Alaska Pacific University's Business Administration programs are design to support business and professional careers. The faculty are committed not only to meeting the educational needs of its students, but to developing and implementing educational programs that will prepare both working adults and traditional students for the real world.

At the undergraduate level the Department offers degree programs, as follows:

Certificate in Professional Management
Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration

Information about Business Administration courses can be found in the Business Administration Course Descriptions.

Degree Requirements - Associate of Arts

*Competency Courses. All competency courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.

** The General University Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree is an eight (8) course requirement rather than a 32 credit hour requirement;and for the Bachelor of Arts Degree it is an eleven (11) course requirement rather than a 44 credit hour requirement; e.g., many transfer “equivalents” and DCP equivalents are 3 credit courses.

Graduation Residency Requirement: For the A.A. Degree, the final 16 credit hours
must be taken in residence at Alaska Pacific University.

Back To Top

Degree Requirements - Bachelor of Arts

*Competency Courses. All competency courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.

** The General University Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree is an eight (8) course requirement rather than a 32 credit hour requirement;and for the Bachelor of Arts Degree it is an eleven (11) course requirement rather than a 44 credit hour requirement; e.g., many transfer “equivalents” and DCP equivalents are 3 credit courses.

Graduation Residency Requirement: For the B.A. Degree, the final 32 credit hours must be taken in residence at Alaska Pacific University.

Upper Division Credit Hour Requirement: A minimum of thirty (30) credit hours
must consist of 300 and 400 level courses for the B.A. Degree.

Language Requirement: Students are required to take one semester (4 credit hours) of one foreign language, a second language, American Sign Language (ASL), or demonstrate competency at that level. This competency may be demonstrated by scoring at the appropriate level on a placement test in a language regularly taught at Alaska Pacific, or by providing documentation of a foreign language or ASL proficiency (e.g. serving as a translator or interpreter or attending a school where English is not the medium of instruction), or by transferring four credits from language or ASL courses taken at another accredited post-secondary institution.

Students whose primary language is not English may use English proficiency to meet the language requirement. In this case, the student will be required to score at the appropriate level on a placement test in English. Students wishing to earn credit for languages regularly taught at Alaska Pacific University without taking the courses must follow the procedures for Credit by Examination, or take one of the CLEP examinations and score in the 50th percentile or above. The Credit by Examination option may be available only for languages in which Alaska Pacific University faculty members have expertise. The chair of the Liberal Studies Department will determine the appropriate examination.

Back To Top

Certificate In Professional Management

The Certificate in Professional Management is for you if you're interested in obtaining a basic understanding of modern management concepts and skills without having to complete all the requirements for a degree. However, if you already have a college degree but no management training, and would like to gain that expertise, then this program is for you. The Management Certificate is particularly helpful if you do not have a college degree, but are in a supervisory or management position. This program fits the special needs of business and industry by offering a curriculum that can be designed to fit unique needs of individual companies.

The Certificate Program includes between six and eight undergraduate level courses from such offerings as economics, accounting, finance, marketing, foundations of management, human resources, decision processes, quality improvement, business writing and special topics. The exact subject areas depend on individual needs or corporate design.

Classes are conducted off-campus at company locations or students can attend regularly scheduled classes on-campus. Courses can be applied toward an undergraduate degree if you later decide to pursue your degree. The first step to getting your Professional Management Certificate is to apply to the university and be admitted as a non-degree seeking student.

Back To Top

Associate of Arts Degree

The Associate of Arts Degree is a two-year degree in Business Administration for those students who currently do not desire a four-year degree, but wish to take courses that may be applicable to a four-year degree. You will complete a selected number of general university core requirements in addition to departmental requirements. The Associate of Arts program provides a basic understanding of business principles and prepares you for future personal development. This may be an excellent way to begin a college educational program. Courses chosen for the Associate’s degree generally can be applied toward a Bachelor’s degree at a later time. You take a basic set of required courses plus a number of electives that prepares you for the business world. Students in Business Administration may decide in conjunction with their academic advisor to focus on those skills that may help them in office administration or entry level positions in supervision, accounting, or related fields.

Back To Top

Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration

*Cannot be used to satisfy the general university requirement in Social/Behavioral Science.

Back To Top

Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Business Administration Major

If you're interested in business administration or management science, you'll find Alaska Pacific University combines a liberal studies education with professional level courses in a variety of concentrations. The university focuses on the development of business and management skills through an active learning environment including opportunities for practica, independent work, and research. Small class sizes allow for enhanced interactions between you and the faculty. Learning is applied to real world problems wherever feasible.

Within the Business Administration major you may concentrate in a number of areas including: marketing, human resource management, international business, economics, health services administration, finance, public administration, community agency administration, general management or business, or a personalized area of interest. The concentration area is not considered a major, but rather is an area you wish to focus on while developing your academic program. You should discuss the concentration area with your academic advisor, and work out a program of study that will assist you in developing your concentration area. Areas of concentration are not limited by the course descriptions in this catalog, and with the opportunity of doing directed study and developing special topics, can lead to a number of viable interests.

If you're interested in international business you will also gain experience in at least one additional language. Opportunities to study abroad are encouraged.

*Business majors cannot use to meet general university requirement in Social/Behavioral Science.

**Waived if used to meet general university quantitative skills requirement.

Note 1: Most Business Administration majors choose an area of concentration. This might include economics, finance, marketing, human resource management, health care administration, public agency administration, decision processes, general management or a unique area of interest. While there are some anchor courses available in these areas, students will develop their concentration through directed study and independent work. The senior project is an integral part of the major and is the capstone experience where the senior spends considerable time researching or conducting a project in his or her chosen area of interest.

Note 2: A student wishing to concentrate in international business or international marketing should demonstrate competency in at least one other language. Competency is usually the completion of two years of academic study of the additional language or equivalency. In addition, such students should spend one or two enrollment periods abroad, studying and doing their practicum.