Bachelor's in General Business

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Michigan Technological University

Program Overview

Michigan Technological University’s General Business option is designed for students who know they want to study business but want time to explore different business disciplines before committing to a specific major. Over up to three semesters, students build a broad business foundation while studying areas such as accounting, finance, marketing, information systems, management, analytics, and economics, with academic advising helping them transition into the major that best matches their interests.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with a broad introduction to business and its quantitative foundations. Courses such as ACC2000 – Accounting Principles I, BUS1100 – Intro to Business, and MKT3000 – Principles of Marketing introduce students to accounting, business fundamentals, and marketing, followed by FIN3000 – Principles of Finance, ACC2100 – Accounting Principles II, and MIS2000 – IS/IT Management.

Second Year: The second year develops students’ understanding of how organizations operate and make decisions. Students study MGT3000 – Organizational Behavior, BUS2200 – Business Law, BUS3000 – Introduction to Business Analytics, EC3100 – International Economics, and MGT2000 – Team Dynamics & Decision Making, building analytical, legal, international, and teamwork skills.

Third Year: Students move into more advanced business topics while beginning the major-specific coursework that supports their eventual choice of business specialization. OSM3000 – Operations and Supply Chain Management introduces students to operational decision-making and supply-chain processes, while the remaining major-specific courses allow them to explore their selected business direction.

Fourth Year: The final year focuses on advanced business study and preparation for professional practice. Students complete additional major-specific coursework and finish with MGT4000 – Strategic Management, bringing together management, finance, marketing, information systems, operations, and quantitative knowledge developed throughout the program.

Focus Areas

Business fundamentals, accounting, finance, marketing, management, information systems, business analytics, economics, operations and supply chain management, strategic management, quantitative problem solving, international business

Learning Outcomes

Technical competence, global awareness, professional communication and ethical decision-making, disciplinary knowledge, cross-disciplinary business strategy, information technology proficiency, analytical and problem-solving skills

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Michigan Tech’s College of Business is AACSB accredited, and the college uses assessment of student learning to maintain and improve the quality of its business education. The college’s learning goals emphasize technical competence, global awareness, professional know-how, and disciplinary knowledge.

Reputation (Employability)

Michigan Tech reports a 96% job placement rate for the College of Business. Its General Business page also cites The Wall Street Journal’s recognition of Michigan Tech as No. 3 among Best Public Colleges in the U.S. for Salary Impact; these figures are college/university-level indicators rather than outcomes specific only to General Business students.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

General Business students at Michigan Tech are encouraged to move beyond classroom theory through real-client work, internships, co-ops, travel abroad, market research, entrepreneurial competitions, and interaction with business professionals. Because the program is designed to help students explore different business disciplines, these experiences can also help them identify the business area they want to pursue after declaring their major.

Students can gain practical exposure through:

Real-client projects: College of Business students can work with real clients through courses, gaining experience in areas such as marketing, project management, analytics, and supply chain management.
Internships and co-ops: Business students can obtain internships and co-ops through Career Services’ Handshake, Career Fairs, Career Fest, professional conferences, faculty connections, and College of Business organizations.
Industry experience: Michigan Tech lists internship and co-op employers including Ernst & Young, Cummins, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Boeing, DTE Energy, 3M, Edward Jones, and Harley-Davidson.
Business Internship course: Eligible internships can receive academic credit through BUS3900 – Business Internship, subject to faculty support and approval.
Market research and entrepreneurship: Students can participate in market research and entrepreneurial competitions, developing practical skills in identifying opportunities and presenting business ideas.
Small Business Development Center: Michigan Tech highlights the regional Small Business Development Center, hosted on campus, where students can gain experience through internships.
Study abroad and travel: The College of Business provides opportunities to gain international exposure through travel abroad experiences and study abroad.
Industry networking: Students can interact with faculty, alumni, guest speakers, and business leaders with industry experience, while Career Fairs provide access to employers recruiting Michigan Tech students.
Professional Blueprint: Michigan Tech’s Professional Blueprint supports students as they complete career-building activities and develop professional skills for the job market.

Progression & Future Opportunities

General Business gives students a broad foundation before they move into one of Michigan Tech’s nine business majors, so career direction can develop around the specialization they ultimately select. The College of Business combines business education with Michigan Tech’s technology-focused environment, while internships, employer events, industry connections, and career resources provide opportunities to build professional experience.

Depending on the major students choose after exploring General Business, potential career directions can include:

Business analyst, management consultant, marketing specialist, financial analyst

Students can strengthen their transition from university to employment through:

Career support: Career Services provides Handshake for job and internship postings, while students can also use Career Fairs, Career Fest, professional conferences, faculty connections, and College of Business organizations to find opportunities.
Employer access: Michigan Tech reports that 400+ employers attend its campus Career Fair seeking business majors, while the College of Business reports six industry advisory boards, providing structured connections between business education and industry.
Employment outcome: Michigan Tech reports a 96% job placement rate for the College of Business. This is a College of Business figure rather than a General Business-only placement rate.
Salary recognition: Michigan Tech’s General Business page cites The Wall Street Journal’s No. 3 Best Public College in the U.S. for Salary Impact recognition. This is an institutional ranking and should not be interpreted as a salary guarantee for General Business graduates.
Industry connections: Faculty and alumni bring industry experience into the College of Business, and students can connect with employers through internships, co-ops, conferences, guest speakers, and campus recruiting.
Accreditation value: The College of Business is AACSB accredited, giving students access to a business curriculum within an internationally recognized business-school accreditation framework.
Flexible specialization: After exploring General Business, students can transition into areas including Accounting, Business Analytics, Construction Management, Economics, Engineering Management, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, or Marketing.

Further Academic Progression: Students can continue into graduate-level study after completing their undergraduate business education. Michigan Tech specifically offers an accelerated master's pathway that can allow eligible students to complete a master's degree in two additional semesters beyond the bachelor's, including the Tech MBA®; other College of Business graduate options include Accounting and Analytics—MS and Engineering Management—MEM.