With Spring in the Air, It’s Time to Declare

 

So you’ve hit the point where it is time to declare your major or you’re looking ahead into the future and haven’t quite picked a major out. Don’t worry, this post will lead you through all the information you need to know about declaring your major, what majors we have, some ways to look into majors, and peer leadership inputs in each of their majors.

What do I need to have completed to declare my major?

In order to declare your upper-level business major, 3 things must be completed:

1. 2.5 Overall GPA - You can check this on your Banner Self Service

2. 2.5 Progression GPA - These classes must be completed with at least a 2.5 GPA:

1. Progression Courses:

1. ACCT 2121

2. ACCT 2122

3. BUSN 1101 (For Transfers - Only if Taken)

4. ECON 2101

5. ECON 2101

6. INFO 2130

7. MATH 1120

8. STAT 1220

3. 60 Hours must be completed

After all of these requirements are met and final grades are posted, you can follow this link to declare your major, or you’ll receive an email with instructions. Give it 5-7 business days and your major should be updated in your degreeworks and you’re all set!

What Majors does the BCOB Offer?

The Belk College of Business has 9 different majors, 4 minors, and 10 different Concentrations. 

Majors and attached Concentrations:

1. Accounting

2. Business Analytics

3. Economics

1. Business Concentration

2. Liberal Arts Concentration

4. Finance

1. Finance Concentration

2. Accounting and Finance Concentration

3. Real Estate Concentration

4. Risk Management and Insurance Concentration

5. International Business

6. Management

1. Organizational Management Concentration

2. Talent Management Concentration

7. Management Information Systems

8. Marketing

1. Marketing Innovation Concentration

2. Marketing Analytics Concentration

9. Operations and Supply Chain Management

Minors:

1. Economics

2. International Management

3. Management Information Systems

4. Operations and Supply Chain Management

What should I do if I don’t know which major to declare?

Navigating which major to declare can be difficult for some students. It’s common to have some confusion but luckily there are resources to help you in this situation. Utilize the links below to learn more about career and major resources to find the best fit for you!

Career Information - These give you more information on which careers and skills are needed for all majors in the BCOB.

1. WCIDWAMI 

2. Queen City Career Guides

3. Academic Programs in the BCOB

Career Tests - Use these tests to see your skillset and which careers may be best for you

1. Open College

2. Princeton Review 

3. CareerFitter 

Company Information - Use these to find information on different companies and industries to pick some potential careers and employers

1. In Her Sight

2. Vault

Peer Leaders Input

Major: Accounting

Peer Advisor Amy Kidder

Favorite Class: ACCT 3300 - Professional Development for Accountants

“This class was really helpful for looking into what kind of careers there are in accounting and what to look for in terms of internships. It really helped me to decide what direction I want to take my career in. The class also had other useful information about becoming a professional after college. I recommend taking this class as early as your schedule will allow it.”

Major: Business Analytics

Peer Advisor Taylor Cox

Favorite Class: INFO 3221 - Programming for Business Analytics

“I think this class gives you a great first look into the world of business analytics and what it means to be an analyst. Here, you’ll learn new programming languages that are in high demand in the business world.”

Major: Finance

Peer Advisor Arjun Nag

Favorite Class: FINN 3222 - Investments

“You learn how to use all of the various and complicated finance terms in this class to evaluate financial investment decisions. Professor Russell has years of experience in high finance roles so he puts the textbook in context with what employers are looking for.”

Major: Economics

Peer Guide Ayanna Silver

Favorite Class: ECON 3112 - Econometrics

“You will learn some great new statistical concepts such as programming in STATA that can be applied to the Economics field”

Major: International Business

AKPsi Leadership David Florez

Favorite Class: MGMT 3275 - International Business Management 

“My favorite class has been international business management. It's given me a more realistic perspective of how business is not only done internationally but also domestically. This class has also taught me to think in different management styles and how they may vary from country to country. Working on group projects over the semester also gives me the opportunity to work with like minded people and establish good relationships with those in my class, even with the pandemic. “

Major: Management

Peer Advisor Harvey McCullough

Favorite Class: BLAW 3150 - Business Law

“Business Law was one of my favorite classes within my concentration because as an HR manager, we are responsible for understanding many facets of labor law including how to apply them to real-world principles to potentially thwart any lawsuits directed towards our future organization. We also had the real opportunity to create a business model and walk through every step to ensure that our business would abide by legal standards. This was an extremely hands-on class with real-world applications; something every student hopes to receive from their courses!”

Major: Management Information Systems

Peer Guide Mansi Sodha

Favorite Class: INFO 3230 - Enterprise Systems 

“I took this as an elective but was amazed by how much I learned during this course. The utilization and fluency of SAP, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software that this class focuses on is also a great skill to have on your resume when interviewing for internships/ full-time positions!”

Major: Marketing

Peer Advisor Bailey Harris

Favorite Class: MKTG 3224 - Product & Brand Management 

“This course has made me truly understand how majorly influential product and brand management is to the ultimate success of an organization. It was extremely interesting to talk about major companies' different product management strategies that help influence the brand of the organization. Definitely my favorite marketing class so far due to the creativity I was able to use in the course.” 

Major: Operations and Supply Chain Management

AKPsi Leadership Jenna Basel

Favorite Class: OPER 3206 - Quality Assurance and Management 

“Quality Assurance and Management is my favorite operations course because the topics we cover in the class are very interesting and help connect all three of my majors together. Some of the topics covered in this class are corporate culture, quality design, motivation, conformance to design and more. Dr. Silver is an amazing professor and makes the class super engaging and relevant. He also teaches valuable skills to put on your resume such as learning how to code in R-studio. This class combines all of my favorite things about my major: philosophy/theory, implementing practices, and analyzing data to strategically plan for a company.”

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Sophomore Year is Drawing Near

 

Sophomore year is coming up soon! This year can be a weird middle ground as students are finishing up their general education and moving towards taking upper-level courses. This is a year full of Accounting and Economics, but what can you do to make the most out of it? 

Peer Advisors Taylor and Amy have come up with some tips and tricks to help students make the most out of their Sophomore year including getting involved, discovering more about campus, and looking forward to declaring your major. Keep reading to find out more!

Trying to decide on a major or future career:

It may feel like you just began your college journey, but it can really fly by. It’s never too early to start thinking about possible majors that interest you and even some different career options. The best place to start is by asking questions. Your professors and Academic and Career Coach can also share various resources for specific majors to help get you started. If you attend a speaker event, you can ask them how they got to where they are today. There are also some great online resources available as well.

If you already know what you want to major in or start your career in:

If you are frustrated because you cannot start your upper-level major classes yet, there are still plenty of other ways to start preparing.

-          Do your own research

-          Speak with professors or professionals who have experience in the field that you are interested in.

-          Get familiar with companies that interest you.

-          Start looking into what an internship in your field of study might look like and what the timeline is to apply.

Try different non-business electives:

Instead of thinking of non-business electives as something you have to get done with before you graduate, think of them as an opportunity. It can be an opportunity to discover a new interest, find something you would like to minor in, or even just get a chance to include your other interests.

Meet with your Academic & Career Coach to start planning future classes (and make sure you’re on track)

If you are the type of person who loves planning for the future, you probably already have a four-year plan for the classes you want to take. It’s a good idea to run this by your advisor to make sure you aren’t missing any important requirements or prerequisites. Some classes need to be taken in a specific order, so it’s always best to double check.

If you don’t have a plan, or haven’t really thought much about it, it might be a good idea to start looking at what classes you’ll need to take before you can declare your major and graduate. A Peer Advisor can help out with what classes you should take in order to declare your major and your Academic and Career Coach can guide you when looking at the upper-level business classes. To schedule an appointment, follow these steps.

Discover new study spots on campus:

One thing I love about UNC Charlotte is the beautiful campus. Going into your Sophomore year, I highly recommend taking some time to explore the campus more. There are plenty of amazing spots, both indoors and outdoors, that are great for studying. My favorites include:

-          Sitting outside near the Friday building

-          Peet’s in the Library

-          The upper floor of SoVi

-          Outside of Panda Express in the Cone Center

Professional Development and Employment:

As a sophomore, getting an internship or experience may be difficult as you haven’t started your upper-level classes, so what can be done instead? Here are some great ideas to begin doing in your second year to set you up for success in the future!

1. Start to Build your Network

Start by creating a LinkedIn profile to begin building your network and get to know individuals in the professional world. Find someone who works in your dream job or dream company and connect with them to learn more about their story and what a day in life is like for them. Don’t know where to start? Check out the Niblock Student Center’s LinkedIn Resources! 

2. Check out Speaker Events

Go to all the different speaker events on campus including the CEO Speaker Series, Lunch and Learns, and Meet-Ups to help build your network and learn from those who succeed in their careers every day. This offers great insight and could possibly open doors to new opportunities. Each semester, check the calendar of events for a listing of events.

3. Begin Looking into Companies

What are some companies and organizations that stand out to you? Look at LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and maybe set up a tour to visit and understand the company culture. From here, you can determine which companies stand out to you. Research online and don’t be afraid to connect with an employee and ask questions.

4. Build a Portfolio of Projects

A portfolio can be a strong tool in showing off projects and skills that a candidate has completed before the interview. Start by getting experience through working a job, gaining an internship, leading a group project, studying abroad, or volunteering. If you are unsure where to start, visit the University Career Center’s website for more information.

5. Begin Looking into On-Campus Employment

Hire-A-Niner  is a great place to start to look for internships over the summer and throughout the school year as well as on-campus job opportunities. This could include working in a number of different offices across campus and working alongside other students who have similar experiences. On-Campus employment is another great way to build your resume and work where classes are a priority to schedule.

6. Check out On-Campus Resources

Many resources have been mentioned throughout this post, but some places to highlight are:

-          The Niblock Student Center

-          The Career Center

-          The University Center for Academic Excellence

-          Niner Engage

These resources are here for you and are free for all students to use to aid in their academic and professional growth. If you haven’t had the chance to connect with these resources, we highly recommend doing so!

We hope you find these tips helpful as you are preparing for your sophomore year at UNC Charlotte. Go Niners!

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Lunch & Learn Recap: Networking Like A Pro

 

On Tuesday, April 13th, the Niblock Student Center held the last Lunch & Learn event of the Spring 2021 semester! This event was all about Networking like a Pro: How to Build Professional Relationships.

This Lunch & Learn featured two speakers:

●     Chris Johnson: Chris serves as a Strategic HR Leadership Partner and Leadership Team member at Equitable. Chris received his B.A. in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ, and his Executive Masters in HR Leadership from Rutgers University. Chris spent 20+ years working for MetLife, including its spin-off Brighthouse Financial, which is what ultimately brought Chris and his family to the Charlotte area. In addition, Chris spent two years working with CompuCom, a division of Office Depot, as a member of the HR Leadership Group providing strategic HR support to the President of the division.

 

●     Dave Broaddus: Dave is a sophomore at UNC Charlotte double majoring in Business Analytics and Computer Science. He has been involved in the Business Learning Community, the Business Honors Program, and serves as an RA in Levine Hall. He is interning at Wells Fargo this summer and was recently accepted to the Management Leadership for Tomorrow Program.

 

Throughout this informative event, our speakers informed the audience about why networking is essential. Some key takeaways from this event are that while networking is integral in the job search, it is also important to continue expanding your network even when you currently have an opportunity. Along with this, it is crucial to keep up with your network and make it a “give-take” relationship. This can be completed by regularly catching up with those in your network to gain an understanding of their work. Broaddus gave a variety of insights on his experience networking as a student for internships, and how it is integral to continuously put your name out there, this is critical when it comes to marketing yourself and building your brand.

Also, this event focused on the importance of mentorship. Johnson states that it is important for individuals to have mentors, but also serve as a mentor themselves. The key to this is being proactive and understanding how to get the most out of your mentorship by creating an agenda for each meeting.

Thank you so much to our speakers for being a part of this event, we learned so much from your experiences!

Join the 2021-2022 Peer Guide Team

 

The Niblock Student Center is searching for current Belk College of Business students who are interested in leadership, professional development, and teamwork! Peer Guides assist the Professional Development Team in supporting student development through programming, engagement, mentorship, and learning opportunities.

Apply on Hire-Ninerby this upcoming Wednesday, April 14th! The Job ID is 58649. A resume and cover letter is required.

Upcoming Event: Peer Talk First Gen Project

On Monday, April 12th at 1pm, the Peer Guides and Peer Advisors will be collaborating for a Peer Talk regarding resources First Generation Students!

Peer Talks are student-led events in which resources are discussed for specific topics. This is a great way for students to speak to student leaders in an informal space and learn about resources.

In this First Gen Project Peer Talk, students can expect to learn about specific perspectives from a first generation student, a professional development timeline, information about financial aid, major exploration, and many more topics!

For the zoom link, visit the Niblock Student Center Calendar at the link below. You can also join using the meeting ID: 977 0197 9108

https://belkcollege.uncc.edu/events/2021-04-12/peer-talk-first-gen-project

We hope to see you there! 

 

Aid Your Midterms Grades!

By: Bailey Harris, Belk College Peer Advisor

Have you received a Midterm Grade? Are you curious if you have one? Let’s talk about what they are, where you can find them, and what you can do to recover from them.

What is a Midterm Grade?

●       A midterm grade or also known as a MTG is for undergraduate students earning a "D" or "F" in classes, these grades are up to the professors of the classes to report. It is up to professors of the courses to  This midterm grade report helps you understand where you are academically in terms of that specific class. Think of it as a check in and a way to alert you that you need to work harder or more effectively in the class.

What does a Midterm Grade Look Like?

●       Midterm Grades can be accessed through Banner Self Service via your my.uncc.edu portal. After accessing your Banner Self Service, make sure to press the Student Services/ Student Accounts at the top of the screen so that you can click Student Records following that. The image below will help you access and understand where you need to go to see if you have any midterm grades for this or past school semesters.

●       After you click the Midterm Grades portion, you will have to indicate the school term you are searching for and then proceed. The next page will indicate if and what classes you have Midterm Grades in. All of the classes you are in will be displayed but it's important to see if you have any Midterm Grades that were inputted by your professors. This will be indicated with a “D” or a “F” being displayed under the Midterm Grade portion of this page. Another way you can be alerted that you had a Midterm Grade is because the Office of Registrar will send an email to students with any Midterm Grades in their classes.

●       It’s vital to understand that even if your professors didn’t input any Midterm Grades doesn’t mean that you don’t have a “D” or “F” in your courses. It is up to the Professors whether or not they process a Midterm Grade report for you. Make sure to check on Banner Self Service and your email for Midterm Grades, and Canvas to stay updated on your grades throughout the semester. Check your email routinely to know the

What do I do if  I have one or more Midterm Grades?

●       First off, understand that you aren’t alone. There are students who get Midterm Grades and recover and it's important that you understand that. The Niblock Student Center is here to encourage you, help as much as you may need and refer you to the proper resources to aid you get back on track for ultimate success in your academics. There are resources all over campus to help you in getting back on track in your classes. The first step and resource  you should look into is scheduling a meeting with a Belk College of Business Peer Advisor via Connect.Scheduling an appointment gives the Peer Advisors the ability to connect you with different offices and resources on campus to lead you to success. All Belk College of Business Peer Advisors have been trained to aid you and have also been through difficult college situations as fellow college students. We are all here to support and help you use the resources you need to ultimately succeed.

●       After scheduling an appointment with a Belk College of Business Peer Advisor via Connectit's highly important that you reach out to your professor(s) through email about your midterm grades to organize a time to meet with them or ensure you go to their office hours to communicate your situation. By doing this professors are aware of any problems you have run into throughout the semester and they now are able to work with you and your needs. I highly recommend you go ahead and do this because if you don’t communicate with your professors they will not be able to help due to them being unaware of your situation. During this meeting or their office hours, you have the ability to ask them questions about the course content and even new study strategies you can utilize to improve your test grades.

Check in on your Midterm Grades by using Banner Self Service to see if you have any. If you end up having any then understand UNC-Charlotte has plenty of resources to help you, all you have to do is ensure that you are effectively using them to your advantage for your academic success. The Niblock Student Center and Belk College of Business are here to help and serve you to be a better business student. If you have any questions or need help with your midterm grades then schedule an appointment with a Belk College of Business Peer Advisor via Connect  for further advice and resources.