Business Administration BS/MBA

5 Years On Campus Accelerated-bachelors Program

University at Buffalo SUNY

Program Overview

The Business Administration BS/MBA at the University at Buffalo is a five-year combined degree designed for students who want to build a broad undergraduate business foundation and progress directly into advanced management education. Students develop knowledge across accounting, finance, marketing, operations, strategy and organizational management before completing MBA-level coursework, leadership development and practical business experiences.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by developing a foundation in business, quantitative reasoning, economics, communication and the social sciences. The undergraduate business curriculum introduces the key areas of business administration while developing analytical, communication and problem-solving abilities needed for later management study.

Year 2: Students move deeper into the School of Management's core business curriculum, studying areas such as accounting, finance, marketing, operations and organizational behavior. This stage provides a broad understanding of how different business functions work together and prepares students for more advanced management coursework.

Year 3: Students continue upper-level undergraduate business studies while preparing for the transition into the combined MBA component. Concentration and advanced management coursework is normally taken during the junior and senior years, allowing students to develop stronger expertise in their chosen business areas.

Year 4: Students begin integrating advanced management knowledge with practical leadership and decision-making skills. MBA-level study includes courses such as MGQ 608 Statistical Analysis for Managers, MGA 603 Financial Accounting for Managers, MGB 610 Organizational Behavior, MGF 611 Financial Analysis for Managers, MGM 615 Marketing for Managers and MGO 620 Operations Management.

Year 5: The final stage focuses on advanced management, strategic thinking and professional preparation. Students complete MBA core subjects such as MGO 640 Business Strategy, MGS 605 Information Technology for Managers, MGA 605 Accounting for Management Decision-Making and MGX 648 Internship/Practicum, followed by management electives that can be aligned with interests such as analytics, finance, marketing, operations, entrepreneurship or strategy.

Focus Areas

Business administration, accounting, finance, marketing, operations management, organizational behavior, business strategy, management communications, entrepreneurship, information technology, statistical analysis, financial analysis, leadership, management decision-making, global business

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to analyze business problems, communicate effectively, work collaboratively and make informed managerial decisions. The program combines broad undergraduate business knowledge with advanced MBA-level skills in strategy, finance, marketing, operations, technology, leadership and organizational management.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

All academic programs at the UB School of Management are accredited by AACSB International, a globally recognized accreditation for business education. UB has maintained continuous AACSB accreditation since 1930, providing a long-standing quality framework for its undergraduate and graduate business programs.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

UB's School of Management reports that 94% of its 2025 BS Business Administration graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months, with an overall average base salary of $63,061 across the BS programs. For the MBA Class of 2025, 80% of job-seeking graduates were employed by graduation or within three months, with an average base salary of $76,639.

For the 2025–26 Bloomberg Businessweek ranking, UB's MBA was ranked No. 61 nationally and No. 27 among public business schools; UB also states that its School of Management was in the top 10% of AACSB-accredited business schools in that ranking.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS/MBA is structured to connect classroom learning with professional development, collaborative projects and real business experience. As students move into the MBA component, they participate in MBA Advantage, team-based learning and Corporate Champion projects, while the curriculum includes a dedicated internship/practicum and opportunities for action learning, global programs and entrepreneurship activities.

Students can also use the School of Management's dedicated academic and technology facilities for presentations, team projects, research and professional preparation:

Corporate Champion Project: MBA students work in teams on a Corporate Champion project during their first semester, strengthening communication, critical-thinking and leadership skills through collaborative work.
MBA Internship/Practicum: MGX 648 Internship/Practicum is a three-credit component of the MBA curriculum, giving students an opportunity to gain practical experience and professional exposure.
MBA Advantage: This personal-development experience provides relationships, tools and knowledge designed to help students succeed throughout the MBA.
Action Learning: Students can participate in opportunities such as LeaderCORE™, global programs, Social Impact Fellows and entrepreneurship programs, extending learning beyond traditional classroom study.
Alfiero Center Group Rooms: Students can reserve dedicated rooms for group work and cohort meetings, supporting collaborative assignments and team-based business projects.
Jacobs Computer Lab: The lab provides Windows-based computers with Microsoft Office and additional specialized applications for School of Management students and faculty.
Technology-Equipped Classrooms: Jacobs Management Center and Alfiero Center provide technology-equipped classrooms that students can use for practicing presentations and professional activities.
Murchie Shore Data Theater: A high-tech data analysis facility opening in 2026 in the Alfiero Center is designed specifically for collaborative data analysis, adding another technology-focused learning environment for management students.
Global Programs: MBA students can participate in international study experiences, including global business courses and study-abroad opportunities that connect business concepts with international markets.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The combined BS/MBA prepares graduates to enter business careers with both undergraduate business knowledge and advanced management training. Completing both degrees in five years can help students move into professional and managerial positions across finance, consulting, marketing, operations, technology and general management while also providing a foundation for longer-term leadership roles.

Typical Career Roles:

Management Consultant, Business Analyst, Financial Analyst, Marketing Manager

Career Development & Industry Exposure:

Career Resource Center: UB's School of Management provides individualized career services, career planning, job-search support and interview preparation; MBA students are encouraged to use CRC programs to develop career strategies and professional competencies.
Employment Outcomes: For the 2025 BS Business Administration class, 94% of graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months. The 2025 full-time MBA class reported an average base salary of $76,639, with 80% of job-seeking graduates employed by graduation or within three months.
Industry Exposure: MBA students gain employer-facing experience through Corporate Champion projects, internships, recruiting activities, career events and action-learning opportunities.
Alumni Network: The School of Management reports more than 49,500 alumni across 87 countries, giving students access to a broad international business community.
Accreditation Value: AACSB accreditation covers all academic programs within the School of Management and has been maintained continuously since 1930, providing an internationally recognized quality benchmark for business education.
Five-Year Degree Pathway: Highly motivated students can complete the bachelor's degree and MBA in five years, allowing them to earn an advanced management credential without following the standard separate undergraduate-plus-MBA timeline.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BS/MBA, graduates can pursue additional specialized graduate education, professional certifications or doctoral-level study in business and related disciplines. Within UB's School of Management, students can also build on their business background through specialized areas such as finance, analytics, marketing, operations, leadership, strategy and other advanced management subjects.