Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management Major

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Auburn University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management Major at Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business prepares students to lead people, manage projects, improve business operations, and make informed decisions across a wide range of organizations. The program combines management theory with practical business knowledge in areas such as organizational behaviour, human resources, information systems, supply chain management, finance, marketing, and strategic management, making it suitable for students interested in leadership and business careers.

Curriculum Structure

Freshman Year: Students begin with Auburn’s business foundation while developing communication, quantitative, and professional skills through courses such as ENGL 1100 English Composition I, MATH 1680 Calculus with Business Applications I, and BUSI 1010 Professional Development in Business I. They also complete COMM 1000 Public Speaking and university core requirements, building the communication and analytical foundation needed for later business study.

Sophomore Year: Students move deeper into business fundamentals through ECON 2020 Microeconomics, ACCT 2110 Financial Accounting, and SCMN 2150 Principles of Supply Chain Management. They continue with BUAL 2600 Business Analytics I, ACCT 2210 Managerial Accounting, and ACCT 2700 Business Law, while Professional Development in Business II helps them begin connecting their academic experience with future career goals.

Junior Year: The management-focused curriculum begins to take shape through MNGT 3100 Principles of Management, MNGT 3010 Professional Development in Management, and ISMN 2140 Introduction to Information Systems Management. Students also study FINC 3610 Principles of Finance, HRMN 3420 Human Resources Management, MKTG 3310 Principles of Marketing, BUAL 2650 Business Analytics II, and CTCT 3250 Information Analysis, giving them a broad understanding of how people, technology, finance, marketing, and data work together in organizations.

Senior Year: Students develop more advanced leadership and strategic skills through MNGT 3460 Organizational Behavior and the senior-level MNGT 4800 Strategic Management capstone. Management and designated electives, together with minor courses and BUSI 4010 Professional Development in Business IV, allow students to tailor their final year toward their professional interests while preparing for the workplace.

Focus Areas

Management, Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Project Management, Operations Management, Business Logistics and Processes, Management Information Systems, Strategic Management, International Business, Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Organizational Development, Employee Relations

Learning Outcomes

Students develop skills in leadership, critical thinking, organizational behavior, project management, human resource management, business operations, strategic decision-making, information systems, communication, teamwork, professional development, and applying business concepts to real organizational challenges.

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, and the college undergoes peer review against AACSB standards to maintain the quality and relevance of its business education.

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 Best Undergraduate Business Programs rankings. Harbert also reports an 86% employment placement rate, a $61,000 average undergraduate starting salary, and 90% of students gaining real-world experience. The 2027 U.S. News ranking is for the college overall rather than specifically for the Management major.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Management major is designed around practical business preparation, with students developing leadership, project-management, organizational, and operational skills through professional-development courses and applied opportunities. Harbert also provides internships, employer interaction, mentoring, competitions, career coaching, student organizations, and technology-rich facilities that allow students to connect classroom learning with professional situations.

Students can strengthen their practical experience through:

Management internships: Harbert internships allow students to work directly in their field, apply business principles learned in class, develop professional skills, and potentially earn college credit and compensation. Students can search available opportunities through Handshake.
Management professional development: MNGT 3010 Professional Development in Management and BUSI 4010 Professional Development in Business IV connect academic preparation with professional development throughout the degree.
Tiger Cage Business Idea Competition: Management students interested in entrepreneurship can participate in the annual Tiger Cage competition, where students develop and pitch business ideas and compete for startup funding of up to $100,000, plus a $5,000 innovation award.
Program Champions and mentoring: Harbert’s Program Champions are industry professionals who mentor upper-division students, help them explore career paths, and support them in securing internships and other real-world experiences.
Career fairs and employer interaction: Students have access to Harbert career fairs, networking events, employer interactions, and professional-development activities that help them build connections before graduation.
Business technology: Harbert’s computer labs provide access to tools including Microsoft Office 365, Excel, Power BI, Tableau, IBM SPSS, Jupyter Notebook, Python, R, Microsoft Project, Minitab, SAS, Stata, and SAP. These resources can support analysis, visualization, project management, collaboration, and business decision-making.
Financial and business technology: Harbert students have access to business-focused technology resources and software through the college’s Information Technology Services, including physical and virtual computer labs and team-study spaces.
Student organizations: Harbert offers professional organizations, honor societies, associations, clubs, and activities that allow students to develop leadership, teamwork, networking, and professional skills outside the classroom.
Study abroad: Harbert provides study-abroad opportunities that allow business students to gain international exposure and develop an understanding of business in different markets.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Management major prepares graduates for careers involving people management, operations, project coordination, human resources, sales, consulting, information management, and business strategy. Harbert's broad management curriculum and professional-development resources can support entry-level roles while providing a foundation for students who later want to move into supervisory and senior management positions.

Typical career roles include:

Management Trainee
Operations Management Specialist
Project Management Specialist
Team Management Coordinator

Career Development and Graduate Outcomes:

Career services: Harbert's Office of Professional and Career Development provides career coaching, resume development, mock interviews, LinkedIn assistance, career assessments, job-search guidance, career fairs, and networking opportunities.
Employment and salary: Harbert reports an 86% employment placement rate and a $61,000 average undergraduate starting salary, while 90% of students are reported to gain real-world experience.
Industry connections: Harbert reports 400+ corporate partners on campus each year, 300 alumni mentors, and 14 career coaches and program champions, giving students multiple avenues for employer and professional interaction.
Internship-to-career preparation: Harbert describes internships as an important part of its educational experience, providing opportunities to apply classroom knowledge, work on meaningful projects, develop professional skills, and build employer relationships.
Accreditation value: AACSB accreditation provides an internationally recognized quality framework for business education and requires the college to maintain standards through ongoing review and peer evaluation.
Graduation preparation: Students graduate with a combination of management knowledge, professional-development experience, business technology exposure, internship opportunities, and employer connections.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BSBA in Management, students can pursue graduate business education according to their career interests, including Auburn's MBA, Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Supply Chain Management, Master of Real Estate Development, or relevant graduate certificate programs. Harbert also offers doctoral study in areas including Human Resource and/or Organizational Behavior, Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship, and Supply Chain Management Systems for students interested in advanced academic or research careers.