Management

B.S. in Management Overview

Business management is a wide-open field with opportunities in a large variety of settings. There are many types of management positions in small, mid-size and large organizations within industry, government and service fields. There will always be a need for effective, highly trained managers.

Generally stated, business management is the process of managing people and resources within a business. That process can look very different, however, depending on the type and size of the organization, and the specific type of management you pursue.

The management program at Alvernia University will prepare you to work as a manager in a variety of business settings. You might want to start your own business, or work for a very large company. Perhaps you’d prefer a small or mid-sized business, or are drawn toward working for a non-profit organization. If you’re considering majoring in management, it’s a good idea to also think about the particular industry in which you’d like to put your training to work. You could consider a job in healthcare, hospitality, durable goods, manufacturing, transportation, retail, construction or another field.

Faculty members at Alvernia teach about business from both practical and ethical standpoints. This gives you the knowledge you’ll need to succeed professionally, because it develops supervisory and managerial skills that are necessary to advance in your career.

All of Alvernia University’s Business Department programs – including Management – are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business School and Programs (ACBSP) and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Careers in Management

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of jobs in many areas of management will increase at a faster-than-average rate during the next decade, indicating favorable job prospects. And, many management jobs pay more than the median salary for all professional positions.

There is an ongoing need for proficient managers across all industries and types of organizations.
A management degree from Alvernia can prepare you for a career as an account executive or a bank manager. Perhaps you’re interested in becoming a business consultant or an analyst. With a degree in management, you can pursue a career as a purchasing agent, personnel manager, operations manager or in a variety of other jobs. You also can research job postings for management positions to get a better idea of what various management jobs entail.

A sampling of employers of Alvernia management graduates:

• Penske
• Enersys
• UGI
• Wells Fargo
• Carpenter Technology

Curriculum

All Alvernia students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits to receive a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.  You’ll need to complete 54-55 liberal arts core credits and complete community service hours.

In addition, Management majors must complete 61 credits in the major.

Required Courses for Management Degree

Business Core (33 credits)

• BUS 101 Financial Accounting*
• BUS 200 Managerial Accounting or BUS 250 Accounting Principles
• BUS 206 Management Principles*
• BUS 207 Marketing Principles*
• BUS 315 Data Analytics & Information Systems
• BUS 342 Business Law
• BUS 410 Financial Markets
• BUS 411 Financial Decision Making
• BUS 426 Strategic Management
• BUS 441 Cooperative Education in Business I (enrolled for at least 3 credits)
• MAT 208 Introductory Statistics or MAT 209 Probability and Statistics

* must earn a grade of "C" or better

Related Area (6 credits)

• ECON 248 Macroeconomics
• ECON 249 Microeconomics

High Performer Development Series (3 credits)

• BUS 251 High Performer Development Series I
• BUS 351 High Performer Development Series II
• BUS 451 High Performer Development Series III

Professional Readiness (1 credit)

• UNIV 200 Career & Internship Preparation

Management Courses (18 credits)

• BUS 280 Human Resource Management
• BUS 312 International Business I
• BUS 320 Stakeholder Relations
• BUS 332 Operations Management
• BUS 431 Entrepreneurship
• BUS 450 Organizational Leadership

 

Recommended Courses (Optional)

• BUS 441 Cooperative Education in Business I

Choosing a dual major can make you even more marketable after graduation. Complementary majors to management include accounting, marketing, sport management and human resource management.

Business Minor

Students who major in another area can minor in business by earning 21 credits. Required courses for a business minor are:

• BUS 101 Financial Accounting
• BUS 200 Managerial Accounting
• BUS 206 Management Principles
• BUS 207 Marketing Principles
• BUS 342 Business Law
• BUS 410 Financial Markets
• ECON 248 Macroeconomics OR ECON 249 Microeconomics

Experiential Learning 

Through internships, students have opportunities to apply theories and knowledge learned in the classroom in a variety of professional settings. In addition to providing exposure to the activities and expectations of a real-world workplace, internship experiences help students develop their network of professional contacts.

Alvernia believes that real-world experience is extremely important, as it can improve your confidence and introduce you to professionals in your intended field of employment.

You will not only benefit from experienced faculty members who have extensive experience in the business world, you’ll also get the opportunity to participate in learning opportunities in real business settings through internships and cooperative experiences.

Some of the organizations with which Alvernia business majors have had internships include:

• The Camden Riversharks
• Citizens Bank
• Cott Beverage
• Ernst & Young
• Four Seasons Produce
• Haines & Kibblehouse
• InRoads
• Morgan Stanley
• The Philadelphia Eagles
• The Reading Royals
• Service And Access Management (SAM)
• Superior Oxygen
• U.S. Department of Finance
• U.S. Department of Treasury
• Walt Disney World
• Webb Insurance

 

Research Opportunities

Research is a valuable aspect of any education. Business faculty at Alvernia conduct research in a variety of areas, including leadership, management, organizational development, strategy, market research, international marketing, time management, conflict resolution, international leadership and hiring of part-time employees.

As a business major, there may be an opportunity for you to assist in faculty research, and to benefit from the knowledge gained through faculty research.

Tuition

To determine the cost of this program, please visit our Tuition page.  For a personalized estimate, please contact an admissions counselor at 610-790-8269 or at admissions@alvernia.edu.

Financial Aid

Alvernia offers loan, grants, scholarships, and payment plans. Our admissions counselors can help you identify the aid that is available to you and for your program. For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.

Accreditation

Alvernia University’s Business Department programs – including Management – are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business School and Programs (ACBSP) and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

All programs offered by Alvernia University are approved by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Reading CollegeTowne featuring Enhanced Business Programs

With the launching of Alvernia’s CollegeTowne initiative and new state-of-the-art metropolitan complex at 401 Penn Street in downtown Reading, the university’s business programs take experiential learning to new heights. With world-class facilities and increased community engagement, our real-world learning opportunities will be further expanded to fully prepare students for success upon graduation.

A new trading floor/business lab will be used for a variety of learning experiences over a wide range of classrooms. It will be incorporated into upper level seminar classes such as Marketing Research Seminar, Marketing Management, Investment Fund Management, Accounting Information Systems, Financial Analysis and Corporate Finance. The lab will support simulations, research and a wide-variety of other business applications. It will also support the granting of Microsoft Certification for Excel.

The expanded curriculum will fully utilize the new facilities as well as enhanced engagement via the O’Pake Center’s business incubator. The student-run incubator provides hands-on learning for students of all disciplines, allowing students to create, collaborate and lead while they provide support to new ventures and entrepreneurs in the community. In addition, industry and community partners provide resources, internships and professional mentoring to students. It’s a win-win for both students and businesses in the region.

Learn More

For more information about Alvernia’s Management program, contact the Admissions Office at 1-888-ALVERNIA or 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu, or reach out directly to:

Dr. Tufan Tiglioglu
Chair of Business Department
tufan.tiglioglu@alvernia.edu
610-796-8278