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School of Business

Dedicated to preparing students for the global marketplace.

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The business world can be extremely rewarding for those who are well-prepared. A strong foundation in business will enable you to enjoy the long-term gains of your career–regardless of the fluctuations of the economy. Western Colorado University’s unique model of business education is dedicated to comprehensively preparing you for the global marketplace.

Areas of Study

Accounting

Accounting

Major | Minor

Accounting
School of Business

Business Administration

Major | Minor

Business Administration
School of Business

Business Administration and Environment & Sustainability

Major

Business Administration and Environment & Sustainability
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Business Analytics

Minor

Business Analytics
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Business Law

Minor

Business Law
Economics

Economics

Major | Minor | Secondary Licensure

Economics
Energy Management Landman Program

Energy Management

Minor | Emphasis

Energy Management
Finance

Finance

Emphasis

Finance
Financial Analysis

Financial Analysis

Emphasis

Financial Analysis
Innovation Creativity and Entrepreneurship

Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E)

Minor | Emphasis

Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E)
latin american business

Latin American Business

Emphasis

Latin American Business
Management program

Management

Emphasis

Management
Marketing

Marketing

Emphasis

Marketing
Outdoor Industry MBA students look at skis in the Blister Review show room

Outdoor Industry MBA

Master of Business Administration

Outdoor Industry MBA
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Outdoor Industry MBA 3+2

Accelerated Degree Programs

Outdoor Industry MBA 3+2
Professional Accounting CPA

Professional Accounting (CPA)

Emphasis

Professional Accounting (CPA)
Resort Management

Resort Management

Emphasis

Resort Management
Sales

Sales

Minor

Sales
School of Business

Education at the speed of the global marketplace.

Our business programs are evaluated annually to ensure that our curriculum matches the needs of the global marketplace. As a business student, you can seize the unique opportunity to be mentored by accomplished industry-leading professors, develop relationships with potential employers and gain practical experience in more than 40 internship locations.

Getting ahead

Western students meet with interested employers at the annual Job and Career Fair.

Career Success

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We cultivate well-prepared business professionals.

At Western, our professors ensure that business students have a strong foundation in communications, problem solving and critical thinking. Our business curriculum tracks the requirements of the markets, mixes business theory with practical application to real-world problems and offers unlimited experiential learning opportunities. Western’s School of Business will help you form relationships with potential employers and gain experience through internships—all of which will set you up for a successful business career.

Learn More

Prepared for success

In a mock internship interview, student Tierce Weaver faces an interview panel.

School of Business

Take advantage of Western’s scholarship opportunities.

We know that financing your education is expensive and the process can seem overwhelming. We are committed to helping you find the resources you need to start and finish for your education at Western. To ensure that you have a clear understanding of the financial aid process, we’ll answer any questions that you might have and help your work through navigating the different resource options you might have including student loan repayment, personal budgeting and personal debt management. We can also work with you to discuss the details of our 37 School of Business scholarships.

Apply Now

Leading the way in business ethics

Six Western students took home first-place honors at the ninth annual University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) Business Ethics Case Competition.

Study Abroad

School of Business

Explore a world-sized classroom.

Take your education international with Western’s School of Business with Harlaxton College, a top-ranked study abroad program. Harlaxton College is a 150 room Victorian manor house in the English midlands. Study for a full semester, a summer or a two week intensive course. Not only is the Harlaxton College program competitively priced compared to other study abroad programs, but the location allows you to explore the rest of Europe in your spare time.

Learn More

World-sized classroom

Explore global opportunities in the School of Business with Harlaxton College, a top-ranked study abroad program.

Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities*. This platform houses over 300+ school-specific and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.

Check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

*Please note these opportunities are only open to undergraduate students. OIMBA graduate students are encouraged to consider program fellowship opportunities.

Find your scholarships!

Eligibility

  • Full-time students who have been accepted into the Energy Management program
  • Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Financial need will be considered

Description

This scholarship is provided by Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.

Award depends on funds available.

Selected by: Chair(s) of the Energy Management program.

Application:

Contact Veronica Wilde, External Communications for Energy Management for scholarship applications and deadline information

970.901.2685 | Hurst Hall 106

Eligibility

  • Full-time students that have been accepted to the Engery Management Program
  • Demonstrate financial need

Description

This scholarship is provided by Various Energy Management associated companies.

Award depends on funds available

Selected by: Energy Management Leadership

Application

Contact Veronica Wilde, External Communications for Energy Management for scholarship applications and deadline information

970.901.2685 | Hurst Hall 106

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities*. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.

Check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

*Please note these opportunities are only open to undergraduate students. OIMBA graduate students are encouraged to consider program fellowship opportunities.

Find your scholarships!

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

Apply

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

Apply

Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

News & Research

Photo of Borick Business Building on a summer day

Western’s Professional Selling Program adds to list of wins after PSE competition

Read More about Western’s Professional Selling Program adds to list of wins after PSE competition
Photo of Borick Business Building on a fall evening

Western student wins Rocky Mountain Madness national sales competition

Read More about Western student wins Rocky Mountain Madness national sales competition
A man installs a lightbulb in a classroom ceiling

Energy Management Students Help Light Up The World

Read More about Energy Management Students Help Light Up The World
Changing the World by Changing Yourself

Changing the World by Changing Yourself

Read More about Changing the World by Changing Yourself
A group of students listen to a professor give a lecture in an outdoor classroom.

Energy Management Program Adapting to Meet the Needs of a Changing Industry

Read More about Energy Management Program Adapting to Meet the Needs of a Changing Industry
business students holding $5,000 prize check

Western Dominates Rocky Mountain Investment Challenge

Read More about Western Dominates Rocky Mountain Investment Challenge
colleges for business degrees

Colleges for Business Degrees: Benefits of a BA from Western

Read More about Colleges for Business Degrees: Benefits of a BA from Western
best college business major

Best Colleges for Business Majors: Opportunities for Business Majors

Read More about Best Colleges for Business Majors: Opportunities for Business Majors
students in front of business building

Western Student Wins AAPL’s Outstanding Graduate Award

Read More about Western Student Wins AAPL’s Outstanding Graduate Award
western campus borick building

Western Professor’s Research Published in Top-Ranking Journal

Read More about Western Professor’s Research Published in Top-Ranking Journal

Spotlight

School of Business

Austin Ekeler

Alumni

“Cannot say enough about my time at Western. Mountaineer for life.”

School of Business

Steven D’Epagnier

Student

“I was getting recruited by multiple schools to play football, and my big thing was I wanted to get a job when I graduated. I didn’t want to go just to play football. ... [Energy Management] is a great program that will get you a job when you graduate. That for me was the really exciting part.”

School of Business

Ilona Hoang

Student

“This program grows future leaders. All of the skills we learn here, such as project management, communication, business negotiations, problem solving and critical thinking, are going to be transferable into any field.”

School of Business

Evan Leathers

Student

“I found that a landman wears a variety of hats, whether he’s working in a corporate office, a courthouse or in the field working with land owners. Being a landman means that you’re doing something different every day.”

School of Business

Cole Chapman

Student

“Last summer I was able to have an internship in downtown Denver with an energy company. That gave me a really good perspective on the industry, what they’re doing, how they’re doing it and where we can make some beneficial changes.”

Additional Resources

Harlaxton Study Abroad Program

Explore Global opportunities in the School of Business with Harlaxton College, a top-ranked study abroad program. Harlaxton College is a 150 room Victorian manor house in the English midlands Study for a full semester, summer school or two week intensive course Costs are half the price of other European study abroad programs Opportunities to explore […]

Learn More

New Student Scholarship Application

New Student Scholarship Application

Learn More

Office of Career Success

Career Services helps you assess your strengths and access tools to achieve personal and professional goals. Our staff helps you craft your next adventure.

Learn More

Business Scholarship Application

Western’s School of Business offers over 25 scholarships to students currently enrolled in the program. Click to apply for one or more of these funding opportunities.

Learn More

PDC Energy Weekend

PDC Energy Weekend is an activity-filled weekend on campus for high school seniors intended to provide a taste of Western’s Energy Management program.

Learn More

The Borick School of Business Advisory Board

The Borick School of Business advisory board provides strategic direction and guidance to help develop, grow, and enhance the university’s robust business program offerings.

Learn More

Department Information

School of Business

Associate Dean

Paula Mann, CPA

Associate Dean of the School of Business, Assistant Professor of Accounting

Contact Information

970.943.2231

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Borick Business Building 223
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

Take the Next Step

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Western
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Western

We understand that applying to a university can be daunting, which is why we make our admission process as simple and straightforward as possible. Learn more about applying to your program of choice at Western.

Visit
Western
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Visit
Western

The best way to find out what makes Western such a special place is to experience it for yourself. Our student-led tours give you an insider’s perspective on everything from academics to student life.

Alumni
Community
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Alumni
Community

We keep the Mountaineer spirit going strong within our alumni community. Whether getting together with friends at an annual event, making a donation or mentoring a student, graduates continue to play an important role in the Western community.

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Information
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Want to discover more about Western? Request information today to get in touch with the admissions team.