Pre-business Curriculum

Many graduates of the College go on to careers in business but there is no business major or minor in the College. Students who desire an undergraduate business education should consider transferring to the McIntire School of Commerce after two or three years in the College. Students who wish to pursue careers in business and who also wish to receive a liberal arts degree from the College should consider taking in the College some or all of the courses required for transfer to the School of Commerce. Business values a quantitative background, which also includes course work in accounting and computer sciences. Electives such as these can help to make a liberal arts graduate competitive for entry-level opportunities in business. Students should bear in mind that it is possible to count up to 18 credits of courses outside the College toward the B.A. degree. Thus a student could remain in the College but take a number of business-related courses. It is also possible for students who transfer to the McIntire School of Commerce to complete a Commerce degree in that School and a major or minor from the College.

Another way to prepare for a career in business is to plan for graduate business study. Recommended courses at the undergraduate level include calculus, computer science, economics, and accounting. Graduate business schools as well as business employers look for candidates with diverse academic and extra-curricular backgrounds and diverse work experiences which serve as indicators of leadership and management ability, problem-solving and human relations skills, quantitative and communications capabilities, and maturity. Many graduate business schools strongly encourage a candidate to acquire several years of full-time work experience and admit very few recent college graduates. Advising for graduate business school is available at University Career Services, Bryant Hall.