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 knowledge required in any business venture as well as specific bodies of knowledge that will result in preparedness for a career in the entrepreneurial segment of the US economy. 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 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 at the management level in the hospitality industry. The business core curriculum is the foundation of this concentration with industry specific courses to prepare the student for a career in the field. Included in the concentration is instruction specific to the various segments of the industry including hotels, restaurants, casinos and conferences among others. There is also advanced study in accounting, finance and marketing for the hospitality industry. An internship is required in this concentration and other industry experience in encouraged. With this experience and the student's coursework, the student will enter the industry with competence in a variety of different operational settings and be qualified to manage at an entry level position.

The human resources management concentration gives students the specific professional competencies to successfully implement the principles and practices of employee selection and development in organizations of all kinds. Employment is possible in corporate human resources management departments, employment agencies and consulting firms. Students should master human resources management techniques such as employment interviewing, team building, conflict resolution, and negotiation. Students should also understand the legal environment of human resources management. In addition, this concentration emphasizes learning how to take action to assure equal employment opportunity. Students will have the opportunity to learn about all the major functional areas of human resources management and will also learn about how change in the human resources management practices of organizations is achieved.

The international business concentration is designed to provide students with the specific knowledge and analytical skills they need to take advantage of the opportunities created by the globalization of business activities and the growing interdependence of the economies of nations. The program draws from a rich liberal arts education combined with basic knowledge in all the functional areas of business administration. In addition, students can choose specialized courses in management and in other departments of the institution to deepen their knowledge of specific areas of personal interest. Students in this concentration are strongly encouraged to use their free electives toward gaining proficiency in a foreign language. It is also recommended that students utilize a study abroad program which would 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) may count twelve credits of IB major concentration courses towards the interdisciplinary courses requirement of the WLC French, Italian or Spanish flowsheets. 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. The department encourages students to pursue internships that complement their course of study. Graduates with this concentration are prepared to enter most fields of business at the entry level. As they progress in their career, the skills, knowledge, and abilities in management acquired during their studies will prepare them for more responsible positions in business organizations.

The management information systems concentration provides the student with a broad understanding of the role and use of managerial technology in the various functional areas of modern organizations. The overall intent is to prepare the student for entry-level positions in medium and large size organizations leading to high level technical or managerial careers in both the public and private sectors. The MIS course work prepares students for a variety of jobs. 

The program is interdisciplinary in nature with specialized training in information systems, management, and information technology. It builds on the Bertolon School of Business common core, which includes course work in accounting, finance, marketing, management, operations and decision sciences. The program's educational objectives are realized through a variety of instructional methods, including "hands-on" computer experience; class lecture and discussions; textbook and article study; class assignments, laboratory projects and applied team projects in the business community; demonstrations; field trips; and presentations by MIS practitioners.

The marketing concentration provides students with the opportunity to further develop analytical, creative, and decision making skills needed for successful careers in one of the diverse business fields. The program builds upon the foundation of a liberal arts education and upon a common body of business knowledge as well as the specialized area of marketing and of social awareness. Marketing majors can, by carefully choosing their courses, develop a concentration around these areas of personal interest, for example, consumer behavior, research, retailing, advertising, industrial marketing, sales management, global marketing, strategic marketing, and marketing management.

The operations and decision sciences concentration involves the formal study and application of quantitative techniques to practical decision making. The techniques are applied to a wide variety of complex problems in business, government, health care, transportation, retailing, and many other areas. The courses in this concentration introduce the quantitative models designed for sound decision making in today's complex and increasingly uncertain 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.