Business

Why Major in Business?

Majoring in business provides practical, versatile skills that are directly applicable to a wide range of careers and industries; it teaches foundational concepts like finance, marketing, management, and operations while developing critical thinking, quantitative analysis, and communication abilities employers value. Business programs offer strong career prospects and earning potential, plus opportunities for internships, networking, and experiential learning that can lead to immediate employment or entrepreneurship. The curriculum supports adaptability—graduates can move between sectors, start their own ventures, or pursue advanced degrees such as an MBA or law school—making a business major a pragmatic choice for students who want both broad career options and the tools to lead organizations and solve real-world problems.

  • A general business major studies how organizations create value, allocate resources, and compete in markets while developing practical skills across core areas like accounting, finance, marketing, operations, management, and business law. Students learn to analyze financial statements, prepare budgets, forecast performance, and assess investment choices, and they study market research, brand strategy, pricing, and promotional tactics to reach customers effectively. Coursework emphasizes decision making with quantitative tools such as statistics, spreadsheet modeling, and data analysis, along with qualitative skills in leadership, teamwork, negotiation, and ethical reasoning. Hands on experiences through case studies, internships, and group projects train students to solve problems under real world constraints, to communicate clear recommendations, and to adapt business concepts to diverse organizational contexts.

  • A finance major studies how individuals, businesses, and institutions manage money, assess risk, and make investment decisions; students learn core concepts such as financial accounting, corporate finance, investments, and financial markets, and they develop quantitative skills in statistics, financial modeling, and data analysis. Coursework teaches valuation methods, portfolio theory, risk management, and capital budgeting, while practical classes and projects build proficiency with spreadsheets, forecasting, and interpreting financial statements. Students also examine financial regulations, ethical considerations, and the role of financial institutions, gaining skills in decision making under uncertainty, strategic planning, and communicating financial information. Graduates are prepared for roles in banking, asset management, corporate finance, financial consulting, and risk analysis, equipped to analyze opportunities, design financial strategies, and solve complex monetary problems.

  • An accounting major trains students to record, analyze, and communicate financial information that organizations use to make decisions and meet legal obligations. Coursework covers financial accounting, which teaches how to prepare and interpret financial statements; managerial accounting, which focuses on costing, budgeting, and performance measurement to support internal decisions; taxation, which explains tax laws and how to prepare tax returns; and auditing, which covers methods for testing and verifying financial records and controls. Students also learn accounting information systems, where they study software and data processes that capture transactions, and courses in finance, business law, and ethics that provide context for accounting practice. Practical skills include using spreadsheets and accounting software, performing quantitative analyses, preparing reports for stakeholders, and applying professional standards and critical thinking to solve real-world problems. Graduates are prepared for roles in public accounting, corporate finance, nonprofit and government accounting, and for pursuing professional credentials such as the CPA.

  • A supply chain management major studies how goods and services move from raw materials to the end customer and learns to coordinate the people, information, and resources that make that movement efficient and reliable. Students learn forecasting and demand planning to predict customer needs, procurement and supplier relationship management to secure materials at the right cost and quality, and production planning to align manufacturing with demand. Coursework covers logistics and transportation to optimize the flow of products, inventory management to balance stock levels and costs, and operations strategy to design processes that improve performance. Students also gain skills in data analysis and use software tools for modeling and decision making, plus exposure to risk management, sustainability, and ethics to handle disruptions and ensure responsible practices. Practical projects and internships teach problem-solving, negotiation, and cross-functional teamwork so graduates can plan, improve, and lead supply chain operations across industries.

  • A marketing major studies how organizations create, communicate, and deliver value to customers and stakeholders. Students learn market research techniques to gather and analyze consumer data, including survey design, statistical analysis, and segmentation methods that identify target audiences. Coursework covers branding and product strategy, teaching how to position products, develop brand identity, and manage product life cycles. Students also study pricing strategies, channels of distribution, and retail management to understand how goods and services reach customers efficiently. Instruction in advertising, digital marketing, social media, and content strategy shows how to craft messages, select media, and measure campaign performance using analytics and key performance indicators. Classes in consumer behavior explore psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence buying decisions, while marketing strategy and management integrate these elements to plan and evaluate long term initiatives. Practical skills often include creating marketing plans, running simulated campaigns, using marketing software, and presenting recommendations, preparing graduates for roles in market research, brand management, advertising, sales, and digital marketing.

  • A human resources major studies how organizations manage people and build effective workplaces, focusing on areas such as recruitment, selection, training and development, compensation and benefits, employee relations, performance management, and employment law. Students learn to design hiring processes that match candidates to job requirements, create onboarding and continuous learning programs that improve skills and retention, and develop fair pay structures and incentive systems. Coursework covers conflict resolution, organizational behavior, and labor relations so students can handle disputes, negotiate with unions, and promote positive workplace culture. Practical skills include conducting job analyses, writing job descriptions, using HR information systems, interpreting workforce data, and applying ethical and legal standards to personnel decisions. By blending theory, case studies, and often internships, the major prepares graduates to support strategic planning, ensure regulatory compliance, and help organizations attract, develop, and retain talent.

Key Skills Developed

Financial Literacy

Teaches practical budgeting, accounting, investment, and decision-making skills that turn abstract money concepts into actionable strategies for personal and professional financial success.

Strategic Thinking

Cultivates strategic thinking by teaching you to analyze markets and data, evaluate risks and opportunities, design competitive plans, and align resources to achieve measurable goals.

Leadership & Teamwork

Sharpens leadership and communication by teaching you to assess diverse projects, adapt strategies quickly, coordinate teams effectively, and make decisions that align processes with goals rather than forcing goals to fit a rigid system.

Negotiation

Teaches strategic communication, analytical problem‑solving, and value‑creation tactics that turn competing interests into mutually beneficial agreements.

  • "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work."

    - Steve Jobs