General Business (BBA)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Mississippi

Program Overview

The General Business B.B.A. is a flexible 120-credit-hour program that gives students a broad understanding of business rather than limiting them to one specialized business area. It is particularly suited to students who want to combine business studies with another academic interest, because the curriculum includes core business subjects, 300-level business electives, an internship or study-abroad experience, and the opportunity to pursue a minor outside the business school.

Curriculum Structure

First Year

The first year builds the academic and business foundation required for the B.B.A., with general education coursework in writing, mathematics, humanities, fine arts, science and social science. Students also begin core business preparation through courses such as ACCT 201 and ACCT 202, giving them an introduction to accounting and the financial side of business.

Second Year

Students progress into broader business fundamentals while continuing to develop their analytical and professional skills. Coursework includes BUS 250 and BUS 271, while students can begin shaping their degree around their interests through the program's flexible business and non-business elective structure.

Third Year

The third year moves into the program's dedicated General Business curriculum and allows students to select upper-level coursework from Business, Accounting, Marketing, Management, MIS, Finance, or Economics. Core subjects include GB 310: Information Technology in Business, GB 320: Essentials of Supply Chain Management, and GB 330: Essentials of Finance, giving students exposure to technology, operations and financial decision-making.

Fourth Year

The final year brings together the different areas of business through advanced coursework, electives and the senior capstone. Students complete GB 350: Essentials of Marketing, GB 370: Entrepreneurship and Management, and GB 490: General Business Topics Review, with GB 490 serving as the senior capstone and reviewing key business topics from across the curriculum.

Focus Areas

Business fundamentals, accounting, information technology, supply chain management, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, management, management information systems, economics, business strategy, business analysis, professional development and interdisciplinary business education.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop a broad understanding of business functions, learn to evaluate business problems from multiple perspectives, apply financial and operational concepts, understand the role of information technology in business, analyze marketing and supply-chain activities, develop entrepreneurial and management skills, and integrate knowledge from different business disciplines to make informed business decisions. The School of Business also identifies critical thinking, professional communication, presentations and quantitative analysis as core learning goals.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The University of Mississippi School of Business Administration is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). AACSB accreditation requires rigorous review of faculty qualifications, strategic management of resources, faculty-student interaction, learning goals and continuous improvement, providing an internationally recognized quality framework for business education.

Reputation (Employability & Official Outcomes)

The University of Mississippi School of Business reports that 85% of its graduates are employed after graduation and 15% continue to graduate school. The School also states that more than 80% of students find employment after graduation, with another 12% continuing to graduate school on its About page; these are School of Business-wide figures rather than outcomes exclusively for the General Business B.B.A.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The General Business B.B.A. has a particularly practical structure because students are required to complete either BUS 300: Undergraduate Business Internship or BUS 380: Study Abroad for three credits. BUS 300 requires at least eight weeks of business field experience, while the program's flexibility also lets students choose upper-level courses across multiple business disciplines and pursue a non-business minor.

Students can build practical skills through these opportunities:

Business internship: BUS 300: Undergraduate Business Internship gives junior and senior General Business students an eight-week-or-longer business field experience for academic credit. The course is available through several formats, including the Atlanta Internship Experience Program, New York Internship Experience Program, web-based internship and online program options.
Study abroad: Students can choose BUS 380 instead of the internship to complete the program's international-study requirement, allowing the General Business degree to incorporate international academic experience.
Cross-functional business learning: The 18-hour 300-level business elective requirement allows students to choose courses from Business, Accounting, Marketing, Management, MIS, Finance or Economics, creating a customized pathway across business functions.
Technology exposure: GB 310: Information Technology in Business introduces the role of information technology within business, while the broader curriculum connects technology with finance, marketing, supply chain and management.
Entrepreneurship experience: GB 370: Entrepreneurship and Management provides direct exposure to entrepreneurship and management, complemented by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), which provides students with teaching, service, research and hands-on entrepreneurial opportunities.
Business competitions and industry interaction: The School's Career Services team highlights the Regions Case Competition, where students apply classroom knowledge to real-world business challenges and present solutions to business leaders.
Career Treks: Students can visit companies, meet business professionals and alumni, and learn about workplace culture and career paths through the School's Career Trek program. Recent treks have included visits to organizations such as Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil, RSM and Bank of America in Houston.
Entrepreneurial facilities: The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, located in Holman Hall, provides resources designed to develop students' entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and experience.
Business learning facilities: Holman Hall provides business classrooms, group study rooms, study alcoves, seminar rooms, conference rooms, multimedia projection systems and computer laboratories, supporting collaborative and technology-enabled business learning.
Professional mentoring: The School's Business Mentorship Program allows students to connect with alumni mentors whose career interests align with their own.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The General Business B.B.A. is designed for graduates who want flexibility across business functions rather than preparation for only one specialized occupation. Its combination of accounting, technology, supply chain, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship and management can support entry into varied business environments, while the required internship or study-abroad experience gives students an opportunity to add practical or international experience before graduation.

Typical career roles:

Business Analyst
Management Analyst
Operations Coordinator
Business Development Specialist

Students can strengthen their transition from university into employment through:

Career services: Sporich Family Career Services provides resume and cover-letter reviews, LinkedIn and networking support, interview preparation, career and industry exploration, internship and full-time job-search strategies, career fairs and employer events.
Employment outcomes: The School of Business reports 85% employed after graduation and 15% continuing to graduate school across its business graduates. These figures represent the School overall, not specifically the General Business major.
Employer connections: Business Connect connects students and graduates with employers and alumni for full-time, part-time, internship and project-based opportunities. The program also facilitates networking events and corporate partnerships.
Industry exposure: Career Treks provide direct access to companies and professionals; the School's recent Houston trek included ExxonMobil, RSM, Bank of America and Umbrage Studios, while its Business Connect materials also highlight employer engagement with companies such as Nissan and Coca-Cola.
Case-based experience: The Regions Case Competition gives students an opportunity to work on real-world business challenges and present solutions directly to business leaders.
Accreditation value: AACSB accreditation applies to the School of Business Administration's undergraduate and graduate programs and requires continuing review and continuous improvement against international business-school standards.
Entrepreneurship pathway: The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship supports students interested in creating businesses, with opportunities for entrepreneurial learning, research, industry interaction and business development.
Graduation progression: The School reports that 15% of business graduates continue to graduate school, providing a pathway into advanced business education after completing the undergraduate degree.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into the University of Mississippi's Master of Business Administration (MBA) or pursue graduate study in a specialized business field. The School of Business Administration also offers doctoral study in areas including Finance, Marketing and Management, providing options for students interested in advanced academic or research careers.