General Business

MORE INFORMATION
Janet Olson, assistant dean
College of Business & Economics
Carlson 4035
(262) 472-4900
olsonj@uww.edu

Admissions Office
UW-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI 53190
(262) 472-1440
Fax:
(262) 472-1515
uwwadmit@uww.edu
Web site

The General Business major at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater provides students with a broader look at the field of business. Rather than concentrating in one specific field such as accounting, economics, finance, management, office systems, or marketing, you choose courses from several of these fields. You design your major within boundaries established by the College of Business and Economics. You may take up to four courses in any one field or department.

Many business positions do not require an in-depth technical preparation. Students who complete the Bachelor of Business Administration degree in general business, or one of the emphases, are prepared for a variety of entry-level business positions. They pursue employment compatible with what they enjoy doing. Students combine their preparation in business with their communication skills, work ethic, work experiences, and enthusiasm to get their first position. Students make extensive use of the network of contacts they establish through involvement in professional student organization activities to also help them in conducting their initial job search.

The general business major also has different emphases that provide students an opportunity to concentrate coursework within a specific area or emphasis. They include:

General Business - Entrepreneurship:The entrepreneurship emphasis is for those students who are interested in operating a small business or starting their own business upon graduation.

General Business - International: The international emphasis, a cooperative program with the Foreign Language Department, prepares students for positions with companies doing business internationally.

All business majors are encouraged to have an international experience, either a short-term travel study course or an exchange for a semester or two. This is particularly valuable for those studying international business. With good planning, these experiences do not delay graduation. Whitewater has exchange programs in over 15 countries.

For general business majors who do not choose an emphasis, the major includes 12 credits that are restricted to four lists of courses from different areas of business. The other 12 credits of the major are chosen by the student to prepare for the career of their choosing.

General business – international emphasis majors take at least 16 credits of foreign language, 9 credits of non-business international credits, 12 credits of international business credits, and 9 credits of business courses of the student’s choosing to prepare to work in a particular area of business.

General business – entrepreneurship emphasis majors take 15 credits of required entrepreneurship courses and 9 credits of business courses of the student’s choosing to personalize the major to the student’s entrepreneurial interests.