Message from the Dean

Thank you for visiting the Belk College of Business website. We hope that you will find these pages informative and interesting, whether you are considering applying for admission to one of our academic programs or simply browsing to learn more about the College.

The Belk College is Charlotte’s leader in business education. Since the College’s founding in 1970, we have created a culture of innovation and responsiveness: We were the first business school in the Charlotte region to offer an MBA and the first to attain AACSB accreditation. With the addition of our Ph.D. program in 2006, UNC Charlotte became just the third university in North Carolina – and the only one exclusively serving the Charlotte region – to offer bachelor’s, masters and doctoral degrees in business administration.

Within the Belk College’s responsive and innovative academic environment, you will find the following points of distinction:

Challenging Academic Programs. The Belk College is committed to developing the next generation of business leaders by offering programs that stress our five core values: Integrity, Intellectual Curiosity and Innovation, Excellence, Globalization, and Diversity and Inclusion.

The College offers three undergraduate degrees with a variety of majors, including

accounting;
economics (with concentrations in business administration or liberal arts);
finance (with an optional concentration in risk management and insurance);
industrial and operations management (IOM);
international business;
management (with an optional concentration in managerial leadership)
management information systems (MIS); and
marketing.

The College’s top-quality graduate programs in accounting, business administration, economics and mathematical finance prepare students for leadership positions in complex organizations by emphasizing critical-thinking skills and developing students’ confidence to make decisions in the face of imperfect information, competing objectives, and technological change.

The College utilizes our relationships with top business leaders to ensure that our programs meet the demand for skilled professionals in high-demand industries. The College is also in the process of developing innovative executive education programs.

The Ph.D. in Business Administration with a Major in Finance is a research-oriented program designed to prepare graduates for teaching and research careers in academia.

Outstanding Faculty. The true strength of our academic programs comes from the contributions of the Belk College faculty – distinguished scholars and engaging teachers who strive to show connections between the theoretical and the practical. Our faculty specialize in applied research; that is, they study critical issues in the business world and provide thoughtful analyses and concrete solutions which can be used by business leaders to solve problems and advance their industries.

Strong Community Partnerships. The Belk College acquired its dynamic, competitive spirit from the city we call home: Charlotte, North Carolina. At the heart of one of the country’s fastest-growing regions and one of the most important financial-services centers in the world, Charlotte is an energetic business city that has embraced the Belk College and shown unflagging support for our ambitions and initiatives. From the Center for Real Estate and our quarterly Economic Forecast to our prominent and engaged advisory boards, our connections run deep and provide unparalleled opportunities for our students and faculty.

Global Impact. In today’s interconnected world, it is imperative that students develop an understanding of the global marketplace. To support this critical component of a 21st Century business education, the Belk College has established strong ties with top business schools around the world. These partnerships provide opportunities for students and faculty to expand their world views and collaborate with colleagues.

International Accreditation. The Belk College is fully accredited by AACSB International, the premier accrediting agency for programs in business administration and accounting. AACSB International accreditation is the hallmark of distinction in management education and assures students, faculty, alumni and other stakeholders that the Belk College is committed to maintaining a standard of excellence.

Extensive Business and Alumni Network. We are committed to maintaining strong connections to our 17,000 graduates, most of whom live in the Charlotte region. Many dedicated alumni give back to UNC Charlotte and the Belk College not only through their financial contributions, but by serving as guest lecturers in our classes, mentoring students, providing internships and hiring our graduates. We are grateful for their support, as a successful and satisfied graduate is our greatest ambassador.

I encourage you to explore our website to find out more about the Belk College and the advantages we offer. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

Joseph B. Mazzola
Dean