campus and online.

Academic Requirements


Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in BADM 485 - Strategic Management Credits: 3 , FIN 310 - Business Finance (COM) Credits: 3 , HRM 460 - Human Resource Management (COM) Credits: 3 , and MGMT 360 - Organization and Management (COM) Credits: 3 .

If a student chooses to double major in two or more majors offered through the Ness School of Management and Economics, each major needs to have at least 15 credits that are distinct from the other major(s).

Requirements for Consumer Behavior Major: 120 Credits


Bachelor of Science  

System General Education Requirements


College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements


Bachelor of Science Requirements: 10+

  • Natural Sciences  Credits: 10+
    • Any two lab sciences.
    • Coursework must include 2 prefixes.
    • MATH and STAT courses do not count toward the science requirement. 
  • One declared minor outside of the major discipline OR a second major OR a teaching specialization. The minor may be a traditional minor within one department or school or it may be interdisciplinary involving more than one department or school. The minor can be in a different college. The minor must be declared no later than the student’s third semester of enrollment.
  • Capstone course in the major discipline
  • Upper division coursework Credits: 33

System General Education and/or major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Consult program advisor for details. See the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences  for additional information about Bachelor of Science specifications.

Electives


Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120


Summary of Program Requirements


Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements* 27 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements** 10+ Credit Hours
Major Requirements 65 Credit Hours
Electives** 18 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree shall include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Some general education coursework may be counted for Major Requirements and Supporting Coursework.
**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet


The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.