Academics

Undergraduate students choose from the following eight majors.

Accounting

Accountants help ensure firms are run efficiently, public records kept accurately, and taxes paid properly. They analyze and communicate financial information for firms, individuals, and governments. Many accountants also offer budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services. Coursework in accounting covers financial accounting, managerial accounting, taxes, and the use of accounting information systems. Many accounting undergraduates pursue a Master of Accounting (MAcc); in Utah, a master’s degree is required in order to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). At the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, we are proud to note that our accounting program is ranked among the top 25 nationally, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Business Administration

The business administration degree provides students with a strong knowledge base across the fundamental disciplines of business: accounting, finance, management, marketing and operations management. New graduates will possess a mix of business, technical, and essential communication skills required for management and leadership roles. The business administration degree is highly sought after for a variety of job titles in many industry sectors including: management training and leadership development programs, business analysts (including marketing and finance areas), marketing and brand managers, sales and customer service professionals, and a variety of roles in government, non-profit, and health services. Employers place a priority on new graduates who have a broad business perspective and the ability to adapt to a variety of positions.

Entrepreneurship

Our entrepreneurship major equips students to follow trends, identify emerging opportunities, and pursue them through the creation of new products and services and/or with the creation of your own company. Entrepreneurially minded students have the opportunity to hone their skills in business plan competitions and programs offered by the Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center, or to immerse themselves in the Foundry—our pre-seed business incubator program. The David Eccles School of Business is ranked No. 16 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s list for best undergraduate entrepreneurial programs.

Finance

The field of finance deals with the concepts of time, money, risk, how they are interrelated, and how money is spent and budgeted. Finance students can study corporate finance, investment, real estate, and insurance. The Finance Department also provides students with many experiential learning opportunities including the Week on Wall Street, the Finance Club, the Finance Career Conference, the Student Investment Fund, and the University Venture Fund. Our top undergraduate students can take advantage of an Honors Degree in Finance, the first departmental honors degree option in the David Eccles School of Business. With a current ranking of 21st in the world for research, our international reputation further reflects the caliber of our faculty and program.

Information Systems

The information systems (IS) major aims to create efficient management of information within organizations in order to create processes that are most beneficial to the users who interface with that group. IS students study the interface between organizations, people, and technology. Careers for IS students include working with companies in the private and public sectors with the goal being to align information technology with business strategies. Many students pursue graduate education in business. IS majors often choose to pursue a Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS).

Management

Our programs in management provide you with the skills needed to lead your company through challenging times, achieve financial success, and to recruit, train, and benefit from the skills and knowledge your employees bring to work each day. Entrepreneurially minded students have the opportunity to hone their skills in business plan competitions and programs offered by the Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center, or to immerse themselves in the Foundry – our pre-seed business incubator program.

Marketing

Marketing is an organizational function and a set of processes for creating, communicating, and delivering value to customers and for managing customer relationships in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders. One quarter of the workforce is estimated to be employed in marketing, transportation, and related distribution activities. This makes the general field of marketing one of the largest areas of employment opportunity in business today. Our marketing majors study diverse topics like marketing research, consumer behavior, advertising, and international marketing. Many marketing undergraduates pursue graduate study in business; the Full-Time MBA and Masters of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) degrees are popular choices.

Operations Management

Operations management is working within an organization to oversee the quality and speed of processes. Operations management students study a firm’s profitability, how to improve process flows, how to enhance output quality, and how to manage the supply chain. Careers for operations management students include working in service and manufacturing firms to manage the transformation of inputs into outputs. The operations function also plays a role in developing new products and in product pricing. The operations management major from the David Eccles School of Business trains students how to think analytically and logically, using both quantitative and qualitative frameworks.