Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Business Administration

The Mission l The Curriculum l Business Honors Seminar l Haller Enterprise Institute I Major Requirements

Thiel's undergraduate degree program in business administration prepares students to become successful business professionals, managers and entrepreneurs in an increasingly competitive business environment. The business administration major is also an excellent preparation for pursuing the M.B.A. or other graduate studies in business-related areas.

Thiel offers five different tracks as a business administration major, which include advertising, finance, general, human resource management and marketing.

A student who graduates from Thiel College with a major in business administration will:
• gain an understanding of the ethical dilemmas faces by business managers.
• understand basic business management functions.
• be introduced to cost/benefit analysis.
• develop interpersonal skills and learn to be a valuable member of a team.
• develop competency in data alaysis techniques, including use of spreadsheets,
databases and word processors.

The Mission
The mission of the Thiel College Arthur McGonigal Department of Business Administration and Accounting is to prepare our department majors to be successful professionals in the increasingly competitive business environment or as students in graduate programs.

The Curriculum
The business administration curriculum is nearly evenly divided between coursework in the major, in buiness administration electives and in a liberal arts core.

The liberal arts core is an essential component to the business administration major, in that it teaches students to think critically, communicate effectively, gain important quantitative skills, adapt to change in a global society and develop a well-rounded understanding of the physical and social sciences, humanities and fine arts. Students study business ethics to form personal beliefs about ethical responsibilities in business.

Required courses in the major teach students foundational knowledge and competencies required in business, including accounting, economics, statistics, data management and analysis, business law, finance, management and marketing.

Students can assemble elective courses in business around specific career or professional interests. Business administration majors are also encouraged to participate in cooperative work experience or internships at a network of businesses, corporations, government agencies and organizations that Thiel has assembled.

Entrepreneurship is a special focus of Thiel's business administration program.

Business Honors Seminar
The Business Honors Seminar provides opportunities for top students to meet and interact with business and corporate leaders. Research and class work prepare students for bi-weekly discussions with senior executives. The seminar format is an integrating process that helps students form a personal style of management, eclectically based on cousel from successful business professionals.

Business and corporate leaders are invited from various industries and backgrounds, such as manufacturing, marketing, retail, financial services, banking, investments, consulting, education, health care and nonprofit and governmental organizations.

Haller Enterprise Institute
The Haller Enterprise Institute encourages, promotes and supports entrepreneurship among students attending Thiel. The Institute is named after Henry E. and Grace Mary Haller, major benefactorss to the College with a keen interest in entrepreneurship.

The Haller Enterprise Institute encourages entrepreneurship by:

• Awarding Haller Scholarships to academically qualified students;
• Awarding the Haller Enterprise Award, a scholarship award for students who own and operate their own businesses;
• Awarding scholarships to students for outstanding business plans completed as part of the Introduction to Entrepreneurship course;
• Annually recognizing a Student Entrepreneur of the Year; and
• Annually recognizing a successful business owner from the community with the Entrepreneur of the Year award.
• Awards are based upon entrepreneurial concepts of self-determination, self-reliance, self-respect and individual initiative.