Explore Business Majors
How to Choose a Business Major
As you consider a business major, start with identifying your interests and skills. Knowing more about yourself can help you reflect on how your interests align with the majors and careers you are exploring.
Use the following resources and lists of majors as a starting point to consider the best path for your goals, but remember that major does not always equal career. Many people who work in business-related careers do not have an undergraduate degree in a business-related major.
Consider interest areas:
- Analyze a business to determine how it could operate better
- Control the financial resources of a company, organization, or agency
- Manage natural resources, such as park, forest, or wetland
- Manage the business interests of professional athletes, artists or performers
- Analyze financial records to determine the health of a company
- Help customers resolve a problem with a product or service
- Be the spokesperson for an organization
- Design a marketing or sales campaign
- Sell a product or service
- Create written materials for others to speak or read
Visit the Self-Awareness section of our Start Exploring resources for assessments and reflective exercises to learn more about your interests, values, and skills.
Parallel Planning in Business
As you explore business majors, note that some have entrance requirements that must be completed before applying. In some cases, even if you meet these requirements, admission may be limited due to space.
If you are exploring majors that have entrance requirements, we recommend looking at options for a parallel plan (also known as a back-up plan). A parallel plan includes majors that relate to your interests and skills and can be declared without meeting additional requirements. Having multiple options allows you to pursue your goals if you are not admitted to your first choice major.
Learning more about your interests, values, and skills can be helpful in identifying parallel plan options. Visit the Self-Awareness section of the CAPE site for activities that can help you learn more about yourself.
If you would like support with developing a parallel plan, schedule a meeting with a CAPE Coach
Business Majors List
Majors directly related to the study of business practices and principles:
Agricultural and Food Business Management
Agricultural Communication and Marketing
Business and Marketing Education
Finance and Risk Management Insurance
Human Resources and Industrial Relations
Management Information Systems
Public and Nonprofit Management
Strategic Communication: Advertising and Public Relations
Business-Related Majors and Minors List
While not focusing exclusively on business, the majors and minors below have a connection to business and help build interpersonal and analytical skills relevant for many business career fields.
Bachelor of Individualized Studies: Business concentration
Economics - Quantitative Emphasis
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Information Technology Infrastructure
Inter-College Program: Business concentration
Mathematics B.S. Actuarial Science sub-plan
Sociology B.S. Organization, Business and Non-Profit sub-plan
Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Justice B.S. Organization, Business and Non-Profit sub-plan
Technical Writing and Communication
Minors and Certificates related to Business
Career Paths in Business
It is important to learn about the range of possibilities in business careers and assess how career and job options match your interests and skills.
Below, you will find resources to help you learn more about a variety of business careers:
Career Services Connect with the Career Services office for your college to get support in gaining experience
CLA’s Business Career Field See where liberal arts majors are working in business
Pathways in Business Learn about the many areas within business careers
Occupational Outlook Handbook Explore business and financial occupations