School of Business

Dean: M. Barry O’Brien

Associate Dean: William Stewart Thomas

The School of Business is fully accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

The mission of the School of Business is to provide each student an outstanding business education. The School values internationalization to prepare students for a competitive global environment, diversity to enrich personal growth and enhance the learning experience, ethical decision making to prepare students to serve as business leaders, and scholarship to benefit our students’ education. We also value and provide a personal learning environment where each student’s success matters, as well as engagement in service that adds value to our institution, professions, and communities.

The School offers the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in either Business Administration (BSBA) or Accounting (BSA). The University of North Carolina at Pembroke also offers the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). Students should consult the School of Graduate Studies section of the catalog to obtain information about academic requirements for the MBA program.

Business students have opportunities for internships and study abroad with programs that include The Magellan Exchange, and membership in student organizations: the Beta Gamma Sigma International Honors Society, the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honors Society in Economics, the Accounting Student Association, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Economics Club, and the International Business Students Association.

Business Programs

The School of Business offers the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in either Accounting or Business Administration. Business Administration majors must choose a track in Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, International Business, Management, or Marketing. Students who want to have more than one track must successfully complete all requirements for each track. A minimum of 50% of the semester hours in the Business major must be taken at UNCP.

The School of Business offers minors in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, Quantitative Economics, and Quantitative Finance for non-Business majors only. Currently, Business majors cannot obtain a minor from the School of Business.

The basic core of business studies emphasizes the broad background needed for successful competition in the dynamic work‑world as well as preparation for further study in graduate programs. Another objective is to render service beyond the University and within the surrounding business community. Through online degree programs in Economics, Finance, Management, and Marketing, the School of Business serves students who are unable to attend classes on campus. Further assistance is supplied in placement services and special consultation to the business community at large.

Prospective students are strongly urged to consult a member of the faculty as soon as possible. To follow the courses in the necessary order, it is best to begin planning early.

The Passport to Professional Success Program (Required of all School of Business majors)

All students majoring in Business Administration or Accounting must complete the Passport to Professional Success Program (hereafter referred to as the Passport Program). The goal of the Passport Program is to enable Business and Accounting students to become more professional in the way they interact with their colleagues, employers, and other professionals in their field.

“Professionalism” is defined by the Cambridge dictionary as “the combination of all the qualities that are connected with trained and skilled people,” and by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person.” These are skills that students seeking professional degrees such as Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Accounting will acquire during their program of study at the School of Business at UNC Pembroke.

These “work-readiness” skills will assist our graduates in finding and maintaining successful business careers. The Passport Program will also help differentiate our graduates from others entering the market from other schools.

Benefits for Students:

• Learn strategies for success in business
• Practice and improve business communication skills
• Gain confidence in different settings outside the classroom
• Obtain assistance in making career decisions
• Understand the importance of a professional appearance
• Strengthen individual interests
• Impact the local community
• Inspire and lead others
• Engage in networking opportunities.

The Passport Program requires the completion of BUS 1001 , BUS 1002 , BUS 1003 , BUS 1004 , BUS 1005 , and BUS 1006 .

NOTE: The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a track in Entrepreneurship is offered by the School of Business in consultation with the Office of Engaged Outreach. For complete information on this degree program, as well as Entrepreneurship course listings and requirements for a minor or certificate in Entrepreneurship, see the Entrepreneurship  section of the catalog.