Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University at Albany SUNY

Program Overview

The B.S. in Business Administration at the University at Albany gives students a strong foundation in business while allowing them to specialize in areas such as finance, entrepreneurship, financial planning, information systems and business analytics, management, marketing, or combined concentrations. The program blends business knowledge with practical learning, technology, communication, leadership and analytical skills, making it suitable for students who want flexibility in shaping their business career.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with the fundamentals of business and the broader academic skills needed for university study. Courses such as Survey of Business, Business Law, Financial Management, Microeconomics, and Business Communications introduce students to how organizations operate, make financial decisions and communicate in professional settings.

Year 2: The second year develops students' understanding of accounting, information technology and quantitative business analysis. Courses such as Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting Systems for Managerial Decisions, and Information Technologies for Business help students understand financial information, managerial decisions and the role of technology in modern organizations.

Year 3: Students move into upper-level business subjects while beginning deeper study in their selected concentration. The curriculum includes Marketing Principles, Behavioral Foundations of Management, Financial Management, Improving Business Performance with Information Technologies, and Information Security for Business, alongside upper-division concentration courses that build specialized expertise.

Year 4: The final year focuses heavily on advanced concentration coursework and strategic business knowledge. Students complete upper-division concentration courses and finish with Strategic Management, upper-level economics and electives, developing the ability to connect functional business knowledge with organizational strategy and complex business decisions.

Focus Areas

Financial Analyst Honors, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Financial Planning, Information Systems and Business Analytics, Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Finance, Entrepreneurship and Information Systems and Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship and Marketing, Finance and Management, Finance and Marketing, Management and Information Systems and Business Analytics, Management and Marketing, Marketing and Information Systems and Business Analytics

Learning Outcomes

Business and accounting fundamentals, financial analysis, marketing, organizational behavior, information technology, business law, strategic management, ethical decision-making, sustainability and leadership, professional communication, globalization and diversity, information technology applications, business problem analysis and solution development

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Business Administration is offered through the Massry School of Business, which holds dual AACSB accreditation in business administration and accounting. UAlbany states that its Massry School of Business was the first school in the world to receive AACSB accreditation at both the graduate and undergraduate levels in 1974, and that dual accreditation is held by fewer than 2% of the world's business schools.

Reputation (Employability & Outcomes)

Recent UAlbany alumni surveys report that more than 80% of UAlbany business students find employment within five months of graduation, with more than 90% of those employed reporting job satisfaction. The program also lists employers including General Electric, Goldman Sachs, Northwestern Mutual, Macy's, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students gain practical experience through internships, cooperative education, applied business activities and direct interaction with employers. The Massry School of Business reports that most Business Administration students complete at least one internship, while its Co-op program provides paid, semester-long professional experience; students can also take leadership responsibility at the Saxbys café located within the Massry School of Business.

The program also connects students with business technology, investment activities, career resources and dedicated facilities for collaborative work. These opportunities allow students to turn classroom concepts in finance, marketing, management, analytics and information systems into practical business skills:

Internships: Most Business Administration students complete at least one internship with a local, national or global organization, supported by the Massry School of Business's employer relationships.
Cooperative Education: Students can work 35–40 hours per week for four to five months in a paid professional placement, earning at least $21 per hour according to the current program information.
Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform: Students can operate the real Saxbys café in the Massry School of Business while earning academic credit and being paid, developing practical skills in operations, finance, marketing, recruiting and team leadership.
Financial Analyst Honors: Selected students can participate in the student-run University at Albany School of Business Investment Group (UASBIG), where members analyze real securities and present stock-investment ideas to an advisory board.
Investment resources: Financial Analyst Honors students can connect with investment professionals through the Center for Institutional Investment Management (CIIM) and participate in the Adirondack Cup student stock portfolio contest.
Technology facilities: The Massry School of Business provides technologically advanced classrooms, accounting and digital forensics labs, a trading room with Bloomberg terminals and breakout rooms designed for team projects.
Career preparation: The dedicated business Career Services Office provides resume and cover-letter support, mock interviews, networking with alumni and employers, weekly job and internship updates, on-campus recruiting and career-focused seminars.
Professional development: The Ernst & Young World of Business living-learning community provides directly admitted business students with career seminars, field trips and leadership opportunities funded by Ernst & Young.
Applied academic opportunities: The four-year plan identifies research within the major, university and departmental internships, community-engaged coursework, study abroad and tutoring as credit-bearing professional development options.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Business Administration provides a flexible foundation for careers across finance, analytics, management, marketing, information systems, entrepreneurship and other business functions. Depending on the concentration selected, graduates can pursue roles such as Business Analyst, Financial Analyst, Marketing Analyst and Management Consultant, while specialized pathways also prepare students for areas such as investment analysis, business intelligence, financial planning and corporate strategy.

Career development and graduate opportunities include:

Career Services: The Massry School of Business's dedicated Career Services Office provides resume and cover-letter development, mock interviews, networking events, weekly job and internship updates, on-campus recruiting, career seminars and career exploration resources.
Employment outcomes: Recent alumni surveys indicate that more than 80% of UAlbany business students find employment within five months of graduation, and more than 90% of employed respondents report being satisfied with their jobs.
Employer connections: The school maintains relationships with regional, national and international consulting firms, corporations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies, including the NYS Office of the Comptroller. Listed employers include General Electric, Goldman Sachs, Northwestern Mutual, Macy's and the Big Four accounting firms.
Industry-based experience: Business students can gain direct experience through internships, the paid Co-op program, employer networking and the Saxbys student-operated business.
Accreditation value: AACSB accreditation provides an internationally recognized quality framework for business education; UAlbany's Massry School of Business holds dual accreditation in business administration and accounting.
Leadership and alumni network: Massry School of Business highlights strong connections with alumni recruiters and business professionals, giving students opportunities to build professional relationships alongside their academic studies.
Accelerated graduate pathway: Students can combine the Business Administration degree with UAlbany's M.S. in Information Science, with up to 12 graduate credits counting toward both degrees and completion possible in five years.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into graduate-level business education such as UAlbany's MBA, or pursue specialized master's study depending on their career interests. The university also provides an accelerated undergraduate/graduate pathway combining the B.S. in Business Administration with the M.S. in Information Science, allowing eligible students to begin graduate coursework while completing their bachelor's degree.