Business Administration (BS): Undeclared

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

North Carolina State University Raleigh

Program Overview

The Business Administration (BS): Undeclared program gives students a broad foundation across finance, marketing, operations, human resource management, information technology and entrepreneurship before they choose a concentration for deeper study. It is particularly suited to students who know they want a career in business but want time to explore different business functions while developing analytical, communication, ethical and global-awareness skills.

Curriculum Structure

First Year:
Students begin by building their academic and professional foundation through M 100: Personal and Professional Identity Development and MIE 201: Introduction to Business, alongside mathematics, communication, economics and writing. Courses such as ACC 210: Concepts of Financial Reporting and EC 201: Principles of Microeconomics introduce students to the financial and economic principles that underpin business decision-making.

Second Year:
The second year expands students' understanding of how organisations operate through ACC 220: Introduction to Managerial Accounting, BUS 340: Information Systems Management and BUS 351: Introduction to Business Analytics. Students also begin choosing from areas such as BUS 320: Financial Management, BUS 360: Marketing Methods, BUS 370: Operations and Supply Chain Management, MIE 310: Introduction to Entrepreneurship and MIE 330: Managing People, giving them a practical way to explore potential specialisations.

Third Year:
Students continue developing their business expertise by combining core business subjects with communication and concentration coursework. Options include BUS 320: Financial Management, BUS 360: Marketing Methods, BUS 370: Operations and Supply Chain Management, MIE 305: Legal and Regulatory Environment, MIE 310: Introduction to Entrepreneurship and MIE 330: Managing People, allowing students to shape their studies around their developing career interests.

Fourth Year:
The final year moves toward advanced application and specialisation, with concentration courses forming a larger part of the programme. MIE 480: Business Policy and Strategy brings together the strategic perspective developed throughout the degree, while additional concentration and elective courses allow students to complete their individual academic pathway within the 120-credit-hour degree.

Focus areas

Finance, marketing, operations and supply chain management, human resource management, information technology, entrepreneurship, business analytics, accounting, economics, business strategy, communication and management.

Learning outcomes

Students develop business knowledge across multiple functional areas while strengthening analytical thinking, communication, ethical and global awareness, critical decision-making and the ability to apply business concepts to real-world challenges. The programme also develops practical skills through hands-on and project-oriented learning.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The programme is offered through NC State's Poole College of Management, which is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). NC State states that Poole's business and accounting programmes have maintained AACSB accreditation following rigorous review and peer evaluation.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Poole College reports strong undergraduate employment outcomes: for the 2024–25 graduating class, 91% of graduates were employed six months after graduation, with an average base salary of $67,508 and an average signing bonus of $7,026. Poole also reports that more than 200 employers have recruited directly from the college; its published employer list includes Amazon, IBM, PwC, Bank of America, Cisco, Deloitte, EY, Lenovo, SAS, Wells Fargo and others.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The programme places a strong emphasis on applying business knowledge beyond traditional classroom learning. NC State specifically describes its Business Administration curriculum as hands-on and project-oriented, with opportunities to engage with companies and industry partners through projects, clubs and internships; Poole's facilities also provide dedicated spaces for collaboration, technology-supported learning and financial-market research.

Students can build practical experience through:

Hands-on and project-oriented courses — The programme uses projects and practical activities to help students apply business concepts to real-world business challenges.
Company and industry engagement — Students can interact with actual companies and industry partners through clubs, projects and internship opportunities.
Financial Markets Lab — Located in Nelson Hall, the lab includes Bloomberg Terminals used by finance professionals. It is available to Poole students for research into financial markets, companies and the economy.
Active Learning Classrooms — Nelson Hall includes a 90-person high-tech active-learning environment, flexible classrooms, collaboration areas and student meeting rooms designed to support peer collaboration and interactive learning.
Career and Internship Fair — Poole's career fair is held each semester and allows students to meet 100+ companies across areas including banking, finance, IT, human resources and professional services.
Internships and co-ops — Poole Career Services supports students in identifying and pursuing internships and co-ops, with employer networking and dedicated job-search resources.
Career technology — Students have access to ePACK, the university's career information management system, as well as CareerShift and Interstride for job and internship searching.
Nelson Hall resources — Students have access to academic advising, the Career Center, Global Programs, IT Help Desk, collaboration spaces and The Exchange student community hub.
Supply Chain Resource Cooperative — Poole identifies the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative as one of its major initiatives supporting research, learning and corporate engagement.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Business Administration (BS) prepares graduates for a wide range of business and industry roles because students develop knowledge across finance, marketing, operations, human resources, IT, entrepreneurship and strategy before specialising. NC State specifically identifies opportunities in areas such as new product development, marketing, manufacturing, human resources, IT management, business analysis, banking and finance, consulting and business development.

Typical career roles include:
Business Analyst, Financial Analyst, Marketing Manager, Human Resources Specialist, Management Analyst

Career development and graduate outcomes:

Dedicated Career Services: Poole's Career Center provides career exploration, job-search strategy, networking, experiential education, career-readiness programming and support for internship, co-op and full-time job searches.
Employer connections: Poole's career events connect students with employers, while its semesterly Career and Internship Fair attracts more than 100 companies across multiple business sectors.
Employment outcomes: For the 2024–25 undergraduate graduating class, Poole reports a 91% employment rate six months after graduation, a $67,508 average base salary and a $7,026 average signing bonus.
Industry outcomes: Reported average base salaries include $71,735 in financial services, $71,475 in technology, $74,513 in consulting, $57,527 in retail and $81,178 in real estate for the reported 2024–25 class.
Industry partnerships: Poole reports hundreds of mutually beneficial corporate relationships and more than 200 employers recruiting directly from the college. Its employer list includes Amazon, IBM, PwC, Bank of America, Cisco, Deloitte, EY, SAS, Lenovo, Wells Fargo and other major organisations.
Practical career preparation: Students can use peer career coaching, resume reviews, employer networking, career fairs, corporate presentations, ePACK and other career-development resources.
Accreditation value: The degree is delivered within an AACSB-accredited business school, providing students with a business education framework recognised through an established international accreditation process.
Further specialisation: Students in the undeclared pathway eventually select a concentration, with options including entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, information technology, marketing and operations/supply chain management.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BS in Business Administration, graduates can pursue advanced study in areas such as business administration, accounting, economics and law. NC State's Poole College specifically notes that its graduates may continue into advanced studies in professional accounting, economics, law and business administration either directly after graduation or after gaining professional experience.