Business Scholars

The Business Scholars Program is a selective program that admits high-achieving undergraduate students of all majors in one of two ways: ​(1) some high-achieving high school students are extended a direct admission invitation into the program beginning the first semester of their freshman year or (2) high-achieving freshmen can apply to enter the program at the end of  their freshmen year and start the program sophomore year.

Business Scholars & the Honors College
Since Honors College courses typically fulfill your general education requirements and Business Scholars courses satisfy your major requirements, you can do both!  As a sophomore, admission into the Honors College will be looked upon favorably when evaluating your admission into the Business Scholars program.

There are many outstanding advantage to being part of a Business Scholars cohort, including:

• Small course sections (about 30 students) and a cohort model means more interaction with some of the Lubar College’s top faculty, and allowing you to connect with fellow students, building professional networks that will last long after graduation.
• Academic rigor and hands-on learning will keep you challenged while building key skill sets that employers value.
• Individualized attention and program support from faculty who enjoy your intellectual curiosity, as well as a dedicated Program Director and Academic Advisor who can guide you through the program, talk to you about your academic goals, and help you make the most of your college experience.
• Business Scholars Seminar designed to mirror graduate-level courses in their level of research and application.
• Being “in demand” by employers, who seek out Business Scholars students for internships and job placements.
• Research Thesis, Experiential Learning, and Study Abroad opportunities are designed to mirror graduate-level seminars in their level of research and applications, and you will be able to complete one of these as part of the program.
• Invitations to special events including the Bradley Lecture series, Business Ethics Luncheon, Defining Markets webinars and other Lubar events that often  involve networking with local business leaders. You will also enjoy Scholars-only events which include an Orientation lunch and a graduation reception.
• Special graduation accolades that include a certificate signed by the Dean, a notation on your transcript identifying you as a Business Scholar, and a special stole to wear at your commencement ceremony to mark you as a Business Scholar graduate.

Business Scholars Courses

BUS ADM 207 Business Scholars: Introduction to Financial Accounting (optional)
BUS ADM 211 Business Scholars: Introduction to Management Statistics
BUS ADM 231 Business Scholars: Introduction to Information Technology Management
BUS ADM 331 Business Scholars: Organizations
BUS ADM 351 Business Scholars: Principles of Finance
BUS ADM 361 Business Scholars: Principles of Marketing
BUS ADM 371 Business Scholars: Introduction to Supply Chain Management
BUS ADM 493 Business Scholars Seminar

Complete one of the following:
BUS ADM 498 Study Abroad – Business Topics
BUS ADM 499 Research in Industry (Experiential Learning)
BUS ADM 599 Reading & Research – Business Administration (Business Scholars Thesis)

Business Scholars courses are designed to seamlessly integrate into the business curriculum, and most of the courses are Scholars versions of required business courses for all majors.

Bus Adm 493 Business Scholars Seminar are unique courses that are open only to Business Scholars in their third or final year of the program. They are designed to mirror graduate-level seminars in their level of research and application.

Also, as part of the Business Scholars curriculum, students have the option of completing a Lubar Study Abroad, Scholars thesis, or research in industry. That means you will have the opportunity to develop a project or thesis in your area of interest. Examples of projects include working with a local industry to solve a business problem or connecting with a nonprofit to examine its marketing needs. For more information on the Experiential Learning Project and to submit the application, please visit the webpage.

Additional degree requirements and course descriptions for the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Business Scholars Leadership

Yaron Zoller
Director, Business Scholars Program
Lecturer, Organizations & Strategic Management

As the director of the Business Scholars Program, Dr. Zoller is excited to support scholar students in their educational journey at UWM. Our unique program offers hands-on learning tailored to meet student needs while helping students build professional networks. Students can gain valuable experience by completing a research thesis, evaluating real-world problems of local companies through experiential learning, and/or broadening their horizons through study abroad. Dr. Zoller leads and guides students to complete projects successfully. In addition to his responsibilities with the Business Scholars Program, he also teaches two large sections as well as the Scholars section of the Organizations course within the Lubar College.

Business Scholars Faculty

Amit Bhatnagar
Associate Professor, Marketing
Richard and Barbara Weiss Faculty Scholar

Teaches BUS ADM 361 Business Scholars: Principles of Marketing

Odai Khasawneh
Lecturer, Information Technology Management

Teaches BUS ADM 231 Business Scholars: Introduction to Information Technology Management

Kaan Kuzu
Associate Professor, Supply Chain, Operations Management & Business Statistics
Dean’s Research Fellow

Teaches BUS ADM 371 Business Scholars: Introduction to Supply Chain Management

Richard D. Marcus
Associate Professor, Finance
Chair, Executive Committee
Interim Director, M&I Marshall & Ilsey Center for Business Ethics

Teaches BUS ADM 351 Business Scholars: Principles of Finance

Joseph Retzer
Lecturer, Business Statistics

Teaches BUS ADM 211 Business Scholars: Introduction to Management Statistics

Laura Swenson
Assistant Professor, Accounting
V. Kanti Prasad Scholarly Achievement

Teaches BUS ADM 207 Business Scholars: Introduction to Financial Accounting

Yaron Zoller
Lecturer, Organizations & Strategic Management
Director, Business Scholars Program

Teaches BUS ADM 331 Business Scholars: Organizations

Eligibility

(For students who were not directly admitted to the Business Scholars as incoming freshmen.)

To be eligible for the program at the end of your freshman year, students must complete 23 credits (the equivalent of sophomore standing) with an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.30 (on a 4.00 scale), including:

• Completion of Math 208 or 211 (or equivalent) with a grade of B or better, or AP credits in calculus;
• Completion of English 101 and 102 with a grade of B or better (or an English placement score that satisfies the requirement for English Composition at UWM);
• Completion of Economics 103 or 104 with a grade of B or better.

How to Apply

You may apply to the Business Scholars Program during the Spring Semester of your freshman year.  Application deadline: June 1st.  

Timely admission into the Honors College will be looked upon favorably when applications are evaluated.