Bachelor in Business Administration

Welcome to the Silberman College of Business at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s beautiful downtown Vancouver Campus. FDU is an institution of higher education "of and for the world" - of the world in the sense of being worldly and cosmopolitan, for the world in the sense of being civic-minded. FDU is the first university to earn Special Consultative Status with the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council and the Founding Member of UN Academic Impact Program. Today, with campuses in Vancouver, Canada; Wroxton, UK; and at our base in New Jersey, USA, a network of university alliances across the globe and with the UN, and the timeless vision of producing positive impact in all the communities we serve, a Silberman College education produces social, economic, and geographical mobility for our graduates. At our Vancouver Campus, FDU welcomes students from over 60 countries, including Canadians, that are benefiting from FDU’s long proven vision of preparing world citizens through global education in an intensive and student-centered learning environment.

Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with majestic mountains, sparkling water, rainforests, and lush greenery in all four seasons. Throughout the year, visitors can enjoy world-class shopping, exquisite dining, excellent live entertainment, outdoor adventure, and breathtaking views and activities. Located just 225 kilometers northwest of Seattle, Washington, USA, Vancouver is the largest city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. The Greater Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Vancouver is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada: 46 percent of its residents are not native English speakers, 44 percent are native speakers of neither English nor French, and 51.6 percent of residents belong to visible minority groups.

FDU’s Vancouver Campus is located within the vibrant district of Yaletown, close to the Vancouver Public Library and surrounded by the hustle and bustle of downtown life, wonderful restaurants, incredible sporting venues, superb shops, and numerous coffee houses. Vancouver is indeed a very exciting place to live and learn, and the Vancouver campus is now part of that excitement.

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program in Vancouver is accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This “seal of approval” is the hallmark of excellence in management education and represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. The Silberman College of Business at Fairleigh Dickinson University is one of only four AACSB accredited institutions in British Columbia. Additionally, Silberman College is the only business school in British Columbia to earn a Level 4 “Positive Impact Rating” which demonstrates that the College works with students to prepare them as global change makers and equips them with the required competences to have a positive impact on society and the world.

In Vancouver, Silberman students major in business administration with a concentration in international business and may elect to complete a second concentration in information technology, finance, or marketing. In addition, the Vancouver Campus offers a Pre-University Program, which provides advanced English-language training for students who meet the requirements for admission but require additional training in English (in speaking and/or writing) prior to matriculating in a degree program. The Vancouver Campus boasts an excellent and dedicated core of full- and part-time faculty; state-of-the-art facilities; small class sizes; close working relations between students, faculty, and staff; and an intensive and unrivaled student support system focused on individual student success.

Accreditations

Employers around the globe will recognize the quality of your AACSB-accredited degree. AACSB accreditation is the "gold standard" for a quality business degree. Silberman College of Business offers you the distinction of an AACSB-accredited school and the prestige of a highly regarded American private business education which is affordable.

Silberman College of Business is one of the very few North American business schools whose students measure how it contributes to solving societal challenges by energizing the school and its culture; by educating responsible leaders; by providing relevant research and continuing education; by participating in the public debate and being a role model institution. This “Positive Impact Rating” demonstrates that Silberman College works with students to prepare them as global change makers and equips them with the required competences to have a positive impact on society and the world.

Silberman College is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative and strives to foster and nurture positive community impact through the content and pedagogy of our educational programs. This will increase your awareness of the critical social, environmental, and economic challenges and opportunities our society faces, and nurture the desire and abilities to act and lead responsibly.

Beyond College-level accreditations, several of our BBA majors and concentrations have earned discipline specific distinctions, demonstrating our college’s commitment to exceeding the highest standards of each business discipline.

The BBA program at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Silberman College of Business at the Vancouver Campus provides high-quality business education through immersive curricular and co-curricular experiences. Driven by the needs of global industry, our programming emphasizes professional development and enables our students to maximize their success while in school and long after they graduate.

The FDU community recognizes that the world of business and the landscape of business education is rapidly being transformed by new technologies and a global pandemic, leading to increased competition, complexity, and change. Employers around the world increasingly seek students with a global mindset, who are entrepreneurial in their thinking and actions, and possess strong communication and analytical skills. Our BBA program in Vancouver prepares you for the challenges of cross-border and cross-cultural business, for applying rapidly evolving technologies, for managing scarce resources, and for embracing the societal and environmental responsibilities that increasingly shape our world.

At Silberman College of Business, rigorous courses mandate collaborative work, community-based projects, and oral presentations that result in cutting-edge solutions to complex business issues. Beyond the discipline-specific content provided by each Silberman course and concentration, a variety of learning goals across Fairleigh Dickinson University’s core and liberal arts classes supports the development of the broad base skills required today in business:

• Ethics/social responsibility
• Global business
• Written and oral communication
• Problem solving/Critical thinking
• Analytical skills
• Information literacy/technology
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Entrepreneurial thinking
• Career development

Program Specifics

Silberman College of Business BBA students in Vancouver must complete a minimum of 120 credits, inclusive of the university core and general education requirements of FDU, distributed as follows:

A. Business Foundational General Education (12 credits)

B. University Core and General Education Requirements (31 credits)

C. Business Administration Core Courses (41 credits)

D. International Business Concentration Courses (21 credits)

E. Optional Minor Courses or Free Electives (15 credits)

TOTAL CREDITS = 120

A. Business Foundational Courses General Education (12 credits)

• DSCI 1234 Mathematics for Business Decisions
• DSCI 2029 Intro to Statistics
• MIS 1045 Information Technology for Business
• ORGS 1100 Ethical Issues in Social Institutions

B. University Core and General Education Requirements (31 credits)

Fairleigh Dickinson University believes the goal of a college education is preparation for lifelong learning and a lifetime of thoughtful living. The Core courses express the University’s global learning mission: To prepare students for responsible citizenship in the global community and for professional success in the global economy.

The interdisciplinary University Core Curriculum is the cornerstone of a thoughtful and reflective education. The three-course University Core program, for BBA students, strongly emphasizes global learning and personal/professional development learning outcomes and objectives. Students typically complete the sequence during the first and second years at FDU to provide a foundation for more advanced studies. The Core program helps students explore their intellectual and creative strengths in order to draw on these while preparing for a fulfilling professional and personal life.

The University Core courses (7 credits)

• UNIV 1001 Transitioning to University Life (1 credit)
• UNIV 2001 Cross Cultural Perspectives (3 credits)
• UNIV 2002 Global Issues (3 credits)

General education requirements are categories of knowledge FDU expects you to gain a working knowledge of before you graduate. These Gen Ed courses help business students gain a well-rounded education which we hope will serve you throughout your life after graduation. These courses are also a great opportunity for you to try out different things to see if you like them. General education courses also afford students the opportunity of expanding their chosen field of study to gain an emphasis in a related aspect of their chosen majors. These courses can set you up to be better at your chosen field, provide you with new hobbies, and perhaps even change your mind about your chosen field of study.

The General Education Requirements at FDU includes the following mandatory topics and electives:

Mandatory (9 credits)

• WRIT 1002 Comp I: Rhetoric and Inquiry
• WRIT 1003 Comp II: Research and Argument
• COMM 2099 Professional Communications

Electives (15 credits)

• Behavioral and Social Sciences Electives (2 courses - 6 credits)
• Humanities Electives (2 courses - 6 credits)
• Scientific Analysis

Silberman College advisors are available for help in selection of courses and preferred sequences.

C. Business Core and Restricted Business Core (41 credits)

Silberman College’s Business Core Curriculum features coursework in all business disciplines – Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems and Decisions Sciences, Business Law, Management, and Marketing, to provide you with essential business knowledge. The Business Core is required of all BBA students and accounts for 41 credits in the degree program.

It includes courses in the following topics:

• ACCT 2021 Introductory Financial Accounting
• ACCT 2022 Introductory Managerial Accounting
• DSCI 2130 Business Statistics
• DSCI 3152 Operations Management
• ECON 2001 Introduction to Microeconomics
• ECON 2102 Introduction to Macroeconomics
• FIN 3250 Principles of Financial Analysis
• LAW 2276 Business and the Law
• MGMT 2600 Organization Behavior
• MGMT 4160 Strategic Management
• MIS 2001 Management Information Systems
• MKTG 2120 Principles of Marketing
• ENTR 2710 Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• CARR 3000 Career Strategy (2 credits)

D. Business Administration Major with International Business Concentration (21 credits)

The Business Administration Major with International Business concentration provides students with the analytical tools and conceptual framework needed to understand the international financial, political, and economic environment; how that environment influences a firm’s strategy and performance; how culture plays a role in guiding a firm’s strategic activities; and how a firm can leverage home and host country resources to overcome challenges inherent in managing a multinational enterprise. The academic program allows students to understand international business from three interrelated perspectives: international trade and finance, international marketing, and international corporate strategy.

Those students interested in the Business Administration Major with International Business concentration at FDU have enough flexibility to craft an interdisciplinary program of study that combines courses in business, culture, and foreign language and other areas to assure students adequate preparation for positions with global companies, governments, and other international organizations. Students are also strongly encouraged to consider study abroad opportunities, including at FDU campuses in New Jersey, USA and at Wroxton, UK.

Required IB concentration courses (15 credits)

• IBUS 3201 Fundamentals of International Business
• MKTG 3371 Principles of International Marketing
• MGMT 3371 Concepts of International Management
• ECON 4208 International Trade
• MIS 4307 Introduction to E-Business OR MIS 4303 Spreadsheet Applications in Business

IB Concentration electives (6 credits; choose 2 courses from the following)

• ENTR 3101 Small Business Management: An Entrepreneurial Perspective
• ENTR 3300 E-business for Entrepreneurs
• FIN 3330 Personal Financial Management
• MGMT 3620 Leadership and Personal Development
• MGMT 3700 Human Resources Management
• MKTG 3360 Digital Marketing
• MKTG 4272 Consumer Behavior
• MKTG 3383 Social Media Marketing
• MKTG 4365 Marketing Communications
• FIN 4498, MGMT 4498, or MKTG 4499 Internship Studies

This concentration provides a solid academic foundation for entry-level positions in international business, particularly in multinational corporations, international banks, and governmental agencies. Such organizations include Fortune 1000 corporations, the Export-Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury, in addition to international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

Silberman College advisors are available for help in selection of courses and preferred sequences.

E. Free Electives or Minor (15 credits)

Silberman College and cognate units throughout FDU offer a tremendous breadth of opportunities to suit your personal and professional goals. You can complete any sequence of courses for which you have earned the appropriate prerequisite to complement your business major with the IB concentration. The 15 credits can also be used toward earning a minor, including but not limited to those described below.

Silberman College advisors are available for help in selection of free elective courses and preferred sequences.

Optional Minor Examples

(Optional) Digital Marketing Minor (12 credits)

With so many advances in technology, today’s marketing arena is more complex than ever before. Marketers are struggling to keep up with information being shared and used by their customers on a variety of platforms. Marketing success lies in being able to understand these digital and social platforms, and in being able to seamlessly integrate a range of new capabilities with some of the more traditional ones.

A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with an International Business concentration and a minor in Digital Marketing from the Silberman College of Business will prepare students for a career in this dynamic field and will equip you with the knowledge and skills to plan, design and manage a well-integrated marketing strategy.

Minor Requirements

To have the selected minor recorded on the transcript, students must earn a cumulative grade point ratio of 2.00 or better in the minor. Vancouver students in the business administration major with IB concentration must complete an additional 4 courses (12 credits) that were not counted as part of their IB concentration, from the following:

• MKTG 4272 Consumer Behavior
• MKTG 3360 Digital Marketing
• MKTG 3383 Social Media Marketing
• MKTG 4499 Marketing Internship in an area related to Digital Marketing and/or social media. Students must meet the College’s criteria for internships.

Silberman College advisors are available for help in selection of courses and preferred sequences.

(Optional) Financial Planning & Wealth Management Minor (15 credits)

The 15-credit Financial Planning & Wealth Management minor is offered for business administration majors with IB concentration at the Vancouver campus. To have the selected minor recorded on the transcript, students must earn a cumulative grade point ratio of 2.00 or better in the minor. Vancouver students in the business administration major with IB concentration must complete an additional 5 courses (15 credits) that were not counted as part of their major or concentration, from the following:

Minor Requirements

• FIN 3330 Personal Financial Management (prerequisite course)
• WMA 4265 Personal Tax Planning
• WMA 4350 Investment Planning
• WMA 4380 Client Psyc/Financial Planning
• WMA 4375 Risk Management & Insurance

Silberman College advisors are available for help in selection of courses and preferred sequences.

(Optional) Professional Selling and Sales Management Minor (15 credits)

The 15-credit professional selling and sales management minor is offered for business administration majors with IB concentration at the Vancouver campus. To have the selected minor recorded on the transcript, students must earn a cumulative grade point ratio of 2.00 or better in the minor. Vancouver students in the business administration major with IB concentration must complete an additional 5 courses (15 credits) that were not counted as part of their major or concentration, from the following:

Minor Requirements (15 credits)

• MGMT 2600 Organizational Behavior
• MKTG 3341 Professional Sales and Sales Management (MKTG 2120 Principles of Marketing is a prerequisite for this course.)
• WMA 4380 Client Psyc/Financial Planning or MGMT4380 Client Relations

Select two electives:

• MGMT 3620 Leadership and Personal Development
• MGMT 3700 Human Resources Management
• MKTG 4272 Consumer Behavior
• WMA 3335 Personal Financial Management

Silberman College advisors are available for help in selection of courses and preferred sequences.

FDU and Silberman College are perennially included in various rankings from national and international publications. Below is a recent sample of recognitions:

Fairleigh Dickinson University is ranked #14 in Best Value Schools in the north by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2023. The University is also ranked by U.S. News among the best regional universities in the north (#63). In addition, the University’s undergraduate programs in business, computer science and engineering were named among the top in the nation. The University is ranked #41 in Best Colleges for Military Veterans among regional universities in the north and among the Top Performers for Social Mobility (#28).

Silberman’s MBA degree was ranked among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report’s Graduate School Rankings (2022) and Fairleigh Dickinson University is ranked among America’s Best Colleges by Forbes magazine (2021).

FDU was also named among The Best Colleges for Your Money and Best College in America by Money magazine (2020). AcademicInfluence.com (AI) ranked FDU the number four Best College in New Jersey and the top small college and top liberal arts institution in the state (2022). FDU is ranked #2 Hidden Gem in New Jersey by College Raptor (2022). Of the 5500 Master’s programs in the world ranked by Eduniversal, five graduate Silberman College programs rate within the Top 50 in their category.

Finally, Madison NJ, home of the Florham Campus, was named the #3 safest college town in America by SafeWise (2021).

Silberman College will build your professional skills and leadership acumen!

Gain a competitive edge that empowers you to take on new opportunities in nearly any business field. The expanded business acumen you’ll acquire in the BBA degree program at FDU will increase your earning potential and accelerate the speed at which you reach your career goals. Our professional development programming, known colloquially as ‘PDP’, complements in-class learning and includes practice interviewing sessions, networking events, resume writing, presentations from business leaders, etiquette training, an “elevator pitch” competition, and personalized attention from development advisors, offers you the opportunity to develop skills that will support your career. Silberman also boasts several faculty-guided, student-led business organizations to help hone your business and networking skills. All Silberman College students are connected to a full suite of career services and resources to help ensure that their education is as professionally transformative as it is personally fulfilling. Our team of advisors and outreach specialists is here to strengthen your post-graduate success as well as your academic achievement. Combine our career support resources with your heightened hiring appeal and spend your life enjoying the results.

For example, all Silberman College students can connect to motivated professionals across the country and seek out their next job on the online job board and networking platform called “Handshake.” This powerful network, available to all Silberman students and alumni, provides support for BBA degree careers: access to career insights, visibility so that employers can see your professional information and reach out to you with opportunities, and a smoother path to successful employment.

Our FDU Vancouver alumni work in a variety of industries across the country, most notably: A&W, RBC, Scotiabank, Deloitte, KPMG, Partap Forest Products, C.H. Robinson, Intact, Urban Bella, Redgate Software, Century 21, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, East-West Education Services, Langara College, Canucks Sports & Entertainment (CSE).

We believe that a Silberman College of Business education is a life-changing experience that gives students the skills and knowledge to compete globally while broadening their appreciation for how the world works. Many describe earning their BBA at FDU as one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives – professionally and personally.