Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Law

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Western Michigan University

Program Overview

Western Michigan University’s BBA in Business Law combines business education with legal principles, preparing students to understand how contracts, regulations, compliance, liability, and legal decisions affect organizations. It is suited to students interested in corporate business, government, insurance, legal services, or entrepreneurship, while also providing a strong undergraduate foundation for those considering law school.

Curriculum Structure

The program combines business coursework with legal subjects such as business formation, contracts, real estate, mediation, and regulatory compliance. The following is a general progression; the university does not publish a definitive year-by-year course sequence on the program page.

Year 1 – Business and Academic Foundations

Students establish a foundation in business concepts, communication, quantitative reasoning, and general education. This stage prepares them for more specialized study in commercial law, business operations, and organizational decision-making.

Year 2 – Business and Legal Foundations

Students develop their understanding of how organizations operate and how legal principles affect business decisions. Their learning progresses toward areas such as business formation, contracts, and the legal environment of business, supported by core business coursework.

Year 3 – Applied Business Law

Students explore legal issues that arise in professional settings, including contracts, regulatory compliance, mediation, and real estate. They strengthen their analytical reasoning and legal literacy, learning to identify business-related legal concerns and consider appropriate responses.

Year 4 – Professional Application and Career Preparation

Students consolidate their business and legal knowledge through advanced coursework and experience-driven learning. They prepare to apply their skills in business, government, legal services, insurance, or entrepreneurship, or to continue their education through law school or another graduate pathway.

Focus Areas

Business law, contracts, business formation, real estate, mediation, regulatory compliance, legal reasoning, corporate business, commercial law, liability, business ethics, entrepreneurship, government, insurance.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop legal literacy, critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and the ability to recognize and address legal issues in business environments. They learn to interpret business-related legal concepts, understand contracts and compliance, evaluate organizational challenges, and apply business knowledge in corporate, government, nonprofit, insurance, and entrepreneurial settings.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

WMU Haworth College of Business holds AACSB accreditation. This provides external quality assurance for the college’s business education; a separate program-specific accreditation for the Business Law major was not identified.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

93% of Business Law graduates were working or continuing their education shortly after graduation, according to WMU’s 2024–25 Career Outcomes Report.
100% of Business Law graduates who responded to the experience-driven learning survey reported participating in at least one such activity; this figure was based on five responses.
Recent graduate employers include Lucent Enterprises, State Farm, Wayne State University, the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, and World Business Chicago.
Recent graduates have worked as account representatives, business development associates, and court services specialists.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

WMU Haworth connects business law coursework with practical legal and business challenges through experience-driven learning, internships, and professional mentoring. Students can explore business law careers through the Zhang Career Center and the Business Externship Program, where they connect with mentors and organizations such as Haworth and Rocket Companies. The program also highlights practical legal research and business technology skills that students can develop for professional settings.

Students can build practical experience through:

Business Externship Program: Career exploration and professional mentoring opportunities with WMU alumni and participating organizations, including Haworth and Rocket Companies.
Internships: Opportunities to explore internships through the university's Internship Catalog and career resources.
Legal research tools: Exposure to Fastcase, LexisNexis, and citation services as relevant business law career skills.
Business technology: Development of Microsoft Suite proficiency, data mining software knowledge, and ERP/SAP familiarity.
Professional skills: Active listening, public speaking, negotiation, persuasion, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving.
Zhang Career Center: Career coaching, career exploration, internship guidance, employer recruiting events, and access to Handshake for internship and full-time job listings.
Career assessment: Focus2 assessment to help students explore career interests, values, and work preferences.
Academic advising: Guidance on course planning, career pathways, and preparation for law school.
Applied legal topics: Coursework and career preparation connected to contracts, business transactions, regulatory compliance, insurance law, real estate, and mediation.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of WMU’s Business Law BBA can pursue roles in business, government, legal services, insurance, nonprofit organizations, and entrepreneurship. The degree also provides a foundation for students who want to continue into law school, while graduates entering the workforce can apply their business knowledge and legal reasoning to contracts, compliance, organizational operations, and commercial activities.

Potential career roles: Account Representative, Business Development Associate, Court Services Specialist, Legal Analyst.

Students can prepare for these opportunities through:

Career services: The Zhang Career Center offers career coaching, internship guidance, employer recruiting events, career exploration, and access to Handshake for job and internship listings.
Employment outcomes: 93% of Business Law graduates were working or continuing their education shortly after graduation, according to the 2024–25 Career Outcomes Report.
Salary information: The Department of Finance and Commercial Law reports a median starting salary range of $60,000–$70,000 for its bachelor's graduates working full time. This is department-level data, not a Business Law-only salary figure.
Employer exposure: Recent Business Law graduate employers include Lucent Enterprises, State Farm, Wayne State University, the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, and World Business Chicago.
Industry connections: The Business Externship Program connects students with mentors and organizations, including Haworth and Rocket Companies.
Professional preparation: Legal research tools, business technology knowledge, negotiation, communication, and analytical reasoning support preparation for business and law-related careers.
Accreditation: AACSB accreditation at the Haworth College of Business level provides external quality assurance for its business education.
Experience-driven learning: All five Business Law graduates who responded to the 2024–25 experience-driven learning survey reported participation in at least one qualifying activity.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BBA in Business Law, graduates may pursue a Juris Doctor (JD) to prepare for legal practice, subject to law school admission requirements. Other possible postgraduate pathways include an MBA, Master of Legal Studies, business administration, compliance, or related graduate programs, depending on the student's career goals and eligibility.