Program Overview

Introduction to the Business Administration Program

The Business Administration program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in business and the community. The program aims to provide students with the perceptual and analytical skills necessary to make decisions and evaluate policies in business. It also seeks to develop student understanding of the social, economic, and regulatory environment of business. The program is designed for students with a variety of career goals, including opportunities with financial institutions, manufacturing and retail firms, service industries, and the public sector.

Learning Competency Goals

• Demonstrate breadth of business knowledge
• Produce quality business documents
• Analyze problems using an ethical perspective
• Analyze the legal implications of business decisions
• Critically analyze problems and defend resolutions
• Solve business problems using quantitative techniques
• Apply a global perspective in conducting business
• Identify and analyze social consequences of business activities
• Understand the importance of environmental sustainability

Why Consider a Management Concentration in Business Administration Major?

A management concentration prepares students to work with people in a variety of contexts. While other business disciplines focus on business tasks, management focuses on how to motivate others to accomplish these tasks efficiently and effectively with high-quality results. Students learn how to manage projects, work with teams, implement changes, and be effective leaders.

Student Resources

• Department website: Management
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample careers: Project Management, Event Planning, Management Consulting, Non-profit Management, Government, Small Business

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process)

How to Apply

Students who meet the requirements will be assured of admission if space is available in the department program of choice. For consideration as a pre-major, provisional major, or full major, complete the online application form.

Pre-major

Students who have not completed their foundation course work may apply to the College and be given pre-major status. Pre-major status is granted to students who are at least sophomore level, or who have been identified as top quintile students, and who, at the time of application, meet the following requirements:

• Minimum of a 2.50 cumulative college-level GPA including all previous institutions.
• Minimum of 2.50 cumulative GPA in all courses taken at Western.
• Students must have a WWU cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher to be considered in good academic standing with the University.

Students with pre-major status may only enroll for foundation or core courses listed. Their progress will be monitored by the College, and they will attain full major status upon successfully completing the foundation courses and meeting the admission criteria above.

Full Major

For admission to the College of Business and Economics as a full major (except majors in economics and manufacturing and supply chain management) a student must meet the following requirements:

• Minimum of 2.50 cumulative GPA after having completed all foundation courses. The cumulative GPA is calculated on all college-level course work completed by the student, including any transfer work.
• Minimum of 2.50 cumulative GPA in all courses taken at Western.
• Students must be in good academic standing with the University.

Students who meet the requirements will be assured of admission if space is available in the department program of choice. For economics and manufacturing and supply chain management admissions requirements, see the appropriate sections of this catalog.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Requirements (90-92 credits)

Foundation Courses (30 credits)

• ACCT 240 - Financial Accounting (4 credits)
• ACCT 245 - Managerial Accounting (4 credits)
• DSCI 205 - Business Statistics (4 credits)
• ECON 206 - Introduction to Microeconomics (4 credits)
• ECON 207 - Introduction to Macroeconomics (4 credits)
• MATH 157 - Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (4 credits)
• MGMT 271 - Law and the Business Environment (4 credits)
• MIS 220 - Introduction to Business Computer Systems (2 credits) (or equivalent)

Core Courses (26 credits)

• BUS 310 - Introduction to Professional & Career Readiness (1 credit)
• BUS 410 - Professional & Career Readiness as a College Graduate (1 credit)
• DSCI 305 - Applied Business Statistics and Analytics (4 credits)
• FIN 341 - Principles of Finance (4 credits)
• MGMT 311 - Introduction to Management and Organizational Behavior (4 credits)
• MIS 320 - Principles of Management Information Systems (4 credits)
• MKTG 380 - Principles of Marketing (4 credits)
• OPS 360 - Operations Management (4 credits)

Advanced Core (8 credits)

• MGMT 382 - Business and Its Environment (4 credits)
• One course from:
  • MGMT 492 - Entrepreneurial Problems (4 credits)
  • MGMT 495 - Strategic Management (4 credits)

Management Concentration Courses (28 credits)

• HRM 322 - Human Resource Management (4 credits)
• MGMT 313 - Teamwork Basics (4 credits)
• MGMT 414 - Leadership Practicum (4 credits)
• OPS 461 - Project Management (4 credits)
• Three courses from the following list:
  • MGMT 319 - Communication Skills for Managers (4 credits)
  • MGMT 337 - Management Study Abroad (4 credits)
  • MGMT 401 - Conflict Management and Negotiations (4 credits)
  • MGMT 405 - Developing High-Quality Relationships at Work (4 credits)
  • MGMT 413 - Management Consulting Skills (4 credits)
  • MGMT 415 - Creativity, Innovation and Leadership (4 credits)
  • MGMT 417 - Social Entrepreneurship (4 credits)
  • MGMT 437 - International Service Learning (10 credits)
  • MGMT 474 - Topics in Management (4 credits)
  • MGMT 481 - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Work (4 credits)
  • MGMT 490 - Internship in Business Administration (1-4 credits)
  • MGMT 491 - Small Business Entrepreneurship (4 credits)
  • HRM 424 - Training and Development (4 credits)
  • 400-level HRM courses
  • One 300- or 400-level course with written advisor approval.

Additional Requirements

• Take one Communication Focus (CF) course and a minimum of three writing proficiency points in approved upper-division writing proficiency courses (WP) at WWU with a minimum grade of C-.
• The CF and WP courses must be taken within CBE and can be completed as part of the above required and elective courses, prior to graduation.
• Accounting and Business majors must complete a minimum of 90 credits in areas other than accounting and business administration.

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement