UNC Charlotte continues its commitment to adult learners with the addition of a new online bachelor’s degree completion program in business administration approved by the UNC Board of Governors on November 16. The Belk College of Business will offer the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in partnership with the School of Professional Studies starting spring 2025. The program can be completed with courses delivered 100% online to maximize opportunities for students to complete their degree while working or taking care of other responsibilities. The new undergraduate degree allows the Charlotte community to leverage its expertise in delivering high-quality online instruction and support as recently recognized as #1 in North Carolina and #4 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
"This innovative program will meet the needs of working adult students who stopped out of college due to varied life circumstances," said Belk College Interim Dean Dolly King. "We expect that some graduates will remain with their current employer and use the degree for career progression and upward mobility. Others will gain access to new career opportunities because of this degree. Ultimately, we anticipate enabling career success in varied business fields, such as management, marketing, human resources, operations, analytics, information systems and finance."
The new program follows the addition in August 2022 of a fully online MBA with a choice of industry-responsive high-tech concentrations, developed by the same expert faculty who teach in Charlotte’s nationally ranked Professional MBA.
“UNC Charlotte continues to invest in degree pathways for adult learners so they can advance their careers,” said Asher Haines, associate provost of the School of Professional Studies. “Our affordable online programs are nationally ranked thanks to our high-caliber faculty, online learning design professionals, and caring staff who understand that adult learners are balancing school with family commitments and work obligations.”
The online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration is designed for adult transfer students and populations such as 49er Finish students. Students can complete the major's requirements in two years if they have previously completed an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science and the business progression courses prior to enrollment.
"Charlotte’s program features a broad curriculum drawing on coursework in accounting, ethics, risk management and insurance, international business, business analytics and digital marketing and web analytics," said Natasha Randle, Belk College associate dean for undergraduate programs. "The combination of the expansive curriculum, the unique relationship between the Belk College and the Charlotte business community that will allow students exposure to varied organizations, and the physical location of our experts and resources in Charlotte distinguish this program from other programs in the UNC system."
This program will be accredited by AACSB International, as are other programs offered by the Belk College. AACSB is the premier international organization for business school accreditation and is synonymous with the highest standard of excellence and provides quality assurance, business education intelligence, and learning and development for member schools. Fewer than six percent of the world's business schools achieve and maintain AACSB International accreditation for both business and accounting programs.
The program application opens in August 2024 for prospective students who will start classes in January 2025. For more information on the program or to speak with an enrollment specialist, please submit a request for information on the program page at https://professional.charlotte.edu/bsba.