Requirements
The Process
The Department of Business Management offers opportunities to pursue both a major and a minor in Business Management.
Major
The Business Management major consists of four components:
Minor
The Minor consists of five courses—three required (see below), plus two additional electives
BUS 111 | Principles of Marketing* |
BUS 112 | Introduction to Financial Accounting |
BUS 302 | Organizational Behavior |
* Pre- or co-requisite: ECN 112 Principles of Microeconomics
To complete the Minor, students must take two electives, drawn from any 200-level or higher BUS courses, taken on campus or at a study-abroad partner.
1. Required Courses
Economics Foundation (two courses)
Plan ahead: These courses can help you fulfill the college’s social-science distribution requirement.
ECN 111 | Introduction to Macroeconomics |
ECN 112 | Introduction to Microeconomics |
Quantitative Foundation (two courses)
The BUS major requires two quantitative courses—a statistics course, and a finance course.
This quantitative sequence counts toward the college’s distribution requirements, meaning that a BUS major can complete the Natural Science and Quantitative distribution requirement with BUS 109, BUS 209, and a science course.
First course: Statistics
One of these courses:
- BUS 109 Managerial Statistics*
- MAT 109 Statistics
- ECN 215 Data Analysis (for ECN-BUS double majors)
- PSY 209 Statistics and Experimental Design (for PSY-BUS double majors)
* Course counts as “liberal studies” for Phi Beta Kappa.
Note: these four statistics courses are so similar that credit is not normally given if more than one of them is taken.
Second course: Financial Analysis
- BUS 209 Financial Analysis
Core BUS Courses (six courses)
BUS 111 | Principles of Marketing |
BUS 112 | Introduction to Financial Accounting |
BUS 210 | Management Information Systems |
BUS 302 | Organizational Behavior* |
Legal/Ethics Component | Choose from BUS 303 Legal Environment of Business*, BUS 360 Corporate Social Responsibility*, or a PHL ethics course |
BUS 401 | Strategic Management |
*Course counts as “liberal studies” for Phi Beta Kappa.
2. Global Business Requirement
Since business is global, the Business Management major includes a global business requirement. (International students are exempt.)
There are several ways to fulfill the requirement:
1. |
Study abroad for a semester, or participate in any study-abroad experience that earns Washington College credit. |
2. |
Studying a foreign language through the 202-level. |
3. |
Taking two global-focus courses, one in Business Management and one outside the Department. |
Learn more about global business opportunities here.
3. BUS elective
As part of the major, one BUS elective is required. It must be at the 200-level or above, and may consist of any BUS course that is not one of the core BUS courses listed above (202, 210, 302, 303, 401). The course you choose to satisfy this elective requirement may not also be used to satisfy the global business requirement.
4. Senior Capstone Experience (SCE)
At Washington College, every senior undertakes an intensive independent research project, in close consultation with a faculty advisor. There’s no better way to bring together what you’ve learned about critical thinking, systematic research, sharp analysis, and clear writing.
You’ll work hard on your Business Management capstone—so it can work for you.
The SCE Process
During the spring semester of your junior year, you’ll attend a SCE info session to find out more about the process. Capstones are most useful when they are aligned with your career goals, so you are encouraged to reflect on what career or business area you are most interested in preparing yourself for, and to consult with your professors and your advisor about your ideas.
For instance, your capstone research might include interviews with professionals in a particular industry or business area. Why not view those interviews as networking opportunities, stepping-stones to a job offer?
There are three SCE tracks available.
Strategy Capstone
The most popular track. You’ll do an intensive strategic analysis of a publicly traded firm, drawing on recent information about the firm’s operations, decisions, and bottom line. You’ll study the firm and its competitive environment. You’ll analyze a lot of data, come up with a solid understanding of the firm’s strategic situation, and write this up in clear, effective prose.
Business Plan Capstone
A great choice for students who wish to start a business. You’ll work closely with a faculty advisor on developing your own business plan, doing all the research necessary on market opportunities, financing options, operations, and more.
Special Topic Capstone
If you’ve got a special interest in a particular area like leadership, information systems, or marketing, a special-topic capstone lets you do independent research, closely supervised by a faculty advisor, in that area.