Business and Data Sciences
The Department of Business and Accountancy is committed to providing degree programs that will prepare students to thrive in the corporate arena, in mission-based enterprises, or as entrepreneurs. Program faculty support the college-wide student learning outcomes of communication, critical thinking, creativity, and connectivity through a series of courses that develop an increasingly nuanced understanding of the complexities of business. Our faculty have corporate and entrepreneurial experience, locally, nationally, and internationally, and our hands-on, practical curriculum that includes simulations, cases and projects, reflects that real-world expertise.
Completion of the BBA in Business or the BS in Accountancy provides students with knowledge and skills to become effective, ethical leaders in dynamic, global, and technology-based environments. Recent graduates have been hired by the Big 4 accounting firms, professional sports organizations, college athletic departments, financial services organizations, industry leaders like Kia Manufacturing, or started their own businesses.
The Business and Accountancy programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Mission Statement
The Department of Business prepares students to successfully navigate business and social enterprises to improve lives and communities both locally and globally.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of a major earned in the Business and Accountancy programs:
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of general business concepts (including finance, marketing, accounting, economics, management and information systems) by creatively and critically solving complex problems in a dynamic global environment.
- Students will demonstrate the capacity to be ethical leaders who engage in innovative, sustainable business and social enterprises.
- Students will conduct research, analyze data, and communicate results in a professional manner, using appropriate technology.
- Students will show an enhanced ability to work in teams within diverse environments.
Accountancy students:
5. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the technical knowledge of accounting and tax and apply that knowledge to the preparation and assessment of appropriate data and reports.
Marketing and Entrepreneurship students:
5. Students will demonstrate am entrepreneurial aptitude for creative problem solving and identifying sustainable market solutions in the business arena, mindful of responsibility for both economic and social impact.
Sports Management students:
5.Students will demonstrate an understanding of the principles required for success in the sports management profession and will apply those principles in various settings.
Majors
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Accountancy
- Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Marketing and Entrepreneurship
- Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Sports Management
Majors should note that the applicable requirements for the majors, including required courses, are those in effect when they declare their major, not those in effect at the time of their matriculation. To declare a major in the department, students must successfully complete the Gateway courses with a C- or better. Once accepted into the major, students are expected to maintain a 2.5 overall GPA, and to complete all business common core and major concentration courses with a C- or better. Advisors work closely with students to ensure courses are taken in a sequence to provide a smooth pathway to completion.
In addition to completing the course requirements, students pursuing a bachelor’s degree offered by the Business and Accountancy Department must participate in a comprehensive Departmental Assessment Program, and an exit interview in April of their senior year.
Minors
The Business and Accountancy Department offers several minors, of interest to students both inside and outside of our department. To declare a minor, a student must have an earned GPA of 2.50 or better. To successfully complete the minor, a student must complete at least four of the minor courses at LaGrange College and complete all minor courses with a grade of C- or higher.
- Minor in Accountancy
- Minor in Applied Finance
- Minor in Business
- Minor in Entrepreneurship
- Minor in International Business
- Minor in Marketing Design (note: Students whose majors are outside of the Business Department, may enroll in the MRKT courses without completing the Gateway courses required of our majors.)
- Minor in Sports Management
Majors and Minors
Major Minor
Minor in Applied Finance Minor in Data Science B.A. in Mathematics Minor in Mathematics B.S. in Mathematics B.S. in Accountancy Minor in Accountancy Minor in Entrepreneurship Minor in International Business Minor in Sports Management M.S. in Computer Science Minor in Marketing Design B.B.A. with a Concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship B.B.A. with a Concentration in Sports Management Minor in Business Pre-Engineering B.S. in Computer Science Minor in Computer Science A.S. in MathematicsCourses
An introduction to the science of economics and its analytical tools. This course is devoted to providing the student with a thorough understanding of the basic principles of a) microeconomics: the study of the economic behavior of individual households and firms and the determination of factor prices, and b) macroeconomics: the study of the determination of the aggregate levels of income, output, employment, and prices and the examination of fiscal and monetary policy. Students are strongly encouraged to successfully complete MATH 1101 before enrolling in this course.
Businesses – whether large or small, public or private, product or service oriented, traditional corporate model or mission-based – have much in common. Students explore those commonalities in the course, which offers an introduction to the functional areas of business. The course is designed around a business simulation called BizCafé, in which entrepreneurial teams managing all aspects of a small coffee shop for nine weeks, developing creative, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills and gaining insights into the integrative approach required in today’s business world.
This course provides an opportunity for students to practice all forms of business communication, including written documents and reports, oral presentations, phone, e-mail, and meetings. Particular consideration will be given to audience analysis, appropriate medium, cultural and gender issues, feedback, and biases affecting communication.
The course explores the art and science of management and examines behaviors at the individual, group, and enterprise levels that advance or hinder work in organizations. The focus will be on understanding how to effectively manage performance and change in today’s complex business environment.
A study of the application of the science of management in the operations management environment. Primary emphasis placed on the theories, principles, and tools that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations manager.
This course is designed to expose the student to the basic framework on which marketing and its decisions are based. It provides an understanding of marketing in a changing environment and incorporates the traditional concepts with the realities of business today. It presents the concepts and applications that are relevant to the decision maker and is the foundation for the advanced courses in marketing.
This course teaches students to appreciate and critically evaluate the ways management employs technology to advance the objectives of business and industry. Topics include IT infrastructure and new technologies in use, including AI, managing digital applications to meet operational expectations, and ethical challenges inherent in increased access to customer information. Note: Students may also satisfy this major requirement with the successful completion of DATA 3000.
This course is a comprehensive study of the economic forces affecting global commerce and the socioeconomic complexity in which the international manager live and work. The course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of both the global macro-economic environment as well as grasp some of the essentials of managing the micro-economic variables in a global context.
In today’s global environment, business professionals are likely to work alongside people and organizations whose organizing frameworks and practices are informed by value systems and perspectives that differ from those of the Western world, often resulting in behavior patterns with which many of us are unfamiliar. In this course, students will explore global business models and operations through the lenses of various cultural traditions and orientations and learn why developing cultural intelligence is critical to meeting the challenges and complexities of international business.
This course addresses the legal and ethical implications of business decisions. Using texts, case studies, and current issues, students will study topics including hiring policies and practices, workplace culture, contracts and negotiation, workplace safety, and antitrust issues. The emphasis in each topic covered will be understanding the ethical underpinning of a proposed action or policy.
An internship is designed to give students direct exposure and experience working in a professional environment. It requires, and develops, both content knowledge and soft skills. Pre-majors may consider an exploratory internship in any area; majors are encouraged to complete an internship in the discipline in which they desire to work after graduation. Students will work with the department faculty and the Assistant Director of the Career Planning Center to initiate the internship request. Since this is an academic experience, students will develop a learning contract in collaboration with the site supervisor, will complete written reflections during the semester, and will complete a portfolio at the end of the semester. Students may choose to complete more than one internship, but no more than 6 credit hours may be applied toward the student’s graduation requirements.
The seminar allows students to conduct in-depth research on a current global business issue. While general guidance is provided by the instructor, students will be expected to work independently on the approved research topic(s) to examine issues from multiple perspectives and to make recommendations to resolve or mitigate those issues. In addition to submitting the research paper, students will present their findings during a scheduled Contact Hour.
Companies must develop effective branding strategies for their products and services. This course focuses on the strategic essentials of creating strong brands, brand management strategy, and strategies for using social media to build brands. Topics covered through text and simulations include: what constitutes a strong “brand” (from both marketing and legal perspectives); using brand personalities and cultures to create customer value and loyalty; strategies for building brand equity through positioning and social media; brand leveraging strategies (e.g. brand extensions) and brand alliances (e.g. co-branding). Students will have the opportunity to own certification in Hootsuite and Hubspot.
This course provides training in marketing decision making, using case studies simulating actual business settings to help students develop analytical abilities and sharpen their communication skills.
A series of “special topic” courses providing students with exposure to issues and concepts not covered in their regular coursework. Prerequisites: senior standing and consent of instructor.
