Combined Major in Business Administration and Design

This combined major integrates business administration theory and practice with design principles. You'll gain a strong foundation in accounting, innovation, marketing, management, and organizational behavior, with the flexibility to specialize in a business area. Simultaneously, you will explore human-centered design, focusing on understanding people, their contexts, and creating future solutions. The program allows you to choose a design specialization such as experience design, graphic design, information design, or interaction design.

Curriculum

The curriculum combines university-wide requirements, business core courses, a business concentration, and design requirements. Students must also complete a chosen design option and a degree capstone project.

1. First Year
   • Personal Skill Development for Business or Art and Design at NortheasternBUSN 1102 or ARTF 1000
   • Calculus I (or equivalent)MATH 1241
   • Principles of MacroeconomicsECON 1115
   • Elements of Visual CompositionARTF 1220
   • Design Perspectives: An Introduction to Design in the WorldARTG 1001
   • Seminar for Design PerspectivesARTG 1002
2. Second Year
   • Financial Accounting and ReportingACCT 1201
   • Business Statistics (or equivalent)MGSC 2301
   • International Business and Global Social ResponsibilityINTB 1203
   • Introduction to MarketingMKTG 2201
   • Design: Process + PracticesARTG 1270
   • Studio for Design: Process + PracticesARTG 1271
   • Typographic SystemsARTG 1290
   • Studio for Typographic SystemsARTG 1291
3. Third Year
   • Financial ManagementFINA 2201
   • Organizational BehaviorORGB 3201
   • Prototyping with CodeARTG 2262
   • Lab for ARTG 2262ARTG 2263
4. Fourth Year
   • Strategy in ActionSTRT 4501
   • Design Degree ProjectARTG 4550

Careers

Graduates are prepared for roles that blend business acumen with design thinking. The program emphasizes real-world experience, which can lead to strong employment outcomes.

• Business Analyst
• Experience Designer
• Graphic Designer
• Information Architect
• Marketing Manager
• Product Manager
• Interaction Designer
• Brand Strategist

Frequently asked questions

What are the entry requirements for the Combined Major in Business Administration and Design?

Applicants must meet the general university admission requirements and possess a High School Diploma or equivalent. International applicants should consult the university's international admissions page for specific transcript, testing, and English language proficiency details.

How much does the programme cost for international students?

Tuition is billed per term. International students should contact the university directly for current tuition rates, as they vary by program and term and are subject to change.

How long does the Combined Major in Business Administration and Design take to complete?

The curriculum is structured over four years, including a first year, second year, third year, and fourth year, culminating in a degree capstone project.

What are the application deadlines for this programme?

The application timeline includes an Early Decision I / Early Action deadline of November 1, and an Early Decision II / Regular Decision deadline of January 1.

What career paths are available after graduating from this programme?

Graduates are prepared for roles such as Business Analyst, Experience Designer, Graphic Designer, Marketing Manager, and Product Manager, among others that combine business and design skills.

Are there any scholarships available for this programme?

Northeastern Online offers automatic tuition discounts: 3% via Standard App and 6% via Fast App. Additional scholarships like Double Husky, Parent and Family, and Full Circle are available for eligible applicants.