FIND YOUR FIT
EXPLORING MAJORS IN
BUSINESS
93% of Business Students Employed or in Graduate School Within Six Months of Graduation in the Last Academic Year
1,000+ Internship Sponsor Sites
Among Fewer Than 5% of Business Schools Worldwide Accredited by AACSB International
Sport Management
MORE THAN A MAJOR.
MAJOR OPPORTUNITIES.
So, you are interested in business. Maybe you’ve got an entrepreneurial spirit and hope to launch a startup. Perhaps you envision yourself in the world of entertainment or sports. Or you want to put your creativity to work as an advertising executive or travel the world on international business.
Whatever your end goal, there is a unique path for you in the College of Business at Western New England University. Part of that journey is choosing a major. In this guide, you’ll find practical tips on that important process as well as valuable information about our exciting academic programs and lifechanging learning opportunities. It’s a big world out there. Are you ready to explore?
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BUILD YOUR BRAND. There’s more to becoming a business student than simply choosing a major. At Western New England University, it’s about creating a portfolio of academics and experiences to build your personal brand and find a career you’ll love. Maybe you already know you want to be a financial trader or work for your favorite sports franchise, so you have a major in mind. If not—no pressure—you don’t have to formally choose a major until sophomore year. Your first year will focus on the exploration of all facets of business. Beginning junior year, you will take major-specific courses supported by internships, honors coursework, and realworld projects. With AACSB International accreditation, you'll graduate from “one of the best business schools in the world” and be ready for major opportunities.
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T he opportunities provided to me at Western New England University have allowed me to become a well-rounded professional. My experiences diversified my skills and made me a vital asset in any business setting. I bring many hard and soft skills to the workplace that most established businesses do not expect from a recent college graduate.
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MICHAEL CAMILLE Major: Marketing/MBA candidate President, Entrepreneur Club Orientation Group Leader Scholarship/Internship, NEDMA Board of Directors Intern, Young Professionals Society of Greater Springfield Project Engineer, Belcan Engineering Hometown: Nashua, NH
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What is a good fit for my personality?
What am I passionate about?
Will I pursue graduate study?
What is important to me in a job?
4
GOOD QUESTIONS.
KEEP THEM COMING WE’LL HELP YOU FIND ANSWERS.
Whether you’ve been sure about your career choice since the first grade or you’re still exploring, everyone goes through at least some introspection when choosing a major. It’s important to assess your interests, talents, core values, and goals. When you pursue what you are passionate about it will show in your grades—and ultimately in job interviews. Fortunately, you won’t be going it alone. Your academic advisor, professors, professional advisor, and the counselors at the Career Development Center can provide the guidance and self-assessment tools to help you find answers.
How can I distinguish myself?
What are my strengths?
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IT’S A MAJOR DECISION, BUT
YOU’VE GOT THIS.
Think of the process of choosing a major as just that—a process. Studies suggest that up to 80% of college students change their declared major at least once. Our Exploratory Business Program gives you the freedom to consider all of your options and that’s a smart way to maximize your investment.
SO RELAX, ENJOY THE JOURNEY, AND BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND. BREATHE. We’ve made it simple. All College of Business students take common business classes during their first two years, including three in your first year of study. Major specific coursework typically begins in the junior year. EXPLORE. The First Year Seminar lets you test the waters as you explore the different functions of business today and gain foundational skills. PLAN. Through your online student portal, Connect2U, you can work with your academic advisor to plot out your courses each semester and identify electives you will need to apply toward travel, a minor, certifications, or pursuing a combined degree. FOCUS. Once you have narrowed your focus, you can map out experiential opportunities to support your academics—from campus leadership positions to study abroad, internships, and networking. SUCCEED. We have designed the business curriculum to enable you to earn your Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in four years of full-time study and be ready to launch a successful career.
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DO THE HONORS. Our honors and scholars programs are the cherry on top of an impressive academic transcript. Business students set themselves apart through our honors programs, Beta Gamma Sigma (Business Honor Society), and membership in student chapters of professional business societies. Honors students can choose to live together in Honors Housing in suite-style accommodations in the LaRiviere Living and Learning Center.
SEE THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF A GLOBAL SCHOLAR. Make the world your classroom as a member of the College of Business Global Scholars Program. This program offers the advantages of internationally-focused coursework combined with global business exposure through networking and international travel and study.
GOT CAREER GOALS? EXCEL IN THE BUSINESS HONORS PROGRAM. The honors distinction from an AACSB International-accredited College of Business on your academic record is an ideal way to show graduate schools and potential employers that you are a person who is ambitious, goal-oriented, and driven to excel.
READY TO
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CHOOSING A MAJOR IN THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
EXPLORE?
Minors and certificates are a great way to complement your major program of study and distinguish yourself in the job market. Business students may also choose minors from the College of Arts and Sciences. Pair your Finance major with a minor in Economics or choose a minor in African American Literature, Women's and Gender Studies, or Athletic Coaching. The possibilities are exciting.
Save Time and Tuition With
5-YEAR
Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees
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Academic Majors
BUSINESS MAJORS
MINORS
Accounting
Accounting
Business Analytics and Information Management
Enterprise Resource Planning with SAP
Entrepreneurship
Entertainment
Finance
Entrepreneurship
General Business
Finance
International Business
Human Resource Management
Management and Leadership Marketing Marketing Communication/Advertising Pharmaceutical Business Sport Management
COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAMS Five-year Bachelor/Master of Business Administration Five-year Bachelor/Master of Science in Accounting Five-year Bachelor/Master of Science in Organizational Leadership Five-year Bachelor/Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Coaching
Integrated Marketing and Communication International Business Management Marketing Students may also choose a minor from the College of Arts and Sciences such as Economics, Communication, or Athletic Coaching.
CERTIFICATES Enterprise Resource Planning with SAP SAS
3+3 Law (combined business/law)
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BUSINESS MAJORS ACCOUNTING
FINANCE
Accountants are critical players in helping companies report their financial standings, but today they are also big picture thinkers. In the Accounting program, you’ll study such topics as auditing, accounting analytics, business law, taxation, cost accounting, and enterprise resource management. You can also pursue a double major in Finance or enroll in our Five-year Bachelor/Master of Science in Accounting, which provides the 150 credit hours required by most states to become a CPA.
The finance world is fast-paced and exciting, and always has a demand for analytical minds. The Finance curriculum incorporates accounting and economic principles, and also teaches you both the classical and current theories of financial analysis. You’ll gain expertise with financial tools in the Frances and Norman Cohen Trading Room and Financial Center, and field test the markets by managing a real $100,000 trading fund in our Portfolio Management course.
BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
A solid business education is applicable to virtually any field from healthcare to tech startups. The General Business curriculum provides that foundation from basic accounting practices to technology, while certification in SAP software will give you additional expertise and marketability in the workforce. You can also enhance your studies with a minor from the College of Business or the College of Arts and Sciences, such as Economics, or fast-track your career with a Five-year Bachelor/MBA.
Big Data is part of the biggest conversations in the business world as it helps companies reach customers with targeted precision. The Business Analytics and Information Management major is one of the first undergraduate programs of its kind in the country to prepare you for this high-growth field and to become certified in SAP and SAS, leading software tools that can make you a sought-after job candidate.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP Got big ideas? That’s not surprising as your generation’s fluency in the digital sphere makes you natural born entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneurship major lets you focus your path of study toward being an entrepreneur, a risk-taker with a strong desire to run your own business, or an intrapreneur, a self-starter eager to help innovate from within an already established business. Through opportunities like our wildly popular Product Development and Innovation course offered to business and engineering students or our intensive three-day start up competition, you may even launch your business before you graduate.
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GENERAL BUSINESS
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS From technology to finance, job candidates with a global perspective of business are in demand. The International Business curriculum focuses on the multinational elements of business practice, including communication, economics, finance, management, and marketing. You may also distinguish yourself as a member of the
Global Scholars program in which you will have opportunities to study and/or work abroad through short-term or semester-long programs sponsored by the College of Business.
MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP Leaders are found in every level of an organization, whether they are a corner office executive or a critical team member ready for the next challenge. Right from the start, the Management and Leadership major will prepare you to become an effective and ethical leader. Leadership and team-based skills are developed through group projects, internships, participation in the student Management Association, and the Nonprofit Board Experience.
MARKETING The marketing industry is going through an exciting evolution with the rising use of analytics. Access to highly targeted consumer data has created demand for integrated marketing strategies crafted by business professionals who are both critical thinkers and highly creative. In the Marketing major, you’ll be ready as you learn to write persuasively, think strategically, and juggle competing deadlines. You’ll hone your skills through projects for real clients, multiple internships, and student competitions.
MARKETING COMMUNICATION/ADVERTISING A skilled marketer must grab the consumer’s attention, communicate clearly and effectively, and convince them to purchase a product or service. In the Marketing Communication/ Advertising major, you will learn how to work on teams, meet challenging deadlines in class or in internships, and create real client campaigns—the same skills you’ll need on-the-job in an advertising agency, public relations firm, or in a corporate marketing department.
PHARMACEUTICAL BUSINESS The U.S. pharmaceutical market is the world’s most important national market. The Pharmaceutical Business major gives you a well-rounded, interdisciplinary education to understand both the scientific content as well as business concepts needed to develop and distribute pharmaceuticals. Integrating the fields of pharmacy, healthcare, and business into the curriculum gives you an advantage in the job market, as you will be able to effectively educate healthcare providers on new drugs as well as manage sales and accounts.
SPORT MANAGEMENT Sport is a $700 billion a year industry that needs well-qualified business minds. Our program is one of just two in the U.S. to enjoy both AACSB International and COSMA accreditation. Here, you’ll study with faculty who have worked in a variety of capacities in sports and make connections through more than 100 hours of experiential learning. You’ll have travel opportunities to study the Olympic Games or FIFA World Cup. You can also save time and tuition with the Five-year Bachelor/Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Coaching.
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GET CAREER READY WITH
Manage a
$100K Investment Fund in Our Investment Course
REAL WORLD TOOLS.
TRADING SPACES: IMPROVE YOUR STOCK WITH THE COHEN TRADING ROOM AND FINANCIAL CENTER. In the Cohen Trading Room and Financial Center, you’ll use Morningstar Direct financial tools to analyze financial information about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and commodities. Hungry for more? Take our Investment
30% Increase in Enrollment in Business Analytics and Information Management
course and manage a real $100,000 investment fund.
WE'VE GOT 12 MILLION REASONS TO USE THE BUSINESS ANALYTICS CENTER. At the Business Analytics Center, you’ll learn how enterprise-wide connectivity has helped 12 million users improve business productivity using SAP and SAS software and analytics tools to share data.
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MORE THAN REAL POTENTIAL. YOUR RÉSUMÉ WILL SHOW REAL EXPERIENCE. One of the best proving grounds to test your expanding business
1,000+ Internship Sponsor Sites
knowledge is through an internship where suddenly all those notes and exam questions will get real. But thanks to your excellent business foundation and growing business savvy, you’ll be ready to impress. • MGM Resorts International
• Philadelphia 76ers
• PwC
• Newell Rubbermaid
• Brooks Brothers
• MassMutual Financial Group
• Springfield Thunderbirds
• ESPN
• American Red Cross
• WWLP-TV 22
• UTC Aerospace Systems
• The Travelers
Certification
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The best part about studying abroad is the opportunity to see how business is conducted in a totally different environment. I visited the financial district in London and just being able to experience it firsthand rather than through a textbook in a classroom was amazing. It's a big eye opener. One valuable lesson I learned was that having a career in the business field today requires you to be aware of the business being conducted in all other countries because no matter where you are located, it will most likely impact you. NELLYSHA SANABRIA-LOPEZ General Business Hometown: Springfield, MA
”
WORLD CLASS—THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL SPORT BUSINESS Our students didn’t just watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup on their tablets, they experienced it live in Russia! The Center for International Sport Business not only brings world famous sports figures to lecture on campus, it also takes students abroad to study the world’s biggest sporting events. You’ll learn behind the scenes about the business of organizing international competitions like the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup through trips to London, Beijing, South Africa, and Brazil. Join us for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020!
SHORT SEMINAR TRIPS OFFER BIG BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. You can expand your worldview through a faculty-led summer seminar abroad. Ireland, Spain, Italy, Peru, Turkey, and China are just some of the locations where business students have stamped their passports to international business opportunities.
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12:1
DON’T BE AFRAID TO DREAM BIG. YOUR FACULTY ARE RIGHT WITH YOU.
Student-to-faculty Ratio
Your professors will know you by name and be valued mentors in supporting your biggest aspirations. With open doors and open dialogue, their mentorship and guidance can help connect you to
90%
courses and internships that can prepare you for graduate school or to land that first job—and chances are that after your folks, they’ll
Of Full-time Faculty Have the Highest Degrees in Their Disciplines
be the first ones you text with the great news!
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W hat’s the dream? That’s the first question I ask new students at the College of Business. It’s the beginning of an ongoing conversation as I get to know you on a personal level. From actual case studies to internships, study abroad to honors programs, my goal is to connect you to experiences that match your aspirations. Being a part of your journey and watching you gain the confidence to make that dream happen is the best part of teaching at the College of Business.
”
Dr. Melissa Knott Chair, Department of Management
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NEW
$1,000
FIRST® Robotics Scholarship for High School Participants
HERE’S AN EASY DECISION: CHOOSE A TOP RANKED “BEST VALUE” UNIVERSITY. A new report from Zippia finds Western New England University #5 in the nation and #1 in Massachusetts when it comes to preparing graduates for the job market! The analysis by the career-focused site utilized data from the federal government’s College Scorecard, looking at employment rates 10 years after students graduated. WNE’s employment rate is 95.56%, placing
Ranked Among
TOP 3% Public and Private Institutions
The Economist
it ahead of all but four institutions in the country—including both public and private colleges and universities. We have also been ranked in the Top 3% as a best value by The Economist magazine, as a U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 Best Value, and we are now classified among Doctoral/Professional Universities by Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
RENEWABLE MERIT AID FOR HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
$10-22K
If you maintain our GPA standards each year, you will receive from $40,000 to $88,000 in Merit Scholarships over the course of four years.
In Merit Aid Annually
LEARN MORE WNE.EDU/ACADEMICS/UNDERGRADUATE Build your brand with a business degree from Western New England University by exploring our majors, career paths, and internships. 16
IT’S NOT JUST WHAT YOU STUDY.
IT’S WHERE.
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Western New England University is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetics, or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Assistant Vice President and Director of Human Resources, Western New England University, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA 01119 – 2684. Inquiries concerning the application of nondiscrimination policies may also be referred to the Regional Director, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, J.W. McCormack P.O.C.H., Room 222, Boston, MA 02109-4557.
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