Programme description for Bachelor's Programme in Business Administration (2023–2026)

A candidate who has successfully completed this programme should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of general competence, knowledge and skills.

GENERAL COMPETENCE (PROGRAMME GOALS)

The candidate should be able to:

• identify and understand key international dimensions related to the core themes in the program
• identify and understand how new ideas, concepts or products emerge within relevant fields
• identify ethical behaviour and understand how organisations can act responsibly
• think independently and critically
• communicate key ideas in written texts and oral presentations
• solve problems

KNOWLEDGE

The candidate should be able to demonstrate:

• broad knowledge of how business enterprises are financed, how investments are valued, financial management tools are used, as well as how financial statements are prepared, analysed, and communicated.
• broad knowledge of how business strategies are developed and implemented, how a business is organised, improved and managed, and how products and services are marketed and positioned
• broad knowledge of how consumers and producers make their choices and how these choices are influenced by economic policy and international framework
• knowledge of scientific methods are used within their field of study, which will allow candidates to apply these methods on problems/projects
• broad knowledge on entrepreneurship and innovation processes
• broad knowledge on ethical aspects of business decisions
• broad knowledge on the contemporary theoretical developments in their field of study

SKILLS

The candidate should be able to:

• apply theoretical knowledge to respond to problems and challenges in the business environment
• plan and carry out group projects
• apply relevant theoretical knowledge and analytical skills in problem solving and decision making situations
• assess social impact of organizational decisions, and operate within legal and ethical frameworks
• maintain and further develop the knowledge base in a lifelong learning perspective.

The Bachelor's Programme in Business Administration is a three year integrated Programme aiming at educating candidates with a high level of analytical, theoretical, and practical competences, which will provide the foundation for candidates' professional career and postgraduate education. The Programme consists of a specter of courses such as accounting, finance, economics, marketing, and strategy. In addition, courses such as social scientific methods, mathematics, and business analysis are included.

The content of the Programme is based on a national cooperation that offers candidates opportunities for further education at Master¿s level, such as Business Administration at the School of Business and Law at UiA or other institutions. Because of this national cooperation, the first two years in the Programme consists of compulsory courses within four disciplines: (1) business administration and accounting, (2) economics, (3) marketing and organisational theory, and (4) methodological subjects. In the third and final year the students can either choose 60 ECTS in Human Relation Management and Organizational Development at campus Grimstad or continue at campus Kristiansand with a mix of elective courses in the fall semester and compulsory courses and the BA thesis in the spring semester.

Students who are interested in going on exchange, can do so in the 5th semester and then do the 6th semester at campus Kristiansand.

Students are exposed to international dimensions and issues in teaching as well as in the curriculum. Many faculty members have an international background and are active in international research networks. A number of courses are taught in English for incoming exchange students. This contributes to an international study environment, and students use English actively during their studies.

In fifth semester student may go on exchange. Studying abroad provides an opportunity to take courses and subjects beyond what is offered at the School of Business and Law at UiA. Additional benefits of studying abroad are improved language skills and cross-cultural communication skills, both highly valued by many employers.

The School of Business and Law at UiA is internationally accredited by AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), and the accreditation opens the doors for collaboration with good institutions worldwide. For further information on exchange opportunities, see the International Office's website.

The Bachelor Programme in Business Administration is a vocational, interdisciplinary undergraduate degree that provides the foundation for a number of positions in both the private and private sector. The study also provides the basis for starting your own business.

Students who have completed the bachelor degree in Business Administration are qualified to apply for admission to several graduate programmes, such as the Master Programmes in Business Administration and in Accounting and Auditing at the University of Agder.

The Bachelor programme also provides a good foundation for further studies at other institutions nationally or internationally. Please note that other institutions may have additional requirements for admission to their graduate programmes.