Bachelor of ArtsBusiness Administration

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Prepare for a career in business.

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At Bellarmine, our Business Administration students learn from faculty members who are also business professionals. Our location in Louisville also provides excellent internship and mentorship possibilities, which often lead to lucrative offers upon graduation.

Why earn your Business degree at Bellarmine?

The Business Administration curriculum centers on the understanding and application of fundamental business skills and includes among its core content courses that focus on Microsoft Excel and Analytics. Consistent with the Business School’s mission of programs in the liberal arts tradition, and in recognition of the importance of the integration of disciplines, Business Administration majors have the flexibility of pairing this primary major with another major or minor in a second field of study. Professional internships are an integral part of the Business Administration program. Internships provide students with relevant professional experience and employment opportunities upon graduation.

Program Highlights

Bellarmine offers Business Administration students a unique educational experience: a broad-based liberal arts education supplemented by top-notch business preparation. This difference is viewed quite favorably by employers, who say they like our graduates because of their writing and critical thinking skills. The Rubel School of Business also is noted for rapidly incorporating innovations and business trends into the curriculum. For example, many employers today are encouraging their workers to earn MBA degrees; therefore, Bellarmine has introduced several programs that take entering first-year students to their MBA degrees in just five (or four and a half) years.

The Rubel School of Business was selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Princeton Review's “Best Business Schools."

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Alex Kuebbing

“The faculty in Bellarmine’s Rubel School of Business made sure I was equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in the business world, and when I decided my path would take me to law school, they gave me advice and guidance beyond the classroom. Bellarmine opened up many doors for me, and it can for you too!”

Alex Kuebbing ‘08
Associate
Huddleston Bolen, LLP

Learning Goals

  1. Business Administration graduates will demonstrate knowledge of core business functions.
  2. Business Administration graduates will demonstrate the ability to recognize and analyze ethical problems and view business as having social responsibilities.
  3. Each student must demonstrate the ability, through clarity, content and composition, to convey information to others in written communication.
  4. Each student must demonstrate the ability to recognize increasing globalization and its impact on business practices.
  5. Students shall be able to express themselves clearly and professionally in oral presentations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What courses are required to complete the program?

Courses List

  • Required core courses for Major: BUSA 103, BUSA 203, BUSA 301, BUSA 305, BUSA 345, BUSA 346, BUSA 410, BUSA 420, BUSA 444, BUSA 499 and FINA 315 (30 Credit Hours)
  • Required related courses for Major: ACCT 101 and ACCT 102; ECON 110, ECON 111 and ECON 314; MATH 125 or MATH 117; MATH 205 or MATH 314; COMM 103 or COMM 205; PSYC 103 (27 Credit Hours)
  • Required core courses for Minor: BUSA 103, 203, 301 and 305
  • Required related courses for Minor: ACCT 101, ECON 110, FINA 315 and MATH 125 or 117

Students must achieve a minimum 2.00 GPA for all Rubel School courses (Accounting, Business, Economics and Finance) taken in the Rubel School, not counting transfer courses, to graduate with a Business Administration major.

What employment options are available with a Business Administration degree?
The Bellarmine Business Administration program is a broad-based program designed to prepare students for a number of career opportunities including Analytics, Management, Sales, Marketing, Insurance, Banking, Human Resources, Real Estate and many more. Several graduates have pursued our Dual MBA track and proceeded to start their own business venture. For more information on opportunities and salary data, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Management.

Do you provide job or internship placement?

The following are a few of the organizations that have provided part-time internship positions for Bellarmine Business Administration students:

  • All Pro Championships
  • Atria Senior Living
  • Brown-Forman
  • Fund for the Arts
  • Greater Louisville, Inc.
  • Healthcare Asset Network
  • Kentucky Derby Festival
  • Kentucky Farm Bureau
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Red Bull North America
  • Texas Roadhouse

Bellarmine Business students often obtain career positions prior to graduation.

What is the placement rate for Bellarmine Business School graduates with a bachelor’s degree?

Survey data of recent graduates (2018) shows that 84% of Bellarmine Rubel School Business graduates have full-time positions at graduation or are pursuing a graduate degree. The average earnings for a Bellarmine Business School graduate are $75,033.

Who hires Bellarmine Business Administration graduates?

Recent placement for Business Administration graduates includes the following employers:

  • Town of Santa Claus, IN
  • DENIOS US, Inc.
  • JCPS
  • UNUM, Inc.
  • Healthcare Asset Network
  • Humana
  • Louisville Executive Aviation
  • Republic Bank
  • Schneider Electric
  • LG&E and KU Energy
  • Hillerich & Bradsby Co.
  • RE/MAX Premier Properties
  • American Heart Association
  • American Income Life Insurance Company
  • Nazareth Home
  • Doe-Anderson
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Atria Senior Living
Do I have to apply separately to the Business Administration program if I am admitted to Bellarmine?

No, admission to Bellarmine is all that is required. Separate admittance to the Business Administration program or Business School is not required.

When do I begin taking Business courses?

Your professional career starts as a first-year at Bellarmine. You take Introduction to Business in the first semester of your first year and begin networking with local professionals and working with a mentor in the business community. Upon entering Bellarmine, you will be assigned two academic advisors, one from Bellarmine’s Student Success Center and a full-time Business faculty member.

Is the program accredited?

The W. Fielding Rubel School of Business at Bellarmine University is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). Bellarmine is the first and only private university in Kentucky to achieve AACSB accreditation.

Can I transfer credit into this program from another institution?

All transfer courses in the Business School must be approved by the Department Chair.

Is financial aid available?

Please go to Bellarmine’s financial aid website for detailed information on financial aid packages. Additionally, students can work with our Faculty Development Center to apply for grants and awards outside of the Bellarmine offerings.

How many hours can I expect to spend studying outside of class time?

Each student has their own learning style so this can vary greatly. As a rule of thumb, expect to spend an average of two hours studying for every hour you spend in-class.

What are the instructors’ credentials?

You can find information about a course instructor, including a biography and credentials, on the Faculty page.

Can I schedule a classroom visit?

Yes. Please contact one of our admissions officers to assist you in scheduling a campus or individual classroom visit.

Career Opportunities

Most students find work in the private sector. Others continue to extend their internships and some will continue their education by attending law school or obtaining their MBA. Some have pursued graduate programs in fields such as Healthcare Management and Sports Management.

Companies that have recently offered our students internships or career opportunities are:

  • Abercrombie & Fitch
  • Brown & Williamson
  • Brown-Forman
  • Churchill Downs
  • Department of the Navy
  • Eugene Wilson & Company
  • First Commonwealth Mortgage
  • General Electric
  • Humana
  • Invesco
  • Jewish Hospital
  • Louisville Public Library
  • Metro Louisville
  • Mercer
  • Neil Hoffman Auto Group
  • Northwestern Mutual Financial Group
  • Papa John’s Pizza
  • Progressive Insurance
  • Sodexo Food Service
  • UPS
  • US Bank
  • Wright Patterson AFB
  • YUM!

On Campus Experiences

The Bellarmine University Accounting Association is a professional organization for accounting students organized to prepare for professional careers in fields of public, private or governmental accounting; to educate members about current accounting issues; and to promote the development of professional skills. The Accounting Association provides extensive access to and interaction with potential professional employers from the freshman year through graduation, career placement and commencement of students’ careers.

Delta Sigma Pi is a professional fraternity organized to foster the study of business in universities; to encourage scholarship, social activity and the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice; to promote closer affiliation between the commercial world and students of commerce; and to further a higher standard of commercial ethics and culture and the civic and commercial welfare of the community.

Faculty

Here is a quick snapshot of a few of our faculty members. Read profiles of all of our distinguished faculty

Alisha Harper

Dr. Alisha Harper
Alisha Harper is an Associate Professor and serves as chair of the Department of Business Administration. She received her B.A. from Shepherd University, her J.D. from the University of Louisville and an LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University. Prior to joining the Bellarmine faculty, Alisha worked for eight years as a Senior Attorney for the IRS Office of Chief Council and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Her research interests include practical tax strategies and pedagogies in the online classroom. Professor Harper serves as the academic advisor for Delta Sigma Pi and as the faculty coordinator for Bellarmine’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Ms. Patricia Carver

Dr. Patricia Carver
Dr. Carver is an Instructor of Business Administration in the Rubel School of Business. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a major in Accounting and Bellarmine University where she received an MBA and her Doctorate in Leadership in Higher Education. Dr. Carver is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), currently licensed to practice public accounting in the state of Kentucky. She is experienced in the area of accounting, finance, management, strategic planning, and consulting. She has over 25 years of professional experience in the private sector including positions as Chief Internal Auditor, Revenue Manager and Financial Analyst at the Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District and Senior Field Auditor with the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet.

Along with the numerous opportunities our students have to study abroad in over 50 countries, one opportunity many of our business students choose is an experience in Tuscany. This is an intensive three-week experience of Italy with site visits to Central Austria (University of Kufstein). Students earn up to 6 hours of credit in an immersion setting in Europe and no prior language experience is required. Those who pursue their MBA at Bellarmine may also participate in a study abroad experience in France.

Bellarmine on Business Podcast

Bellarmine on Business podcast logo

Bellarmine University's Rubel School of Business produces the Bellarmine on Business podcast. Each monthly episode features lively discussions with faculty and/or alumni. Episodes focus on the economy, finance, marketing, HR, the law, business strategy and more. Learn more >>

Accreditation

The W. Fielding Rubel School of Business at Bellarmine University is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which places it among the elite business schools in the nation. Not only is Bellarmine the first and only private university in Kentucky to achieve AACSB accreditation, but less than 5% of the world's 13,000 business programs have earned AACSB Accreditation.

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