Program Description
The business programs at Winston Salem State University offer accessible quality undergraduate and graduate education, which build upon a liberal arts foundation within the nurturing tradition of a Historically Black College and University. Our mission is to develop skilled business professionals using transformative learning experiences in a student-centered environment.
Students will be exposed to a broad spectrum of activities, academic disciplines and specialty functions within organizations (Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing and Management Information System (MIS)), whether they operate for profit or not. A blend of academic studies enriched with experiential and co-curricular learning opportunities prepare students to enter a challenging environment with the confidence and skills to be successful.
Student Learning Outcomes
• Students will be able to prepare and deliver effective oral presentations where key ideas, findings, and recommendations are presented in a thoughtful and logical manner
• Students will be able to research, organize and write a professional paper on a business topic.
• Students will be able to objectively recognize and apply appropriate theoretical frameworks to managerial and business issues/problems
• Students will have analytical skills to solve business-quantitative problems and effectively communicate solutions
• Students should be able to summarize and discuss the impact of an experiential learning experience gained through academically-related activities or business professional organizations.
Overview of Major Requirements
Students majoring in Business Administration must satisfy the general education course requirements, complete the required major courses outlined below, and take electives for a minimum total of 120 semester hours (SH) in order to graduate. Where noted, a particular pre-requisite course can be taken as part of the general education (GE) requirements. A minimum grade of C- or better is required in each prerequisite and major course.
It is suggested that students take the following courses as part of their general education experience:
MAT 1312 - Pre-Calculus I
BLA 2325 - Business Law I
ECO 2311 - Principles of Microeconomics
ECO 2312 - Principles of Macroeconomics
MIS 1380 - Business Computing
The major is organized into foundational, breadth and depth courses. The Foundation courses introduce students to the whole spectrum of business functions and activities that are common across all types of business. Some foundational courses may be part of the general education curriculum. The Breadth courses focus on major fields of business that students may consider as their particular pathway to a career or preparation for graduate studies. The Depth courses are particular to each concentration/track and provide education required by specialists within organizations. The program offers five concentration areas for more in-depth study: Economics, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, and Marketing. It also offers an Honor’s option for all business majors.
Foundation Courses
(24 hours, 12 of which satisfy GE Requirements)
Breadth Courses
(12 Semester Hours)
Depth Tracks
Students choose from the following areas: Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, or Marketing.
Finance
Finance allows students to pursue one of two paths. First, graduates may choose to enter the corporate world as financial managers, in order to one day advise and analyze the financial health of corporations and other firms. Second, graduates may choose to become prepared toward sitting for the Certified Financial Planner ® Exam. Certified Financial Planner ® Certificants are known as ethical and knowledgeable financial advisors. Given that the days of pension plans are fading, and workers need to design and oversee their own financial futures, financial planners are in high demand.
Plus select either Corporate Finance or Personal Financial Planning Track
Personal Financial Planning Track
Management
The management depth area is designed to develop and maintain progressive and innovative curricula, which prepare students to assume careers in business, industry, government, non-profit organizations, and entrepreneurial ventures. This purpose is served by faculty committed to effective teaching, to expanding intellectual knowledge in their fields and to provide community service. Emphasis is placed on providing a broad scope of various academic disciplines so that students can develop an understanding and appreciation of the business world and its relationship to a global economy and society.
Plus select 3 courses from among:
Management Information Systems (MIS)
The MIS depth area is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in management information systems. MIS careers take our graduates to business and government, to non-profit organizations and to entrepreneurial ventures. Students are trained to provide the linkage between the strategic needs of organizations and the technologies that are capable of transforming them. Roles vary from specialized duties of database administration, project management, network management and social computing to generalized business functions that allow graduates to infuse their technology knowledge in broader business/strategic teams.
Marketing
The marketing depth area is designed to provide students with fundamental preparation in general marketing with an overall understanding of marketing as the creation, communication and delivery of value for any organization. The marketing faculty is dedicated to student development of marketing fundamentals like segmentation, target marketing, differentiation and positioning, as well as specialized areas of marketing such as social media and services marketing. Students will be prepared to assume a wide range of organizational positions including selling, customer service, product development, promotions, social media marketing, distribution and many other areas.
Plus select 3 courses from among:
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