Business Administration Major (B.S.)

Business Administration Major (B.S.)
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The business Administration major at UNH is the most popular for good reason. Studying business administration offers you a well-rounded, hands-on education that prepares you for a wide range of exciting career paths.

While many business schools ask you to choose an industry specialization right away, UNH Paul College's business major has you focus on core business fundamentals your first two years, allowing you to explore multiple areas of business—from finance and marketing to management and business analytics. During your sophomore year you'll officially choosing your industry options. We offer nine, and many students choose two!

With a focus on developing practical skills, collaborating on real-world projects, and competing in healthy competition, the business administration major at UNH will set you up to reach your full potential in any career you choose.


What is business administration?

A Bachelor of Science in business administration will help you build the skills, knowledge, and experience to land a job and thrive in today’s evolving economy. Graduates are in demand in a variety of industries including accounting, finance, information systems and business analytics, management, and marketing. Whether you aspire to work for a high-powered firm, start-up or non-profit, launch your own business, or lay the foundation for your MBA, a business administration degree opens the doors to many career opportunities. 

Why study business administration at UNH?

As a business administration major at UNH you will take a core set of classes that cover the fundamental theories, principles, concepts, and skill sets in key areas of business, while building upon your social, analytical, competitive, and professional intelligences. These foundation courses give you the flexibility to move into a variety of fields and companies during your career. You’ll declare an option within your major during the second semester of your sophomore year that provides deeper expertise in a specific business area to propel you on your career path. Many students choose more than one! Options within the major include accounting, entrepreneurial studies, finance, information systems and business analytics, international business and economics, management, marketing, and student designed. 

Potential Careers

  • Accountant and auditor
  • Financial analyst
  • Sales professional
  • Insurance underwriter
  • Digital marketing account manager
  • Investment banker
  • Project manager
  • Data analyst
  • Stock broker
  • Entrepreneur

Curriculum & Requirements

A Bachelor of Science in business administration will help you build the skills, knowledge and experience to land a job and thrive in today’s evolving economy. Graduates are in demand in a variety of industries including accounting, finance, information systems and business analytics, management and marketing. Whether you aspire to work for a high-powered firm, start-up or non-profit or launch your own business, a business administration degree opens the doors to many career opportunities.

At Paul College, students in the business administration major take foundation courses in their freshman and sophomore years that cover the fundamental theories, principles, concepts and skill sets in key areas of business, while building upon their social, analytical, competitive and professional intelligence. These foundation courses prepare you to move into a variety of fields and companies. You also must declare an option within your major during the second semester of your sophomore year that provides deeper expertise in a specific business area to propel you on your career path. Many students choose more than one! Options within the major include: accounting, entrepreneurial studies, finance, information systems and business analytics, international business and economics, management, marketing, and student designed.

Sample Degree Plan

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ADMN 400
or ADMN 410
Introduction to Business
or Management Information Systems
4
ECON 401
or ECON 402
Principles of Economics (Macro)
or Principles of Economics (Micro)
4
MATH 422
or MATH 424A
Mathematics for Business Applications
or Calculus for Social Sciences
4
PHIL 431 Business Ethics 4
ADMN 403 Computing Essentials for Business 1
PAUL 405 Freshman Academic Experience I 1
 Credits18
Spring
ADMN 410
or ADMN 400
Management Information Systems
or Introduction to Business
4
ECON 402
or ECON 401
Principles of Economics (Micro)
or Principles of Economics (Macro)
4
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
Discovery 4
PAUL 406 Freshman Academic Experience II 1
 Credits17
Second Year
Fall
ADMN 502 Financial Accounting 4
ADMN 510 Business Statistics 4
Discovery 4
Discovery 4
 Credits16
Spring
ADMN 503 Managerial Accounting 4
ADMN Course selected in consulation with advisor 4
Discovery 4
Discovery 4
PAUL 660
or PAUL 690
BiP-Social Intelligence Topics
or BiP-Professional Intelligence Topics
2
 Credits18
 Total Credits69

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

The following courses are major-required courses. Students take 16-18 credits per semester. Discovery Program requirements (including the Inquiry requirement in the first two years) and elective courses are taken as well. Students are expected to follow this course plan. In the first three semesters, students cannot take more than two major courses in a single semester. The options have additional requirements as noted in those program descriptions. For a detailed schedule/plan of study for each option, students should check with the Paul College Undergraduate Programs and Advising Office for specific recommendations.

A typical plan of study follows, showing the major-required courses. Students take 16-18 credits per semester. Discovery Program requirements (including the Inquiry requirement in the first two years) and elective courses are taken as well. Students are expected to follow this course plan. In the first three semesters, students cannot take more than two major courses in a single semester. The options have additional requirements as noted. For a detailed schedule/plan of study for each option, students should check with the Paul College Undergraduate Programs and Advising Office for specific recommendations.

Business Administration core requirements
ADMN courses:
ADMN 400Introduction to Business4
ADMN 403Computing Essentials for Business1
ADMN 410Management Information Systems4
ADMN 502Financial Accounting4
ADMN 503Managerial Accounting4
ADMN 510Business Statistics4
ADMN 570Introduction to Financial Management4
ADMN 575Behavior in Organizations4
ADMN 580Quantitative Decision Making4
ADMN 585Marketing4
ADMN 775Strategic Management: Decision Making 14
Other subject code courses:
ECON 401Principles of Economics (Macro)4
ECON 402Principles of Economics (Micro)4
MATH 422Mathematics for Business Applications4
or MATH 424A Calculus for Social Sciences
PHIL 431Business Ethics4
PAUL 405Freshman Academic Experience I1
PAUL 406Freshman Academic Experience II1
PAUL 660BiP-Social Intelligence Topics 22
PAUL 670BiP-Analytical Intelligence Topics 22
PAUL 680BiP-Competitive Intelligence Topics 22
PAUL 690BiP-Professional Intelligence Topics 22
1

This is the capstone course in the business administration  program, and satisfies the capstone requirement of  the Discovery Program. Students may be required to concurrently enroll in ADMN 700 PAUL Assessment of Core Knowledge (zero credits) for AACSB accreditation purposes.

2

Students may satisfy PAUL 660, PAUL 670, PAUL 680, PAUL 690 requirements through other courses/experiences with approved intelligence attributes assigned.  

Depending of the choice of option and the specific requirements thereof, students may be able to take PAUL or non-PAUL electives in their junior or senior year.

  • Students will demonstrate proficiency in the core content areas of business.
  • Students will think critically to address business situations.
  • Students will demonstrate communication skills to interact effectively in business situations.
  • Students will identify and understand the ethical dimensions and implications of business decisions.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze a business situation by applying a multiple stakeholder lens.
  • Students will demonstrate an understanding of business practices as they relate to local, national and global competitiveness.

Explore Program Details

Students interested in our Business Administration major may also be interested in these advanced degree offerings:

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