Business Administration B.B.A.

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Business Administration at the University of Alaska Fairbanks gives students a broad foundation across management, finance, marketing, human resources, operations, information systems, and international business while allowing them to specialize through one or more concentrations. The 120-credit degree suits students seeking flexible careers in business, government, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurship, and related fields, with options including Finance & Economics, General Business, Human Resources, Leadership, Marketing, and Sport Management.

Curriculum Structure

First Year:
Students start with the fundamentals of business and the wider economic environment. Courses such as BA F151X Introduction to Business, ECON F111X Principles of Macroeconomics, and ECON F101X Principles of Economics I: Microeconomics introduce business functions, economic concepts, and the foundations needed for later management and business coursework.

Second Year:
The second year develops practical business knowledge while students continue their general education and begin progressing into the B.B.A. requirements. Coursework builds toward areas such as business communication, personal finance, accounting and information systems, helping students understand how financial, organizational, and information-based decisions support business operations.

Third Year:
Students move into the core of the B.B.A. curriculum with subjects such as BA F307 Introductory Human Resources Management, BA F325 Financial Management, BA F343 Principles of Marketing, and BA F360 Operations Management. These courses examine workforce management, financial decision-making, marketing activities, and the processes organizations use to deliver products and services effectively.

Fourth Year:
The final year emphasizes strategic and organizational decision-making through courses including BA F330 The Legal Environment of Business, BA F390 Organizational Theory and Behavior, BA F460 International Business or BA F461 International Finance, and the BA F462 Corporate Strategy capstone. Students also complete coursework in business continuity and crisis management and can deepen their expertise through their chosen concentration.

Focus Areas

Finance and Economics, General Business, Human Resources, Leadership, Marketing, Sport Management, Financial Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Organizational Theory and Behavior, International Business, Corporate Strategy.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop broad business knowledge and the ability to apply business, management, financial, marketing, organizational, and strategic concepts to complex technical, economic, and social problems. The program also emphasizes innovative and responsible leadership for organizations in industry and government.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.B.A. in Business Administration is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). UAF's College of Business and Security Management reports continuous AACSB accreditation since 1988 and states that fewer than 6% of universities worldwide hold this accreditation.

Reputation (Employability / Official Statistics)

UAF's College of Business and Security Management reports that its students regularly score in the 90th percentile on the ETS Major Field Test for Business. The college also highlights graduates working with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies, while its alumni include business leaders such as the president and CEO of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce and the founder and CEO of Show Flooring.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

UAF's College of Business and Security Management places strong emphasis on learning beyond the classroom through internships, student organizations, competitions, professional events, and applied business projects. Business Administration students can also gain practical experience through the Student Investment Fund, career-focused trips, student-run events, and projects involving real business situations, giving students opportunities to develop networking, leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.

Specific opportunities include:

Internship in Business Administration (BA F453): Junior students can complete a supervised internship that connects previous coursework with an approved workplace experience, develops business acumen, and prepares them for employment.
Student Investment Fund: Students can gain hands-on portfolio-management experience by making investment and diversification decisions involving the fund; CBSM currently reports the fund at approximately $3 million in value.
Applied business projects: UAF highlights projects such as developing business continuity plans and creating social media marketing plans for local businesses, giving students opportunities to apply classroom concepts to practical business situations.
Arctic Innovation Competition: Students participate in UAF's major innovation event, gaining experience with ideas, business concepts, presentations, and interaction with students, alumni, and local leaders.
Business Leader of the Year: Students help coordinate the annual event, which attracts 300+ attendees and provides opportunities to interact with business leaders and professionals.
KPMG Etiquette Seminar & Dinner: Students network with CEOs, presidents, and entrepreneurs while developing professional communication and networking skills.
Student organizations: Business Administration students can participate in organizations such as Associated Students of Business, Native Alaskan Business Leaders, and UAF Society for Human Resource Management, providing additional networking and professional-development opportunities.
Career-focused travel: CBSM supports travel to conferences, competitions, and career-focused trips; UAF also documents business students visiting destinations such as Anchorage, San Francisco, and New York.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.B.A. in Business Administration provides a flexible foundation for careers across management, marketing, sales, human resources, finance, sport management, and entrepreneurship. UAF reports that Business Administration graduates have gone on to work for government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies, while alumni examples demonstrate progression into business ownership, executive leadership, human resources, and other professional roles.

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

Career support: CBSM provides advising and professional-development opportunities, while internships, student organizations, professional events, and career-focused activities help students develop networks and workplace skills.
Salary information: UAF's Business Administration page reports national BLS-based figures of $66,790 for human resource specialists, $70,960 for marketing specialists, $100,990 for financial analysts, and $140,320 for sales managers. These are national occupation figures rather than guaranteed salaries for UAF graduates.
Industry connections: Students interact with business professionals through events such as the KPMG Etiquette Seminar & Dinner and Business Leader of the Year, while the Associated Students of Business provides opportunities to engage with executives from Fortune 500 companies and participate in sponsored trips.
Professional accreditation: AACSB accreditation provides an internationally recognized quality framework for the College of Business and Security Management; UAF reports continuous AACSB accreditation since 1988.
Graduate outcomes: UAF's recent CBSM graduate survey reports Business Administration graduates working across government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies. Alumni examples include a Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, an American Red Cross executive director, and business owners.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.B.A., students can continue into graduate-level study at UAF's College of Business and Security Management, including the Master of Business Administration (MBA). UAF also offers graduate programs such as the Master of Healthcare Management and Leadership and Master of Security and Disaster Management, depending on the student's academic and career direction.