New program prepares students for entry-level business careers while providing a seamless pathway to an MBA
By Betty Vandenbosch, Chief Content Officer, Coursera
Today, we are pleased to announce an online Bachelor of Science in General Business (BSGB) from the University of North Texas (UNT). New research finds that learners are prioritizing flexibility and career relevance in postsecondary education. Meanwhile, as the twin forces of the pandemic and automation accelerate business transformation, business development professionals and business managers are among the top emerging job roles across industries. This fully online degree program from UNT is designed to equip students with a foundational business education, emphasizing real-world skills that prepare them for future careers in business.
The BSGB provides students with fundamental skills as well as hands-on, job-relevant learning. The curriculum will take a comprehensive approach, providing a solid foundation in accounting, business information systems, finance, management, and marketing to enable students to explore diverse job roles and career paths across industries. Students will also have the opportunity to pursue for-credit paid internships to gain first-hand industry experience.
“With a job-relevant curriculum and engaging online format, the BSGB meets the evolving needs of students who are looking for deep value, relevance, and career flexibility in a degree education,” said Adam Fein, Vice President for Digital Strategy and Innovation at UNT. “Our partnership with Coursera enabled us to rethink the delivery of a high-quality at-scale business degree, to make it accessible, affordable, and valuable for students across the world.”
To further improve access and opportunity, the program sets students up to seamlessly continue their learning journey with an MBA. Graduates of the BSGB who are admitted to the online or on-campus MBA program at UNT can earn their MBA with 36 credits, as opposed to 48. Students who complete the BSGB with a 3.5 GPA or better will also be provided direct entry into UNT’s on-campus MBA program without any testing or prerequisite requirements.
UNT has 75 years of experience in business education and is known for its inclusive approach — ranking in the top 100 nationally for social mobility and in the top 60 for diversity. The online BSGB builds on the university’s commitment to increase access to a top-quality education and follows the success of UNT’s online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (B.A.A.S.) on Coursera, which just last week celebrated its first 81 graduates. Announced two years ago, this program created one of the fastest, most affordable ways for transfer students, including non-traditional students with college credit, to complete their bachelor’s degree.
“The depression I had felt in 2020 will soon be replaced by excitement for where my career will go in the future […] I never realized how great it would feel to complete my degree. Though it may be 22 years later than I had originally planned, the satisfaction is not reduced. The UNT/Coursera B.A.A.S. program has changed my life and I will be forever grateful,” said Joseph Givens, a graduate of the UNT B.A.A.S. degree.
We are proud to expand our partnership with UNT to launch another degree program that will help more students acquire the skills they need to succeed in today’s digital economy.
Applications for UNT’s Bachelor of Science in General Business will open on January 1 and the first cohort is expected to begin in fall 2022. To learn more, please visit https://coursera.org/degrees/bachelor-of-science-general-business-unt