The vision of the Belk College of Business is to be a leading urban research business school. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture that inspires a passion for knowledge and intellectual growth as well as dedication to service. We engage in research that fosters innovative business theory, policy, and practice. In strategic partnership with the Greater Charlotte region, we educate our students to become leaders who are critical thinkers, ethically informed, and globally aware. In carrying out our mission, the Belk College of Business is committed to the following shared values:

• Integrity: We embrace integrity as the fundamental basis for trust, leadership, and organizational culture.
• Knowledge and Innovation: We are dedicated to encouraging intellectual curiosity, advancing knowledge, and promoting innovation.
• Excellence: We have a passion for excellence in business, research, and education.
• Diversity and Inclusion: We foster an environment that is based on mutual respect, broadens understanding, and builds trust.
• Global Citizenship: We promote ethically principled and sustainable global practices that foster economic and social value.

The College of Business consists of the following departments:

• Department of Accounting  
• Department of Business Information Systems and Operations Management  
• Department of Economics  
• Department of Finance  
• Department of Management  
• Department of Marketing  

And the following Interdisciplinary Studies office:

• Office of Global Business Studies  

Degree Programs

Majors

The Belk College of Business offers undergraduate majors with additional concentrations for students at UNC Charlotte. Students must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, and a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the Progression Requirements*, in order to be accepted into one of the major programs. These majors include:

• Accounting  
• Business Administration with Concentration in Business Analytics  *
• Economics with Concentration in Business  
• Economics with Concentration in Liberal Arts  
• Finance with Concentration in Finance  
• Finance with Concentration in Finance and Accounting  
• Finance with Concentration in Risk Management and Insurance  
• International Business  
• Management with Concentration in Organizational Management  
• Management with Concentration in Talent Management  
• Management Information Systems with Concentration in Business Intelligence and Analytics  
• Management Information Systems with Concentration in MIS  
• Management Information Systems with Concentration in Systems Analysis  
• Marketing with Concentration in Marketing  
• Marketing with Concentration in Marketing Analytics  
• Operations and Supply Chain Management  

*The Major in Business Administration with Concentration in Business Analytics requires a minimum GPA of 3.2 in the Progression Requirements. 

Minors

The Belk College of Business offers four minors for students at UNC Charlotte. Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in order to be accepted into the minor programs.  Students must take all prerequisites for the courses required in the minor programs. These minors include:

• Economics  
• International Management  
• Management Information Systems  
• Operations and Supply Chain Management  

Early Entry Programs

• Accelerated Track: M.S. in Data Science and Business Analytics, Mathematical Finance, or Economics  
• Early Entry: M.S. in Data Science and Business Analytics, Mathematical Finance, or Economics  

Accreditation

All of the degree programs offered by the Belk College of Business are accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.  AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting.

Special Business Programs and Opportunities 

Business, Honors Program

The Business Honors Program (BHP) provides students with access to a range of opportunities designed to stimulate their thinking and broaden their exposure to topics related to business.

The Business Honors Program is committed to the highest principles of professionalism that guide our actions. We aspire to be a community of learners actively engaged in academic scholarship while demonstrating a high regard for others by modeling excellent ethical standards. We seek to promote service above the self and will learn to support and encourage, educate and mentor, value and empathize with others. We advocate these core values among the membership. The core values of the Business Honors Program are based upon a commitment to academic merit, integrity, respect, service above self and honor.

Admission

Students interested in being admitted to the Business Honors Program must complete an Application for Admission and conduct an interview with the Director of the Business Honors Program and/or the Director of Undergraduate Special Programs.  Admission to the program is based on the student’s demonstrated Honors potential, the personal interview, and availability of space in the program.  Honors potential is determined by examining GPA (minimum 3.5 for currently enrolled and transfer students), SAT or ACT scores (for new freshmen), courses completed, academic and other distinctions, activities, community service, and other related factors.  All admitted students must earn and maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA at UNC Charlotte to be an active member of the program.  Students failing to meet minimum requirements of the 3.5 GPA, attendance at BHP meetings, and participate in community service events will not be able to continue in the program.

Required Courses

Students in the Business Honors Program must complete all Business Honors courses offered and at least one Honors College course.  Honors courses cannot be repeated.  A grade of D or F in any honors course results in a student not being eligible to continue in the program.

Other Requirements

Business Honors students must also participate in:  (1) monthly meetings, (2) community service, and (3) either study abroad or an internship.

Senior Thesis

Students are required to complete a Senior thesis in BUSN 4701 or a Senior Team Project in the Honors section of MGMT 3280 . Students work closely with a faculty member for the duration of the thesis or project.  The approval of a thesis proposal through the Honors College Application to Candidacy process is required the semester prior to taking BUSN 4701  or the Honors section of MGMT 3280 .

Graduation with Business Honors

To graduate with “Honors in Business,” a student must:  (1) complete the minimum required honors courses and other requirements, (2) submit an Application for Honors Candidacy at least two semesters prior to graduation, (3) receive a grade of at least A in BUSN 4701  or on the Senior Project in the Honors section of MGMT 3280 , and (4) present a GPA of at least 3.5 overall and 3.5 in all honors courses for which a grade was assigned.

Business Learning Community

The Business Learning Community (BLC) is a distinct approach to learning that inspires first generation students to become active in their own educational experiences - to truly become a “cross-cultural community of learners.” Students in the BLC interact closely with their peers, faculty, and staff to create the ultimate college experience: the opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom and apply it in a practical sense to the business world. Participants in this one-year program live on campus together, enroll in common courses, and fulfill business-related extracurricular activities. Freshmen reside in Charles F. Lynch Hall which is designed for learning community students.

Admission

Freshmen who are accepted into the Belk College of Business are encouraged to apply for admission to the BLC. Admission to the program is based on the student’s high school GPA, SAT scores, courses completed, other factors, and availability of space in the program. Applications can be submitted online at lc.uncc.edu.

Required Courses

Students in the BLC must complete specialized courses designed for learning community students. Once students are admitted to the Business Learning Community, they are required to complete all sections offered unless they receive permission from the Business Learning Community Coordinator.

Field Trips, Events, and Other Extracurricular Activities

Students in the BLC are required to participate in all field trips, events, and other extracurricular activities offered by the Business Learning Community during the academic year.

Student Center for Professional Development

Students are encouraged to participate in professional development activities that support academic and career success. The Belk College of Business Student Center for Professional Development (SCPD) is dedicated to helping students define their professional goals, answer questions about career opportunities in business, and engage in success strategies to prepare for the workforce. Some of the support programs and services offered include:

• Individual Career Coaching
• Career Assessment tools
• Professional Development workshops, with topics such as Email Etiquette, Professional Online Branding, Building your Network, and Business Dress
• Internships for Academic Credit

Internships for Academic Credit

Students may apply for academic credit for internship experiences. Internship coursework is graded and requires 150 hours of supervised work experience that directly aligns with a student’s declared major. Students may not apply for course credit if the work experience has already concluded, if a student is currently employed and is seeking credit with the same employer, or if the business is family-owned.

Minimum eligibility requirements include the following:

• Junior or Senior standing
• Declared Business Major
• Minimum 2.5 GPA
• ACCT 3312  with grade of C or above (for Accounting majors only)
• MKTG 3110  plus two MKTG electives with grades of C or above (for Marketing majors only)

Interested students should ideally contact the Student Center for Professional Development in the Belk College of Business one semester before they plan to conduct the internship. Students will be required to submit an online application and employer contact form at least two weeks prior to the first day of the semester in which the student plans to enroll. Students will not be authorized to register for the course after the submission deadline has passed.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for new and current students in the Belk College of Business. There are a variety of criteria for these scholarships. For example, several scholarships are designated for students interested in studying abroad, and others are designated to recognize academic excellence in the Junior and Senior years. Further information can be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid and the Belk College of Business Advising Center’s website.

Degree Requirements

All business degrees are composed of: (1) General Education Requirements, (2) Progression Requirements, (3) Core Requirements, (4) Major Requirements, and (5) Electives. To graduate from UNC Charlotte, students must attain a minimum 120 earned credit hours. “Non-Business Elective” and “General Elective” credit hours may be required to address any shortfall needed to meet the 120 earned hours. A Non-Business Elective can be any course offered by the University outside the Belk College of Business. A General Elective can be any course offered by the University that is not already fulfilling a degree requirement.

Academic Advising

The Business Advising Center advises all students in the Belk College of Business. Entering students are designated as Pre-Accounting (PACC), Pre-Business (PBUS), or Pre-Economics (PECO). Once students have completed the Progression Requirements during the Junior year, they may officially declare a major program in the Belk College. To declare a major, students will complete a Curriculum Guide and Change of Major form with their assigned Academic Advisor.

Catalog Policies

The Belk College reserves the right to impose new curriculum changes at any time. Students not admitted to the upper-division majors are subject to any changes to major requirements regardless of General Education catalog or matriculation term. Readmitted students are automatically considered under the new business requirements.

Course Level and Prerequisite Restrictions

The Belk College restricts the registration of upper-division business courses (3000-level) to majors only who have attained Junior or Senior standing and satisfied course prerequisites. Course prerequisites are strongly enforced and cannot be waived. Pre-Accounting, Pre-Business, and Pre-Economics students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and 60 earned credit hours may register for 3000-level Core Courses provided that all necessary prerequisites have been met. The Belk College reserves the right to remove students from any courses for which prerequisites (including minimum GPA requirements) have not been successfully met. Students enrolling in MGMT 3280  must have achieved Senior-level status and have completed all Core Courses with minimum grades of C or above. Pre-Accounting, Pre-Business, and Pre-Economics students may not enroll in MGMT 3280 .

Grade Replacement and Repeat Policies

Students are permitted two attempts at any course in the Belk College of Business. An attempt is defined as a course that is completed with a final grade of A, B, C, D, or F. This includes all: (1) Progression Requirements, (2) Core Requirements, and (3) Major Requirements. Students who earn less than a grade of C within two attempts in any of these required courses will be ineligible to continue in the major. Students are permitted to invoke the Grade Replacement Policy for business courses; however, the repeated course(s) will still count as an attempt.

Residency Requirements

In addition to meeting University residency requirements, all students seeking undergraduate degrees in the Belk College must complete at least 50 percent of the Core and Major Requirements at UNC Charlotte. This will vary depending on the major program requirements.

Furthermore, at least half of the hours required for an undergraduate degree in the Belk College of Business must be taken outside of the Belk College in order to have a well-rounded and balanced university education and experience. These 60 hours are designated as “Non-Business” electives. In addition to the General Education Requirements, the following courses are designated as Non-Business: ECON 2101 , ECON 2102 , ECON 3125 , MATH 1120 , and STAT 1220 .

Transfer and Second-Degree Students

The Belk College of Business major programs are designed to allow transfer students from community colleges and other institutions to enter the program and complete their degree requirements at UNC Charlotte. It is very important that students meet with an advisor at their community college or other institution to plan courses that will be accepted into the Belk College of Business. Due to AACSB accreditation standards, equivalency for upper-division business courses may be denied. Transfer equivalencies are granted upon application to UNC Charlotte. Once a student is admitted into the Belk College, they are prohibited from transferring in additional business coursework (Progression, Core, and Major Courses) from other institutions.

Transfer Credit and Transient Study

Once a student is admitted into the Belk College, they are prohibited from transferring in business coursework (Progression, Core, and Major Courses) from other institutions without prior approval. Approval will only be granted for 1000- and 2000-level courses taken during the Summer term.

Pre-Accounting, Pre-Business, and Pre-Economics

Students who apply for and are accepted into the Belk College of Business are initially classified as Pre-Accounting (PACC), Pre-Business (PBUS), or Pre-Economics (PECO) majors.

Pre-Accounting, Pre-Business, and Pre-Economics (Business Concentration) Progression Requirements

Students who complete the Progression Requirements listed below may declare an upper-division major in the following areas: Accounting, Economics (Business Concentration), Finance, International Business, Management Information Systems, Management, Marketing, or Operations and Supply Chain Management. Pre-Accounting, Pre-Business, and Pre-Economics (Business Concentration) students seeking admission to the upper-division majors must have met the following criteria:

1. attained Junior standing (60 hours or more)
2. earned a minimum overall GPA of at least 2.5 for all academic work
3. completed the following Progression Courses: ACCT 2121  and ACCT 2122 , BUSN 1101 , ECON 2101 , ECON 2102 , INFO 2130 , MATH 1120 , and STAT 1220  with a minimum grades of C
4. earned a minimum GPA of at least 2.5 for these Progression Courses
5. completed an approved Curriculum Guide and Change of Major Form with an Academic Advisor in the Belk College of Business Advising Center

Students who fail to declare their major on time will be prohibited from changing their major at a later date if their cumulative GPA falls below a 2.5. They will no longer meet the 2.5 GPA requirement to declare a major.

Students may attempt each of the Progression Courses, listed in (3) above, a maximum of two times. An attempt is defined as a course that is completed with a final grade of A, B, C, D, or F. Courses repeated under the Grade Replacement Policy are excluded from the GPA computation, but will count as an attempt. Students who do not meet the Progression Requirements are ineligible for continuation in the Belk College of Business.

Suggested Curriculum

For a suggested curriculum progression toward completing the major, please see the Academic Plan of Study available online at academics.uncc.edu.

Pre-Economics (Liberal Arts Concentration) Progression Requirements

Students who complete the Progression Requirements listed below may declare an upper-division major in Economics (Liberal Arts Concentration). Pre-Economics students, with a Concentration in Liberal Arts, seeking admission to the upper-division major must have met the following criteria:

1. attained Junior standing (60 hours or more)
2. earned a minimum overall GPA of at least 2.5 for all academic work
3. completed the following Progression Courses:  UWRT 1101  and UWRT 1102 , ECON 2101  and ECON 2102 , MATH 1120 , STAT 1220 , and INFO 2130  with a minimum grades of C
4. earned a minimum GPA of at least 2.5 for these Progression Courses
5. completed an approved Curriculum Guide and Change of Major Form with an Academic Advisor in the Belk College of Business Advising Center

Students who fail to declare their major on time will be prohibited from changing their major at a later date if their cumulative GPA falls below a 2.5. They will no longer meet the 2.5 GPA requirement to declare a major.

Students may attempt each of the Progression Courses, listed in (3) above, a maximum of two times. An attempt is defined as a course that is completed with a final grade of A, B, C, D, or F. Courses repeated under the Grade Replacement Policy are excluded from the GPA computation, but will count as an attempt. Students who do not meet the Progression Requirements are ineligible for continuation in the Belk College of Business.

Suggested Curriculum

For a suggested curriculum progression toward completing the major, please see the Academic Plan of Study available online at academics.uncc.edu.