Major Requirements

In addition to the required curriculum that must be taken by all students in the Zimpleman College of Business, the business studies major requires a minimum of 15 hours from accounting, finance, management/entrepreneurial management, and marketing. The remaining nine hours in the major may include additional study in accounting, finance, management/entrepreneurial management, and marketing, and/or study in business, information systems, insurance and business law. There may be no more than nine hours in any single discipline within the 24 hour major; and 21 of the 24 hours must be taken in 100 level courses. The list of courses should be selected to meet the individual student’s needs and must be approved by the student’s advisor.

Business studies students usually take economics and accounting in their freshman year. Business Law I and business statistics are taken in the sophomore year. Students may begin taking introductory courses in marketing, management, finance, insurance, and information systems in the sophomore year. Elective courses to support the career interests of the student begin in the junior year and continue throughout the senior year. The program is capped with an integrative course in business strategy.

Minor Requirements

One of the most important mission objectives of the College’s undergraduate business curriculum is to prepare students for entry into careers in business and to enhance their prospects for employment. Toward that end, the College offers the opportunity for students earning a degree other than a business degree to receive a Minor in Business Studies. The Minor in Business Studies gives students an introductory exposure to most fields of business and thereby provides them with additional flexibility in meeting their employment and career goals. Twenty four credit hours are required.

The Drake Curriculum

The Drake Curriculum, required of all undergraduates, is designed to help students meet personal and professional goals as they acquire fundamental knowledge and abilities in ten Areas of Inquiry, including communication, critical thinking, artistic experience, historical consciousness, information and technology literacy, international and multicultural experiences, scientific and quantitative literacy, values and ethics and engaged citizenship. Students work closely with their academic advisers to craft a program of study in general education that prepares students for civic and professional leadership.

The Drake Curriculum also requires first-year seminars, which foster development of critical thinking and written and oral communication skills through a topical focus; and a Senior Capstone, in which students demonstrate the capacity to bring information, skills and ideas to bear on one project. More information on the Drake Curriculum can be found here.