Business Administration
Have you ever dreamed about starting your own company, managing operations for a global corporation, or finding other ways to use your talent in the business world? Whether you want to work for a startup, small business, Fortune 500 company, nonprofit or government organization, a business administration degree gives you the skills and experience you need to get hired and ethically contribute. If you are looking for a major you can use in nearly any business setting around the globe; this is the program for you.
What will I learn?
Marketing. Finance. Operations. Management. Technology. Data analytics. Organizational behavior. As a business administration major, you’ll learn about all of the key pieces involved in starting, running and growing a business, like the ability to communicate clearly, think critically, solve problems and lead teams. Classes often include real-world case studies that bring the business world to life and challenge you to think about what you would do in similar circumstances. Choosing a specific business concentration (or two) will let you dive in and focus on one area, typically with a series of upper-level courses in your junior and senior years.
At the UB School of Management, you can choose from a range of concentrations, including:
- Data analytics—apply advanced methods and models to business challenges as you learn to analyze, manipulate and draw inferences from large data sets.
- Entrepreneurship—learn how to think creatively, start a small business and use your entrepreneurial skills within a larger organization.
- Financial analysis—gain a deeper understanding of financial issues as you prepare financial statements, analyze cash flow and study risk versus return for capital investments.
- Human resources management—study effective leadership and motivational practices for recruiting, developing and retaining people within an organization.
- International business—get a global perspective on economics, trade, corporate cultures, marketing across borders, managing international finances and other key topics.
- Management information systems—solve business problems using technology such as databases, network devices, cloud technologies, computer-based systems and programming languages.
- Marketing—prepare for a career in sales or marketing as you learn about creating and overseeing marketing programs, including consumer behavior, digital marketing, brand management and other topics.
- Operations and supply chain management—study strategic quality management, optimum supply chain configurations, modern project management and other concepts that give organizations an advantage.
BS in Finance vs. BS in Business Administration with a Finance Concentration vs. BS in Accounting
- A BS in Finance (finance major) offers a more focused and in-depth understanding of financial markets and valuation. You’ll develop the analytical rigor needed to evaluate financial problems and make informed financial decisions.
- A BS in Business Administration with a concentration in financial analysis provides you with a broad foundation across core business disciplines, complemented by selected finance coursework. You’ll develop general managerial training with exposure to finance concepts.
- Accounting is the language of business and allows you to understand the financial picture of a company in order to make sound decisions for investing or lending, and to analyze financial results so you can decide how to run a business. With a BS in Accounting, you can pursue becoming licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
What can I do with a business administration degree?
It's simple, really. This degree gives you an incredible amount of freedom as you choose where to start—and grow—your career. For inspiration, just look at our alumni, whose careers have included:
- Startup founder.
- Assistant vice president at M&T Bank.
- Social media influencer partnering with Google and others.
- Chief human resources officer for 50,000+ employees.
- Vice president of a 100-year-old hardware store.
- Founding partner of a law firm.
- Manager of Boeing’s Phantom Works program.
- Co-founder of a virtual reality company.
- CEO of Xerox.
- Owner of a dessert studio.
- Supply and demand manager for Coca-Cola.
- CEO of Cholula hot sauce.
- Advisor to the Federal Communications Commission.
- Manager of a $5 billion real estate portfolio.
Of course, you can also go on to get an MBA, either as part of a combined BS/MBA program, directly after you graduate or later in your career.