General Business, B.S. in Bus. Ad.

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Nevada Reno

Program Overview

The General Business, B.S. in Bus. Ad. at the University of Nevada, Reno gives students a broad foundation across major business functions, making it suitable for students who want flexibility rather than specializing in one business discipline. The program builds knowledge in areas such as accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management, marketing and international business, while its flexible scheduling can support students balancing work or other commitments.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by developing the academic and quantitative foundation needed for business study through courses such as ACC 201, ECON 102, MATH 176, IS 101 and MKT 210. These subjects introduce accounting, economics, mathematics, information systems and marketing while students complete the university's Silver Core requirements.

Year 2: The second stage strengthens students' understanding of business statistics, economics and the core business disciplines. Courses such as ACC 202, ECON 103, ECON 261/262 and FIN 301 progressively develop financial, statistical and analytical knowledge that students can apply to business decisions.

Year 3: Students move into upper-division business study, gaining deeper knowledge of management, information systems, supply chain operations and international business. Coursework can include IS 301, MGT 301 or MGT 323, MGT 325, and SCM 352, while students also begin selecting advanced coursework from areas such as economics, finance, information systems and marketing.

Year 4: In the final stage, students consolidate their business knowledge through advanced management study and General Business electives. MGT 496 and upper-division courses from disciplines such as ACC, BUS, IS, ECON, ENT, FIN, MGT and MKT allow students to shape their studies around their interests while completing the 120-credit bachelor's degree.

Focus Areas

General business management, accounting, economics, finance, information systems, marketing, management, supply chain management, international business, business analytics and strategic decision-making.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop fundamental business knowledge, financial and investment literacy, analytical and critical-thinking skills, quantitative decision-making abilities, professional communication skills, information-technology skills, ethical decision-making skills and a global business perspective. The College of Business also expects students to use technology for business analysis and operations and to work effectively in small groups.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program is offered through the AACSB-accredited College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno. AACSB accreditation provides an external quality benchmark for business education and supports the college's focus on analytical skills, professional preparation and continuous improvement.

Reputation (Employability)

The College of Business reports an average undergraduate salary of $54,228 in its 2024 career outcomes report. Its reported alumni job functions include accounting, data and analytics, finance, financial services, human resources, information technology, management, marketing, real estate and sales; 55% of employed business alumni were working in the Greater Reno Area, 9% elsewhere in Nevada and 24% outside Nevada.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students can complement classroom learning with practical business experiences through the College of Business's career and corporate outreach activities. The college provides access to computer labs and IT resources, internship opportunities, employer networking, career events and Wolf Pack Shadow, where selected business students spend a day observing professionals in fields such as management, marketing, finance, human resources, accounting and information systems.

Students can also use Nevada Careers to search for internships and part-time or full-time positions, while College of Business internships typically involve 150–200 hours of supervised work experience and can be completed for experience, academic credit and/or pay.

Key opportunities include:

College of Business computer labs and IT resources — students have access to computer labs, printers and other technology resources supporting business coursework and projects.
BizFIT — a College of Business transition experience where students develop core business knowledge, learn business-plan development, interact with faculty and advisors, and build business-networking skills. General Business is specifically included among the participating majors.
Internships — College of Business internships provide supervised workplace experience and may be completed for experience, credit and/or pay.
Wolf Pack Shadow — students can experience a day in a prospective career field by shadowing managers and professionals in business areas including management, marketing, information systems, accounting, human resources and finance.
Nevada Global Business — the College of Business offers course-abroad opportunities in locations including Singapore, Australia, Toronto, New York and London.
Employer engagement and career events — employers connect with students through networking events, career fairs, information sessions and opportunities involving internships and full- or part-time positions.
Forage and career simulations — the university's career resources provide access to Forage job simulations developed by global employers, giving students virtual work experiences to explore career paths.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The General Business degree is designed to provide broad preparation for entering the business world, and the university identifies career paths ranging from accounting services and business development to project management, financial services, marketing automation and operations management. The College of Business's 2024 career outcomes report also shows graduates moving into functions such as management, finance, marketing, sales, data and analytics, human resources, information technology and real estate.

Typical roles include Operations Manager, Project Manager, Business Development Professional and Assistant General Manager.

Career support: The Nevada Career Studio provides resume and cover-letter reviews, interview preparation, networking guidance, internship and job searches, Handshake support and career-path exploration.
Employment and salary: The College of Business reports an average undergraduate salary of $54,228 in its 2024 career outcomes report. The same report identifies accounting, data and analytics, finance, financial services, HR, IT, management, marketing, real estate and sales among popular job functions.
Employer connections: The College of Business works with corporate partners ranging from Reno-area businesses to international technology corporations, while employer engagement includes networking events, career fairs and information sessions.
Specific employer relationships: The university's 2024 career outcomes report lists ITS Logistics, University of Nevada, Reno and Sierra Nevada Corporation among the top three employers of its business alumni.
Professional development: Nevada Careers, internships, Wolf Pack Shadow and employer events give students multiple ways to build professional experience before graduation.
Accreditation value: The College of Business holds AACSB accreditation, giving students a business education from a college recognized against an internationally established business-school accreditation standard.
Graduation and career preparation: The College of Business reports that its curriculum is designed to develop business knowledge, analytical and critical-thinking abilities, communication, technology skills, ethical decision-making and global business awareness.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in General Business, students can continue into graduate-level business education. The University of Nevada, Reno College of Business offers graduate options including its Master of Business Administration (MBA) and graduate programs in areas such as accountancy, while the broad undergraduate business foundation can provide preparation for further study depending on the student's chosen graduate program.