BS Business

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Rochester

Program Overview

The BS Business at the University of Rochester is designed for students who want to study business in greater depth through a specialized track, combining quantitative and applied economics with core business knowledge. Students build a foundation in economics, accounting, finance, marketing, information systems, operations, and strategy before specializing in Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Information Systems, or Marketing.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by developing the quantitative foundation required for business study through courses such as MATH 141-142: Calculus I and Calculus II or an approved equivalent, together with a statistics course such as STAT 190: Introduction to Statistical Methodology. They also begin the business curriculum with subjects such as ECON 108: Principles of Economics, building an understanding of economic concepts and quantitative decision-making.

Year 2: Students develop their core business knowledge through ECON 207: Intermediate Microeconomics, ACC 201: Financial Accounting, and BUS 103: Business Communication. They also study FIN 205: Financial Management and MKT 203: Principles of Marketing, giving them a broader understanding of financial decisions, markets, communication, and business operations.

Year 3: Students strengthen their understanding of how organizations operate and make strategic decisions through CIS 220: Business Information Systems and Analytics, OPS 221: Operations Management, and STR 203/ECON 214: Economics of Strategy and Organization. Students can increasingly focus their studies around their selected track; for example, Business Analytics students study CIS 191: Introduction to Programming for Business Analytics, ECON 231W: Econometrics, CIS 240: Data Management and Descriptive Analytics for Business, and CIS 242: Predictive Analytics.

Year 4: Students complete advanced coursework within one of the six specialized tracks, allowing them to develop expertise aligned with their career interests. Depending on the chosen specialization, students can study subjects such as FIN 206: Investments, ENT 223: Planning and Growing Business Ventures, CSC 172: Data Structures and Algorithms, MKT 237: Digital Marketing Strategy, or ACC 226: Auditing, giving the final stage of the degree a strong career-focused direction.

Focus Areas

Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Information Systems, Marketing, quantitative economics, financial management, business strategy, operations, business technology, data analytics

Learning Outcomes

Students develop quantitative, analytical, communication, and decision-making skills while gaining broad knowledge of economics and business. Depending on their selected track, students can develop specialized capabilities in accounting, business data analysis and programming, finance and investments, entrepreneurship and venture development, computer science and information systems, or marketing strategy and analytics.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The University of Rochester's undergraduate business program is AACSB accredited, providing students with a business education within an internationally recognized business-school accreditation framework. The university also states that all six BS Business tracks are STEM-designated, which can provide eligible international students on F-1 visas with the opportunity to work in the United States for up to three years under applicable STEM OPT rules.

Reputation (Employability)

The University of Rochester reports that 95% of its business graduates have reported a positive career outcome, defined by the university as working in a preferred industry or continuing with graduate school. The university also identifies graduate employers including Amazon, Google, EY, Microsoft, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, Apple, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Intel, IBM, Bloomberg, and JPMorgan.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS Business combines classroom learning with opportunities to apply business knowledge through internships, study abroad, student organizations, research, and entrepreneurship activities. Students can work with business career advisors on internship searches, resumes, LinkedIn profiles, interview preparation, job offers, and longer-term career planning, while the program also provides opportunities to learn from faculty who teach in Simon Business School's MBA and MS programs.

Students can develop practical skills through:

Business Analytics: Students can work with Python, econometrics, databases, data visualization, predictive analytics, and business data through courses such as CIS 191, ECON 231W, CIS 240, and CIS 242.
Business Modeling: CIS 211: Business Modeling with Excel provides an opportunity to develop spreadsheet-based business analysis skills.
AI and Business: Students can explore CIS 278: Foundations of AI & Business and CIS 279: Generative AI and Business Applications.
Entrepreneurship Projects: ENT 223: Planning and Growing Business Ventures uses a practical approach to developing and growing ventures, while ENT 230: Ignite Impact Lab provides an additional applied entrepreneurship option.
Marketing Projects: MKT 213: Marketing Projects and Cases gives marketing-track students an opportunity to apply marketing concepts to projects and cases.
Internships: The business program encourages students to gain real-world experience through internships, with dedicated business career advising and university career resources available to help students identify opportunities and prepare applications.
Study Abroad: More than half of the university's current business majors and minors study abroad, with advisors helping students incorporate international study into their academic plans.
Entrepreneurship Support: The program provides access to the Ain Center for Entrepreneurship, supporting students interested in innovation and venture creation.
Business Community: Students can participate in business-focused student organizations and Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honor society associated with AACSB-accredited schools.
Simon Business School Collaboration: Undergraduate business students benefit from curricular, co-curricular, and experiential opportunities developed in collaboration with Simon Business School, including opportunities to take courses taught by faculty who also teach MBA and MS programs.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS Business prepares graduates for a broad range of business careers by combining a common business foundation with specialized study in one of six tracks. Depending on their specialization, graduates can move into roles such as financial analyst, business analyst, management consultant, marketing specialist, accountant, or technology and information systems professional.

Career opportunities include:

Financial Analyst: The Finance track develops knowledge of investments, corporate finance, financial statement analysis, derivatives, and financial markets.
Business Analyst: The Business Analytics track develops skills in Python, econometrics, databases, data management, predictive analytics, and data visualization.
Management Consultant: The program's strategy, economics, analytics, communication, and business coursework can support consulting-oriented career paths.
Marketing Specialist: Marketing-track students can develop expertise in marketing research, advertising, product and brand strategy, digital marketing, and pricing.
Accountant: The Accounting track covers managerial accounting, intermediate accounting, auditing, taxation, and related areas; students completing the track are eligible to sit for the CPA exam in New York State, although additional coursework is required for CPA licensure.

Career Support and Outcomes

Business Career Advising: Students receive guidance on career exploration, internships, job searches, resumes, LinkedIn profiles, interviews, evaluating offers, and long-term career planning.
Internship Support: The university encourages internships as a way to apply classroom skills, explore career paths, build professional experience, and potentially develop employment opportunities.
Employment Outcomes: The Undergraduate Business Program reports that 95% of business graduates have reported a positive career outcome, meaning they are working in a preferred industry or continuing with graduate school.
Graduate Employers: Reported graduate employers include Amazon, L3 Harris Technologies, EPIC Systems, Google, EY, ASML, Microsoft, Deloitte, Lockheed Martin, Goldman Sachs, Apple, FactSet Research Systems, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan, Intel, IBM, and Bloomberg.
Industry-Relevant Curriculum: The program combines quantitative and applied economics with business disciplines including accounting, analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, and marketing.
Accreditation Value: The business program is AACSB accredited, providing students with a degree from a business program recognized within the AACSB accreditation framework.
STEM Designation: All six BS Business tracks are STEM-designated. The university states that eligible international students on F-1 visas can be eligible for up to three years of U.S. work authorization through the applicable STEM OPT rules.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into advanced study through the University of Rochester's Business Master's Pathway, a five-year BA/BS + MS route into Simon Business School's full-time MS programs in areas including Accountancy, AI in Business, Business Analytics, Marketing Analytics, and Finance. Accounting students can also pursue the university's 4+1 MS in Accountancy pathway, while the business program provides opportunities for students to continue into graduate business education more broadly.