Business and Organizations

Staff

Emily Nolan, director, Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management.
B.A., 1992, Guilford College; M.B.A., 2005, Wake Forest University.

Laurel Draudt, associate director, Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management.
B.A., 1997, Marietta College; M.A., 2006, The Ohio State University.

Introduction

The Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management encourages students to explore the practical and dynamic subject of business from many perspectives. Two academic programs exist within the Institute—a business and organizations major and a business and organizations minor—providing a solid educational foundation in business by incorporating subjects like accounting, economics, statistics, professional communication and writing, global issues, management, and ethics. The course work is further enhanced by developing critical thinking and leadership skills through other opportunities such as Gerstacker Institute speakers, networking with business executives and participation in the first-year workshop, sophomore summer, internships and the senior capstone experience. Required internships, available in diverse work settings, allow students to experience various career paths and to put their education into practice.

Students must be admitted to the Gerstacker Institute to pursue this major and minor. Visit the Gerstacker Institute website for information on the application process.

Major and Minor

Requirements for Major

Note: Classes in italics are taught during Summer College.

To assist students in their academic planning, see a sample four-year course of study.

A minimum of eight and one-half units including the following:

First-Year Workshop (1/4 unit)
Economics and Management 211, Financial Accounting
Intercultural/Global Issues:
One unit selected from the following:
Modern Languages and Cultures 105, Intercultural Understanding and Global Issues;
Economics and Management 362, International Management; French 201, Intermediate French or higher; German 201, Intermediate German or higher; or Spanish 201, Intermediate Spanish or higher
Ethics: One unit selected from the following:
Philosophy 301, Environmental Ethics
Philosophy 302, Leadership Ethics
Philosophy 303, Business Ethics
Philosophy 304, Ethics and Public Policy
Philosophy 308, Biomedical Ethics
English 208, Professional Writing
Communication Studies 242, Professional Communication
Management/Psychology: One unit at the 300-level
Economics and Management 357, Business Functions
Two one-unit internships:
Two options are available for fulfilling the internship requirement: (1) two full-time internships or (2) one full-time internship and one off-campus semester in an approved Albion College program
Senior Capstone (1/4 unit)
All courses for the major must be taken for a numerical grade, except those offered only on a credit/no credit basis.

The following are required in addition to the major:

Statistics:
Mathematics 209, An Introduction to Statistics; Mathematics 309, Mathematical Statistics; or Economics and Management 235, Economic Statistics (1 unit)
Or
Psychology 204, Research Design and Analysis I, and 206, Research Design and Analysis II (2 units)
Economics and Management 230, Intermediate Microeconomics or 232, Intermediate Macroeconomics
Completion of a second area of specialization selected from these options: (1) an existing Albion College minor, (2) a College-approved emphasis or concentration, (3) a second major, or (4) a five-unit area of focus, determined in collaboration with the Gerstacker Institute director, along with the majority approval of the Gerstacker Internal Advisory Committee and the provost.

Requirements for Minor

A minimum of five and one-quarter to seven units including the following:

Core requirements:

First-Year Workshop (1/4 unit)
Economics and Management 211, Financial Accounting (1 unit)
Economics and Management 259, Management/Psychology (1 unit)

Choice of one in each section:

English 208, Professional Writing OR Communication Studies 242, Professional Communication
Intercultural/Global Issues. One unit selected from the following:
Modern Languages and Cultures 105, Intercultural Understanding and Global Issues; Economics and Management 362, International Management; French 201, Intermediate French or higher; German 201, Intermediate German or higher; or Spanish 201, Intermediate Spanish or higher

Ethics - One unit selected from the following:
Philosophy 301, Environmental Ethics
Philosophy 302, Leadership Ethics
Philosophy 303, Business Ethics
Philosophy 304, Ethics and Public Policy
Philosophy 308, Biomedical Ethics

Internship

Business and Organizations 392 (1 unit) - Two options:
1. One full-time internship, or
2. One off-campus semester in an approved Albion College program that combines course work and an internship

The following are required in addition to the minor:

Economics and Management 101, Principles of Microeconomics (1 unit)
Statistics:
Mathematics 209, An Introduction to Statistics; Mathematics 309, Mathematical Statistics; or Economics and Management 235, Economic Statistics (1 unit)
Or
Psychology 204, Research Design and Analysis I, and 206, Research Design and Analysis II (2 units)

Area of Focus

Business Communication
Effective communication is the foundation of every effective business. The area of focus in business communication draws from communication studies, management and psychological sciences in order to better equip students with the necessary skills and abilities. Specifically, students will gain a better understanding of communication and associated techniques, human behavior, motivation, and performance, and how to effectively manage the resources of a business (human, financial and physical). Careers individuals pursue with an interest in business communication include public relations/media relations, corporate communications, public affairs, investor relations, government relations, marketing communication, and community relations.

The business communication area of focus is designed around two components: (1) a common core of two fundamental courses, and (2) a variety of courses addressing critical areas of business communication.

Requirements for the area of focus in business communication (5 units) are: Communication Studies 203 and Psychology 236; and three units chosen from the following electives: Communication Studies 205, 303, 306; Economics and Management 358, 359; Psychology 346.

All courses for an area of focus must be taken for a numerical grade.