Business Programs

Curriculum and Advising Resources – new for Fall 2018!

A Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Business is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a variety of complex organizational environments. This degree program also prepares students for advanced study in business, public administration, and law. The core courses focus on the functional areas of business and leadership whereby students develop skills in the following areas: critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, interpersonal relations, oral and written communication, and information technology. Additional content in ethical decision-making and global contexts is integrated throughout the core curriculum. Students learn beyond the classroom through our project-based internship program, in faculty-mentored undergraduate research collaborations, in short- or long-term study abroad, or in an advanced consulting practicum. Students also have the opportunity to explore a variety of subject areas related to the study of business and organizations in upper-level elective courses. The curriculum delivers content that aligns with AACSB expectations and peer institutions’ norms, but also reflects the importance of inter- and multidisciplinary learning at UNC Asheville.

Curriculum Features (as of Fall 2018)

  • Business Core: All business majors are required to complete foundational core courses that address content areas such as accounting, finance, decision making, leadership, ethics, legal and regulatory environments, quantitative methods, information technology, systems, and individual and group behavior.
  • Upper-level Electives: Another central feature of the curriculum is the option of completing upper-elective courses. Students must enroll in a minimum of 4-credit hours in MGMT at the 300-400 level (one single 4-hour course or two 2-hour courses). Working with their advisers, students may also consider completing a portfolio of courses in optional specialized topical areas of study. This would be beyond the minimum 4-credit hours and afford students the opportunity to seek further depth and breadth of study. Students should consult their advisers and review possible topical areas of study including, entrepreneurship, finance, global business, human resource management, leadership, marketing, public administration and policy, operations management, and decision science/data analytics (note that only MGMT courses at the 300-400 level will satisfy the upper-level elective requirement; any courses taken beyond this minimum will be part of an intentional plan of study developed between the student and adviser).
  • Introductory Seminar and Capstone: All department majors must first complete an introductory seminar course (MGMT 130) that will set the stage for learning about all types of organizations and expose them to a variety of important skills and knowledge areas prior to enrolling in subsequent core courses. Students will conclude their major coursework by enrolling in a strategic business capstone (BUS 480) designed to close the loop on creating connections between theory and practice.
  • Student Choice and Flexibility: The majority of business core and upper-level elective courses are 4-credit hours. However, some BUS courses are 2-credit hours. Students are only required to enroll in a minimum of 4-credit hours in BUS elective(s) at the 300-400 level. Students have choice to meet the minimum requirement or construct a path of study to enroll in a variety of related courses across disciplines.
  • Scheduling: Multiple sections of the BUS core courses will be scheduled each semester. Many BUS electives will be scheduled using in alternative semesters and years. Please refer to the course offerings as a planning tool.
  • Program Faculty: Professors Manns, Burris, Clark, Davtyan, and Harvey.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in BUS (updated Fall 2018)

The business major includes three primary components:

1. The Business Core (49 credits):

  • BUS 130, 230, 250, 300, 380, 386, 398, 480;
  • ACCT 215, 216;
  • ECON 101, 102, 306; STAT 185 or 225
  • A grade of C or higher in ACCT 215, 216, and MGMT 480 is required to graduate.

2. Electives (minimum of 4 credits in BUS 300-400 level courses):

Students may choose these electives from across different topics or may focus their study in a specific area such as in marketing, global business, entrepreneurship, human resource management, leadership, or business analytics. Students should consult their adviser for options, review the list of MGMT course offerings in the catalog, and click here for more information on potential topical areas. Additionally, if students wish to complete courses outside of the major to complement their area of study in business or in preparation for graduate school, they may do so using their general university elective credits. Business majors are strongly encouraged to consider a portfolio of courses in ACCT, CSCI, ECON, ESI, IST, LANG, POLS, PSYC, SOC, and STAT. Consult your adviser and the information provided here.

3. Experiential Learning (minimum of 3 credit hours):

Students choose from four options to learn beyond the classroom:

  • Project-based internship experience is completed in BUS 489. Students choosing BUS 489 must (1) complete a minimum of 30 credit hours required in the Business major (courses may be from BUS, ACCT, and/or ECON), (2) review the internship program policy, (3) attend an information session, and (4) receive project approval from the Department’s Internship Coordinator prior to enrolling in the internship course.
  • Undergraduate research project is completed in BUS 499. Students choosing this option must (1) complete BUS 352 or an appropriate social science methods course approved by the chairperson and (2) submit a faculty-sponsored research proposal to the department chair for approval, outlining the specific topic, timeline, and purpose of the study per department guidelines.
  • Study Abroad is satisfied by completing a 3-credit hour business or global business course earned as part of a UNC Asheville-approved study abroad experience (semester-long or faculty-led in a 2-week experience). Students choosing the study abroad option must review the study abroad policy and contact the department’s study abroad coordinator to obtain course approvals and to discuss the requirements that must be completed prior to, during, and following their study abroad period. Contact Dr. Burris for more information.
  • Consulting Practicum is completed in BUS 488. Students choosing this option must (1) have completed a minimum of 30 required credit hours in the Business major (courses may be from BUS, ACCT, and/or ECON), (2) hold Senior standing with 3.00 major GPA, and (3) receive permission of the Instructor. Students, under the supervision of a faculty mentor, will work collaboratively in a consulting team responsible for helping a client organization solve a particular problem in the areas of marketing, finance, productions, human resource, and/or entrepreneurship, among others. Applying concepts, theories, and best practices learned in previous coursework, students will analyze and evaluate quantitative/qualitative data in a problem context for the purposes of preparing a deliverable solution that meets the specific needs of the client. The organizations will vary in size and scope, and may include for-profit, non-profit, and public sector governmental entities. See this website for more details. or contact Dr. Susan Clark  (smuntean@unca.edu).

Requirements for the Minor in Business

The Minor in Business requires a minimum of 19 hours, including ACCT 215, MGMT 130, 230, 300 and 6 additional hours of BUS courses at the 300-level or above.

Note: University-wide minimum requirements for a minor: 1) one-half of the hours required for a minor must be completed in residence at UNC Asheville, to include at least 6 hours at the 300- 400 level; 2) students must have a cumulative grade-point-average of at least 2.0 on minor courses taken at UNC Asheville.

Declaration of Major or Minor in Business

Declaring a major in business requires the student to complete an online Declaration of Major or Minor form. Students are required to declare a major once they have earned 60 semester hours. Students who do not declare a major after earning 60 semester hours will have a hold placed on their records that prevents registration. LANG 120 must be completed within the first two semesters of enrollment at UNC Asheville; students must earn a C- in LANG 120.

Frequently Asked Questions (updated April 5, 2018)

1. What are the specific changes to curriculum that go into effect in Fall 2018?

  • The following changes in prerequisites to upper-level courses will ensure both timely student progress and sufficient content preparation:
    • Removal of the Emphasis Areas and replace with a minimum of four-hour elective requirement (choose among BUS 300-400 electives). This is a net reduction of two credits (58 to 56) for business majors.
    • Change in prerequisites for BUS 230 (permit students with previous BUS credit to enroll in BUS 130 and 230 concurrently)
    • BUS 388 (removal of prerequisites thereby opening course to students across disciplines)
    • Add BUS 366 Entrepreneurship (combined 4-hour course thereby deleting BUS 360 and 363)
    • Add BUS 326 Managing Human Capital (combined 4-hour course thereby deleting BUS 323 and 324)
    • Delete BUS 362, 460, 464, and 464 (operation electives) and replacing with BUS 426 (Strategic Decision Making 2-hr); BUS 427 (Systemic Decision Making 4-hr); BUS 428 (Business Analytics 2-hr)
    • Add BUS 368 (Digital and Social Media Marketing 2-hr)
    • Change BUS 352, 357, and 453 from 2- to 4-hour courses.
  • New and revised elective courses are now available for students to explore topics in greater depth and to engage in additional learning beyond the classroom:
    • 326 Managing Human Capital (4) – Presents how human resources contribute to organizational performance and introduces students to key processes/systems in organizations (job analysis, recruitment, selection, training, employee development, and compensation). Students will learn why and how personality, perception, conflict management, and motivation influence the development of human resource systems for staffing, evaluating, and rewarding people. Strategic implications of human capital management, including legal issues, labor relations, and global perspectives will be a central theme. No credit given to students who have credit for either BUS 323 or 324. Pre- or corequisite: BUS 230. Typically even years Fall.
      366 Entrepreneurship (4) – Students will develop entrepreneurial mindsets, learn about the entrepreneurial process through exposure to creative problem solving, design thinking, idea modeling, business model canvas, and lean startup methodologies. Further, students will conduct market analysis, develop financial projections, write business plans, and craft pitch decks. The course will conclude with individual students and student teams pitching their business ideas before an audience. Prerequisite: ACCT 215. Typically Fall.
    • 368 Digital and Social Media Marketing (2) – Examines how social media can be used to build profitable relationships with various stakeholders of organizations. Through lectures, discussions and case studies, students will explore various social media platforms and learn how to utilize them for improving marketing efforts of businesses. Prerequisite: BUS 250. Typically Spring.
    • 426 Strategic Decision Making (2) – Focuses on in situations where individuals must interact with one another. These include both cooperative and competitive scenarios. Topics include bargaining, social dilemmas, resource division, and auctions. Junior standing and one course from BUS 380, ECON 102, STAT 185 or STAT 225. Typically even years Spring.
    • 427 Systemic Decision Making (4) – Systems thinking is espoused by many as an essential skill in today’s workplace and as a requirement of a globally engaged citizenry. But how does one think systemically? The course uses an interdisciplinary perspective in understanding and addressing complex situations in a holistic manner, and will help students think about, act on, and observe complex phenomena in an effort to make improved decisions in today’s complex, interconnected, and global environment. Students from any major are encouraged to enroll in this course. Prerequisite: BUS 380 or permission of instructor. Typically even years Fall.
    • 428 Business Analytics (2) – Introduces students to quantitative methods for assessing large data sets in an effort to improve managerial decision making. Focus will be on the application of methods to real world case studies. Class will include laboratory time to explore methods in a computer-based environment. Topics will include clustering, regression, and forecasting. Prerequisite: STAT 225 or permission of instructor. Typically Spring.

2. Are the topical areas of study required?

No. Students must enroll in a minimum of 4-credit hours in BUS at the 300-400 level (one single 4-hour course or two 2-hour courses). Working with their advisers, students may also consider completing a portfolio of courses in specialized topical areas of study. This would be beyond the minimum 4-credit hours and afford students the opportunity to seek further depth and breadth of study. Students should consult their advisers and review possible topical areas of study including, entrepreneurship, finance, global business, human resource management, leadership, marketing, public administration and policy, operations management, and decision science/data analytics. Click here to review the list of topical paths and related courses (note that only BUS courses at the 300-400 level will satisfy the upper-level elective requirement; any courses taken beyond this minimum will be part of an intentional plan of study developed between the student and adviser).

3. Will my topical areas of study appear on my transcript? If not, how should I promote this to graduate schools and employers?

You are earning a Bachelor of Science degree is in Business. If you choose to enroll in a portfolio of courses in a topical area of study, rather than the minimum 4-credit hours of BUS 300-400 electives, then we recommend that you promote your topical area of study (and courses) since it will not be listed on your transcript. We encourage our students to highlight their topical area of study, if applicable, and coursework on their resume and cover-letters when applying for graduate schools and employment opportunities.

4. Will these new changes appear in my GradPlan?

We recommend all BUS majors graduating May 2019 and after redeclare their major (click here) starting in August 2018. The major will now be 56 hours and will have a structure that affords more flexibility. However, this is a decision that you and your adviser should discuss. If declared majors in the current catalog do not wish to redeclare, then we will work with them to make appropriate substitutions as necessary.

5. What courses will or will not transfer in as part of the major and minor?

  • BUS 130 – Given its unique content coverage, BUS 130 must be taken at UNC Asheville and will be required for majors and minors offered by the Department of Business.
  • BUS 230 – Students may receive transfer credit for BUS 230 if and only if they have taken (1) a single Organizational Behavior and Theory course or (2) a combination of two separate courses (one being Organizational Behavior and the other would need to be Organizational Theory or an introductory Principles of Management course).
  • BUS 250 – Students may receive transfer credit BUS 250 if they have taken an introductory marketing course at another institution (a two- or four-year institution).
  • BUS 300 – Students may receive transfer credit BUS 300 if they have taken an introductory course at another institution (a two- or four-year institution) that covers both legal and ethical content as it relates to business and/or non-business organizations. Transfer equivalence would also be accepted if a student completed two separate sequence courses in legal and ethical environments.
  • All other proposed transfer courses equivalency decisions are at the discretion of the Department Chair in consultation with the faculty.

Course Descriptions & Important Documents

Always consult the UNC Asheville Course Catalog for official major requirements and course descriptions.