Business Administration

What is Business Administration?

The faculty in the Department of Business, Accounting, and Economics believe that the most successful students are those that enrich quality education in business with the greatest possible breadth in their undergraduate education. Thus, as a business administration major at Western, you are required to take a full range of general education and liberal arts courses—designed to broaden your insights into the aesthetic, cultural, scientific, and social aspects of human experience—while still completing necessary related business courses.

This approach results in graduates who have completed at least 30 percent of their coursework in liberal arts disciplines but still have met the specific educational requirements to become successful business people. An emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking skills, writing, mastery of learning using various teaching methods, and a synthesis of knowledge.

The goal of the Department is to produce well-rounded, well-prepared students with expertise in one of several areas of business with a wide range of liberal arts.

What do I do with a Business Administration degree?

Business Administration graduates are able to select the program that fits their needs and interests. Graduates can look forward to careers in a business management position, marketing firm, or as an entrepreneur. They also have opportunities in the international market as well as financial consulting agencies.

Summary of Business Administration Academic Programs

Students can choose a standard business major or one of several emphasis areas:

• Entrepreneurship
• Latin American Business
• Management
• Marketing
• Professional Land and Resource Management
• Resort Management (new for fall 2010)

Students may also choose:

• Coordinated Double Majors: Business Administration and Environmental Studies

In addition, a Business Administration Minor is offered. 

Emphasis Descriptions

• Entrepreneurship
  The Entrepreneurship Emphasis is designed to prepare students to finance, plan for, start and manage their own profitable venture. The program helps students investigate how to spot opportunities as well as learn about the risks and rewards of small business ownership. Essential components of the emphasis include creation of a business plan, analysis of small business issues, and consulting with an existing or start-up small business through the SBI (Small Business Institute) program.

• Latin American Business
  A student successfully completing this emphasis will be prepared for an entry-level position in an international organization which specializes in Latin America. The program is highly interdisciplinary with a solid Business core. In addition to Business fundamentals, the student will acquire an understanding of the predominant language and culture of Latin America and its history, together with the broad concepts of international economics.

• Management
  This emphasis is intended to provide the degree holder with the necessary expertise to enter a training program for managerial-level employees in any size business. These courses place emphasis on learning both essential management principles and their application in today's highly competitive world of business.

• Marketing
  This emphasis is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in strategic marketing, sales, marketing research, and promotion. Students are encouraged to relate their studies in communications, economics, psychology and sociology to the study of marketing.

• Professional Land and Resource Management
  The Professional Land and Resource Management Emphasis is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as land negotiators. Students learn land and resource management principles through knowledge and perspectives of business administration, economics, geology, and environmental studies. The program is designed to prepare students to work in the business side of energy and mineral exploration.

• Resort Management (new for fall 2010)
  This emphasis prepares students for mid-level management positions in the hospitality industry. With a solid foundation in business, students gain employment-ready skills and are prepared to succeed in resort management upon graduation.