Bachelor of Science in Business Technology Online

Merge your business skills with high-demand technical skills to gain the well-balanced professional qualifications employers seek.

Apply by: 4/9/24
Start class: 4/29/24 Apply Now Apply Now

Program Overview

Gain insights into our online business technology degree

Gain the resources and technological qualifications you need to set yourself apart from the competition. The 100% online Bachelor of Science in Business Technology program from Northwest Missouri State University prepares you with the strong business foundation and up-to-date technical skills that can enhance your marketability.

In our online business technology degree program, you will enhance your understanding of the business administration techniques that are needed to run an operation smoothly. You will grow your software skills in Microsoft® PowerPoint® as well as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. As part of the coursework, you will be able to advance your spreadsheet skills (capitalizing on logic functions, dashboard development, pivot tables, charts, and data consolidation). Plus, you will have the opportunity to develop training modules and programs from the ground up using the latest multimedia tools.

Our experiential learning format prepares you with the relevant knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to the workforce upon graduating. The undergraduate-level curriculum goes beyond theory and encourages you, as a student, to think critically and act decisively. Plus, the profession-based learning aspect of the curriculum, influenced by the Professional Advisory Board at Northwest, allows you to apply your studies to real-life contexts. The Board, composed of industry professionals, meet annually to discuss the job market, workforce skills, gaps and needs and provide that information to Northwest faculty, so they may incorporate it in their course learning outcomes.

This online business technology makes graduates career-ready

100% of students graduating with this online degree find employment or continue their education within six months after graduation.

Graduates of this online program will be able to:

  • Develop robust dashboards utilizing features such as data consolidation, macros, solver, scenarios, and pivot tables and charts
  • Understand current cloud-based and application-based technologies and business procedures
  • Combine their business background with actual skill-based learning that will help them go into the workforce qualified for various positions
  • Understand how to leverage and manage social media
  • Analyze risks and opportunities of various business decisions
  • Develop the ability to plan, lead, analyze and problem-solve
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the bigger picture in business environments
  • Develop robust dashboards utilizing features such as data consolidation, macros, solver, scenarios, and pivot tables and charts
  • Understand current cloud-based and application-based technologies and business procedures
  • Combine their business background with actual skill-based learning that will help them go into the workforce qualified for various positions
  • Understand how to leverage and manage social media
  • Analyze risks and opportunities of various business decisions
  • Develop the ability to plan, lead, analyze and problem-solve
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the bigger picture in business environments

Business technology career opportunities:

  • Marketing Manager
  • Business Manager
  • Information Systems Technologist
  • Research Analyst
  • Logistics Manager
  • Social Media Manager
  • Marketing Manager
  • Business Manager
  • Information Systems Technologist
  • Research Analyst
  • Logistics Manager
  • Social Media Manager

Accreditation:

Northwest Missouri State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.


Also available:

Northwest offers a variety of specialized online education program options. Check out our other online undergraduate programs.

Per Credit Hour $320*
Program Transfer Credits: Up to 82 hours
Credit Hours 120

Accreditation:

Northwest Missouri State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.


Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 844-890-9304

Call 844-890-9304

Tuition

Pay for your online program by the course

Our B.S. in Business Technology online program offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition, which is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included.

Transfer Your Credits for Lower Tuition

Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.

0
82
Transfer Credits: 0
Your Estimated Tuition: $Your Estimated Tuition:
Apply Now

Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student’s Northwest record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour $320*

Calendar

When to apply, when classes start, when tuition is due

Northwest online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working students, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 23/4/242/13/242/19/242/26/242/28/244/19/24
Summer 14/29/244/9/244/15/244/22/244/24/246/14/24
Summer 26/24/246/3/246/7/246/14/246/18/248/9/24
Fall 18/26/248/6/248/12/248/19/248/21/2410/11/24
Fall 210/21/2410/1/2410/7/2410/14/2410/16/2412/6/24

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date: 4/9/24
Next Class Start Date: 4/29/24
Ready to take the next steps toward

earning your degree?

Apply Now

Admissions

Find your fit in our online business technology program

At Northwest, we’ve streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the online B.S. in Business Technology, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them. The requirements include:

Admission Requirements:

  • GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended

To apply for this program, you must meet the requirements for one of the sections listed below.

Transfer Criteria

  • Students with 24 or more transferrable credit hours:
    • A minimum 2.0 cumulative transfer GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Students with less than 24 transferrable credit hours:
    • Follow freshman admission requirements and have a minimum 2.0 cumulative transfer GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Transfer students from non-regionally accredited institutions will also be considered a freshman; credit cannot be transferred into Northwest from a non-regionally accredited institution

Returning Students (previously enrolled as degree-seeking at Northwest)

  • A minimum 2.0 cumulative transfer GPA in any coursework completed since last being at Northwest (on 4.0 scale)
  • A probation essay (if returning after being suspended or put on probation) explaining previous time at Northwest, what they've been doing since and how they plan to be successful when they return

Freshman Criteria (Adult - 24+ years old):

  • High school transcript showing graduation date or completion of GED/HiSET
  • Essay
  • ACT/SAT test scores optional; can be submitted for scholarship/placement purposes if available

Freshman Criteria (for non-adult freshmen and transfers with less than 24 transferrable hours):

  • Category I:
    • 21 or higher ACT composite (or the SAT equivalent: SAT-980 or 1060**)
    • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (weighted or unweighted) or above (on 4.0 scale)
  • Category II:
    • Have an admissions index score (see here) that equals or exceeds 100 points
    • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (weighted or unweighted) or above (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Category III:
    • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (weighted or unweighted) or above (on a 4.0 scale)
    • Complete high school college-preparatory curriculum
    • Students who have completed the GED or HiSET are eligible with a minimum score of 660 on the GED or a minimum score of 75 on the HiSET
    • This category is not an option for home-schooled or unaccredited high school graduates unless they have also completed the GED or HiSET

Home-Schooled Students

Applicants must have their ACT or SAT results submitted directly from ACT or College Board. A transcript listing of high school courses and grades in each course is also required for admission.

  • 21 or higher on the ACT (or SAT equivalent), OR
  • GED score of 660 or higher, OR
  • HiSET score of 75 or higher

GED Applicants/HiSET Applicants

A student may be considered for admission after receiving an equivalency certification, meeting the following criteria:

  • GED score of 660 or higher, OR
  • HiSET score of 75 or higher

Official transcripts can be emailed to [email protected]. To submit official documents by mail, send them to:

Office of Admissions
Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468-6001

Have a question? Call us at 844-890-9304.

Click here for State Authorization information.


Admission Requirements:

  • GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended

Courses

What you’ll learn in your online business technology courses

For the B.S. in Business Technology online program, the curriculum is comprised of 120 credit hours, including: 44-47 credit hours of Northwest Core (general education), 4 credit hours of our university seminar, 48 credit hours of professional component courses, 18 credit hours of required courses and 6 credit hours of management emphasis courses.

Students must take 44-47 credit hours of general education courses to meet the degree plan requirements.
Students are required to take a University Seminar (1 credit hour) and a digital literacy course, usually Computers and Information Technology (3 credit hours). Below is the information for each course.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Basic concepts of decision making, central values, variability, probability and statistical inference, elementary concepts of correlation, parametric tests of significance, and regression analysis. Will satisfy The Northwest Core requirement in mathematics. Proficiency examination is available.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A course for helping students apply functions to model practical situations. Students will apply concepts of algebra to problem solving while relying more heavily on technology when using nonlinear situations. Will satisfy The Northwest Core requirement in mathematics.  Proficiency examination is available.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to computer systems. Topics include integrated office applications, hardware, software, Internet, and the rights and responsibilities of computer users.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A beginning course in the principles and theory of accounting
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A continuation of ACCT 51201, with the partnership and corporation as forms of business organizations emphasized. Prerequisite: ACCT 51201 with a minimum grade of C.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to the fundamental principles of macroeconomic analysis. The basic principles relating to aggregate supply and demand; the determination of national income, employment and price level; money and banking; monetary and fiscal policies; and alternative economic systems are studied.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to the fundamental principles of microeconomic analysis. The basic principles relating to the decision-making by the individual household and the individual firm under different market structures, the allocation of society's resources and international trade and balance of payments are studied.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Fundamental principles of law in relation to the legal environment of business, including procedure and evidence, business ethics, court systems, contracts, torts, administrative law and constitutional law.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of the financial structure of corporations, principles and techniques used in financial analysis and decision-making. Prerequisites: ACCT 51202 and MATH 17118 or consent of instructor.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Designed to acquaint students with current knowledge and emerging trends in business communication. Emphasis on developing and improving business writing (letters, memoranda, reports) and oral presentation skills, understanding the importance of communication in organizations, developing skills needed in the job search, and learning how to match specific communicative styles to various situations. Prerequisites: COM 29102, ENGL 10112 or ENGL 10115.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to the field of management designed to give a basic understanding of the principles, concepts, and functions of management within that social system called the information era. Successful management is dependent on fostering responsible and autonomous behavior, as authoritarian structures are being replaced by democratic processes evolving within modern organizations. Thus, successful management is studied as the processes and behavior of participative management.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of the several areas of primary concern to the production manager including layout, work measurement, wage incentives, inventory control, and quality control. The use of both qualitative and quantitative tools to aid in decision-making will be introduced. Prerequisites: MGMT 54313, MATH 17114, MATH 17118, or consent of instructor.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A course designed to give students the opportunity to integrate information from the functional areas of an organization in the formation and implementation of organizational policy. Computer simulations will also be utilized to simulate organizational decision-making. Prerequisite: Senior standing, ECON 52150 and ECON 52151 (with a minimum grade of C in each of the courses), and completion of all other common professional component courses.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The study of determination and satisfaction of consumer wants or needs from a managerial perspective. Elements of this process include market research, demand analysis, product development, pricing, promotion, and distribution.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A course on the myths, misconceptions, and misinformation prevailing in International Business, especially in the areas that affect us most-protectionism vs. free trade, balance of payments, deficits and surpluses, the European Union, WTO, problems unique to developing countries, changing trade patterns and reasons why, floating vs. fixed monetary systems, cultural differences, and multinationals.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of business systems and their relationship with computer systems. The interaction of various systems of the organization and computer technology is emphasized. Prerequisites: MGMT 54313 and either CSIS 44101 or CSIS 44130, each with a grade of C or better.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Advanced word processing skills and concepts will be emphasized to manipulate, organize, and enhance documents. Prerequisite: CSIS 44101 or CSIS 44130 or EDCI 62130 with a grade of C or better. (S)
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Concepts, design elements, and preparation of presentation graphics. Projects with electronic presentation and imaging software will be completed. Prerequisite: CSIS 44101 or CSIS 44130 or EDCI 62130 with a grade of C or better.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Explain and apply key principles in the Electronic User's Bill of Rights, Fair Use, and Copyright laws
  • Apply design principles
  • Identify graphics file formats and determine appropriate image file formats
  • Create images, edit images, and manipulate images
  • Describe impact different colors have on audience
  • Create personal and business applications in Illustrator, Photoshop, and other graphics software
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A course on the intensive use of spreadsheets including features such as financial functions, querying a list, web queries for real-time data and what-if analysis. Prerequisites: CSIS 44101 or CSIS 44130 or EDCI 62130 with a grade of C or better, or equivalent course.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Managing Information: Use industry appropriate business and technology skills and applications.
  • Format spreadsheets to display data to be communicated with ease.
  • Implement formulas and functions to solve problems.
  • Integrate absolute and relative cell references to formulas and functions.
  • Utilize charts and sparklines to visually display data.
  • Employ financial functions to construct loan options.
  • Consolidate information from multiple worksheets using 3-D references.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A course on the intensive use of spreadsheet features such as using templates, data consolidation, macros, solver, scenarios, and pivot tables and charts. Prerequisite: CSIS 44336 with a minimum grade of C.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Managing Information: Use industry appropriate business and technology skills and applications.
  • Possess and employ industry appropriate business and technology skills and applications
  • Implement conditional formatting to spreadsheets as a tool to aid in decision making
  • Explain the results of formulas using various advanced functions
  • Create and modify PivotTables and PivotCharts to organize data
  • Utilize Solver to calculate optimal solutions
  • Employ financial functions to analyze loans and investments
  • Develop a macro and edit the macro using Visual Basic Editor
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Designing and using digital media to produce multimedia projects with audio and video. Prerequisite: CSIS 44101 or CSIS 44130 or EDCI 62130 with a grade of C or better.

Learning Outcomes:

This course addresses the design and technological skills needed for students to prepare video, and audio media for use in academic, personal, and career-oriented projects.

  • Apply principles used in digital media
  • Use organizational tools to plan multimedia applications
  • Identify types of files used in multimedia applications
  • Create and convert audio files
  • Create a podcast
  • Create and convert video files
  • Create a video tutorial
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of current cloud-based and application-based technologies and business procedures. Prerequisite: CSIS 44101 or CSIS 44130 or EDCI 62130 with a grade of C or better, or equivalent course.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Communicating - Communicate effectively as a liaison between professionals and end-users about software usage
  • Critical Thinking - Organize and synthesize information to aid in the decision-making process
  • Teamwork - Function effectively on teams; Work in teams effectively
  • Valuing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Explore ethical and societal issues regarding digital communications.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Applications of database management software for creating, querying, and manipulating databases. Prerequisite: CSIS 44101 or CSIS 44130 or EDCI 62130 with a grade of C or better.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Managing Information: Use industry appropriate business and technology skills and applications.
  • Possess and employ industry appropriate business and technology skills and applications
  • Create and modify a database
  • Apply various querying techniques to a database
  • Learn how maintain and update a database
  • Create custom forms
  • Create advanced reports
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A capstone course designed to integrate software, problem solving techniques, and collaboration skills gained through courses and apply that knowledge in situations faced by those in a technology-driven environment.  Prerequisites: Senior standing and CSIS 44320, CSIS 44330, CSIS 44336, CSIS 44337, CSIS 44340, CSIS 44343, and CSIS 44346, all with a grade of C or better, or concurrent enrollment in CSIS 44320, CSIS 44330, and CSIS 44340, or consent of instructor.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Valuing - Northwest students will exhibit professionalism and understand the impacts of social media in the work environment.
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Northwest students will demonstrate an understanding of how diversity, equity, and inclusion can affect the work environment.
  • Critical Thinking - Northwest students will describe and model problem solving processes.
  • Managing Information - Northwest students will integrate MS Office software in business solutions.
  • Managing Information/Teamwork - Northwest students will integrate web-based applications into increase productivity and streamline processes.
  • Managing Information - Northwest students will employ data visualization tools to aid in greater interpretation of data by the end-user.
  • Critical Thinking/Communicating - Northwest students will develop training tutorials.
  • Communicating - Northwest students will be prepared to seek employment in an online environment.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of objectives, functions, and organization of typical human resource management, emphasizing job analysis, selection and placement; development and training; safety and health; employee relations; administration of wages and benefits; labor legislation; and personnel research. Prerequisite: MGMT 54313.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Inspire a curiosity for and understanding of the historical evolution of HRM thought as it pertains to current day practices.
  • Be able to identify current problems, issues, and trends faced by human resource professionals
  • Increase your understanding of the functions of management and organizations in the real world
  • Recognize the importance of business ethics and the role it plays in HRM, as HR professionals serve as advocates for the workforce while complying with the corporate objectives of senior management
  • Demonstrate comprehension of the legal environment that affects HRM
  • Demonstrate an understanding of job analysis; recruitment of employees, including internal and external sources; selection of employees, including concerns of validity and reliability
  • Show a basic understanding of the performance evaluation process, including methods of performance appraisal and potential errors involved
  • Demonstrate an understanding of organizational reward systems, in particular: wage and salary systems; incentive based or performance-based systems; and employee benefits, including retirement benefits, health benefits, etc.
  • Exhibit understanding of employee safety and health concerns and requirements, particularly the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The application of principles and concepts of the behavioral sciences and total quality management to the interpersonal relationships found within modern organizations. As quality management practices replace authoritarian structures with more democratic processes, a need to stress continuous improvement, self-regulation of work content and structure within a job, self-evaluation of performance, self-adjustment in response to work system variability, and participation in the setting of job goals or objectives are seen as the key to effective managerial behavior. Prerequisite: MGMT 54313.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify and discuss the elements of human behavior in groups/organizations and management of human resources
  • Identify and apply skills in problem identification, diagnosis, decision-making, and implementation in human problem situations
  • Investigate the frameworks for the analysis of human performance in organizations, to include discussion, analysis, and application of:
    • Individual behavior and motivation
    • Interpersonal interaction and communication
    • Group processes, teamwork, and leadership
    • Organizational processes and structures
    • Management practices to improve human performance and productivity
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A course designed to aid the prospective small business owner in deciding whether or not to start or purchase a retail business, becoming aware of the pitfalls and failure, and understanding how various decisions might increase chances of success. Small business will be compared and contrasted with the larger corporation on several topics. Prerequisite: MGMT 54313.

Learning Outcomes:

  • The aim of this course is to provide potential entrepreneurs with a background and foundation on the startup of new ventures and to introduce aspects of planning and management related to small business. The objectives of the course are:
  • Identify and analyze potential business opportunities.
  • Examine differences between new ventures and existing organizations
  • Identify common issues that arise in new venture creation
  • Investigate how potential entrepreneurs can be better prepared to address issues that arise
  • in new venture creation
  • Explain what is necessary to start a new venture
  • Analyze if entrepreneurship is a worthwhile pursuit
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of the theoretical and practical perspectives of the various negotiation process strategies and tactics found in the contemporary business and social setting. Emphasis will be placed on the preparation element of the negotiation process, distributive and integrative negotiation techniques, along with developing negotiation styles, relational trust building, power, persuasion and ethics, creativity and problem-solving in negotiations, multi-party and multi-cultural negotiations. Prerequisite: MGMT 54313.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Demonstrate an understanding that negotiation is a critical life skill that can be learned and improved
  • Identify and explain the importance of all phases of negotiations.
  • Explain and discuss how persuasion, power, and ethics figure as key negotiating challenges.
  • Explain and discuss how to develop differing negotiation styles and behaviors and their respective impact on negotiated outcomes.
  • Explain and discuss why building trusting relationships can result in more lasting and more effective negotiations.
  • Identify patterns and phases in negotiation settings, how to mitigate them, and how selecting one pattern from another may result in different results.
  • Explain and discuss the implications for negotiation in cross-cultural settings.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to use the language of negotiation both in speaking and writing
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Economic, social, technological, and ethical problems facing American business and its leaders in the 21st century. Prerequisites: MGMT 54313 and senior standing. (F, S, SS)

Learning Outcomes:

  • Recognize the various stakeholders in a business, and point out the expectations and demands placed on business firms that emanate from these stakeholders
  • Appraise business responses and management approaches for dealing with social political, environmental, technological, and global issues and stakeholders
  • Analyze and critique ethical issues and the influence these have on society, management decision making, behaviors, policies and practices
  • Evaluate the extent to which social, ethical, public, environmental, and global issues must be considered from a strategic perspective

Still undecided?

Among Top 5

Ranked among the Top 5 “Public Universities in Missouri” by Niche.com (2022)

Highly Qualified Faculty

100% of classes taught by professionals, not graduate assistants

*Tuition and fees are based on current rates. Textbooks and laptops are not included with tuition. A one-time fee of $20.50 will be charged for remote proctoring of required Assessment of Core Proficiencies.

**Per 2016 SAT redesign.

Request Information

Submit this form, and one of our enrollment specialists will contact you to answer any questions and guide you through the process, from start to finish.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Or call 844-890-9304

Ready to get started?

Start your application today!

Or call 844-890-9304 844-890-9304

for help with any questions you may have.