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Why Major in Business at Allegheny College

Allegheny Business students gain a competitive advantage. We’ll equip you with analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills that you’ll apply in internships and other career-building opportunities. We’ll prepare you to lead as an in-demand professional — and difference-maker in society.

Unusual Combinations
Students often combine Business with:

Learn how we empower students for success by emphasizing real-world experience and providing a strong liberal arts foundation. Our graduates learn how they can use their financial insight and management expertise to serve humanity and leave a lasting legacy.

Division

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences

Program Type

  • Major

Number of Credits

52 for major

Where Business Alumni Work Today

Relationship Manager

KeyBank
Kellie Lindstrom Liston ’17

Procurement Specialist

McKinsey & Company
Raymond Jozwiak ’15

Vice President, Organizational Excellence & Alignment

Indiana University Health
Andrea Kessler ’08

Vice Chairman

Bank of America
Bruce Thompson ’86

Vice President, Consumer Banking

PNC
Jennifer Daurora ’99

Global Strategy & Operations Leader

Deloitte
Jerry O’Dwyer ’88

Consultant

Chatham Financial
Terry Hartford Jr. ’11

CEO

PNC Financial Services
Bill Demchak ’84

Vice President, Customer Management Health

The Craneware Group
Naveed Ismail ’12

Senior Manager, Exempt Organization Tax Services

EY
Eileen Webb ’06

Financial Analyst

Motional
Jordan El-Sabeh ’14

Your Four-Year Journey

Business Overview

Year 1: Understanding

Students take Introduction to Microeconomics and Macroeconomics to build a foundation for understanding how businesses operate in the economy. They meet student Fellows of the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE), faculty and staff, alumni and other visitors to campus, who will provide guidance and mentoring. Attending CBE events, such as the Lunchtime Learning series, will help students chose among courses of study and career paths.

Year 2: New Approaches

During their third year, students start to specialize, taking field courses in areas such as Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Management. Besides their coursework, they have important side-jobs: applying their in-class experiences to understand and help decision-making by individuals and organizations, building their professional networks, and finding an internship for the following summer. By this time, students may be CBE Fellows, earned their Bloomberg Certification, or become members of the Wealth Management Club, Women in Business and Economics Club, or ODE, the national Economics Honors Society (open to both Business and Economics majors).

Year 3: Delving Deeper

During their third year, students start to specialize, taking field courses in areas such as Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Management. Besides their coursework, they have important side-jobs: applying their in-class experiences to understand and help decision-making by individuals and organizations, building their professional networks, and finding an internship for the following summer. By this time, students may be CBE Fellows, earned their Bloomberg Certification, or become members of the Wealth Management Club, Women in Business and Economics Club, or ODE, the national Economics Honors Society (open to both Business and Economics majors).

Year 4: The Comp

During their final year at Allegheny, students complete their Senior Seminars and Senior Projects, the capstone of their time in college. Most alumni report that their Senior Projects were the most challenging and satisfying assignment that they did at Allegheny. The Senior Project allows students to find a topic that deeply interests them and study it, under faculty guidance, for an entire school year. Students also continue to engage in CBE events, building their professional networks with visitors to campus, and planning for jobs, graduate schools, and other post-graduation experiences. The vast majority of students who engage actively in learning both in and outside of the classroom have accepted a job, graduate school position or have other solid plans upon graduation.

Research and Internships

Our Students Learn by Doing in the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics

Expand your skills, explore career paths, and get ready for your promising future through the valuable experiences in business and economics that we offer, including:

  • Internships and research
  • Business and financial competitions
  • Connections with alumni business leaders on campus and in the workplace
  • And many more opportunities designed to set the stage for your success

Learn for Industry Leaders

Allegheny alumni regularly visit campus and host students at their companies to share their insights and find candidates for internships and jobs.

Opportunities include:

  • Center for Business & Economics Board of Visitors — get a real-world perspective on trending topics in business and economics.
  • Major city tours — visit leading companies where our graduates are succeeding.
  • Executive-in-Residence — interface with an industry expert in classes and one-on-one.
  • Lunchtime learning sessions — learn from alumni at all stages of their careers.

Recent Internships

  • Pfizer- Global Supply Chain Analyst
  • Giant Eagle Inc.- Merchandising
  • Ernst & Young (EY)-Business Consulting
  • Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank- Audit Analyst
  • Koppers, Inc.- Finance
  • Aflac Insurance- Sales

Make a Pitch in the Zingale Big Idea Competition

Compete for $20,000 in prizes to fund a business or nonprofit in our annual Zingale Big Idea Competition.

Our distinguished judges do more than evaluate business models — they offer constructive feedback, coaching, and encouragement to students.

Center for Business and Economics Fellows

This group of motivated students functions as a leadership team to support programming and act as ambassadors. They gain valuable experience in developing programs and mentoring their peers.

Build Skills in the Bloomberg Lab

Allegheny’s Bloomberg terminals teach students to access and analyze real-time data on every market, discover breaking news, perform in-depth research and take advantage of sophisticated communications tools. Students can also earn certification by completing The Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) course.

Recent Senior Comps

The Senior Comp is the culmination of four years of experience, imagination, and study. It is the moment when you demonstrate what you’ve learned by teaching us something new.

  • The Determinants of Childhood Obesity: Child, Parental, Social, and Regional Influences
  • The Cost of Community: Do Neighborhoods Affect Disease-Causing Socialization?
  • The Link between Workplace Wellness and Strategy: A Case Study of Johnson & Johnson
  • The Effects of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations on Team Finances and Competitive
  • Balance in the English Premier League
  • The Social and Economic Determinants of Gentrification
  • E-commerce Retail Market Structure and Price Dispersion

Faculty and Staff

Xiaohan Sun

Assistant Professor

Ph.D., University of Connecticut, Agricultural and Resource Economics; M.A., Boston University, Economics; B.A., China Agricultural University, Economics; B.A., University of Colorado, Economics

Jill Waugh

Visiting Assistant Professor

Ph.D candidate, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Masters in Taxation, B.S., B.A. (Accounting),Robert Morris University

Frequently Asked Questions About the Business Program

What type of degree is an Business major?

Students who major in Business at Allegheny College will earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Are there any clubs and activities available for Business students?

Yes, there are multiple campus organizations that can benefit students in the Business program, explore all Allegheny College clubs and organizations.

Program Contact

Tomas Nonnenmacher

Patricia B. Tippie Endowed Professor in Economics and Chair

Email814-332-3820