Business Leadership Program

The Business Leadership Program (BLP) is a special program within the School of Business & Leadership. Each year, up to twenty-five freshmen are admitted into this intensive four-year program.

The BLP is distinguished by a unique curriculum that blends academic coursework in business and the liberal arts, and features seven special BLP student-only classes. Students are educated in business fundamentals including finance, accounting, marketing, law, ethics, leadership, and management. The courses and pedagogy emphasize effective written and verbal communication, problem-solving, case analysis, and research methods. Through emphasis on critical thinking and written and oral communication, students are taught to logically formulate and investigate questions relevant to the competitive market and professional organizations. Through required coursework in the humanities and social sciences, BLP students develop an awareness of the relationship between business and other important disciplines. Many students pursue second majors outside of business. Prior to graduation, a typical BLP student will complete coursework from more than ten different academic departments.

The Business Leadership Program is also distinctive because it requires students to apply their academic knowledge to real world situations. Students participate in regional business field trips, an evening leadership speaker series, and a professional internship. In addition, BLP students are paired with regional business leaders, who serve as mentors throughout the sophomore, junior, and senior years. These volunteer mentors, often Puget Sound alumni, help prepare students for internships and careers by teaching from personal and professional experience.

Upon completion of the BLP, all students receive a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Many BLP students complete “double majors” in disciplines such as music, economics, mathematics, computer science, foreign languages, or international political economy.

Having developed a firm understanding of business principles within a liberal arts environment, BLP graduates find open doors to leading graduate schools and find employment with respected not-for-profit and corporate employers. BLP graduates enter the world with a background designed for success, a desire to excel in a new career field, and a determination to become the kind of leader their broad-based education has inspired them to be.

Admission to the Business Leadership Program requires a separate application form in addition to the application to the university. Once admitted, students are required to maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average.