FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
University of Nebraska at Omaha Transforms Business Education with New Major Designations to Bolster Workforce Readiness
OMAHA, NE – August 18, 2026 – The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) College of Business Administration (CBA) is set to revolutionize how its graduates enter the professional world, announcing the transition of seven existing Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) concentrations into distinct, career-focused academic majors. Approved by the University of Nebraska System on February 5th, 2026, these changes, effective Fall 2026, promise to significantly enhance students’ marketability and align their academic profiles more closely with employer expectations.
This strategic evolution replaces the previous model of a single "Business Administration" major with 15 concentrations, establishing clearly defined majors in Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resources Management, Logistics, Management and Leadership, and Marketing. This pivotal move is designed to create a more robust "degree-to-career pipeline" without incurring additional costs for students or extending their graduation timelines.
"Workforce development is at the forefront of everything we do at UNO," stated Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA. "These seven business majors align with some of the highest-wage, highest-demand, and highest-skill careers in the Omaha metropolitan area. By making this change, we are streamlining how we prepare students not just to enter these roles, but to thrive in them throughout their careers."
The benefits of this transformation are multifaceted:
- Enhanced Employer Recognition: Employers will more easily identify the specific skills and training a UNO graduate possesses, streamlining the hiring process.
- Stronger Student Recognition: Graduates will benefit from a clearer articulation of their academic preparation, leading to better positioning for entry-level roles and long-term career advancement.
- Improved Career Alignment: The new majors directly reflect high-demand, high-skill, and high-wage ("H3") fields identified by the Nebraska Department of Labor in the Omaha area.
According to Nebraska Department of Labor data, career fields associated with these new majors are in significant demand. Management ranks second, and Accounting fifth, in the H3 ranking. Finance (No. 30), Marketing (No. 36), Logistics (No. 54), and Human Resources (No. 57) also feature prominently on the H3 list. Notably, marketing managers and human resource managers command median annual salaries of $115,000 and $135,000, respectively, while logisticians are projected to experience a substantial 22% job growth by 2032.
Phil He, Ph.D., Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, underscored the university’s commitment to student success: "This change reflects a broader, university-wide effort to more clearly communicate the skills and experiences our students bring to the workforce. It is especially impactful because it improves how our graduates are positioned with employers without adding cost, coursework, or time to degree. This is a major win for students, families, and the employers."
Gurpreet Dhillon, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Business Administration, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the practical impact: "Our students already graduate with the skills employers are seeking. By moving to clearly defined majors, we ensure those skills are immediately visible and understood in a competitive job market. This strengthens the value of a UNO business degree and reinforces the college’s role as a key talent pipeline for Nebraska’s economy."
For Current Students:
Current BSBA students enrolled in a concentration will have the option to transition to the corresponding newly approved major, including those graduating in December. This change will not delay graduation for eligible students. While the transition primarily involves a redesignation of their degree, students are strongly encouraged to contact their academic advisor to discuss their individual degree plan and ensure appropriate enrollment.
Contact:
UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
Email: unonews@unomaha.edu
About the University of Nebraska at Omaha:
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).
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