Management Major

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Professor Troy Smith interacting with students

Studying Management at Nebraska

The management major enables you to pursue entrepreneurship or help an established organization reach its highest potential. We do this by offering five areas of emphasis within the degree: Clifton Builders Management, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, General Management, Human Resource Management, and Leadership in Organizations. You'll only find the Clifton Builders program at Nebraska, and our HR track is one of a few that is SHRM-aligned, preparing you for that professional designation.

At the center of every successful organization is a management professional. You’ll work with people from all areas of business and create a positive workplace with shared goals. These skills can help you succeed with starting your own business or in growing an established organization.

Areas of Emphasis

What You'll Learn

Prepare for careers in leading people, projects and organizations. You’ll learn how to start and manage business ventures, hire and retain employees, and analyze information and data to create effective business strategies.

Learning Outcomes

Explore key management theories and begin to form your preferred management style.
Harness the power of diversity in organizations and learn to lead with cross-cultural competencies.
Understand the dynamics and effectiveness of individual and team processes in organizational settings.
Acquire knowledge of values, ethics and sustainability practices in organizations.

Career Connections

Gather and evaluate data to make decisions that improve company performance, employee well-being and stakeholder satisfaction.
Gain the skills and knowledge needed to guide organizations and their employees to their highest potential.
Learn how to innovate in your own business or within any organization.

1 of 37 SHRM-aligned undergraduate business degree (BBA) programs in the U.S.

#31 public undergraduate business program

U.S. News & World Report (2022)

$1 million+ startup capital raised since 2017

How You’ll Learn

Hands-On Learning Experiences

Learn about effective leadership and communication by completing an outdoor challenge course with classmates.
Provide employee engagement consulting to local businesses and nonprofits.
Learn about management theories and concepts through interactive class activities like making salsa or building towers out of everyday items.

Transferable Career Skills

Develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
Critically examine situations and provide clear communication of choices and conclusions.
Lead with confidence as you learn how to work best with and manage teams.

Social Connections

Engage with like-minded students that have high leadership and entrepreneurial potential in the Clifton Builders Program.
Join the Society for Human Resource Management student organization for the opportunity to learn more about the HR field, travel to conferences and competitions, and network with other management professionals.
Compete in one of the many Center for Entrepreneurship competitions every year where you can win cash prizes and network with other business students.

Making a Difference

Make impactful contributions to nonprofits through the Strive to Thrive Lincoln course (MNGT 411) where you’ll learn about grant funding and allocate $10,000 to nonprofits.
Create a sense of inclusion in the workplace as you learn how to effectively manage a diverse workforce.
Pitch your business idea that makes life better for people for a chance at a $15,000 grand prize in the New Venture Competition.

Core Academics

Examine the roles motivation, leadership and group dynamics play in organizations and how they affect employee behavior.
Grow as an entrepreneur by writing your own business plan.

Research / Grad School Prep

Meet with a career coach who can help you prepare your graduate school application and resume.
Partner with a faculty member to dive deep into examining big ideas through the university’s undergraduate research program (UCARE).
Serve as a tutor or teaching assistant for a class you loved.

Invest in your strengths – As a strengths-based business school, we teach you how to use your unique talents to succeed.
Hands-on career development – Unique to Nebraska Business, the Professional Enhancement Program (PrEP) features four, one-credit hour classes to help you find personal and professional fulfillment.
Begin business now – There’s no need to wait or fill out additional applications to be part of Nebraska’s business school. We’re unique among other Big Ten schools in the fact that once you’re enrolled, you can start taking business classes immediately. Whether you want to start a business or gain leadership experience, you can start day one working toward your goals.
Faculty as experts and mentors – Our faculty are leaders in both practice and research. They bring their expertise into the classroom and introduce engaging and informative management concepts to students.

Research and Academic Opportunities

Impact Local Nonprofits

Make an impact in the Lincoln community through Strive to Thrive Lincoln project in MNGT 411, where you’ll learn about the philanthropy process while awarding $10,000 in donor-funded grants to local nonprofits.

Build Business, Teams and Communities

Challenge the status quo as you elevate your natural talents for leadership and entrepreneurship through the Clifton Builders Program. In this cohort-based program, you’ll work to innovate the way business is done and, in turn, change the world.

Prepare For the SHRM-CP Exam

As a SHRM-aligned program, Nebraska prepares you to take the Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) exam during your senior year. Email Dr. Jenna Pieper for more information.

Become an Entrepreneur

Make your startup a reality through events and competitions hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship. The events will help you go from idea to pitching your business plan for cash prizes.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Witness the Entrepreneurial Growth in Rwanda

Take a three-week trip to Rwanda, where entrepreneurs are helping their economy grow. Gain insight from people leading the local startup community and explore the country’s surging passion for entrepreneurship.

Learn Business in Northern Italy

Spend a summer or semester at CIMBA International University in Paderno del Grappa, Italy. Choose from a number of business classes, including three in management, while learning more about Italian language and culture.

See All Business Abroad Opportunities

Student Organizations

Two of the 25+ business related student organization focus on management. These clubs provide a great opportunity to grow as a leader, gain experience and make meaningful connections.

Society for Human Resource Management

Enables students to learn more about the HR field, network with professionals, participate in conferences and competitions, and attend local and national seminars and workshops.

StartupsUNL

Serves as a campus-wide community dedicated to providing young entrepreneurs with the resources and connections to be successful. Get the hands-on experience needed to turn ideas into businesses.

See All Business Related Student Organizations

Recent Management Student Placements

Internships

Events and Entertainment Intern, Chicago Bears
Human Resources Intern, EnviroLogix
Group Sales Intern, Indiana Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Business Development Intern, NRC Health
Senate Intern, Office of U.S. Senator

Careers

Human Resources Assistant, Amazon
Inbound Sales Representative, Groupon, Inc.
Business Development Manager, National Research Corporation
Accounting Systems Specialist, Southwest Airlines
Executive Team Leader, Target

Graduate Schools

Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Doctor of Medicine (MD), University of Colorado School of Medicine
Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master of Arts in Educational Administration/Student Affairs Administration, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Juris Doctor, University of Kansas

4-Year Plan and Notable Courses

Explore our curriculum through the 4-year plan. To earn your bachelor’s degree in management, you’ll take 120 credit hours of classes. That’s four to five classes a semester, on average.

The management major features five options: general management, Clifton Builders, entrepreneurship and innovation, human resource management, and leadership in organizations. They each have a different set of required management courses featured in the 4-year plans. Learn more about how to choose which option is best for you.

4-Year Plan

Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Organizations (MNGT/ENTR 321)

Take your first steps into the world of entrepreneurship management and marketing where you get an “insider’s view” of entrepreneurial creativity, innovation and value creation.

Managing Behavior in Organizations (MNGT 360)

Examine the many factors that affect organizational behavior, such as employee engagement, communication and decision-making and the role they play in the management of work.

Talent Acquisition and Staffing (MNGT 464)

Understand how to forecast employment needs and recruit, train and evaluate employees. Apply what you learn to evaluate and suggest improvements to real recruiting and selection systems.

Managing Diversity in Organizations (MNGT 365)

Learn to manage a diverse workforce and learn how to maximize its power through different techniques, strategies and best practices.

Leading People and Projects (MNGT 411)

Gain valuable leadership experience as you collaborate with your peers to select the nonprofit recipients of $10,000 in real grant funding. Expand your knowledge of the Lincoln community, the role of philanthropy, the operations of nonprofits and how you can use your business skills to serve others.

Business Plan Development and Decision Making (MNGT/ENTR 423)

Create a business plan after analyzing in-depth case studies, engaging in role play scenarios and engaging with business professionals. You can pitch your business plan at the university’s New Venture Competition to compete for up to $15,000 in funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could you tell me more about the management major’s areas of emphasis? As a management major, you’ll earn 9 credit hours of core management courses and 12 credit hours for one area of emplasis. These areas of emphasis are called options within the major. You can choose from entrepreneurship and innovation, human resource management, general management, leadership in organizations or Clifton Builders management.
How do I know which of the five options offered within the management major is best for me? The General Management Option allows you to pursue multiple interests. You’ll choose from courses relating to management, human resources, entrepreneurship and leadership. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Option prepares you to start your own business, work at a startup or lead innovation and growth for an established company. The Human Resource Management Option equips you with the skills and knowledge necessary to guide organizations and their employees towards their highest potential. Nebraska’s program is aligned with the Society of Human Resource Management curriculum guidelines so you can apply to sit for the Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) exam in your final year. This professional designation signals to others you are a recognized expert in the HR field and makes you more competitive in the job market. Developed around critical organizational needs, the Leadership in Organizations Option will equip you with knowledge and strategies to help you address your organization’s challenges. The Clifton Builders Option is for students admitted into the Clifton Builders program, which helps students with high leadership and entrepreneurial potential to change the world by building businesses, teams or communities.

Contact

Kendra Ritchie

Associate Director of Recruitment

HLH 123 D

P.O. Box 880405

Lincoln, NE 68588-0405

402-472-7784

kendra.ritchie@unl.edu

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