Business
The Business and Accountancy programs at LaGrange College are committed to academic excellence through degree programs designed to prepare students for a wide variety of careers in business and the nonprofit sector. The liberal arts education that students receive at LaGrange College provides the foundation for critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills needed for a successful professional career. The faculty of the programs seek to enhance the College's liberal arts curriculum by offering coursework and internship opportunities that give students a fundamental understanding of business and provide them with the knowledge and skills needed for effective decision-making in a dynamic, global, and technologically- based environment.
Mission Statement
The Department of Business prepares students to successfully navigate business and social enterprises to improve lives and communities both locally and globally.
Learning Outcomes: Business and Accountancy
Upon completion of a degree from 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.
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Students will conduct research, analyze data, and communicate results in a professional manner, using appropriate technolgy.
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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 managment profession and will apply those principles in various settings.
Programs
The following programs are available:
Majors
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Accountancy
- Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) with concentrations in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and Sports Management
Minors
- Minor in Accountancy
- Minor in Applied Finance
- Minor in Business
- Minor in Entrepreneurship
- Minor in International Business
- Minor in Marketing Design
- Minor in Sports Management
The Business bachelor’s programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Accountancy and Business Majors
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.
In addition to the course requirements, students pursuing a bachelor’s degree offered by the Business and Accountancy programs must participate in a comprehensive Departmental Assessment Program, as well as an exit interview with program faculty or Advisory Council members.
Minors
The department offers seven minors: Accountancy, Applied Finance, Business, Entrepreneurship, International Business, Marketing Design, and Sports Management.
To declare a minor, the student must meet the following criteria:
- Have a GPA of 2.50/4.00 or better or permission of program faculty;
- Complete all minor courses with a grade of “C-” or better;
- Students must take at least four (4) of the minor courses at LaGrange College.
All major, minor, and concentration courses must be completed with a grade of “C-” or better.
Majors and Minors
Major Minor
B.S. in Accountancy Minor in Accountancy B.B.A. with a Concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship Minor in Entrepreneurship Minor in International Business B.B.A. with a Concentration in Sports Management Minor in Sports Management Minor in Applied Finance Minor in Marketing Design Minor in BusinessCourses
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 will experience an introduction to current business topics using active learning and ethical reasoning skills. Students will be exposed to a variety of situations and cases that will encourage thinking like a business person.
The course provides an introduction to the functional areas of business as students work through a series of situations in a computer simulation. Working in teams, students problem-solve and make decisions in management, accounting, operations, and marketing that affect the viability of a simulated business, thereby gaining insights into the opportunities and challenges that confront business owners.
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 for future managers who need to understand and critically evaluate the role and potential contribution of information technology for their organizations, and understand and effectively apply various computerized support systems to make better decisions.
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.
Operating in today’s global environment, effective business professionals must learn how to work comfortably with people whose communication practices and behaviors are informed by cultural traditions that may differ from those of the Western world. This course is designed as an introduction to those cultural and communicative differences. Students will consider strategies that promote effective management in the cross-cultural arena.
This course addresses the legal and ethical implications of business decisions. Topics may include business formation, employment discrimination, contracts, workplace safety, business torts, and antitrust issues. Cost-benefit analysis will be used as a tool to evaluate business decisions in light of existing legal rules and social responsibility. Ethical decision-making will be stressed in every part of the course. Students will further develop the mindset necessary to make decisions in an ethical manner.
This course represents a unique opportunity for a qualified student to expand his or her understanding of the practical applications of enterprise operations by entering into a specific “help-rendered learning accomplishment” contract with a cooperating area enterprise. The contract will specifically identify the student’s obligations and duties, the nature and extent of the host enterprise’s commitment to assist the student in further extending his or her knowledge of enterprise operations, and the basis on which the student’s learning accomplishments will be measured. No more than 6 credit hours may be applied toward the student’s graduation requirements. Prerequisites: Business major with demonstrated superior capabilities and prior approval of the internship contract by department faculty. Can be taken for 1-3 credit hours.
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.
The seminar is designed to allow a student to explore current business issues in a global context. Guided by the faculty sponsors, the students may choose topics, perform research, and present their final work to a faculty panel. The course will seek to help students grasp some of the essentials of doing business in a global economy – the opportunities and threats inherent in a fast-paced, cross-cultural environment and their impact on the individual manager, the transaction, and the business organization.
This course is an introduction to the principles of marketing management and the role of marketing in a contemporary society, in business enterprises, and in a non-profit organization. Considers the planning, operation, and evaluation of marketing and promotional efforts necessary to the effective marketing of consumer and industrial offerings. During the course, the students will be tasked with the assignment of developing and presenting a marketing plan for a local business.
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. The topics covered 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).
This course provides training in marketing decision making. It uses case studies simulating actual business settings to help students develop analytical abilities and sharpen their communication skills. It covers topics that range from techniques used to analyze a market to the development of a total market strategy.
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.
