Earlham’s business program is the home for our students interested in business, entrepreneurship and management, but it’s never business as usual.
Our classes prepare you to make a positive impact locally and globally. With an emphasis on experiential education, you’ll work collaboratively with students from around the world to analyze complex business and social problems, develop new programs and strategies, and understand the ecosystem of industries, businesses and nongovernmental organizations.
Courses take you from theory to practice of basic business skills. Additionally, all of our majors complete at least one internship to continue to build skills and personal networks.
Co-curricular opportunities further your ability to hone your skills. You can compete for start-up funding in business plan competitions, compete against peers at other schools in case competitions, lead or participate in our Net Impact chapter, and participate in research with faculty. You will be mentored through these opportunities by our faculty.
You are encouraged to begin the major during your first or second year. This provides flexibility in your schedule to participate in an off-campus program and to develop multinational professional networks among other students in the program.
Bachelor of Arts
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in business, you must complete the following courses, in addition to general education requirements.
All business majors complete a common set of core courses which give students a strong foundation.
Business required courses
Concentrations
You may choose from one of these five (5) concentrations listed below to focus your studies.
Plan of study by concentration:
Finance
Take four (4) of the following courses:
Related Collaborative Student Research and/or Contemporary Topics courses may count towards a concentration with faculty approval.
Marketing
Management
Take four (4) of the following courses:
Related Collaborative Student Research and/or Contemporary Topics courses may count towards a concentration with faculty approval.
Entrepreneurship
Take four (4) of the following courses:
Related Collaborative Student Research and/or Contemporary Topics courses may count towards a concentration with faculty approval.
Supply Chain
Take four (4) of the following courses:
Related Collaborative Student Research and/or Contemporary Topics courses may count towards a concentration with faculty approval.
Earlham graduates, whatever their majors, frequently pursue careers that move them into management positions. By taking business as a minor, students in any major can develop an understanding of how to work and lead in an organization.
Students minoring in our business program must complete these courses:
91% of work seekers who majored in the social sciences between 2018-2022 were employed, pursuing graduate school or volunteering within six months of graduation.
Outcomes
Top job industries for recent graduates have included nonprofits, finance, education and management consulting.
What types of jobs and graduate school programs do graduates pursue?
Recent graduates have found employment at a wide variety of organizations from First Bank in Indianapolis to the World Bank in Palestine, working in a range of fields, everything from finance to logistics to marketing and hospitality.
What kind of research experience and internships are available?
The sky’s the limit when it comes to finding an internship as a business student. Because every business major must complete an internship requirement, we have robust resources to help you identify opportunities and feel supported throughout your experience.
Recent majors have interned at Adobe Systems, Huntington Bank, Asia Tech Source, CoverMyMeds, the City of Richmond and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), among many other places.