Business Economics | The College of Wooster

Overview

What can you do with a business economics degree from a liberal arts college?

The College of Wooster offers a rigorous program in business in the liberal arts context. Companies seek graduates who develop broad critical and analytical thinking and writing skills that can be applied in a variety of contexts. Because our program trains students to use data to generate business insights in a variety of contexts, business economics majors have found immediate success, just as they have in the private sector. Students aiming for careers in finance are guided to select electives and internships in preparation for the Series 7 General Securities Representative exam. Where did Wooster Business Economics majors land their first job? Merrill Lynch, Ernst & Young, Citigroup, Key Bank, Capital One, Quicken Loans, Bank of America, GE Capital, Brattle Group, NBC Golf Channel, Square Trade, Chime, not to mention a large number of multinationals such as Royal Dutch Shell and Microsoft , as well as regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Commodity Futures Training Commission and the Federal Reserve Bank. About half of business economics graduates at Wooster earn higher degrees in business administration, law, accounting, actuarial science and other fields. Alumni of this program include CEOs, CFOs and vice presidents of the group at some of the world’s largest companies.

Business Economics at The College of Wooster

The Business Economics major uses quantitative methods and economic theory to analyze companies, their decisions, and the factors that contribute to the diversity of organizational structures around the world. Our offering develops an advanced understanding of business operations and an appreciation for the social and economic complexity of the world in which companies operate. The Business Economics major is provided within the Economics department. Unlike a traditional business program, business economics majors gain a thorough understanding of economic theory and quantitative methods that can be applied to contemporary problems in finance, management, and all aspects of a business, including human resources, marketing, innovation, corporate social responsibility, and strategy . This training is why the Board of Trustees entrusted $2 million in Woosters Endowment to the student-run Jenny Investment Club (JIC). While the club is open to all majors, many business economics students have used the skills they learned in class to become trustees. They actively participate in one of the oldest student-run investment clubs. The current value of the JIC portfolio is over $10 million. Supervised by a diverse PhD. faculty from diverse backgrounds, students are exposed to global and international business issues within and outside the department in courses or international internships. While accounting is required, students are also guided to explore electives in marketing, ethics, finance, entrepreneurship, and strategy. Combining internships, project-based learning, real-world investment experience, and coursework, the major prepares students to enter the corporate world right after graduation.

Faculty

Important

The business economics major is designed to provide a broad, yet technically competent foundation for understanding the business world. It is intended for the student who plans to enter the business world immediately after graduation, but is flexible enough to also accommodate those who may choose to pursue graduate studies. The curriculum features:

• Principles of economics
• Financial Accounting
• Quantitative methods
• Applied regression
• Money and capital markets
• Marketing
• Corporate finance
• Organization of the company
• Strategic management
• Portfolio theory
• Company internship
• Independent study business economics

Students are also encouraged to pursue computer science, and ample opportunity is provided to use Woosters’ advanced computing facilities to analyze business problems.

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Independent study

All students at The College of Wooster complete independent study under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The research forms the basis of a thesis that is delivered in the spring semester of each student’s final year.

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alumni

About half of business economics graduates at Wooster earn higher degrees in business administration, law, accounting, actuarial science and other fields. Alumni of this program include CEOs, CFOs and vice presidents of the group at some of the world’s largest companies.

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lectures

James R. Wilson Lecture Series

Endowed in 2001 by James R. and Linda R. Wilson, the James R. Wilson Lecture Series in Business Economics brings business and finance leaders to the Wooster campus to share their insights with students, educators, and the wider community.

Past teachers

• 2019 – J. Clifford Hudson, Chairman and CEO of Sonic Corporation

• 2018 – William EspeyChipotle Mexican Grill’s Chief Marketing Officer

• 2018 – Robbie Bachformer senior vice president of Microsoft.

• 2017 – James Dicke II, Chairman and CEO of Crown Equipment Corporation.

• 2016 – Milton Ezrati, former senior economist and market strategist Lord Abbett Funds.

• 2016 – Walt W. Bettinger II, CEO at The Charles Schwab Corporation.

• 2015 – HJ Markley ’72 retired executive vice president of John Deere.

2015 – Michelle Stacy, former president of Keurig, Inc.