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Business Administration

Business Administration

Bachelor of Arts

Degree Type

Major, Minor

Department

School of Business

Business administration includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising a company’s operations from accounting to marketing. Our Business Administration program delivers the world-class education you’ll need to become an influential professional anywhere in the world.

Program Overview

Business Administration

Set yourself for success in any industry.

The Business Administration major will enable you to master the skills necessary to succeed in any aspect of business. In the program, you’ll have the unique opportunity to customize your education by choosing multiple business emphases or declaring a second major in Accounting, Economics or other relevant programs to get the dynamic skillset you’ll need to fulfill your personal and professional goals.

The popularity of our Business Administration program is a testament to the outstanding, personalized education that Western Colorado University offers. Through a combination of intimate class sizes, competitive internship opportunities and our start-up incubator lab, we’ll help you become a well-prepared professional leader who thrives.

A springboard for success

The versatility of the Business Administration program allows you to tailor your degree around your interests and strengths, all while preparing you with all the skills you’ll need to be a competent leader in a fulfilling career.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

Program Requirements

All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.

The Standard Program requires a minimum of 45 credits including the 21-credit Base Curriculum, the 15-credit Business Administration Nucleus, BUAD 491 Strategic Management, and six credits of Business Administration electives. At least three credits of the six credits must be upper-division Business Administration electives, and no more than three credits may be from: BUAD 101 Business of Life, BUAD 150 Introduction to Hospitality, or BUAD 499 Internship in Business Administration. Electives should be chosen in consultation with an advisor. BUAD 397 Special Topics or BUAD 497 Special Topics courses are allowed to count toward the six-credit requirement only with departmental approval.

Course List
Code Title Credits
Base Curriculum
ACC 201Introduction to Financial Accounting3
ACC 202Introduction to Managerial Accounting3
ECON 201Macroeconomics (GT-SS1)3
ECON 202Microeconomics3
Select one of the following mathematics courses:3-4
MATH 140
College Algebra (GT-MA1)
MATH 141
Precalculus (GT-MA1)
MATH 151
Calculus I (GT-MA1)
One of the following:3
BUAD 220
Spreadsheets and Analysis
CS 120
Professional Computer Skills
One of the following:3
MATH 213
Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)
ECON 216
Statistics for Business and Economics
Total Credits21-22

The 15-credit Business Administration Nucleus forms the core for each of the emphasis areas and also comprises the bulk of the Standard Program. It is important that the student achieve a high level of understanding of the basic fundamental concepts represented by these courses to be successful in the completion of the required upper- level course work and in their business career. If BUAD 350 Human Resource Management Human Resource Management is used to satisfy the requirements of the Business Administration Nucleus, then it cannot be used to satisfy the elective requirement within the major.

Course List
Code Title Credits
Business Administration Nucleus
BUAD 185Business Communication3
BUAD 210Legal Environment of Business3
BUAD 270Principles of Marketing3
BUAD 360Managerial Finance3
One of the following:3
BUAD 333
Organizational Behavior
BUAD 350
Human Resource Management
Total Credits15

Business Administration and Environment and Sustainability Coordinated Double Major

If a student elects to complete a Business Administration Major: Standard Program and the coordinated Environmental Studies Major: Standard Program, the student must complete the six credits of upper-division Business Administration electives by taking two of the following: ECON 370 Natural Resource Economics, BUAD 363 Business and the Environment, or BUAD 410 Water Law.

Capstone Course Requirement

The following courses in the Business Administration Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: BUAD 491 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
BUAD 101 Business of Life 3
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab 4
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 140 College Algebra (GT-MA1) 3
 Credits14
Spring
ACC 201 Introduction to Financial Accounting 3
ECON 201 Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) 3
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab 4
Gen Ed Area III 3
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
ACC 202 Introduction to Managerial Accounting 3
ECON 216 Statistics for Business and Economics 3
Elective Elective 3
Gen Ed Area I 3
Gen Ed Area III 3
 Credits15
Spring
BUAD 220 Spreadsheets and Analysis 3
BUAD 270 Principles of Marketing 3
ECON 202 Microeconomics 3
Gen Ed Area I 3
Gen Ed Area III 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
BUAD 185 Business Communication 3
BUAD 210 Legal Environment of Business 3
Elective Elective 3
Elective Minor course 6
 Credits15
Spring
BUAD 333 Organizational Behavior 3
BUAD Upper Division Elective 3
Elective Elective 3
Elective Minor course 6
 Credits15
Summer
BUAD 499 Internship in Business Administration (optional, but recommended) 3
 Credits3
Year Four
Fall
BUAD 360 Managerial Finance 3
Elective Elective 3
Elective Minor course 6
Elective Minor course OR Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring
BUAD 491 Strategic Management 3
Elective Elective 12
 Credits15
 Total Credits123

Spotlight

Business Administration

Tyler Nixon

Alumni

Business Administration

Skyeler Smith

Student

“The professors here are really encouraging when it comes to making your time at Western unique. It has been so easy for me to take opportunities and it’s easy for anyone to start their own club.”

Business Administration

Ryan Ivis

Alumni

“Western did a fantastic job of preparing me for my career."

Business Administration

Patrick Tan

Student

“Western has started this transition to a school where we use our past and our privilege and connect it to what we are learning now to allow ourselves to better understand our world and ourselves.”

Business Administration

Madison Patton

Student

“I knew that I wanted a school that could cater to me and my needs. I knew that I would get that from being here.”

Careers

Take the first steps toward your dream career.

Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.

Ready to apply or learn more about Western today?

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Find Your Career

The data is automatically collected by Lightcast, a firm that sources job market data. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.

Scholarships

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.

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

Find your scholarships!

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.

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

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.

Get Involved

Career Fair

Take advantage of everything Western has to offer.

A college education is more than just taking courses. Meet new people, apply your skills and stretch beyond your comfort zone. Make your education an experience.

  • Career Fairs: Connect with future employers during the various career fairs in the School of Business and around Colorado.
  • ICELab: The Innovation + Creativity + Entrepreneurship (ICE) Lab on upper campus is a space that provides startups and expanding businesses with the materials and support needed to succeed.
  • Office of Career Success: Business students have a department-specific career services professional.
  • Study Abroad: Experience Harlaxton College in the English Midlands.

Taking the next step

Students connect with prospective employers during the School of Business Career Expo.

News & Research

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Ethics Bootcamp Gives Business Students a Foundation for the Future

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Online Learning

Online Learning Helps Define Western

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Garret Riskey: Making the Most of a Western Colorado University Experience

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Student First

Student First Scholarship Making a Difference

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Additional Resources

Outdoor Industry MBA (OIMBA) Network

The OIMBA Network documents people, organizations, and projects involved with our program. Each year, OIMBA students complete a 200+ hour project, connecting people and organizations worldwide.

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

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