Business
The study of business is a liberal arts activity. The Business minor allows students to focus a course of study and co-curricular experiences on the different practices, skills, and issues involved in business careers. Despite the title, the minor should prove of interest to students who plan careers in both the profit and not-for-profit sectors. It consists of courses which emphasize skills in oral and written communication and quantitative analysis, courses in financial markets and accounting, a co-curricular practicum or case study, and a reflective paper that ties practical experience to the academic work of the minor and forms the basis of the minor portion of oral comprehensive exams. The Economics courses—Principles (ECO-101 Principles of Economics) and a course in finance (either ECO-262 Financial Markets and Institutions, ECO-361 Corporate Finance, or ECO-362 Money and Banking) provide not only useful analytical models but also an introduction to the ways in which the important institutions of modern capitalism address human needs. The English and Rhetoric courses provide students with skills in written and oral communication that are necessary for navigating the demands of today's business environment. The Philosophy course asks students to think more deeply about the role of commerce, markets, wealth, social and economic rights, and labor in society. The strongly recommended co-curricular and vocational experiences complement and reinforce the curricular component of the minor.
The Business minor is administered by the Business Minor Steering Committee. Only courses equivalent to those that constitute the Wabash business minor and are approved by the committee chair can be transferred to Wabash. Students interested in the minor should contact a member of the committee.
Student Learning Goals
- Develop an understanding of basic business concepts.
- Develop the analytical, quantitative, or interpretive skills fundamental to working in a wide range of business and organizational settings.
- Foster clear oral and written communication applicable in business and organizational settings.
- Promote critical thinking about the role of business in society.
- Encourage judicious reflection on ethical challenges in business.
- Cultivate and articulate a clear connection between the study of business and the liberal arts.
Requirements for the Minor
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Commerce | 4 | |
| Principles of Economics | ||
| Philosophy of Commerce | ||
| Financial Accounting | ||
| Management Accounting | ||
| Financial Markets | 1 | |
| One credit from the following: | ||
| Financial Markets and Institutions | ||
| Corporate Finance | ||
| Money and Banking | ||
| Oral Communication | 1 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Written Communciation | 1 | |
| One credit from the following: | ||
| Business & Technical Writing | ||
| Writing in the Community:Grants/NonProf | ||
| Academic & Professional Writing | ||
| Total Credits | 7 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Collateral Requirement | ||
| Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Excel by completing ECO-251 or by examination after completing another course or learning experience approved by the Business Minor Steering Committee. 1 | ||
| Economic Approach With Excel | ||
1 Completing this requirement via examination will not earn course credit for ECO-251.
Additional courses may be added to the list of available courses with the approval of the Business Minor Committee, and the committee may approve substitute courses on a case-by-case basis. Note that ECO-262 Financial Markets and Institutions does not count toward the Economics major.
Suggested Co-curricular Experience
Students will be strongly encouraged to participate in one or more of these significant co-curricular experiences: At least one 8-week internship, or a comparable experiential learning activity. Students also will be strongly encouraged to participate in other co-curricular experiences, such as the Schroeder Center for Career Development's Professional Immersion Experience (PIE) Trips centered around Marketing or Finance, attend alumni presentations, networking events, and join one of the business-focused clubs, such as Wabash Entrepreneurship Club, Investment Club, and Case Study Club.