Business Administration (BS): Information Technology Concentration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

North Carolina State University Raleigh

Program Overview

The Business Administration BS with an Information Technology Concentration at NC State combines a broad business education with practical IT skills, preparing students to use technology to support business functions such as finance, marketing and product management rather than focusing primarily on software creation. Students develop knowledge of databases, information systems, networking, software and web applications, cybersecurity and business decision-making while building a strong foundation across core business functions.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish their academic and business foundation through courses such as MIE 201 Introduction to Business, ACC 210 Concepts of Financial Reporting, and EC 201 Principles of Microeconomics, alongside mathematics, academic writing and communication. This stage introduces students to how organizations operate while developing the quantitative, communication and analytical skills needed for later business and IT coursework.

Second Year: Students expand their understanding of business and quantitative analysis through ACC 220 Introduction to Managerial Accounting, BUS 350 Economics and Business Statistics, and EC 202 Principles of Macroeconomics. They also begin selecting core business subjects such as BUS 340 Information Systems Management, BUS 320 Financial Management, BUS 360 Marketing Methods, and BUS 370 Operations and Supply Chain Management, while statistical programming can be introduced through ST 307 Introduction to Statistical Programming – SAS or ST 308 Introduction to Statistical Programming – R.

Third Year: Students deepen their business knowledge while beginning the specialized IT concentration. Alongside courses such as BUS 340 Information Systems Management and MIE 330 Managing People, students start concentration coursework in areas such as BUS 440 Database Management, BUS 441 Business Data Communications and Networking, or BUS 442 Information Systems Development, connecting technical knowledge with organizational and business requirements.

Fourth Year: The final year focuses more heavily on advanced IT concentration work, with students completing additional options such as BUS 443 Web Development for Business Applications, BUS 444 Systems Analysis and Design, or BUS 449 Information Technology Practicum. The degree concludes with MIE 480 Business Policy and Strategy, allowing students to integrate their business, technology and strategic decision-making knowledge before entering professional employment or pursuing further study.

Focus Areas

Software use and development, database development and management, computer networking and telecommunications, information security and privacy, knowledge management, information systems, systems analysis and design, web development, business analytics and technology-supported business decision-making.

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to organize, analyze and apply information for business decisions; analyze data and information systems; develop and use complex software; utilize SQL; design and develop software and web applications; develop and manage databases; apply UI design; navigate cybersecurity; and communicate effectively with both technical and business audiences.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program is offered through NC State's Poole College of Management, an AACSB-accredited business school. AACSB accreditation provides an internationally recognized quality framework for business education and reflects the college's emphasis on engagement, innovation and impact.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Poole College reports a 91% employment rate six months after graduation and a $67,508 average base salary for its accounting, business administration and economics graduates from the 2024–2025 class. Across those graduates, the technology sector accounted for 14.6% of placements with an average base salary of $71,475, while employers listed by Poole include IBM, Cisco, Lenovo, SAS, Oracle, Red Hat and TEK Systems.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

NC State's IT concentration is designed around hands-on and project-oriented learning, giving students opportunities to apply business and technology concepts rather than studying IT only from a theoretical perspective. The curriculum includes database management, networking, information systems development, web development, systems analysis and an Information Technology Practicum, while Poole also provides opportunities for internships, IT and consulting clubs, industry engagement and practical technology experience.

Students can build practical experience through:

Database and systems projects: BUS 440 Database Management, BUS 442 Information Systems Development, and BUS 444 Systems Analysis and Design allow students to work with core business-IT concepts involving databases, information systems and systems design.
Web application development: BUS 443 Web Development for Business Applications provides concentration-level study focused on developing web applications for business use.
Information Technology Practicum: BUS 449 Information Technology Practicum is available as an IT concentration elective, giving students a dedicated experiential-learning route within the specialization.
Practicum projects with industry: Poole's 400-level practica are project-based experiences in which student teams work under faculty guidance with industry professionals to develop solutions to real business problems from partner organizations.
Programming and analytics tools: Students can take ST 307 Introduction to Statistical Programming – SAS or ST 308 Introduction to Statistical Programming – R, adding practical exposure to statistical programming alongside their IT coursework.
IT consulting and student organizations: The IT concentration specifically highlights access to IT and consulting clubs, where students can gain practical experience working with active organizations.
Internships: Poole identifies internship opportunities within the university and with businesses across different industries. A recent NC State graduate from the IT concentration, Elise Yun, completed internships with Cisco and First Citizens Bank.
IT Service Desk: Poole's IT Service Desk in Nelson Hall provides a technology-focused environment, and NC State has described opportunities for students to work as IT student consultants alongside IT professionals.
Computing resources: Poole IT supports students through its IT Service Desk, while NC State's Office of Information Technology supports seven public Unity computer labs available to students with active Unity accounts.
Nelson Hall learning environment: Poole has upgraded classroom technology and created collaboration spaces in Nelson Hall, supporting technology-enabled teaching, group work and student interaction.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The IT concentration prepares graduates for business-technology roles involving IT management, business analysis, information systems, database management, systems analysis, consulting and business development. NC State specifically states that business administration graduates can pursue careers including IT management and business analysis, while the IT concentration develops skills in databases, software, web applications, networking, cybersecurity and technology-supported decision-making.

Typical career roles include Business Analyst, IT Manager, Business Intelligence Analyst, Systems Analyst, Database Administrator, Information Systems Specialist, IT Consultant, Web Application Developer, Technology Project Manager and Business Systems Analyst.

Students can strengthen their transition into professional employment through:

Career Center support: Poole College has its own Career Center providing career preparation, networking opportunities, career and internship fairs, and an online job and internship database.
Employment outcomes: For the 2024–2025 graduating class across Poole's accounting, business administration and economics majors, the college reports a 91% employment rate six months after graduation, $67,508 average base salary, and a $7,026 average signing bonus.
Technology-sector outcomes: Technology represented 14.6% of reported placements, with an average base salary of $71,475. Poole's listed employers include technology-focused organizations such as IBM, Cisco, Lenovo, SAS, Oracle, Red Hat, TEK Systems and Pendo.
Industry engagement: Poole reports that more than 200 employers have recruited directly from the college, while the college maintains hundreds of corporate relationships and connects students with employers through projects, internships and other applied-learning opportunities.
IT-focused professional exposure: The concentration provides access to IT and consulting clubs, special speakers within the discipline and internship opportunities with businesses across different industries.
Applied learning: Poole's project-based practica bring students together with faculty and industry professionals to solve real business problems, helping students develop practical skills and professional networks before graduation.
Accreditation value: Poole College's AACSB accreditation provides an internationally recognized quality framework for its business programs and supports the long-term professional value of the business degree.
Graduation pathways: Graduates can enter technology and business roles across industries or continue into advanced education. NC State's Poole College offers graduate business pathways including the Jenkins MBA, master's-level business programs and graduate certificates.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BS in Business Administration with an IT concentration, students can continue into graduate study in business administration, information technology, analytics, management or another related specialization. At NC State, relevant graduate options within Poole include the Jenkins MBA, specialized master's programs and graduate certificates, allowing graduates to build on either their business leadership interests or their technology-focused career direction.