Business Degrees at Bethel University

The Business Management major provides a broad base for students desiring to pursue a career in business. Courses in management, marketing, accounting, and economics create a solid foundation for a variety of jobs. Additionally, students are able to choose one of four concentrations: marketing, management, finance, or international business. The business program is focused on biblical principles, recognizing the importance of strong ethics in today’s business environment. The program seeks to develop students with strong business competencies to enable them to succeed in their chosen profession. The curriculum prepares students for a variety of positions (e.g. sales, human resources, management, etc.) in many sectors, including banking, healthcare administration, not-for-profit, hospitality, retail, manufacturing, education, and finance.

The associate degree is a two-year program that can prepare students for entry level and supervisory positions in business. Some students have taken it as preparation for work in a family business. The Bethel AA in Business Management is different from many two-year degrees because it includes Christian foundation among the general education courses. Courses in this degree can apply if graduates wish to return to BA level study at a future date.

The study of economics provides students with a well-grounded liberal arts education, intentionally integrating the Christian faith with the study of economic activity. The economics major helps students develop skills in analysis and decision-making by thoroughly grounding them in the theory and practice of economic reasoning. The program prepares students to work in business, finance and public policy-related fields and is especially appropriate for students planning to attend law school or graduate programs in economics, business and public administration.

The accounting major provides a broad study of financial and management accounting principles and applications, as well as a selection of key business courses to enhance the student’s analytical and decision-making skills. The curriculum will prepare students for careers in public accounting, in business and in not-for-profit organizations. It will also provide a solid foundation for further graduate study.

The accounting degree is a 124-hour program. Students interested in sitting for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) examination must complete a minimum of 150 hours of college credit. These extra hours can be completed through additional undergraduate or graduate level studies. Students are encouraged to work with their advisor in understanding the specific requirements of the state in which they plan to practice.

The Financial Services major prepares students for a career in financial services.  The major consists of a combination of accounting, business and economics and finance classes that will equip them to work in this field.  Additionally, the major requires three internships: financial planning, taxation, and credit analysis. These internships will give students real-world experience in diverse areas of financial services and allow them to explore areas of financial services in which they would like to work. This major will prepare students for careers in financial services including but not limited to financial planning, tax planning, credit analysis, investment, and insurance. 

In almost every organization, whether profit or non-profit, marketing managers are needed to promote and communicate to the public the value of the product being offered. The marketing major gives students the skills necessary to develop promotional materials, strengthen communication skills and to learn how to reach a target market. The marketing major prepares students for careers in advertising, sales, public relations, brand manager, and promotion manager.