College of Business and Economics

Introduction

Dr. Deanna Kennedy, Dean

Mission Statement of the College

We are a student-focused school of business and economics engaged in scholarly and professional activities that contribute to the well-being of society.

Objective of the College

The College of Business and Economics prepares students to lead, analyze, and contribute across a range of organizational settings — from entrepreneurial ventures to global enterprises. Building on a foundation in the liberal arts, students develop strong analytical, managerial, and communication skills, along with proficiency in accounting, economics, and data-informed decision making.

The curriculum emphasizes ethical reasoning, professional adaptability, and commitment to lifelong learning. Graduates are prepared to navigate complexity, drive innovation, and engage thoughtfully with the broader community and society.

The College of Business and Economics is accredited by AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business — at both graduate and undergraduate levels. AACSB Accreditation recognizes the highest standard of quality in teaching, research, and societal impact.

Academic Programs Leading to Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees

Minors

CBE minors complement many majors at Western. The combination of a CBE minor with a liberal arts major provides valuable additional skills and educational development. The minors offered in CBE include the following:

• Accounting Minor - See Accounting Department for details.
• Business Administration Minor - See details below.
• Business Analytics Minor - For CBE students only. See Decision Sciences Department for details.
• Economics Minor - See Economics Department for details.
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation Minor – See Management Department for details.
• International Business Minor - See Management Department for details.

Department Chairs

Directors

Requirements for Bachelor’s Degree

Besides the general requirement for graduation from the University, explained elsewhere in this catalog, CBE has the following specific requirements:

• At least 50 percent of the business credit hours required for the CBE majors and minors must be taken at Western Washington University.
• Electives may be selected as needed to ensure the required 180 quarter hours total credit is met.
• All CBE majors are required to take one communication focus course. Please see your advisor.

Retention Standards

To remain in good standing in CBE for all programs excluding Economics, majors must maintain a minimum Western cumulative GPA of 2.50.

Should a student fall below the 2.50 Western cumulative GPA retention standard, the student will receive a warning and have one quarter in which to repair the academic record. If the student’s academic record remains below the 2.50 Western cumulative GPA retention standard, the student will be dropped from the college.

For Economics degrees, excluding combined degrees (Accounting/Economics and Financial Economics), students with a Western cumulative GPA average below 2.0 will be dismissed from the economics or economics combined major until the deficiency is repaired.

All majors in the College of Business and Economics (CBE) must maintain good academic standing with the University. A student with a Western Washington University cumulative GPA average below 2.0 will be dismissed from the college immediately and not permitted to register for additional courses in the College of Business and Economics until the deficiency is repaired. A transfer student with no Western GPA (no graded Western courses) at the time of CBE application must maintain good standing with the University moving forward.

Please note: No individual course grade lower than a C- will be accepted and credited toward degree requirements.

Programs

• •  Business Administration Minor