Business Administration program

Get the business background you need.

The Business Administration minor at UW-La Crosse offers students from non-business disciplines the opportunity to gain a solid foundation in the key functional areas of business and organizational operations. Through a core set of courses in accounting, economics, management, and marketing, students develop practical skills in decision-making, leadership, and strategic thinking—skills that are highly valued across all fields.

Whether you're interested in fitness, tech, healthcare, nonprofit management, or other fields, this minor helps you bridge the gap between your discipline and the world of business.

The business administration minor is available to any student outside the College of Business Administration.

 

Undergrad minor

A program within the Department of Business Administration

Gain a competitive edge in any career

No matter your major, understanding how businesses operate provides a distinct advantage. This minor helps you interpret what’s happening behind the scenes — whether you're working within an organization or launching your own venture.

Many students with entrepreneurial goals or career interests that intersect with business find the minor especially valuable. For example, exercise and sport science majors often pursue the minor to better understand how to run a fitness center, manage clients or operate as personal trainers.

A minor for diverse paths

Students from a wide range of majors choose the Business Administration minor, including:

  • Exercise and sport science
  • Communication Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Biology, Chemistry, and Microbiology
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Public Administration
  • Public Health and Community Health Education
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Therapeutic Recreation

What distinguishes the business administration minor?

Customize the minor based on interest

In addition to taking core courses in business, students may choose electives that align with their interests and future career needs. For instance, chemistry and biology majors interested in pharmacy sales may decide to take professional selling as an elective.

Assistance in course selection

The College of Business Administration Dean’s Office assists students in selecting their business minor courses to ensure they meet student’s overarching career objectives.

Attainable addition

The minor is 24-25 credits. If students declare the minor early in their academic career, these credits can easily be incorporated into their major without need for additional semesters of study.

AACSB-accredited

The business administration minor is part of the College of Business Administration, which is accredited by AACSB International. This accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools and is held by only 5% of schools worldwide. AACSB schools produce graduates who are more highly skilled and marketable to employers than other non-accredited schools.

Sample courses

ACC 221 Accounting Principles I An introduction to accounting as an information system. Emphasis is on reporting to external constituencies: investors and creditors. Topics include recording economic activities of the firm and the resultant financial reports, time value of money concept and its applications to financial reporting. Prerequisite: students must have successfully completed a minimum of 12 credit hours; only open to CBA majors or when required by another major/minor. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

ECO 110 Microeconomics and Public Policy Introduction to microeconomic principles and their application to decision-making by individuals, businesses, and government. General topics include supply and demand, market structures, product markets, government regulation, income distribution, international trade, and economic analysis of current social issues. Prerequisite: grade of "C" or better in MTH 051, or completion of MTH 115 or MTH 116 or MTH 123 or STAT 145, or placement in MTH 150 or higher. Offered Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer.

MGT 308 Organizational Behavior This course provides an introduction to organizational behavior. Emphasis is on key individual and group level behavioral processes deemed essential for effective management. They include perception, motivation, communication, and group dynamics. In addition, the course covers some basic concepts of organizational theory such as organizational structure and design, organizational culture, and strategy and goals. Prerequisite: admission to business. Also open to majors with a business concentration, or business minors, with junior standing. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

MKT 309 Principles of Marketing An introduction to the study of marketing in business and other organizations. Topics include: the marketing environment, marketing strategies and decision-making, marketing ethics and the international dimension of marketing strategy. Prerequisite: ECO 110; business minor or a major with a business concentration and junior standing, or admission to business. Offered Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer.