Business Administration

The Business Administration minor is open to any student who seeks to enhance his/her Social Work practice skills with managerial and quantitative business skills.

To complete a minor in Business Administration, students must:

• register for a minimum of nine credits at Columbia University Business School.

Students should meet with the Coordinator for the Business Administration Minor to get approval for selected courses.

To declare a minor in Business Administration, submit an Academic Program Change Form to Karma Lowe in 1255 Amsterdam Avenue Room 525.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I identify courses that are offered through the Business School?

Towards the end of each semester, the Business School will send the Director of Special Programs a list of courses open to cross-registrants. All CUSSW students will be e-mailed a copy of this list when it becomes available. The e-mail will include the date by which course preferences should be submitted to the Director of Special Programs.

After identifying courses that are of interest, meet with the faculty coordinator who works directly with CUSSW students pursuing the business minor to make sure that the courses you have selected are academically appropriate. After meeting with the faculty coordinator, e-mail the Director of Special Programs your course preferences.

Cross-registrants will only be able to take one course per semester at the Business School. Even though cross-registrants can only take one course at the Business School per semester, it is highly recommended that students select three courses in which they would be interested in enrolling.

Will I be able to cross-register by phone or online when I register for my Social Work classes?

No. The School of Social Work will be assigned a certain number of slots in each of the available courses. The number of seats available in each course after Business students have registered will determine the number of allocations CUSSW receives. The Director of Special Programs will allot spaces in a course in the following order:

• second year students who have already declared a business minor;

• first year students who have already declared a business minor;

• second year students who have not declared a business minor;

• first year students who have not declared a business minor.

Illustration

Four CUSSW students have indicated on their preference forms that they would like to take "Managing a Nonprofit Organization" at the Business School. CUSSW received two slots in the course.

• Ann is a second year student who has not declared a business minor. The course was her first choice.

• Bill is a first year student who has declared a business minor. The course was his third choice.

• Mary is a second year student who has declared a business minor. The course was her second choice.

• Sue is a first year student who has not declared a business minor. The course was her first choice.

Mary would receive a space in the course if CUSSW received no slots in the course that was her first choice. Because she is a second year student who has declared the minor, she would get a slot so that she could complete the requirements of the minor.

Ann would receive the second spot in the course provided that Bill received a slot in one of the other two courses that he favored over this one. Because Ann is a second year student, she gets priority over Sue who is a first year student.

How do I cross-register for a Business School course?

Once the Director of Special Programs e-mails you to tell you that you have been given a slot in a particular course, you must complete a Registration and Add/ Drop Form by a pre-specified deadline to be registered for the class. Only after submitting the drop/add form will you be officially registered for the course.

Faculty and Administrative Contacts at CUSSW

For help in selecting appropriate courses, contact:

Professor James Mandiberg
Faculty Coordinator for the Business Administration Minor
212-851-2253 | jmm2151@columbia.edu

For details on cross-registering at the Business School and to submit forms, contact:

Karma Lowe
Assistant Director
212-851-2364 | knl3@columbia.edu