Business Administration Major

Do you want to become an effective leader and decision maker in today’s dynamic business environment?

At a glance

The Business Administration major teaches you how to lead and navigate change to address the most-pressing problems in today’s business world. Whether you’re interested in marketing, finance, management, accounting or computers, you’ll find it here and learn from faculty who are leaders in their fields. You’ll use critical and analytical thinking while exploring modern management theories, relevant business practices, and current industry trends. You’ll discover your interests along the way and begin to focus your studies based on your passions. Then you can choose from 10 concentrations to merge your academic focus with your career goals.

Degree typeBachelor of Science
FormatOn campus
Part ofCollege of Business
Competitive major?Yes
Accelerated option?Yes
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Concentrations

A concentration allows you to specialize in a certain area within your major, offering a depth of information and hands-on experiences that you may not otherwise get. Many students in this major will concentrate in one area to work in a specific field after college, as well as find mentors and internships before they even graduate.

Students in this major must pick a concentration as part of their degree.

Accounting

The Accounting concentration will give you options to specialize in financial accounting and reporting, managerial accounting, taxation, accounting information systems, and auditing. You can also take a fifth year to prepare for the CPA exam and enter the workforce with one of accounting’s top professional credentials

Computer Information Systems

Learn the in-demand business and technical skills to manage the information and communications technologies that shape how we interact with the world around us. You can pursue your interests and build your skills in app design, business analytics, data visualization, cybersecurity systems, computer networking, and more

Finance

Interested in the stock market or how to help organizations prioritize their investments? In finance, you’ll learn to understand how business functions connect so they can help organizations study asset valuation, manage investments, navigate risk, and engage in global finance. You’ll get to choose one of three specialized options to pursue your interests: corporate finance, investment analysis, and real estate finance. You’ll also have access to CSU’s state-of-the art Bloomberg terminals, the industry standard to access the latest global financial information.  

Financial Planning

In Financial Planning, you’ll learn skills critical to helping people navigate some of life’s biggest decisions and manage their money to better support themselves and their families. You’ll study retirement planning, employee benefits, income tax, estate planning, and risk management, and are eligible to sit for the Certified Financial PlannerCFP® Exam upon graduation.

Human Resource Management

Learn to create programs that help people thrive in organizations and foster equitable treatment within organizations. This concentration provides a comprehensive knowledge of HR management, while building skills in critical thinking, change management, communication, negotiation and conflict management, business operations, and interpersonal skills. 

International Business (second concentration)

As businesses become increasingly global with supply chains and offices spread across the world, there’s a need for professionals who understand the nuances of international business. This concentration is offered only as a second concentration – in addition to your primary concentration within the Business major – and will prepare you for a meaningful career with organizations that operate beyond national borders. 

Management and Innovation

Leadership is at the heart of every organization and exists at all levels of business. Managers are responsible for leading high-performance teams and amplifying their impact. This concentration prepares you to be effective managers, with the ability to navigate complex business environments while bringing diverse stakeholders and team members together to achieve common goals. 

Marketing

Creating a brand, engaging people with social media, launching websites if developing strategies and creative approaches to promoting the next big idea inspires you, then marketing might be for you. You’ll gain a comprehensive knowledge of to understand consumer behavior and effective marketing practices, including how to conduct activities such as conducting market research, developing new products, establishing pricing approaches, designing communications advertising campaigns, and building customer relationships. 

Real Estate

This concentration prepares you for a career in commercial real estate, which represents one of the world’s largest industries. You’ll gain a multi-disciplinary understanding of how to make real estate deals a reality by developing comprehensive business strategies to connect financial, architectural and community needs.

Supply Chain Management

As one of today’s most in-demand careers, supply chain professionals coordinate and implement the movement of goods and deployment of services around the world. In this concentration, you’ll learn how to meet the needs of consumers and businesses by forecasting demand, managing production and operations, strategically planning fulfillment and distribution, promoting sustainable purchasing choices, and more. 

Some Career Options

Depending on the concentration you choose within the Business major, you’ll graduate to a career field that ranges from traditional to off-the-grid global jobs. You can look forward to opportunities in banking, management and human resources in a wide array of jobs from retail to nonprofits to education to tourism, as well as work in startups and even becoming your own boss in your own company.

Tour and info session options

Tours may be available as part of Admissions tours and info sessions, offered throughout the year.

For additional opportunities, please reach out to:

Nicholas Adams at nicholas.adams@colostate.edu

academic Info and Tips

Explore even more

Want a more in-depth look at this major? Take a look at the program website to learn more.