Business Administration Degree [open to first year students fall 2026]
The Business Administration major offers students a well-rounded education in the core disciplines that drive modern business, including management, finance, marketing, accounting, and economics. Grounded in real-world application, the curriculum is designed to help students understand how organizations operate, how decisions are made, and how value is created. With an emphasis on ethical leadership, effective communication, and strategic thinking, the program provides a flexible framework for exploring the role of business in society and the global economy.
The Business Administration major at UC Merced prepares students for a wide variety of career paths in today’s rapidly evolving economy. This includes roles in management, marketing, financial services, entrepreneurship, accounting, sales, and operations. With a curriculum grounded in core business and management classes students develop the skills needed to lead teams, solve real-world business problems, and make data-informed decisions.
What sets this program apart is its accessible, hands-on approach. Students engage in business decision-making through case studies, simulations, and practical projects, with less emphasis on economic theory or quantitative analytics. The Business Administration major is ideal for those seeking to apply business principles across a wide range of industries and organizational settings.
Students in this program explore how business can drive economic opportunity and social progress, and learn to navigate challenges related to leadership, innovation, and ethics. Whether launching a startup, managing a team, improving business operations, or entering business school, graduates leave UC Merced prepared to make meaningful contributions in a wide range of fields.
Program Requirements
Lower Division Major Requirements [28 Units]
Lower Division Business Core [16 units]
Complete the following courses:
- ECON 001: Introduction to Economics: 4
- ECON 005: Introduction to Business & Finance:4
- ECON 006A: Financial Accounting I: 4
- ECON 050: Introduction to Business Analytics and Spreadsheets:4
Lower Division Quantitative Requirements [8 units]
Complete the following courses:
- MATH 008: Quantitative Reasoning OR MATH005: Preparatory Calculus OR MATH 011: Calculus I: 4
- ECON 010: Statistical Inference: 4
Lower Division Ethics Requirement [4 units]
Complete the following course:
- ECON 023: Business Ethics OR equivalent lower division ethics course: 4
Upper Division Major Requirements [28 Units]
Upper Division Business Core [16 units]
Complete the following courses:
- ECON 102: Managerial Economics OR ECON 100: Intermediate Microeconomics: 4 :
- ECON 104: Writing in Economics and Business OR another ECON course satisfying the Writing in the Discipline Requirement: 4
- ECON 105: Corporate Finance: 4
- ECON 108: Marketing and Consumer Behavior: 4
Upper Division Business Electives [12 minimum units]
Complete THREE of the following upper division elective courses within one of the two tracks. Students must select a track upon admission; however, they are free to change tracks in consultation with their advisor.
Management Track
- ECON 111B: Business and Financial History
- ECON 115: Economics of Industrial Organization
- ECON 116: Organizational Strategy
- ECON 126: Economics of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- ECON 149: Economics of Sports
- ECON 151: Economics of Government and Business
- ECON 153: Judgment and Decision Making
- ECON 170: Game Theory
- ECON 175: Personnel Economics
- ECON 176: Effective Negotiations (cross roads GE)
- ECON 177: Communication and Leadership (cross roads GE)
- MGMT 118: Women in Executive Leadership
- MGMT 122: Teams and Organizations
- MGMT 124: Organizational Behavior and Leadership
- MGMT 127: Public Sector and Nonprofit Management
- MGMT 128: Global Markets and Investment banking
- MGMT 180: Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
Financial Economics Track
- ECON 101: Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
- ECON 111B: Business and Financial History
- ECON 121: Economics of Money, Banking, and Financial Institutions
- ECON 134: Advanced Financial Reporting
- ECON 136: Financial Statements & Analysis
- ECON 139: Project Finance
- ECON 161: International Finance and Trade
- ECON 163A: Economics of Investments: Bonds and Stocks
- ECON 163B: Economics of Investments: Futures, and Options
- ECON 174: Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Finance
- ECON 178: Real Estate Economics and Finance
- MGMT 128: Global Markets and Investment Banking
Program Learning outcomes
- Analyze business problems and propose effective solutions by applying critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and analytical tools.
- Apply theories and concepts from disciplines in business administration (e.g. finance, statistics, marketing, economics, accounting)
- Use Effective written and oral communication consistent with discipline and professional environments
- Apply information technology to develop business proposals, complete case studies, and produce reports, with recommendations for strategic business decision making
- Evaluate ethical, social, and sustainability related issues as they relate to business organization, operations, and human resources.
