History, Purpose, and Objectives

Management education at North Carolina Central University can be traced to the year 1910 when the institution first opened its doors to students. University documents indicate that plans were drafted during the 1926-27 academic year for the establishment of a professional School of Commerce. Despite the absence of complete information of the actual operations of the School of Commerce, it is apparent that in addition to exemplary programs in the arts and sciences, business programs have long enjoyed a place of prominence at the University. An unprecedented growth in student interest and enrollment caused University officials to plan the establishment of a professional school devoted to studies in business administration and management.

On July 1, 1972, the Department of Business and Economics separated from the Undergraduate School of Arts and Sciences and became the School of Business.  Programs offered by the School are designed to provide the student ample opportunity to develop views, attitudes, and values regarding society–its institutions, progress, and problems. The participating student is provided a working knowledge of principles and procedures that are fundamental to his or her future role as a manager or executive. The objective of the School of Business is to provide each student with the knowledge of an entry-level specialist in one of the major fields of business administration and management. The arts and sciences, common body of knowledge, and concentration components of the curriculum have been designed with the previously cited purposes in mind.

While the School of Business cannot provide students a prescription for successfully coping with managerial problems of the future, it can cultivate the students’ capacity for accurate problem definition, sound analysis, problem synthesis, and effective communication of problems and their probable amelioration. Through the concentrated examination of case studies, completion of individual and group projects, and the study of problems from the business community, students can become experienced in bringing structure and order to multi-faceted and ill-defined managerial problems.

While the vast majority of the School’s resources are devoted to its instructional programs, organized inquiry by the faculty and students is encouraged and supported.

The School of Business is fully accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) and the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).  The Hospitality and Tourism Program is internationally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA).

NCCU School of Business Mission Statement

The North Carolina Central University School of Business prepares students for life-long success and a commitment to community service.

Vision Statement

A premier business school that prepares students to achieve success and contribute productively in the global marketplace.

Shared Values

All stakeholders (Faculty, Staff, Students, Board of Visitors, and Discipline Advisory Councils) will embrace and support the following shared values:

Innovate Teaching - We provide engaging and relevant instruction, along with experiential learning, that produces knowledge and capable graduates.

Relevant Research - We engage in research that examines contemporary business issues to advance knowledge, practice and teaching.

Community Engagement - We contribute our expertise to improve the quality of life and work in our community and the world.

Communication - We share information openly, foster communication throughout the institution in the spirit of openness and transparency.

Collaboration - We intentionally bring diverse groups together and encourage input from all stakeholders to arrive at the best decisions and achieve buy-in to the selected direction, decision or course of action.

Collegiality - We respect one another’s ideas and opinions, provide others the opportunity to share their views and enthusiastically support decisions made by the team.

Excellence - We strive to achieve our best in all we do, clearly outline performance expectations for all employees and stakeholders, objetively assess performance and provide regular feedback for the purpose of rewards and continuous improvement.

Accountability - Each individual personally owns the responsibilities of the position held, takes seriously and honors the commitments made to others, and continually seeks to contribute to student success in every task, every day.

The Approach

Everything we do here at the North Carolina Central University’s School of Business is focused on our mission to prepare students for life-long success and a commitment to community service.  Our innovative model for business education includes an equal balance of academic preparation and hands-on experience that provides our students with the essentials to make an immediate and sustained contribution to organizations and their communities.  Our faculty, staff, board of visitors, discipline advisory councils, corporate partners and friends of the university are in an exciting and collaborative effort to realize our vision:  A premier business school that prepares students to achieve success and contribute productively in the global marketplace.

Our learning environment is one that fully engages students in an exciting and demanding community that successfully integrates the theoretical and practical application of the most relevant business topics.  The learning environment extends from the classroom to the local, national and international business community - from large global corporations to the most innovative startups.  At the NCCU School of Business, we are preparing our students with Real Learning for the Real World!

Our success is measured by what matters most to our students and those who support their educational and life pursuits.  Our goal is to place 100 percent of our graduates in one of three avenues of opportunity upon graduation:

1. A job consistent with the student’s academic preparation and chosen profession
2. Participation in an entrepreneurial venture, or
3. Acceptance iinto a graduate or PhD degree program.

The NCCU School of Business prepares its students with an emphasis on the key ingredients for success in today’s and tomorrow’s business careers.  These ingredients include:  Enterpreneurial thinking; a global perspective; technology proficiency; integrated business decision making and ethical leadership.

Through the work of our students and faculty, we intentionally serve our community by providing our experience and skills to help make our community a better place to live and work.  Our students engage in meaningful community service in keeping with NCCU’s values as expressed in the university motto of Truth and Service.

We believe that our approach to provide real learning for the real world prepares our students to achieve success, make a real impact in the community and contribute to the global marketplace - immediately and for a lifetime.

Undergraduate Admissions

Admission of undergraduate students to the School of Business is limited and competitive. Admission to North Carolina Central University, while obviously required, does not constitute admission to the School of Business or to business programs.

Admission of Freshmen

All new students will be evaluated by the University College.  Applicants interested in the Business Program will be evaluated based on SAT scores (at least 820) and high school cumulative grade point averages (at least 2.300 (in-state) and 2.500 (out-of-state)). ACT scores (minimum of 17) may substitute as equivalent SAT scores.

Admission from Another School or College at North Carolina Central University

University students with an interest in one of the business baccalaureate degree programs may seek admission to the School of Business after completing at least 60 semester hours of study at the University and earning at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. (This requirement also applies to students seeking to change their major to business.)

All applicants will be evaluated based on their ranked cumulative grade point averages, university awards and activities, and potential for success in the study of business. Applicants not accepted may reapply after completing at least 15 additional semester hours of study at North Carolina Central University.

Transfer Students

Students transferring to North Carolina Central University with the objective of earning the Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree will be considered for admission to the School of Business in accordance with the following rules:

1. Transfer students will be considered for admission  to the School of Business if the student has earned at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average for at least 15 semester hours of study at a regionally accredited college or university.
2. Transfer students who gain admission to North Carolina Central University but who do not gain admission to the School of Business may apply or reapply for admission in accordance with the process described in the previous section.
3. Students transferring from regionally accredited  colleges or universities may receive transfer credits  for business courses completed at the institution from which they transfer if, and only if,
   1. They earn a grade in the course that is equivalent to at least a “C” at North Carolina Central University,
   2. The course is applicable to programs offered by the School of Business, and
   3. The course is comparable as determined by appropriate School of Business faculty in content and quality to the course for which the student seeks transfer credit.
4. Students must complete at least 50 percent of the business course requirements at North Carolina Central University.

Credit for Transfer Work by NCCU Students

The School of Business faculty believes that, generally, all course work for business degrees should be completed at North Carolina Central University. Courses taken at other institutions to satisfy our business course requirements must be approved by the School of Business. However, under no circumstances are students allowed to take more than 50 percent of the total business course requirements at another institution.

After matriculating at NCCU, a student may not pursue courses of any type at another institution for transfer credit for a degree from NCCU without obtaining, in advance of registration, written permission from the dean of the school in which the student is registered at NCCU. Business students with an interest in pursuing courses at other regionally accredited institutions should obtain the appropriate form from the Office of Student Support Services and School of Business.

Undergraduate Curriculum

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Undergraduate programs are designed to provide participating students an appreciation and understanding of the social, political, and economic environment of business. Consistent with most comprehensive programs in business administration and management, the faculty of the School of Business firmly supports the thesis that professional studies in business can be best achieved with a solid liberal arts foundation. Consequently, the initial two years of the traditional four-year baccalaureate program, devoted to the preparation in the humanities, fine arts, behavioral sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, and the mathematical sciences, are a necessary prerequisite for professional study in business administration and management.

Undergraduate programs have been structured to ensure that each student has a firm grasp of the major principles and practices involved in the management of complex business and industrial organizations. The third year of study is devoted chiefly to acquiring the Common Body-of-Knowledge skills. Advanced study in a selected field is devoted largely to the fourth year.

In general, all programs leading to a baccalaureate degree in business include:

1. The General Education Curriculum  (GEC) requirements,
2. The Core Business Requirements, and
3. The major or concentration requirements. (The School’s undergraduate programs have been structured such that at least 50% of a student’s course work is devoted to studies in the GEC.)

The General Education Curriculum  requirements, the Core Business Requirements, and the major or concentration requirements are outlined below:

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