What is Business Administration?

Business Administration is a wide field that incorporates numerous management positions. From major corporations to independent businesses, every operation needs skilled administrators to succeed. A bachelors in business administration gives you the tools to fill leadership roles in both business and the community.

Business Administration Degree(s)

Business Administration—Finance Concentration, BA

The field of finance encompasses many different areas including investments, financial institutions, corporate finance, and real estate. The Finance Concentration includes coursework in each of these areas as well as courses in options and futures, multi-national finance, and insurance.

Contact

Heather Christianson, Major Information: Academic Department Manager
Heather.Christianson@wwu.edu | 360-650-2079

Business Administration—General Business Concentration, BA

Location: Poulsbo

This program allows you to customize your business courses to suit your own business education goals. Rather than concentrating in a specific business discipline such as Finance or Marketing, you may choose to create your own General Business Concentration with the help of faculty advisors.

Contact

Cristina Nelson, Major Information: Academic Department Manager
cristina.nelson@wwu.edu | 360-650-2902

Business Administration—International Business Concentration, BA

The International Business Concentration provides students with the skills global companies are seeking. Often combining training in language and other business areas, students learn to manage business relationships across borders in a variety of capacities.

Contact

Cristina Nelson, Major Information: Academic Department Manager
cristina.nelson@wwu.edu | 360-650-2902

Professor Tom Roehl, Major Information: International Business
tom.roehl@wwu.edu | 360-650-4809

Business Administration—Management Concentration, BA

While other business disciplines focus on tasks for business, Management focuses on how to motivate others to accomplish these tasks efficiently and effectively with high quality results. Students learn how to manage projects, work with teams, implement changes, and be effective leaders. 

Contact

Cristina Nelson, Major Information: Academic Department Manager
cristina.nelson@wwu.edu | 360-650-2902

Business Administration—Management Information Systems Concentration, BA

This concentration teaches students to combine their understanding of business, information systems, and technology to help organizations compete more successfully by streamlining current operations. Students learn how information technology can contribute to an organization, and how to develop and apply information technology based business solutions. 

Contact

Keaton Seifert, Major Information: Academic Department Manager
Keaton.Seifert@wwu.edu | 360-650-3275

Business Administration—Marketing Concentration, BA

This program provides students with coursework that is intellectually stimulating and directly useful in today's marketing profession. Students study marketing as it relates to a variety of activities in new product development, pricing strategies/implementation, various communications including advertising, digital media, personal selling, distribution, management of services, and brand management.

Contact

Heather Christianson, Major Information: Academic Department Manager
Heather.Christianson@wwu.edu | 360-650-2079

Business Administration—Operations Management Concentration, BA

Operations management determines what equipment, labor, tools, facilities, materials, energy, and information are required, how these can best be obtained, and how they are used to satisfy the requirements of the marketplace.

Contact

Keaton Seifert, Major Information: Academic Department Manager
Keaton.Seifert@wwu.edu | 360-650-3275

Business Administration at Western

Western's Business Administration programs explore leadership roles in business and the community, providing students with the perceptual and analytical skills necessary  to make decisions and evaluate policies in business, and develop an understanding of the social, economic, and regulatory environments in business. All  students earning a degree in Business Administration develop significant understanding of  management information systems and computing.  

Student Experiences

Internships

Most companies are looking for people with real world experience, which is why Western students receive encouragement and support in finding relevant internships. Student internships often provide valuable industry connections and can lead to a job offer after graduation.

Another way to network and gain extracurricular experience is through Western's study abroad program, where you can study business at institutions around the world.

Scholarships

The College of Business and Economics offer annual scholarships which students apply for in Winter quarter and are awarded the following academic year. CBE’s commitment includes supporting BIPOC students, LGBTQ+ students, women, students with disabilities and more.

Students complete a simple online application to apply for many different scholarships at once, and will be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible. Learn more about CBE scholarships and review the available scholarships included in the general application.

Organizations and Clubs

The College of Business & Economics hosts a variety of student clubs that provide avenues of professional growth, networking, fun, and camaraderie. Student clubs provide a great way to learn about an area of study, often through professionals in the field.

The International Business program at Western engages and challenges its students to analyze and resolve real business problems that are relevant in today's globalized economy.

Sebastian Kohlmeier

International Business Alumni, WWU Presidential Scholar, Amazon and Microsoft Work Experience

What can you do with?

A degree in Business Administration can lead to a career in management, human resources, logistics, IT, and more. Western graduates have found success in a variety of industries, including aerospace, technology, retail, and more.

Employers of recent Western graduates include:

  • ADP Cobalt: Order Specialist
  • A/E Aerospace: Quality Technical Aide
  • Amazon: Global Talent Search, Amazon Marketplace Relationship Manager and Senior Manager Kindle
  • Boeing: IS Analyst, Programmer, Information Technology (IT), Network Architect, Functional Analyst, IT Systems Analyst, and Programmer Analyst 
  • Costco: Accounting Report Analyst
  • Expedia: Web Analyst 
  • Microsoft: Associate Consultant
  • Nintendo: Purchasing Manager
  • Royal Commercial Corporation: Commercial RE Broker Marketing Manager
  • Sherwin Williams: Assistant Manager
  • Starbucks: Contract Specialist 

Business Administration careers

  • Project Management
  • Event Planning
  • Human Resources Management
  • Management Consulting
  • Nonprofit Management
  • Government
  • Small Business
  • Retail Management
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Management of International Relationships in Business