College of Business

Office Info:
104 Forsyth Building/Main Campus
(828) 227-7412

Darrell Parker, Dean
Debra Burke, Associate Dean
Kenneth Flynt, Associate Dean

Vision.The College of Business is a leading educator of high-performance, innovative, leadership talent that meets tomorrow’s business and the region’s evolving development needs.

Mission.The College of Business will be a leader among schools of business in graduating students that meet the needs of industries, markets and institutions from the local to the global level. Graduates will achieve their high-performance and innovative leadership potential through a program of active learning involving academic studies enhanced by practical experience gained from engagement opportunities with businesses and economic and community development agencies.

Programs of study include: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (with majors in Accounting, Business Administration and Law, Computer Information Systems, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management and Marketing) , Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism, Master of Accountancy, Master of Business Administration, Master of Entrepreneurship, and Master of Project Management. The Master of Business Administration is offered in Cherokee and Asheville; the Master of Accountancy is offered in Asheville; the Master of Entrepreneurship and the Master of Project Management are Web-based, available internationally.

Admission to B.S.B.A. programs. Acceptance and registration in business administration courses or the declaration of intent to complete a business major do not guarantee admission to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration programs. A student is not officially in the college until admitted as a candidate for the degree in a major program. A student may be admitted to degree programs other than accounting after completing a minimum of 30 hours at Western Carolina University with a 2.0 GPA on hours attempted. Applicants transferring directly from another accredited institution must have a 2.0 GPA on all work attempted at the previous institution. Transfer students who complete courses at the university before applying for admission to the College of Business must have a 2.0 GPA on hours attempted. If less than 30 hours have been attempted at Western, a 2.0 GPA on hours attempted both at Western and at the other institutions is required. Admission requirements for the accounting and sport management programs are different and can be found in the respective program descriptions. Consistent with the policy on transfer of course work, at least 30 semester hours of courses must be taken in the College of Business at Western Carolina University toward the BSBA or BS degrees.

Application for graduation may be filed upon completion of 90 hours and must be filed no later than one month before the final semester of enrollment.

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree. This degree program requires the following:

Liberal Studies (42 hours)
Business core courses (36 hours)
Major program of study in business and elective courses (42 hours)
Minimum requirements for BSBA Degree (120 hours)

A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in the major for graduation. The Sport Management program requires a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the major. The major comprises the Business core course and hours in the major program of study. Appropriate prerequisites must be completed and at least 45 hours are required for enrollment in all courses numbered 300 or above in the College of Business.

Students with majors outside the College of Business are prohibited from taking in excess of 25 percent of the hours required for their degree from College of Business courses.

Second Major in Business Administration. The requirements for a second major in business administration, available only to students outside the College of Business, consists of all the courses (MATH 170 or QA 235, ACCT 251, 252, ECON 231, 232, CIS 251, LAW 230, MKT 201, FIN 305, QA 305, MGT 300, MGT 404), plus MGT 366, MGT 367 and a 3-hour 300-400 level business elective. Substitutions may be made only with the approval of the dean of the College of Business or his or her designee.