The Business Administration major introduces students to the core areas of business. It prepares students for a variety of careers in private, public and non-profit organizations and to enter the gig economy or start or join small businesses, while earning a concentration in one of the following fields: Management, Sport Management, Marketing, or International Business.
Recognized by Colleges of Distinction, the Business Administration major helps students develop business skills, learn to manage ethical issues, analyze strategic options and apply their learning to real organizational settings in today’s dynamic global business environment. Applied instruction delivered by a diverse faculty, pre-professional experiences, and a focus on critical thinking, ethical reasoning, quantitative literacy, communication and creativity, all contributing to the development of employability skills of our students. All Business Administration students at Eastern earn a concentration in one of the following fields: Management, Sport Management, Marketing, or International Business.
Concentrations
The International Business concentration in the Business Administration major focuses on international practices, standards, market institutions and regulatory structures, as well as market niches and cultural differences. The areas of financial management, international marketing strategies, global operations and logistics receive special attention.
The Management concentration in the Business Administration major teaches students effective management skills required in a variety of careers and organizations in an increasingly dynamic and competitive world.
The Marketing concentration in the Business Administration major addresses contemporary marketing needs by providing a solid overview of current advertising, sales and marketing best practices. Students also analyze factors influencing consumer behavior and marketing research techniques, and examine multicultural perspectives and insights into effective international marketing.
Students in the Sport Management concentration of the Business Administration major prepare for careers in the field through courses in management, business finance, leadership, marketing, and sports psychology.
Eastern’s award-winning collegiate chapter of the American Marketing Association brings prominent guest speakers to campus, participates in educational events, performs community service and competes at the AMA International Collegiate Conference.
Human Resources Management
Eastern's chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) works with the Human Resources Leadership Association to provide students with internship and employment opportunities, and offers financial assistance to student teams competing in regional and national SHRM events.
Internships
All Business Administration students participate in internships, and department staff dedicate significant time to match students to internship opportunities. Internship sites ranged from Pfizer to the Mohegan Sun to the Hartford Courant.
Career Options
Students who pursue undergraduate degrees in Business Administration can have rewarding and successful careers in a variety of professional fields, including:
Sales/Advertising
Business-to-Business Marketing
Sports Marketing
Professional Sports Team Manager
Hospital or Medical Practice Manager
Entrepreneur
Employee Relations/Human Resources
International Marketing
Export Manager
Business Consulting
Successful Alumni
Recent Eastern students who earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with concentrations in Management, Sport Management, Marketing, or International Business, are at the following companies and professional/graduate schools:
“Eastern’s small campus turned into a great investment for my future. The small class size allows students to get to know their professors and establish great relationships. I even met my wife at Eastern. The applied learning situations — my co-op position at Pratt & Whitney and my internship at Northwestern Mutual — were very helpful and relevant to my first job at United Healthcare.” Economics and Business Administration major Joe Saponaro
Business Administration
Sara Claudio ’18
Sara is an associate in the General Management Leadership Development (GMLD) program at Aetna. She gained the full-time opportunity after working an Aetna internship as an Eastern student. “My internship helped to provide me with the corporate experience I needed in order to advance my career.”
Business Administration
Jacqueline Kane ’09
Jacqueline is a registered nurse at the University of Virginia Medical Center. “I credit much of my professional success to Eastern. Although I’m in a different field from what I studied, the leadership and team-building skills I learned are invaluable in my current position.”
Business Administration
Dontae Christian ’20
Dontae interned with Doc Wayne Services, a Boston-based nonprofit organization that works with at-risk youth. “The kids relate with me. Growing up in the Bronx, I’ve dealt with similar challenges. I was once in their shoes.” Dontae aspires to start his own nonprofit and fuse sport with mentorship to empower kids from the inner city.
Restaurant Owner
Andrew Gutt ’09
Business Administration major Andrew Gutt is the owner of Cafémantic, an award-winning restaurant in downtown Willimantic. Since opening in 2009, Cafémantic has developed from a small coffee shop into a chef-driven, farm-to-table eatery. Andrew feels that Willimantic has a lot going for it, and sees his restaurant as “another symbol of the community and Eastern working together.”
Attorney
Lucas Watson ’02
Business Administration and Economics double-major Lucas Watson is an attorney at his own law practice. “The support and guidance I received from the faculty and administration at Eastern helped me get to law school and are a major factor in where I am in my career. I learned valuable lessons that I have been able to carry over into my professional life.”
Vice President of Operations
Taylor Brandariz ’11
Business Administration major Taylor Brandariz is the vice president of operations at Drupal Connect. “Eastern taught me what it takes to be a leader. With its well-rounded education, intimate class sizes, and extracurricular activities outside of class, there’s plenty of opportunity to learn the true meaning of leadership.”
CVS Health
Hannah Beazoglou ’21
Business Administration major Hannah Beazoglou ’21 is in the General Management Development Program at CVS Health. “I have countless memories of my time at Eastern. The most impactful are the strong relationships that I’ve been able to develop with so many professors who supported me and encouraged me to take risks and showcase my academic ability.”