Recommended Course Sequence First and Second Years

The business administration major at W&L is firmly embedded in its liberal arts environment, preparing students for the critical and creative thinking and adaptability needed in a future business environment. In fact, many upper-level liberal arts courses count as elective credits in the Business Administration major. Accordingly, prospective business administration majors should fully immerse themselves in the liberal arts upon enrollment and continue to take these courses during their time at W&L.

Class of 2026
For those students in the Class of 2026 who plan to declare the Business Administration major in the Winter term of their sophomore year, we recommend that you have taken (or are in the process of taking) the following before you declare:

  • ECON 100: Introduction to Economics
  • ACCT 100: Introduction to Accounting
  • BUS 202: Fundamentals of Business Analytics
  • FIN 221: Managerial Finance

Other Course Planning Considerations

• We strongly encourage you to complete your lab science requirement by the end of your sophomore year.
• If possible and if space permits, try to register for BUS 211: Marketing Management in the Winter 2024 term.
• Due to a sabbatical, space in BUS 217: Organizational Behavior is limited in the 2023-24 year. We anticipate having plenty of space for students in the 2024-25 year.
• Once you have taken BUS 202 and if space permits, you may also consider registering for one of the business analytics courses (BUS 306 or BUS classes in the 310s).
• Also consider the list of non-business classes that are accepted towards the major. Many of these may overlap with other majors or minors you are considering. You may also simply take courses that are of interest to you.

Beginning with the Class of 2027

The Department of Business Administration is in the process of putting into place a new major that will apply beginning with the Class of 2027. More information about the final major should be available by the end of the 2023-24 academic year. New business majors do not declare that major until the Winter term of their sophomore year.

For those students who decide to major in Business Administration, we recommend the following preparatory courses by the end of their first year.

  • ECON 100: Introduction to Economics
  • ACCT 100: Introduction to Accounting
  • BUS 202: Fundamentals of Business Analytics. Students unable to take BUS 202 by the end of their first year should plan on registering for it in the fall term of their sophomore year.

We also strongly encourage you to complete your lab science requirement by the end of your sophomore year.

A possible schedule of courses for students interested in the Business Administration major would look like the below. Please note that students need 120 credits to graduate. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 30 additional credits completed by the end of each academic year. Depending on the number of credits accepted for AP courses, etc. you may need to take five classes some terms and/or look for 4cr Spring term classes.

First Year

Fall

  • WRIT 100
  • Foreign Language
  • FDR
  • ACCT 100

Winter

  • ECON 100
  • Foreign Language
  • BUS 202
  • FDR

Spring

  • Spring term course of interest