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The mission of the Business programs is to provide experienced, skilled and supportive faculty who offer relevant curricula that will help prepare students to thrive in and face the challenges of an ever-changing world. More specifically, the department strives

• To prepare students for ethically and socially responsible roles in business, not-for-profit organizations, and society in general
• To develop in students the ability to recognize, analyze, and solve problems
• To prepare students to speak and present in front of various audiences in an articulate and compelling manner
• To help students achieve their personal and career goals
• To prepare students for entry-level positions in either the private or public sector and/or to prepare students for coursework at the graduate level

The bachelor of science degree in Business Administration is designed to work together with the University's liberal arts core curriculum to achieve the following goals:

• Facilitation of students' acquisition of basic business knowledge in the functional areas of business including, but not limited to, accounting, business law, economics, finance, management, and marketing
• Facilitation of students' acquisition of technical skills and competencies in  quantitative techniques
• Provide students with the opportunity to focus their business studies by selecting one of six concentrations: management, marketing, economics, international business, social entrepreneurship, or health sector management
• Provide experiential opportunities, including at least one credit-bearing internship, to hone students' skills and facilitate their career exploration and professional job search;
• Facilitation of students' ability to integrate their knowledge of the functional areas of business with their technical skills and competencies and their professional experiences and to apply that knowledge and those skills.

1. Business majors must earn a minimum of a 2.0 GPA ("C") in all Business Core required courses, business concentration courses, and business elective courses.
2. Business minors must earn a minimum of a 2.0 GPA ("C") in all four required courses and the two business elective courses.

Accreditation

All degree programs offered by the Department of Business are accredited by The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The Business Administration Degree Program in the Department of Business is additionally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

1. Demonstrate foundational knowledge in accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing in application of concepts and theories. 
2. Demonstrate effective skills in written and oral communications using appropriate technologies.
3. Demonstrate an ability to integrate the concepts of the core areas of business.
4. Demonstrate awareness of the importance of the ethical requirements of business activities.
5. Demonstrate an ability to conduct methodological, secondary research into business issues, which may relate to general business or to a specific business function, which requires familiarity with a range of data, research sources, and appropriate methodologies.

Concentration Learning Outcomes

The management concentration covers the organizational, operational and sales aspects of management, as well as introduces non-profit management techniques.

Upon completing the concentration in management, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an ability to apply general Management know-how in practical business situations.
2. Develop an understanding of business that reflects the moral responsibility of management to all relevant stakeholders and the natural environment.
3. Understand the nature and dynamics of social behavior relating to organizational performance in order to develop strategies to become effective in organizations.

The marketing concentration focuses on developing strategic and tactical marketing skills, including those used in both digital media and global environments.

Upon completing the concentration in marketing, students will be able to:

1. Develop an understanding of how marketing initiatives by business and not-for-profit organizations impact society and the economy.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the strategic and tactical use of the primary decision-making areas of marketing used by organizations.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of traditional and digital channels of distribution.
4. Understand the uses of traditional and digital promotional methods.
5. Understand the strategic importance of global marketing and be able to develop tactics for an organization’s global marketing thrusts.

The economics concentration focuses on understanding the impact of the economy on individuals, society, and global business development.

Upon completing the concentration in economics, students will be able to:

1. Develop an understanding of economic thought regarding the incentives.
2. Demonstrate the conditions under which the market allocates resources efficiently and under what conditions it fails to produce socially optimal outcomes.
3. Demonstrate the assumptions and limitations of the neoclassical school of thought reflected in both micro and macroeconomic models.
4. Understand the key concepts in macroeconomic analysis and be able to demonstrate how they are impacted by external events and policy using the Keynesian model.
5. Understand the factors that have determined productivity trends in the history of U.S. economic development with reference to theory and empirical data.

The international business concentration focuses on understanding the role that cultural differences, globalization, and worldwide trends play in the global marketplace. A semester abroad is required.

Upon completing the concentration in international business, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate detailed familiarity with the impact of the global economy on US businesses and organizations, utilizing appropriate terminology and concepts.
2. Demonstrate comprehension of cultural differences in the conduct of business and/or daily life within major global markets during a study abroad experience.
3. Demonstrate global awareness through an understanding of international business concepts and trends and an ability to internationalize domestically developed business methods and practices.

The social innovation and entrepreneurship concentration focuses on applying the concepts of sustainability to the creation of a new venture with triple bottom line responsibility and ecological value.

Upon completing the concentration in social entrepreneurship, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding and the application of the concepts of social entrepreneurship and distinguish social entrepreneurship from traditional economic entrepreneurship as well as from sustainable entrepreneurship.
2. Evaluate and articulate the rewards and risks of undertaking social entrepreneurship by measuring the economic, social, and environmental risks and rewards (triple bottom line) of a new venture and measuring and comparing the short-term economic risks and returns of the venture with the long-term expected benefits.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the ecological problems facing local and global communities as well as the ability to recognize business opportunities for entrepreneurs that arise as a result of the trend of identifying and resolving those ecological problems. Undertake this demonstration by applying those skills necessary to investigate and evaluate all the various aspects of the business and policy environment that have an impact on social entrepreneurship decisions, including an evaluation of corporate behavior in the context of environmental and social goals.

The Health Sector Management Concentration focuses on understanding how U.S. healthcare policy and systems impact business in the health sector.

Upon completing the concentration in Health Sector Management, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to integrate core general management skills with sophisticated understanding of the institutions of the US health care sector.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of U.S. health care economy and markets and those factors that significantly influence decision-making both at the policy level and at the level of the organization.
3. Utilize the terminology and concepts of health sector systems such as governmental programs, managed care, and information management to recognize and explain the importance of cost, access, and quality to providers, payers, and vendors.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legal systems and processes impacting healthcare, including governmental regulation, tort litigation and reform, non-discrimination and privacy legislation, and access/equity of care movements in both the federal and state governments.

Minor in Business Administration

A student pursuing a major other than Business Administration may, with the permission of the academic director, minor in Business Administration.

Curriculum

Minor in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a rapidly evolving discipline of solving real-world social problems using best practices from entrepreneurship, business, and several STEM disciplines. The focus of the minor’s required classes will be on applying the social innovation and entrepreneurship processes to real-world problems. Example problems include improving stroke therapies, preventing childhood obesity, fighting neurotoxic algae due to climate change, etc.

Curriculum

*Can be substituted with an internship of another major with the permission of the BUMG 495B Coordinator.

Students will be allowed to use up to 12 credits from another minor or their major to complete this minor.

A business administration student in their sophomore year may, with the permission of the Business chair, enroll in one of the following concentrations.

Management

Marketing

Economics

International Business

Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

*Can be substituted with an Internship of another major with the permission of the BUMG 495B coordinator.

Students will be allowed to use up to 12 credits from another minor or from their major to complete this concentration.

Health Section Management

Individualized Concentration

We offer qualified students the option of graduating with Honors. This includes significant research, scholarship or creative activity under the direction of a faculty member. Interested students should consult with their advisor. 

See Undergraduate Admissions.

See Undergraduate Admissions.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.