Business Major

What is the business major?

The business major offers an integrated curriculum that balances theoretical insights with practical skills for real-world impact. Core courses—often group-focused—foster collaboration and hands-on experience in management, marketing, finance and accounting.

To build a strong analytical foundation, students complete essential quantitative coursework in calculus, economics, statistics and accounting. These courses sharpen decision-making skills, enabling students to analyze complex business problems, interpret data and navigate financial and economic trends.

By blending collaborative projects with rigorous analytical training, graduates leave ready to tackle strategic and quantitative challenges in diverse fields—from finance to entrepreneurship.

Why should I pursue a business major?

A business major equips you with skills to lead, innovate, and excel in today’s dynamic world. 

Explore four in-demand specializations tailored to meet the challenges of modern business:

  • Accounting: Develop a strong foundation in financial management that is essential for businesses across all industries.
  • Finance: Acquire essential skills in managing investments, analyzing financial data and making strategic financial decisions that are critical for businesses and personal wealth management.
  • Marketing & Business Analytics: Develop the skills needed to understand consumer behavior, leverage data-driven insights, and inform business decisions in a rapidly evolving, competitive marketplace.
  • Management & Strategy: Gain the leadership and critical problem-solving skills needed to analyze business challenges, make informed strategic decisions and effectively lead teams toward business success.

Your business journey starts here—with the skills and knowledge to thrive in any industry.

Career Paths

UC Davis Graduate School of Management graduates take their expertise across industries, pioneering sustainable practices, driving innovation, and leading change. Whether advancing in Fortune 500 companies, shaping startups, or crafting careers in emerging fields like biotech and clean energy, our alumni redefine what’s possible.

Explore potential paths from the four specializations of the business major:

Accounting

Job Type Company Example

Accountants

Robert Half

Staff Accountants

Aston Carter

Tax Accountants

Intuit

Cost Accountants

Vaco

Internal Auditors

Creative Financial Staffing

Project Accountants

GPAC

Audit Managers

Elevance Health

Accounting Associates

Randstad

Property Accountants

Jobot

Auditors

CyberCoders

Audit Associates

Forvis

Accounting Interns

Cherry Bekaert

Internal Audit Managers

Alter Domus

Accountants/Bookkeepers

ManpowerGroup

Certified Public Accountants

JCPenney

Revenue Accountants

Kforce

Payroll Accountants

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Financial Accountants

Beacon Hill Staffing Group

Corporate Accountants

Baker Tilly

Audit and Reimbursement Leads Crowe

Marketing and Business Analytics

Job Type Company Example

Business Development Representatives

Ford

Marketing Specialists

Skechers

Marketing Assistants

Amazon

Business Development Specialists

Staples

Digital Marketing Specialists

System One

Marketing Associates

Wolters Kluwer

Social Media Specialists

Robert Half

Business Development Associates

Jensen Landscape Services

Social Media Coordinators

Concentrix

Marketing Interns

At Home

Field Marketing Representatives

PayPal

BDC Representatives

Humana

Product Specialists

JPMorgan Chase

Marketing Analysts

Pearson Education

Marketing Consultants

Andersen Windows

Influencers

Cracker Barrel

Retail Product Specialists

Abbott Laboratories

Marketing Strategists

GPAC

Content Marketing Specialists

Texas Roadhouse

Product Analysts

Nelnet

Data Analysts

Deloitte

Business Intelligence Analysts

Accenture

Enterprise Architects

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Oracle Cloud HCM Consultants

Insight Global

Data Modelers

Randstad

Data Governance Analysts

Merit America

Principal Architects

Lincoln Financial Group

Enterprise Solutions Architects

KPMG

SAP Successfactors Manager

Beacon Hill Staffing Group

Solutions Architects

Infosys

Data Quality Analysts

Diverse Lynx

SAP Consultants

Ernst & Young

Data Management Analysts

Kforce

Data Analytics Engineers

Smx Corporation Limited

SAP EWM Consultants

Cardinal Health

SAP FICO Consultants

Oracle

Data Analytics Interns

Allied Universal

Oracle HCM Consultants

 

Data and Reporting Analysts

 
SAP Functional Consultants  

Finance

Job Type Company Example

Financial Analysts

Robert Half

Financial Planning and Analysis Analysts

Deloitte

Pricing Analysts

Johnson & Johnson

Finance Analysts

Amazon

Treasury Analysts

Lincoln Financial Group

Accounting Analysts

Aston Carter

Pricing Managers

Prime Therapeutics

Portfolio Managers

JPMorgan Chase

Financial Systems Analysts

Citigroup

Investment Analysts

University of California

Financial Planning Analysts

US Bank

Financial Reporting Analysts

Wells Fargo

Lead Financial Analysts

CBRE

Financial Management Analysts

Lumen Technologies

Fiscal Analysts

Disability Solutions

Financial Data Analysts

Bausch Health

Investment Banking Analysts

Amentum

Revenue Analysts

Elevance Health

Business Development Analysts

Truist Financial

Revenue Cycle Analysts Vaco

Management and Strategy

Job Type Company Example

Business Analysts

Wells Fargo

IT Business Analysts

Elevance Health

Program Analysts

Deloitte

Business Process Analysts

Lincoln Financial Group

Business Data Analysts

Accenture

Management Analysts

United States Department of the Treasury

Management and Program Analysts

Prime Therapeutics

Business Operations Analysts

Randstad

Analytics Managers

State of California

Business Consultants

Amazon

Lead Business Analysts

USAA

Salesforce Business Analysts

Insight Global

Solutions Consultants

United States Department of Defense

Implementation Consultants

GovCIO

Business Services Analysts

Cigna

Independent Operators

Public Consulting Group

Project Controls Analysts

Kforce

Business Process Consultants

Robert Half

Servicenow Business Analysts

Intermountain Health

Business Applications Analysts JPMorgan Chase