Major Highlights: Business Department

Concord University offers a liberal arts education available to everyone that attends. An education like this allows for intellectual strengthening while also providing knowledge that can assist in the workplace of today’s society. This week, Dr. Susan Robinette, Division Chair of the Business Division and Director of University Assessment, gives insight on the Division of Business at Concord University.

    Students who get involved in the Division of Business can earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting, Finance, Management, or Marketing. Not only that, but students are able to earn double emphases as well. “Students will learn about the many facets of working in a business setting and through the program’s core courses, they will have a well-rounded knowledge base of all areas of business,” Robinette states. She also explains that the emphasis requirements allow students to grasp more specific, technical, and theoretical knowledge that comes with a particular area of business.

    Robinette outlines the different advantages that come with each emphasis offered in the division. The Accounting Emphasis is a 120-hour degree in accounting that focuses on GAAP (general accepted accounting principles), which prepares students who are earning the CPA certification. “We also have a high percentage of our accounting graduates to attend graduate school,” says Robinette. She also emphasizes that Concord has an articulation agreement with WVU, making it easier for students to matriculate into the MPA program WVU offers. “Students gain valuable practical experience through the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program where they prepare actual tax returns,” she states.

    The Finance Emphasis is a unique emphasis as well. Many of the finance graduates get accepted to graduate schools and go to earn Financial Planning certifications. Robinette explains a unique program to Concord saying, “The Investment Club is a one-hour credit practicum where students actually make decisions about buying and selling stocks as they invest actual capital.”

    The Management Emphasis is the largest area of discipline that allows students to gain practical knowledge and general managerial theory. They gain this knowledge with many graduates who get employed post-graduation in a variety of business areas like retail, food service, corporate management, and small business management, etc.

    “The Marketing Emphasis provides students with rich experiences in marketing research and in the most popular areas of marketing involving the various aspects of selling,” Robinette says. Currently standing, positions in marketing are one of the higher paid positions for entry-level workers in that industry.

    In Robinette’s opinion, a business and financial knowledge is important for everyone and all of the professors in the division would like to see students take a personal finance class. She says financial security is definitely something everyone needs. Also, Robinette says possessing accounting knowledge and computer skills are beneficial to students. “We do offer a minor in business administration which provides a good foundation of business knowledge. We offer a minor in entrepreneurship for students who would like to have their own business – this is any business from an art gallery to a doctor’s office,” states Robinette.

    The Division of Business offers symposiums that are open to all students. The division sponsors symposium series speakers who discuss various topics relating to business with general information for all students that can be helpful. “We also host the Concord Business Challenge every October where we invite junior and senior high school students from all over West Virginia to come and participate in contests to test their business knowledge and to learn about Concord,” says Robinette. The division hosts about 300 students every year for this event.