General Business Administration
BS, Minor

On-campus Online Undergraduate Major Minor

Complete your degree. Expand your impact.

Designed for transfer students and working professionals, the BS in general business administration offers a flexible pathway to complete your degree and advance your career. The program is available fully online or as an on-campus degree completion option.

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A flexible path to business leadership

While many students pursue a specialized major, the general business administration (GBA) program offers flexibility for those whose academic and professional goals are best served by a broad, integrated business curriculum. To enroll in the on-campus GBA program, application must meet the following requirements:

Must be applying for admission to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and bringing in a minimum of 45 transfer credits completed elsewhere. Must possess significant full-time professional work experience away from college.
Must meet the minimum transfer credit requirement and/or be a returning student who has been away from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for five years or more. Those who lack the minimum 45 hours of transfer credit are encouraged to take courses at a Community College (though with no guarantee of admission to the GBA program).
Submit a short essay explaining why you seek the GBA instead of a degree in a specific discipline. The essay should also describe the kinds of upper-level business courses you intend to take.

Internship placements

Students gain experience across corporate, nonprofit, healthcare, and government sectors — applying classroom knowledge to real-world business challenges.

General Business Administration curriculum

Degree requirements & courses

The GBA curriculum prepares you for leadership in complex organizations. You’ll learn to evaluate business strategy, analyze internal and external environments, and drive informed, data-driven decision-making across functional areas.

You gain proficiency in:

managing the functional areas of business
analyzing and improving business processes
strategic thinking across dynamic business environments
aligning policies, systems, and teams to organizational goals

You'll complete the remaining credit hours in business courses to graduate with 120 credits overall.

Course descriptions, schedules and requirements

Student success

Charlton College of Business mean starting salary

NACE Data Collection of Class of 2024 Undergraduate Alumni

Marisa Heller at her undergraduate commencement in the spring of 2025

Student spotlight

Marisa Heller BS '25, JD '27: The business of law

General business administration major joins UMass Law's accelerated 3+3 program in quest to own her own law firm.

Career placements

Acushnet Company
EMC
Fidelity Investments
State Street

Gain hands-on work experience through Charlton's internship programs
Consult with faculty and career advisors to identify where you want to go in your career—and how to get there
Put your knowledge into action with student organizations such as DECA

Advance your career with a degree designed to build leadership, communication, and strategic decision-making skills valued across industries.
Work with academic advisors to map an efficient path to graduation that aligns with your professional goals.
Strengthen your résumé through internships, applied projects, and student organizations such as DECA.
Access career coaching, networking events, and employer connections to support your next promotion or career move.

Study online

Transfer credits or earn your degree completely online.

Frequently asked questions

Have questions about the General Business Administration BS program? Below are answers to common questions about admissions, curriculum, career outcomes, and student experience.

This program is intended for transfer students and working professionals who have completed prior college coursework and want to finish their bachelor’s degree in business.

Yes. The program is offered fully online and is structured to support students balancing professional and personal commitments.

Yes. Employers value broad business knowledge combined with professional experience. The GBA prepares graduates for supervisory, management, and operations-focused roles across industries.

Graduates may continue into Charlton’s MBA program or other specialized master’s degrees to deepen expertise and accelerate career growth.