Business

The bachelor of science in business administration is a broad-based degree that provides breadth across the full range of business topics. All students in the business administration program take the same core set of business courses in accounting, business law, finance, management, MIS, marketing, operations management, and quantitative analysis.

The accelerated MSA 4+1 program allows students to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) in five years.* The program is designed to meet the needs of students who want to continue on to graduate school immediately after earning their undergraduate degree. Accepted students will take 12 graduate credits as part of their undergraduate program, leaving 18 credits to complete their MSA degree. Students who complete the MSA 4+1 program will have a competitive advantage in securing staff accountant positions at public accounting firms.

*Based upon completion of the recommended number of credits per semester.

The accounting concentration focuses on accounting theory and accounting as the language of business. It is intended for students whose goal is to participate in the accounting aspects of various organizations. Within this program of study, students have the opportunity to participate in community activities and obtain practical knowledge from actual experiences as well as from faculty.

The accounting and finance concentration is a cross-functional program designed to prepare students for work in the rapidly evolving world of corporate finance where the finance professional needs not only a solid background in finance, but a thorough understanding of generally accepted principles of accounting.

The entrepreneurship concentration provides students with the fundamental business knowledge required to succeed in any business as well as specific knowledge required for a career as an entrepreneur. The instructional program integrates the experience of founders and employees of entrepreneurial ventures with the academic excellence of the faculty to give the student a "real world" view of entrepreneurship. The intent of the concentration is to provide students with a broad exposure to business problem solving and to assist them in the development of the skills required to solve those problems. The objective of the concentration is to produce graduates who are intellectually ready to function effectively in an entrepreneurial environment.  

The finance concentration provides students with a broad understanding of financial theory and develops their capacity to perform financial analyses. Courses offered focus on private sector financial management and financial analysis for investment decision-making.

Students concentrating in finance learn complex analytical and financial modeling techniques and become proficient with the use of computer spreadsheets. Students engage in “hands-on” case study and model building activities. The program prepares finance concentrators for entry-level financial management positions in corporations and banks as well as for advanced academic work in business finance programs.

The hospitality management concentration is designed to provide students with specific knowledge and skills required to succeed in the hospitality industry. Broad-based business courses provide the foundation for this concentration with the addition of industry specific courses that prepare students for a career in hospitality management. Industry specific course content includes hotels, restaurants, casinos, cruise lines and destinations among others. There is also advanced courses in accounting, finance and marketing for the hospitality industry. An internship is required in this concentration. Students with this concentration gain the competency and confidence to succeed in a variety of different positions within the hospitality industry. 

The human resources management concentration provides students with the professional competencies to succeed at employee recruiting, hiring, and training and development in organizations of all kinds. Students learn human resources management techniques such as employment interviewing, team building, conflict resolution, and negotiation. Students also learn the legal requirements of human resources management. This concentration also provides an understanding of when and how to take action to assure equal employment opportunity. Students have the opportunity to learn about all the major functional areas of human resources management and how change in the human resources management practices of organizations is achieved. The concentration prepares students for positions is in corporate human resources management departments, employment agencies and consulting firms. 

The international business concentration provides students with the knowledge and analytical skills they need to take advantage of the opportunities created by the globalization of business interdependence of global economies. The program includes a rich liberal arts education combined with a basic knowledge in all the functional areas of international business. Students can choose specialized courses in management and in other functional areas to deepen their knowledge and focus in areas of personal interest. Students in this concentration are encouraged to use their free electives to gain a proficiency in a foreign language. It is also suggested, if possible, that students take advantage of the university’s study abroad program which will expose them to foreign cultures and businesses.  

Students double-majoring in International Business (BSBA-International Business concentration) and World Languages and Cultures (BA-French, Italian or Spanish concentrations) can use twelve credits from their International Business (IB) concentration towards the interdisciplinary courses requirement for the World Languages and Cultures concentration (WLC, French, Italian or Spanish). Six credits of advanced language courses may count towards both the WLC advanced language major requirement courses and the IB concentration electives. 

The management concentration is a general course of study for students who aspire to supervisory positions, employment in corporations, or a knowledge of business administration. The business core curriculum is the foundation for this concentration. Students may choose more advanced studies in the upper division courses such as: organizational behavior, international business, small business management, human resource management, labor/management relations, leadership, business law, seminars on current topics, and interpersonal relations for managers. Students are encouraged to pursue internships that complement their course of study. The skills, knowledge, and abilities they acquire prepares them for many positions in business and non-profit organizations. 

Management information systems (MIS) is the study of using information technologies to solve business problems and explore opportunities. MIS students acquire foundational business knowledge and develop technical skills in project management, database, networks, cybersecurity, systems analysis and design, and special topics such as digital platforms, big data, e-commerce, data analytics, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. MIS students learn to integrate technology into various business functions, change business processes, and create competitive advantages and value for the business. If you are fascinated about information technology, interested in business, and enjoy using technology to solve problems and better people’s lives, MIS might be the right concentration for you. 

The marketing concentration provides students with the opportunity to develop the creative and data driven decision-making skills and knowledge needed to deliver products and services that are responsive to the evolving needs of customers. The concentration includes a liberal arts foundation, a common body of core business courses, and additional courses in specialized areas of marketing. Marketing majors can, by carefully choosing their courses, develop an expertise in areas such as consumer behavior, marketing research, international marketing advertising, retailing, digital marketing and integrated marketing communications.  

The Operations and Decision Sciences concentration involves the formal study and application of analytics and other quantitative techniques to data driven decision making. It is best of breed, employing highly developed methods and advanced tools to deliver analytical power that leads to better outcomes. Students learn data analysis and business intelligence skills that provide them the ability to define a business challenge and discover the most effective options while assessing and minimizing risk. These techniques include the intelligent use of data and mathematical models to form strategic insights that enable better business decisions and improved business performance. The courses in this concentration introduce the descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytical techniques that form the foundation for making decisions in today's complex, uncertain, and increasingly competitive business environment. 

Students must formally seek admission to the business administration minor by requesting approval from their major department chairperson and the coordinator of the business administration minor. Students are admitted on a seat available basis; selection is determined by cumulative academic average. Many of the upper-level courses have prerequisites of mathematics, economics, psychology, and sociology; therefore, students should be selected for business administration minors with reasonable care by their advisors and must be approved by the Bertolon School of Business.

The management minor is a survey of management for non-business majors. The minor exposes students to the considerations of leading and managing people, the aspects of planning, directing, organizing and coordinating complex tasks as well as general management skills. This minor prepares non-business students for entry level management positions in their chosen field as well as for graduate studies. The management minor is an 18 credit program consisting of four required courses, one management elective and one business elective.

The marketing minor, offered by the marketing and decision sciences department, provides students with the opportunity to further develop the analytical, creative, and decision-making skills needed for successful careers in business. The program builds upon the foundation of a liberal arts education and a common body of business knowledge. By selecting from a series of elective marketing courses, marketing minors can develop a specialization that relates to their area of personal interest, including consumer behavior, research, retailing, advertising, business marketing, sales management, global marketing, strategic marketing, and marketing management. 

The Bertolon School of Business Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is designed to prepare students to manage, lead, and compete in today’s marketplace. We utilize research, technology, experiential exercises, case studies, and fieldwork to provide students with an integrative understanding of the global economic environment. Students can take electives in a variety of areas including accounting, financial planning, business, marketing, management information systems, and operations. We also offer a graduate certificate in business, which may be applied toward an MBA degree for qualified applicants.

The master of science in accounting program is designed to prepare accounting students for management positions in accounting. The program will build on the knowledge and tools from the students’ undergraduate education, allowing them to achieve a greater degree of sophistication in accounting, auditing, and tax. The MS in accounting degree will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to have successful careers in public and private accounting.

Offered online and on-campus, the graduate certificate in business is designed for professionals that hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-business discipline who would like to develop a solid foundation in the core competencies of business administration. Consisting of six comprehensive courses, our program provides students with the opportunity to gain the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to be competitive in the global marketplace.