BS & BSc (Hons) Degree in Business Administration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

American College of Thessaloniki

Program Overview

The BS in Business Administration at American College of Thessaloniki challenges you to become a successful manager and thinking leader, equipping you with a comprehensive, US-accredited education that combines rigorous academic theory with real-world business applications across the Balkan region. Whether you're drawn to entrepreneurship, international finance, marketing, or tourism, this four-year program delivers the practical skills and strategic mindset you need to climb quickly into positions of increasing responsibility in your industry.

Curriculum Structure

Year One establishes your foundational knowledge in core business disciplines. You'll dive into Accounting 101 (Financial Accounting) and Economics 101 (Introductory Macroeconomics) to understand how organizations manage resources and respond to economic forces, while also developing essential communication skills through English and exploring broader perspectives via art, music, or humanities electives.

Year Two deepens your managerial and analytical toolkit. Building on your accounting foundation with Accounting 102 (Managerial Accounting), you'll explore Marketing 101 to understand customer behavior and strategy, and complete Economics 102 (Introductory Microeconomics) to grasp individual business decision-making—all while continuing to develop your critical thinking through philosophy and social science courses.

Year Three marks your transition into specialized business analysis and strategic thinking. In the first semester, you'll study Management 201 (Organizational Behavior), Finance 201 (Financial Management), and Business Administration 241 (International Business Law), gaining insight into how organizations operate internally and navigate the global legal landscape. The second semester introduces Research Methods 299 and Statistics 205, equipping you with the quantitative and analytical skills essential for evidence-based decision-making, alongside Finance 202 (Entrepreneurial Corporate Finance) to understand funding and growth strategies.

Year Four focuses on strategic leadership and specialized pathways. Your final year encompasses capstone courses like Management 322 and 323 (Business Strategy I and II), where you'll synthesize everything you've learned to develop comprehensive organizational strategies, combined with pathway-specific courses in marketing, finance, or entrepreneurship depending on your chosen concentration.

Focus Areas

The program offers four distinct pathways—Entrepreneurial Management, Marketing, International Business & Finance, and Tourism—allowing you to tailor your degree to your career aspirations while maintaining a strong foundation in business fundamentals.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop logical, critical, and integrated analytical thinking; creative problem-solving abilities; and proficiency in ethical reasoning. You'll also master discipline-specific competencies including information technology and quantitative skills for real-world problem-solving, alongside strong oral, written, and presentation communication skills essential for leadership roles.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Your degree is US-accredited and EU-validated, making it recognized across international markets. Graduates are eligible to apply for degree equivalence recognition from Greek public universities, and many have already achieved professional recognition for their qualifications.

Reputation & Employability

ACT's business curriculum follows the proven US university model for comprehensive education, and the college's deep involvement in the Balkan business network ensures you're learning from current, real-world examples and building connections that accelerate your career trajectory. The program is specifically designed to give you "a head start in your industry and speedier climb to positions of increasing responsibility.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the American College of Thessaloniki (ACT), our BA & BSc (Hons) Degree in Business Administration puts experiential learning front and center, so you don't just study business—you live it. You'll build real-world skills through hands-on involvement like company visits, internships, and entrepreneurial challenges that mirror actual business scenarios, all backed by partnerships with top organizations in Greece and Southeast Europe. This approach equips you with the practical edge employers crave, from crafting business plans to tackling live consulting projects.

Here are some standout ways our program delivers that experience::

- Internships: Jump into Business 398: Undergraduate Internship in Business, where juniors and seniors apply classroom knowledge in real workplaces—credit is earned for learning, not just hours logged.
- Company visits and guest lectures: Regular visits to companies and talks from execs at places like the Exporters’ Association of Northern Greece (SEVE), Deloitte Greece, and major banks, plus tourism pros from SETE and the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau.
- Group projects and consulting: Team up in the Global Competitiveness Practicum (Business 399) with ACT and Ohio University peers on real assignments for local businesses, honing skills in strategy and execution—it's a summer standout.
- Entrepreneurial competitions: Compete in the John Pappajohn Annual Business Plan Competition, testing your ideas for seed funding up to $5,000, perfect for undergrads like you.
- Capstone projects: Wrap up with Business Strategy I & II (Management 322/323), including research methods and a final project that synthesizes everything into pro-level decision-making.
- Student clubs and real-world simulations: Join clubs for networking and leadership, plus courses like Management 330: Entrepreneurship and Innovation where you build detailed business plans from realistic cases.

This is your launchpad to leading in business—spots fill fast, so apply now and let's get you started.

Progression & Future Opportunities

At the American College of Thessaloniki, the Business Administration program is designed to shape you into a confident, globally-minded business professional. Graduates typically move quickly into roles such as Business Analyst, Marketing Executive, Financial Analyst, or Management Trainee, with strong leadership potential and faster progression into higher-responsibility positions thanks to the program’s practical, US-style curriculum.

This means your future is both flexible and global:

Career-focused support from day one: ACT’s Career & Alumni Services offers personalized career coaching, CV building, interview preparation, internship support, and recruiting events to connect you with employers.
Strong employment and study outcomes: Around 48% of students are employed at graduation, while 34% continue to Master’s studies, showing both immediate employability and strong academic progression.
Industry connections that open doors: The university maintains long-standing relationships with leading businesses and organizations across Southeast Europe, giving you access to real networking opportunities and internships.
International accreditation advantage: Your degree is US-accredited and EU-validated, and eligible for recognition in Greece—adding long-term credibility and global mobility to your qualification.
Real-world readiness: The curriculum focuses on leadership, decision-making, and practical business skills, helping you enter the workforce faster and progress into managerial roles more quickly.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, you can advance to postgraduate studies such as a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Marketing, or International Business. ACT itself offers a Master in Business Administration, allowing you to deepen your expertise, specialize further, and move into senior leadership or executive roles in global organizations.