Business Management and Finance

Marian Manic (Economics)

The best opportunities for career advancement in modern business come to those who have acquired a knowledge of the underlying principles of economics, finance, accounting, statistics, data analysis, and communication with society. The business world embraces recent graduates with a liberal arts education especially because of their broad spectrum of knowledge and skills. Careers in business management and finance require strong analytical, quantitative, problem solving, leadership, organizational, and oral and written communication skills (including bilingual skills in the modern global economic environment) along with maturity, integrity, and curiosity. A background in the sciences with an emphasis on data management and analysis may be beneficial in the increasingly digital modern economy. An understanding of the relation of business to government and the position of business in society is also essential. Students with Off-Campus Studies experience as well as those who explore foreign languages and the socio-economic, political, and cultural diversity of other regions of the world are highly sought after in the business and finance careers. Whitman graduates with preparation in economics, business and finance, as well as data science and analysis have an extremely broad spectrum of potential careers in front of them starting from the private sector (commercial banks, investment banks, credit unions, corporations, insurance companies, brokerage firms, startups, venture capital, wealth management, consulting and auditing, etc.) to the government and public sector (government institutions and agencies like the Federal Reserve System, Treasury Department, Congressional Budget Office, Commerce Department, Labor Department, Education Department, Department of Defense, etc.; economist and financial analyst roles at public schools and universities) and finally to international organizations (like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations, etc.)

Whitman College offers a diverse array of courses in economics and finance as well as in data analysis, which can prepare students well for the professional as well as graduate academic careers. The recommended courses are designed to give the students a general rather than a technical preparation. The guiding principle of the program is the recognition that technical training in the field of business administration is best achieved in graduate school or through on-the-job training. Two websites that provide more insights into further academic and professional development in this field are www.mba.com and www.cfainstitute.org. Such a preparation qualifies Whitman graduates for many forms of business management training programs and provides a foundation for study in graduate schools of business.

Suggested Courses:

• Economics 101, 102, 114, 227, 268, 327, 358, and 409
• Mathematics 125 and 126
• Computer Science 167
• Major study in economics, mathematics, computer science, politics, psychology and/or other sciences