Professor Robinson and Professor Trimble working on a project

The philosophy of Illinois Wesleyan's Business Administration major is that preparation for a career in business requires study of a broad spectrum of topics, rather than narrow specialization in a single area. Therefore, our students take a sequence of courses that cover all of the business fields: accounting, finance, management, marketing, business law, and strategy and policy. This firm foundation in theory and its practice will enable you to adapt to a changing workplace in the years following your graduation. Because the business administration major is so flexible, many students choose a second major or a minor to accompany it. Study in business makes a great complement to study of a foreign language, politics, psychology, mathematics, English, history, the fine arts, or another field.  In response to employers' requests to integrate the business disciplines taught in the foundation courses, the curriculum now includes an Information Systems class and an accounting course that combines traditional Financial and Managerial Accounting courses into one course.

Also, in an effort to provide depth of understanding in specific disciplines in business, we have designed tracks in the Business Administration major: Finance, Management, Marketing, and General Management Studies.  Each track requires the completion of six core courses and four electives in the discipline.  Three of those electives will be offered in the department and one will be taken in a department other than Business Administration.  These track designations will appear on students' transcripts.

Graduates of our business administration program have assumed a number of important positions in the business world, such as President of State Farm Insurance Companies, Division Systems Analyst with the NCR Corporation, and Partner at Price Waterhouse Coopers.  Others have pursued graduate study in law, in masters of business administration (MBA) or international business programs, or in specialized fields.