southwestern university business degree plan

• Majors & Minors
• About Southwestern
• Library & IT
• Scholarships/Financial Aid
• Study Abroad
• Life at Southwestern
• Student Organizations
• Develop Your Career
• mySouthwestern
• Student Life
• Academic Advising
• Registrar & Records
• Safety & Security
• Billing & Payments
• Pirate Card
• Resources & Tools
• For Current Parents
• Rankings & Recognition
• Tactical Plan
• Parent Council
• Parent Handbook/FAQ
• Notable Achievements
• Human Resources
• Dean of the Faculty
• Business Office
• Facilities Management
• Alumni Home
• Alumni Achievement
• Alumni Calendar
• Class Years
• Alumni Directory
• How Do I...
• Local Chapters
• Make a Gift
• SU Ambassadors

Southwestern University announces its 2021–2026 Tactical Plan.

Students spent a day at the 2023 Houston Rodeo.

From Granada to Salamanca to London to New York, four Southwestern students recall their time abroad and away and how the experiences enriched their lives and even led to a job offer.

The Golden Pirates Esports team is producing more than just a competitive group of gamers. They are building a community.

The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Center fosters an inclusive and equitable environment for Southwestern students.

Assistant Director for Outdoor Adventure Branndon Bargo took a group of students on a caving adventure.

The Black Student Union offers a space for Southwestern’s Black students to gather as a community.

The Counseling Center seeks to eliminate the stigma surrounding assistance for mental health.

Southwestern University has partnered with Grupo Salinas and Centro Richard B. Salinas Pliego to create two new scholarships for high school students in Mexico.

A group of Southwestern students took their devised theater play, The G.H.O.S.T. Unit: The Live Event, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

A group of students spent their Fall Break at Captain’s Camp.

Sept. 13, the entire SU community came together to build community during  SUnity Day.

Check out the video and photos from Oliver Johnson’s 2023 King Creativity project.

Southwestern University gathered a panel of incredible women to speak during the International Women’s Day luncheon addressing the theme #EmbraceEquity, which discussed equity in work-life balance.

Check out these photos from the fashion show and gala.

Check out photos from the Class of 2022 Hall of Fame luncheon.

Assistant professor of biology strives to restore and protect Southwestern’s EcoLab.

Southwestern University rose 13 places in   U.S. News & World Report’s 2023   Best Colleges   rankings—the biggest single-year jump in school history—and SU was also recognized as a top school in the Social Mobility category, which measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants.

A recognized leader in building successful athletics programs, Ken Ralph will join Southwestern University as athletic director effective Sept. 15.

Check out the sights of Sprog 2022

The University received a record 5,557 applications for 420 first-year spots.

SU is one of 209 schools chosen for this list.

The applied mathematician and Southwestern alumna will address the graduating class.

Southwestern University shows a dedication to including green spaces on campus as they have proven to benefit students.

Feb. 23, the entire SU community came together to build community during the inaugural SUnity Day.

This initiative was announced in October 2021 as part of a $1 million commitment from an anonymous donor in honor of their mother, a lifelong educator, in order to allow more Southwestern students to benefit from high impact experiences as outlined in the Tactical Plan.

A conversation with the new Assistant Professor of History Soojung Han.

A journey from Nigeria to the Midwest to head track and field coach at Southwestern.

This funding will allow Southwestern faculty members to pursue various research projects.

Head Men’s Soccer Coach, Dustin Norman, reached out to Facilities Management after the February 2023 winter ice storm to see how his team could help. 

The Paideia Connections class that wrapped in the fall of 2022 explored engaging topics and planted a community garden.

Scholars and artists will explore Radical Imagination at Southwestern’s Brown Symposium.

Business graduate brings an innovative floral company to the marketplace.

Fifty years ago, Title IX was signed into law. The landmark legislation transformed women’s athletics. We look back at our history and pioneers as we continue to strive for equity in all we do.

Emma Astad ’21 will teach English in Galicia, Spain.

Catherine Hiebel ’22 and Melina Boutris ’22 will teach English in Spain and Austria, respectively.

What happens when you start a devised theater project with three Southwestern University students and the Anton Checkov play, The Cherry Orchard? You end up with a nationally recognized production called G.H.O.S.T. Unit: The Live Event.

STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.

Tracie Shelton ’91 turns her passion for lifelong learning into lifelong success.

Economics and Business

• 36-114 Fundamentals of Accounting An introduction to financial and managerial accounting concepts and techniques. The course will emphasize the development of the accounting model, analysis of financial statements and the use of accounting information. No previous knowledge of accounting is assumed. (ScS)
• 36-204 Intermediate Accounting I An in-depth study of financial accounting principles, standards and techniques. Covers financial statements, cash, receivables, inventory, plant assets, intangible assets and investments. Special attention is paid to underlying accounting theory. Prerequisite: Accounting 36-114.
• 36-324 Taxation Study of the taxation of income of individual taxpayers: includability or excludability of various types of income, deductibility of costs and expenses, capital gains and losses, and preparation of returns. Prerequisite: Accounting 36-114.
• 36-524 Auditing Study of auditing concepts, standards, objectives and procedures. Includes internal control evaluation, audit reports, evidence, statistical sampling, professional responsibilities and generally accepted auditing standards. Prerequisite: Accounting 36-204.
• 36-594 Financial Statement Analysis Prerequisites: Business 30-474 or Economics 31-474. See Business 30-594. (ScS)
• 30-114 Fundamentals of Accounting An introduction to financial and managerial accounting concepts and techniques. The course will emphasize the development of the accounting model, analysis of financial statements and the use of accounting information. No previous knowledge of accounting is assumed. (ScS)
• 30-154 Quantitative Methods in Business The mathematical skills necessary to make business decisions and solve business problems. Course content includes basic algebraic properties, the study of limits and continuity, differentiation, optimization and graphing, and the mathematics of finance.
• 30-201 Selected Topics May be repeated with change in topic. Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 30-202 Selected Topics May be repeated with change in topic. Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 30-204 Selected Topics May be repeated with change in topic. Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 30-214 Foundations of Business A study that integrates traditional macro issues in management, marketing and operations, including production systems, organization structure and design, market segmentation, pricing promotion, consumer behavior, group effectiveness and strategy. Strategic thinking approaches provide integrating frameworks. Prerequisites: Accounting 36-114, Economics 31-104, Mathematics 52-114, and Mathematics 52-164 or Business 30-154. Sophomore standing required. (Fall and Spring) (ScS)
• 30-254 Business Law The role of law in society; introduction to legal reasoning, the judicial process and other areas of law. The study of contracts, agency and partnerships. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. (ScS)
• 30-301 Selected Topics May be repeated with change in topic. Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 30-304 Selected Topics May be repeated with change in topic. Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 30-354 International Marketing This course challenges students to understand the marketing implications of the different political, economic, social and cultural variables that exist in global markets. Students will learn the process of creating an in-depth market analysis and will use that analysis to evaluate the potential impacts to a company's marketing strategy and marketing mix. Contributes to International Studies. Prerequisite: Business 30-214 or permission of instructor. (ScS)
• 30-374 Communicating Leadership This course examines current scholarship about how leadership is created and communicated in organizations and other aspects of our lives. Students will demonstrate an understanding of leadership, leadership styles, and the communication strategies of leadership. Discussion, reflective writing, critical thinking, and engagement will be used to assess these goals. (H) (FY)
• 30-394 Consumer Behavior Understanding the buying processes of individuals and groups. Focuses on the demographic and psychographic characteristics of individual consumers, the social influences that affect their behavior, and how marketers attempt to persuade buyers. Contributes to Design Thinking. Prerequisite: Business 30-214. (ScS)
• 30-414 Operations Research Formulation and solution of problems with management, economics, engineering and science applications using modeling, optimization techniques, and simulation. Topics include linear and integer programming, simplex method, duality, sensitivity analysis, branch and bound algorithm, transportation and assignment problems, network optimization, and problem solving using optimization software. Also Mathematics 52-414 and Computer Science 54-414. Prerequisites: Mathematics 52-164, and either Business 30-474 or Mathematics 52-674, or permission of the instructor.
• 30-424 Strategic Marketing This course utilizes business cases and discussions to illustrate fundamental business issues which include: defining an organization's business and mission, developing strategies for business growth, and devising strategies to contend with unanticipated business changes. The course emphasizes the role of marketing in all of these strategic decisions and in delivering value to the end consumer. Students analyze a variety of issues including new product launch decisions, advertising campaigns, ethical dilemmas related to business operations, and global expansion strategies. Contributes to Data Science, Design Thinking and Health Studies. Prerequisite: Business 30-214. (ScS)
• 30-434 Digital Marketing This course covers the fundamentals of digital marketing. Students learn how to apply and adapt traditional marketing strategies to an electronic domain (e.g., understanding the Internet for distribution). The classes and readings introduce students to search engine optimization (SEO), website management, and e-mail campaign strategies. The course also includes discussions of the ethical issues surrounding and related to e-marketing including privacy and psychological well-being. The latter part of the class is focused on social media. This includes analysis of social media metrics and user sentiment. Contributes to Data Science. Prerequisite: Business 30-214. (ScS)
• 30-470 Finance Lab Accompanies BUS30-474.
• 30-474 Finance Analysis and application of the principles of managerial finance, especially the valuation of financial assets, capital budgeting and financial planning. Proficiency is gained in the application of calculators and computer spread sheets to financial analysis. Also Economics 31-474. Prerequisites: Accounting 36-114, Economics 31-104, Mathematics 52-114, and Mathematics 52-164 or Business 30-154, and 42 credits. (Fall and Spring) (ScS)
• 30-484 International Management An introduction to the issues facing international business today. Explores the dynamic global environment of business management by reviewing the political, legal, technological, competitive, and cultural factors that shape corporations worldwide. Strategic and operational strategies for operating across borders will be identified, along with the complexities of managing individuals in an international business context. Contributes to International Studies. Prerequisite: Business 30-214. (ScS)
• 30-514 Business Ethics & Social Responsibility This course seeks to develop students as virtuous business leaders in society by challenging norms, evaluating assumptions and systematically crystallizing personal moral imperatives. The course fosters ethical reasoning and distinguishes between legal and social obligation. Topics include integrity, objectivity, independence and other core values. Advanced critical thinking and self-reflection capabilities are necessary for success. Prerequisite: Business 30-214. (ScS)
• 30-554 Organizational Behavior A study of the process of management focused on the behavioral approach to management of modern business organizations with emphasis on individual, group, intergroup and total organizational behavior. Communication, leadership styles, perceptual differences and motivation in organizations are stressed. Prerequisite: Business 30-214. (ScS)
• 30-564 Strategic Management This course integrates core business concepts and applies them to organization decision making, focusing on top management perspectives. Theories and case analyses integrate functional, business and corporate level strategies. Computer-simulated businesses demonstrate the dynamic nature of strategic management. Prerequisite: Business 30-214, Business 30-474 or Economics 31-474, and Junior standing. (ScS)
• 30-574 Investments Principles of portfolio management and institutional investment analysis; various theories of the securities markets and their relation to the economy; the relation between investment theory and corporate investment; relation of investment to corporate capital structure; and different approaches to security evaluation using Excel models. Also Economics 31-574. Prerequisites: Business 30-474 or Economics 31-474, and Mathematics 52-164 or Business 30-154, or permission of instructor. (ScS)
• 30-584 International Business This course develops a conceptual framework for making business decisions in a globally competitive company. This framework requires an understanding of an environment that has different cultures and values, multiple foreign currencies, alternative capital markets, and country specific risks. The course focuses on the multinational firm's operating environment, global strategy and functional operations. Contributes to International Studies. Prerequisite: Business 30-214 or permission of instructor. (ScS)
• 30-594 Financial Statement Analysis Application of accounting information to financial decision making: assessing the financial strengths and weaknesses of corporations; measuring operating and financial performance using financial statements and cash flows; constructing pro forma financial statements and forecasts of sales and earnings; and identifying sources of earning manipulation. Also Accounting 36-594. Prerequisites: Business 30-474 or Economics 31-474. (Spring) (ScS)
• 30-912 Financial Analyst Program Intensive, hands-on, real world experience in applying the concept of business analysis and valuation to develop analytical skills and experiences as a financial analyst. Student analysts are responsible for managing an over $400,000 investment portfolio that is part of S.U.'s endowment. Students learn to assess the operating, financial, and investment performance of companies as well as make financial projections; then combine them with technical analyses to make final common stock recommendations for the FAP Portfolio. Prerequisites: Business 30-474. One-year commitment required. Concurrent registration in Business 30-574 during the Fall. Concurrent registration in Business 30-594 during the Spring. Members of the program are selected through an application and interview process. May be repeated. Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major. Must be taken P/D/F.
• 30-951 Independent Study and Research Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 30-952 Independent Study and Research Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 30-953 Independent Study and Research Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 30-954 Independent Study and Research Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 30-964 Capstone in Business Topics may vary from year to year. Students integrate and apply core concepts from multiple disciplines of business, incorporate societal context of business, consider a business issue from systemic perspectives, explore interactive effect of multiple variables, analyze and synthesize complex ideas and distill implications, present logic orally and in writing, and conduct a cumulative self-assessment. Includes completion of Field Test and may include a mandatory field trip. Prerequisites: Business 30-214, Business 30-474 or Economics 31-474, and senior standing or permission of instructor. (Fall and Spring)
• 31-104 Principles of Economics A study of the general characteristics of economic systems, including unemployment, inflation, economic growth, and monetary and fiscal policy. The principles and problems related to the determination of prices, the economics of the firm and the distribution of income are also studied. (Fall and Spring) (ScS)
• 31-214 Money, Banking and Financial Markets Nature and structure of financial markets, monetary theory and policy, the regulation of financial institutions and international finance. Prerequisite: Economics 31-104.
• 31-224 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory Intermediate economic theory relating to the analysis of price and value, production, distribution of income and economic welfare. Prerequisites: Economics 31-104 and Mathematics 52-164, or permission of instructor. (Fall) (ScS)
• 31-234 Intermediate MacRoeconomic Theory Intermediate economic theory relating to the analysis of employment, inflation, economic growth and the balance of payments. Prerequisite: Economics 31-104 and Mathematics 52-164. (Spring) (ScS)
• 31-304 Selected Topics May be repeated with change in topic. Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 31-314 Econometrics Quantitative and qualitative research methods for economic problems. Research design, data collection and statistical analysis of cross-sectional and time series data are covered. A major research paper and a weekly computer lab are required. Prerequisites: Economics 31-224, 31-234 and Mathematics 52-114, or permission of instructor. Contributes to Data Science. (Fall) (WA) (ScS)
• 31-324 Environmental Economics This course examines the economic theory behind environmental policies that address the market failure inherent in environmental problems. This course covers both theoretical models and evaluates current policy and global agreements in the context of economic models. Contributes to Environmental Studies. Prerequisite: Economics 31-104. (ScS)
• 31-434 Public Economics Deals with the justification for government activities, the design of programs consistent with these justifications, and the effects of major existing and proposed expenditure programs and taxes. Contributes to Health Studies. Prerequisites: Economics 31-104 and Mathematics 52-114. Economics 31-224 is recommended. (ScS)
• 31-470 Finance Lab Accompanies BUS30-474 or ECO31-474.
• 31-474 Finance See Business 30-474. Prerequisites: Accounting 36-114, Economics 31-104, Mathematics 52-114, and Mathematics 52-164 or Business 30-154, and 42 credits. (Fall and Spring) (ScS)
• 31-494 Financial Economics This course focuses on asset pricing and the general valuation of risky cash flows. After developing the foundations of consumer decision-making under uncertainty, it applies that framework to understanding both equilibrium and no-arbitrage theories of securities pricing. This includes the capital asset pricing model (CAPM), the consumption capital asset pricing model (CCAPM), Arrow-Debreu theories of asset pricing, martingale pricing methods, and the arbitrage pricing theory (APT). The course also studies insurance markets the value of signaling in markets. Prerequisites: Mathematics 52-164, and Business 30-474 or Economics 31-474. (ScS)
• 31-564 International Economics The theory of comparative advantage, analysis of commercial policy and principles of international finance. Contributes to International Studies. Prerequisite: Economics 31-104. (ScS)
• 31-574 Investments See Business 30-574. Prerequisites: Business 30-474 or Economics 31-474, and Mathematics 52-164 or Business 30-154, or permission of instructor. (Fall) (ScS)
• 31-634 Data Analytics An introduction to commonly used techniques in data analytics. The application of statistical analysis and data visualization to draw conclusions about data. Applications will include sampling, forecasting, extrapolation, and regression analysis. Contributes to Data Science. Prerequisites: Mathematics 52-114, and Mathematics 52-164 or Business 30-154, or permission of instructor. (ScS)
• 31-951 Independent Study and Research Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 31-952 Independent Study and Research Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 31-953 Independent Study and Research Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 31-954 Independent Study and Research Four credits will count as one upper-level course, and a maximum of four credits may be applied toward the major.
• 31-964 Capstone in Economics Topics vary from year to year, but generally will involve group and/or individual research projects. Prerequisite: Senior standing and Economics 31-224, 31-234, and 31-314; or permission of instructor. (Spring) (WA)