About

An organization’s people are one of its primary resources. Appalachian State University’s Management (BSBA) degree provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively and efficiently manage organizations to get the best out of their employees and to achieve strategic goals. 

This includes learning how to attract and retain talented employees, and ensure that their activities are aligned with strategic objectives – both in existing companies and in new start-up ventures.  Management majors also gain valuable leadership and interpersonal skills, along with an understanding of group dynamics – which, together, are the skills that truly define effective managers.

As a Management major, you will learn from Department of Management faculty who are leaders in their respective fields, developing knowledge and insight through research that is shared nationally. Management majors have a broad career base, as their skills are transferrable to virtually every industry. As a result, career options are varied. Some graduates will go into management-trainee or leadership development programs, while others are hired for entry-level management positions. Some graduates prefer to start their own businesses, or work for small, family-owned companies.

For students interested specifically in the hospitality industry, the department also offers the Hospitality and Tourism Management (BSBA) degree.

After Graduation

Employment: Graduates typically go into management-trainee or leadership development programs, or are immediately hired and groomed for management positions. Students have gone on to work for AON Consulting, Target, BB&T, SPX, Hershey, Transportation Insight and Wholcraub.

Graduate School: Students who choose to continue to graduate school have often chosen to stay at Appalachian for the MBA program. Another popular post-graduate school is The University of Tennessee. 

Career Exploration website

People

• 

  Faculty Profile: Jim Westerman

  “There is no greater joy than teaching.”

  – Dr. Jim Westerman

  Meet more faculty

• 

  Alumnus Profile: Mark Janke ’18

  “My professors pushed me intellectually every day, and I felt I could not have chosen a better university.”

  – Mark Janke ’18, material damage claims representative at National General Insurance

• 

  Alumnus Profile: Mitch Purgason ’15

  Mountaineer alumnus Mitch Purgason, who earned his BSBA in Management from App State in 2015, stitches his way to award-winning success, designing custom clothing for professional athletes, executives and fashion influencers. In 2021, Charlotte Magazine awarded Purgason’s Charlotte-based company “Best Men’s Suits” as part of its annual Bob Awards.

• Alumna Profile: Libby Childers ’13

  Three international education and employment opportunities later, Libby Childers ’13 returns to the United States to continue the work she loves.

Related Programs

• Hospitality and Tourism Management (BSBA)
• Management (BSBA) - Human Resources
• Management (BSBA) - Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Management (BSBA) - Sustainable Business

Minors

A minor is not required. However, popular choices are Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management and Sustainable Business.

View all minors

Global Learning

Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.

All business students fulfill an international requirement, and an increasing number choose to study abroad through a wide variety of exchange programs. The college maintains partnerships with universities across the globe and continues to expand groundbreaking opportunities in emerging markets.

The Department of Management offers these international courses:

• Entrepreneurship 3190 provides a study of international entrepreneurship. Topics include mode of entry, trade and the global environment, culture, legal, international financial and marketing considerations, and different business practices outside the domestic market.
• Management 3670 provides a study of human resource management with emphasis on the global economy.
• Management 3800 provides a study of management as practiced in different nations and cultures.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for declaring a major within the Walker College of Business are detailed here.