Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Business Administration Major

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Auburn University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business gives students a broad, practical foundation across accounting, business analytics, marketing, finance, and management, making it well suited to students who want flexibility in shaping their business career. Students can use their business and free electives to develop a focus that matches their career goals while building professional skills through applied coursework and career development opportunities.

Curriculum Structure

Freshman Year: Students begin by building a strong academic and professional foundation through courses such as ENGL 1100 English Composition I, MATH 1680 Calculus with Business Applications I, BUSI 1010 Professional Development in Business I, and COMM 1000 Public Speaking. The year also introduces students to university-level communication, quantitative thinking, professional development, and the broader business environment while students explore the different business majors available at Harbert.

Sophomore Year: The curriculum moves into core business disciplines, with students studying ECON 2020 Microeconomics, BUAL 2600 Business Analytics I, ACCT 2110 Financial Accounting, and SCMN 2150 Principles of Supply Chain Management. Students then build on this foundation through BUAL 2650 Business Analytics II, ECON 2030 Macroeconomics, ACCT 2210 Managerial Accounting, and ACCT 2700 Business Law, developing analytical, financial, and decision-making skills.

Junior Year: Students gain a broader understanding of how organizations operate through MKTG 3310 Principles of Marketing, MNGT 3100 Principles of Management, and ISMN 2140 Introduction to Information Systems Management. They also study CTCT 3250 Information Analysis, FINC 3610 Principles of Finance, and management and business electives, allowing them to connect marketing, management, information, finance, and analytical perspectives.

Senior Year: The final year provides greater flexibility through finance or accounting electives, international business electives, marketing or supply chain electives, and additional business electives. Students complete BUSI 4010 Professional Development in Business IV and MNGT 4800 Strategic Management, bringing together their business knowledge while preparing for professional opportunities or graduate study.

Focus Areas

Business Administration, Accounting, Business Analytics, Marketing, Finance, Management, Information Systems Management, Supply Chain Management, International Business, Strategic Management, Professional Development, Entrepreneurship, Organizational Behaviour, Human Resource Management, Project Management

Learning Outcomes

Students develop practical business knowledge across multiple disciplines, strengthen quantitative and analytical decision-making skills, understand organizational and strategic management principles, apply financial and accounting concepts, develop communication and professional skills, use business information and analytics to support decisions, and build the flexibility to work across different business functions and industries.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Harbert College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Auburn states that fewer than 5% of the world’s business schools have earned AACSB accreditation, reflecting the college’s commitment to established standards in business education and continuous peer review.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Harbert College of Business was ranked No. 36 among public universities and No. 58 overall in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report undergraduate business rankings. The college also reports an 86% employment placement rate, an average undergraduate starting salary of $61,000, and more than 90% of students graduating with real-world experience.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Business Administration major gain practical exposure through applied business coursework, professional-development activities, internships, mentoring, competitions, and access to technology-rich business facilities. Harbert provides dedicated computer labs with business software and financial-market technology, while its career-development ecosystem connects students with professionals, mentors, employers, and internship opportunities.

Students can put their knowledge into practice through opportunities such as:

Business Internships: Harbert internships allow students to work directly in their field, apply classroom business skills, earn college credit where applicable, and gain professional experience. Students can also use Handshake to identify internship and employment opportunities.
Professional Development: BUSI 1010 helps freshmen explore business majors and complete self-assessments, while later professional-development courses continue preparing students for the workplace.
Harbert Connects: Students can connect with alumni and business professionals for career guidance, job-shadowing, mentoring, industry perspectives, and professional networking.
Career Fairs and Employer Interaction: Harbert career fairs provide opportunities to meet companies and organizations recruiting for internships and full-time positions.
Tiger Cage Business Idea Competition: Students can develop and pitch startup ideas to experienced judges, with participating teams receiving access to workshops, coaching, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and potential startup funding.
Business Technology Facilities: The Harbert Financial Lab provides 45 Windows desktops, five Bloomberg terminals, and dual-monitor workstations, giving students access to tools used in financial and business analysis.
Business Software: Harbert computer labs provide access to Microsoft Office 365, Alteryx Designer, Caseware IDEA, Gephi, KNIME, Microsoft Power BI, and Tableau Desktop, alongside other software and technology resources.
Mentoring and Team-Based Activities: Students can work with mentors and participate in professional organizations, case competitions, pitch competitions, and other activities designed to strengthen teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and business decision-making.
Study Abroad: Harbert also provides opportunities for students to gain international business exposure through faculty-led study-abroad experiences.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Business Administration major is designed to give graduates broad business knowledge that can be applied across management, human resources, operations, project management, entrepreneurship, and organizational development. The program’s flexible electives also allow students to build a profile suited to their preferred business function, while Harbert’s career services, mentoring, internships, and employer connections support the transition from university to the workplace.

Typical career roles include:

Management Trainee
Project Management Specialist
Operations Supervisor
Business Analyst
Human Resources Specialist
Recruiting and Staffing Specialist
Compensation and Benefits Specialist
Training and Development Specialist
Organizational Development Specialist
Employee Relations Specialist
Management Consultant
Entrepreneurship/Startup Manager

Career Development and Graduate Outcomes:

Career services: Harbert’s Office of Professional and Career Development provides undergraduate career resources, career coaching, resume preparation, mock interviews, career fairs, Handshake access, and internship support.
Employment and salary: Harbert reports an 86% employment placement rate and an average undergraduate starting salary of $61,000. The college also reports that more than 90% of students graduate with real-world experience.
Industry connections: Harbert reports 400+ corporate partners on campus each year, alongside 14 career coaches and program champions and 300 alumni mentors, providing students with opportunities to interact with professionals and potential employers.
Professional network: Harbert Connects links students with alumni and business professionals for career guidance, industry insight, mentoring, networking, and potential internship and employment opportunities.
Accreditation value: AACSB accreditation provides an internationally recognized quality framework for business education and is maintained through rigorous standards and peer-review processes.
Applied experience: Internships, competitions, employer events, mentoring, professional-development courses, and business technology facilities allow students to graduate with practical experience in addition to their academic credentials.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can continue into graduate-level business education depending on their career goals, including Auburn’s MBA, Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Supply Chain Management, Master of Accountancy, or other relevant graduate programs.