Understanding the different levels of academic awards can be confusing. Here are a few terms that may help. For a detailed explanation of the breakdown of a business degree, see Your Business Degree Explained.

Degree: Undergraduate degrees typically consist of 120 credits and include a specified set of University, College, and Major requirements. The Carson College of Business offers two undergraduate degrees; the Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BA BA) and the Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Business Management (BA HBM).

Major: A major is an in-depth field of study that is part of a degree. This is your main focus of study. Students are required to declare their major, typically after the first year. Some students choose to pursue multiple majors (see FAQ on double-majors and double degrees). Major requirements represent about one-third of the total credits required for a degree, roughly 40 credits. The Carson College offers 11 different business majors that lead to either the BA BA or the BA HBM degrees. Not all majors are available at each WSU campus. See the FAQ section below for a list of majors available at each campus.

Minor: A minor is an additional area of study outside a student’s primary major. It is an optional academic award that consists of an additional 16 credits beyond what is required for a major. Minors provide a broader set of knowledge to better position graduates to achieve their career goals.

Certificate: Similar to a minor, certificates are an optional area of study that require an additional 15 credits. Students often pursue certificates to become uniquely qualified for their chosen profession.

The Carson College of Business offers business majors on five WSU campuses. However, not every major is offered on all campuses. To become a business major, contact a business advisor on the campus you plan to attend. The table below shows the majors offered on each campus.

A minor is an additional area of study outside a student’s primary major. It is a supplemental or optional academic award that consists of an additional 16 credits beyond the major. Minors provide a broader set of knowledge to better position graduates to achieve their career goals.

The table below shows the minors offered on each campus and which majors are eligible to pursue these minors.

Details About Each Minor

Similar to a minor, certificates are an optional area of study that require an additional 15 credits. Business students may choose to pursue certificates offered by any WSU department. Carson College Academic and Career Advisors can help students determine if a certificate program that will enable them to become uniquely qualified for their chosen profession.

Not all certificates are available on all WSU campuses. The table below shows business certificates and the campuses they are offered on. A list of complimentary certificates offered other departments is also provided. These represent non-business certificates that may compliment your major. Speak with a business advisor if you are interested in a business certificate.

Double Majors:

Students can choose to complete multiple majors under a single degree. For example, students can pursue both the Accounting and Finance majors. Both of these majors lead to the same degree, the BA Business Administration. This is called a “double major”.

Declaring a double major will require you to complete at least 15 additional credits. Those credits must be from courses that are specifically required for your second major, and different from those used to satisfy requirements from your first major. Let your academic advisor know if you wish to declare a second business major.

The table below shows the majors that lead to the two business degrees offered by the Carson College.

Double Degrees:

Students pursuing a major outside the Carson College of Business can add second degree with any business major. For example, students can pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication with a major in Public Relations, and also declare a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a major in Marketing. This is called a “double degree”.

Unlike a single degree that requires students to complete 120 credits, students pursuing a double degree must complete a minimum of 150 semester credits. If you wish to pursue a double degree, schedule a time to meet with a Business advisor on your campus to explore this option and learn more about the requirements.