Wake Forest University School of Business

Summary

The Wake Forest University School of Business is the business school of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It offers management-related masters programs and executive education programs, as well as undergraduate program to around 1,314 students.[1] The school is SACSCOC, AACSB, and AACSB-Accounting accredited.[2][3][4] It has a second campus in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Wake Forest University
School of Business
TypePrivate
Established1948; 76 years ago (1948)
Parent institution
Wake Forest University
DeanAnnette L. Ranft
Academic staff
90
Administrative staff
100
Students1,314
Location, ,
United States
CampusUrban
ColorsOld gold & Black
   
Websitebusiness.wfu.edu

History edit

The Wake Forest University School of Business was established in 1969 as the Babcock Graduate School of Management, admitting its first classes of full-time and executive students in 1971 and presenting its first graduating class in 1973. The Babcock School was established with a gift from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation and named in honor of Charles H. Babcock, a businessman and philanthropist who influenced civic, cultural, and economic development in Winston-Salem and North Carolina.

In 1985, the Babcock Graduate School of Management earned its accreditation from the AACSB, and in 1993, the school moved into the newly constructed Worrell Professional Center, the first building in the nation to house both graduate business and law schools under one roof. In 1987, Babcock launched its evening Master of Business Administration (MBA) program in Winston-Salem, followed by an evening MBA program in Charlotte in 1995 and a Saturday MBA program in Charlotte in 2004.[5]

It was announced in the fall of 2014 that the full-time MBA program would be discontinued in order to focus on the evening program, with the last class matriculating in the spring of 2016.[6][7][8]

Deans edit

Annette L. Ranft (2022–Present): Previously Dean of Auburn University's Harbert College of Business and Dean at North Carolina State University's Poole College of Management.[9][10]

Charles Iacovou: Previously the Vice Dean, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty, Senior Associate Dean of Graduate School Programs and Director of the full-time MBA program.[10][11]

Steve Reinemund: Previously PepsiCo's Chairman and CEO; Executive in residence at the School of Business in 2015.[12]

Academics edit

Undergraduate programs offered include a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree program with majors in finance, accountancy, mathematical business, and business enterprise management.[13] Graduate business programs include an MBA, MS in Management, an MS in Business Analytics, a Master of Accounting, and MS in Accountancy.[14] Joint degree programs are also offered: an MD/MBA; a PhD/MBA; a combined MBA with a master’s in accounting; and an MBA and J.D. from the Wake Forest School of Law.[15][16][17] Joint degree programs are also offered: a MD/MBA; a PhD/MBA; a combined MBA with a master's in accounting; and an MBA and J.D. from the Wake Forest School of Law.[18][19]

Degrees edit

Bachelor of Science edit

Students who enroll in this degree program can choose to major in finance, accountancy, mathematical business, or business enterprise management.[20][21]

Master of Science in Management edit

This is a 10-month program designed for students with non-business academic backgrounds and/or limited business knowledge.[22] Specifically it is for recent liberal arts, sciences, and engineering graduates.[23] The coursework covered includes business concepts related to finance, marketing, accounting, communications, strategy, operations, business analytics, accounting, economics, organizational behavior, law, career management, information technology, and ethics.[23]

The program includes a graduate consulting project that pairs student teams with organizations, an Emerging Leaders Program for students interested in dual degrees in management and physician assistant studies, and an International Leaders Program for international students who desire  an MSM and business analytics degree.[23][22]

Master of Science in Business Analytics

This degree was launched in 2016. In 2018, an online version was added.[24] Entrance requirements include a bachelor's degree in business, engineering, mathematics, economics, computer science or liberal arts, as well as coursework in calculus and statistics.[25]

Centers and institutes edit

The Wake Forest University School of Business houses several centers and institutions.

  • Allegacy Center for Leadership and Character[26]
  • Center for Retail Innovation
  • Center for the Study of Capitalism

Marketing Summit & Elevator Competition edit

 
Students celebrate the opening of the 2007 Marketing Summit.
 
MBA students pitch their ideas during the Elevator Competition.

Each year, the school hosts a Marketing Summit which includes an MBA case competition, undergraduate case competition and a marketing forum. In the undergraduate case competition, competing teams participate in a three-phase challenge over the course of two months in which they deal with pressing issues facing the event's corporate sponsor.[27]

Another event at the campus is the Elevator Competition. The competition was first held in 2000 and has been held every year since at the Wachovia Center in downtown Winston-Salem. During this competition, MBA students with an interest in entrepreneurship pitch their ideas to a venture capitalist while riding in an elevator for two minutes. The objective is to earn more time to present their ideas formally to a panel of venture capitalists, which chooses the winners.[28]

Lecture series edit

Through the Babcock Leadership Series and Broyhill Executive Lecture Series, MBA students can meet, both formally and informally, with business and government leaders.

Notable past speakers have included:

Members of Pilobolus also visited to stress the importance of creative thinking in the business world.[29][30][31]

Career & Professional Development edit

Pre-Wall Street Career Track edit

This program is available for students focused on a career in investment banking, asset management, sales and trading or private equity.[32] It provides students with specific coursework, mentoring and coaching, experiential learning and networking opportunities.[32]

Business Solutions edit

Under this program, students complete business projects for local organizations.[33]

MBA Global Immersion Program edit

In this course, students travel internationally and complete business projects for different organizations.[34][32]

Ready7 edit

This is a model or toolkit created by the school that helps students develop life skills across seven different areas that include personal branding, networking and leadership.[35]

Center for Market Readiness Employment edit

The Center for Market Readiness Employment (MRE) staff works with students to assess career options, refine goals, and network with well-placed corporate contacts. Beyond the immediate job search, the staff works with students to develop interview and résumé skills.

Student clubs and organizations edit

Students at the Wake Forest University School of Business can choose from among nearly 20 clubs and organizations, or they can participate in a variety of events including the Greater Babcock Open and a Charity Auction. Student organizations include the Black Business Students Association, Entrepreneurs Club, Hispanic Club, Net Impact Club, Strategy and Consulting Club, Women in Business and The Joint Degree Society.[36]

International relationships edit

The Wake Forest University School of Business has long-standing relationships with international business schools including eight international programs that allow faculty and students from each school to teach and study at the other. The partner schools are Bordeaux School of Business, France; EM-Lyon Graduate School of Management, France; European Business School, Germany; Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, India; Institute of Business Studies, Russia; University of Kaiserslautern, Germany; WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany and Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria.

Faculty edit

More than 75% of the school's faculty have international consulting, teaching work or research experience. More than 90% hold a PhD or other doctoral degree, 33% serve on a company board of directors, and 30% have experience owning their own company.[36]

Notable alumni edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Wake Forest University". AACSB.
  2. ^ "Wake Forest University | AACSB Accredited". www.aacsb.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  3. ^ "Wake Forest University Online Master of Business Administration (MBA)". BSchools.org. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  4. ^ "SACS COC" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Chronological History of Wake Forest University". Babcock Graduate School of Management.
  6. ^ "Full-Time MBA". Wake Forest University School of Business.
  7. ^ "Ending the Traditional MBA". InsideHigherEd.com.
  8. ^ Moules, Jonathan (2018-03-02). "Business schools rethink MBA strategy as market demand shifts". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  9. ^ "Annette Ranft WFU School of Business Dean". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  10. ^ a b CRAVER, RICHARD (2022-03-04). "Wake Forest names Ranft as new business school dean". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  11. ^ "Charles Iacovou Named WFU School of Business Dean". 88.5 WFDD. 2014-05-28. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  12. ^ "Retired PepsiCo leadership "starts with understanding yourself"". The Charlotte Observer.
  13. ^ Allen, Nathan. "Wake Forest University School of Business". Poets&Quants for Undergrads. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  14. ^ "Wake Forest University School of Business".
  15. ^ "Wake Forest University".
  16. ^ "Google Books".
  17. ^ "Wake Forest University School of Business". Times Higher Education (THE). 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  18. ^ Review (Firm), Princeton (2016). The Best 294 Business Schools. Penguin Random House. ISBN 978-1-101-92041-1.
  19. ^ "Wake Forest University". US News.
  20. ^ Allen, Nathan. "Wake Forest University School of Business". Poets&Quants for Undergrads. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  21. ^ "Wake Forest University School of Business". Times Higher Education (THE). 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  22. ^ a b "Wake Forest school of business earns top-five rankings from The Economist". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  23. ^ a b c "Wake Forest University's School of Business: MS in Management". Poets&Quants. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  24. ^ Moules, Jonathan (2018-03-02). "Business schools rethink MBA strategy as market demand shifts". Financial Times. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  25. ^ "MS in Business Analytics Program - Wake Forest University - Graduate Programs and Degrees". petersons.com. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  26. ^ Systems, eZ. "$2 Million Contribution Creates Allegacy Center for Leadership at Wake Forest / Fresh Today / CUToday.info - CU Today". CUToday. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  27. ^ Marketing Summit, Elevator Competition draw top MBA students to campus;Babcock Graduate School of Management
  28. ^ About the Elevator Competition;Babcock Graduate School of Management
  29. ^ Audio Lectures;Babcock Graduate School of Management
  30. ^ Babcock Leadership Series & Broyhill Executive Lecture Series;Babcock Graduate School of Management
  31. ^ Past Lectures;Babcock Graduate School of Management
  32. ^ a b c Allen, Nathan. "Wake Forest University School of Business". Poets&Quants for Undergrads. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  33. ^ "Wake Forest University School of Business - College Censensus". College Consensus.
  34. ^ "Wake Forest University School of Business - College Consensus". College Consensus.
  35. ^ "Ten Lessons for Universities to Prepare Students for Long-Term Success". BCG Global. 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  36. ^ a b "Crafting Possibilities Bulletin". Babcock Graduate School of Management.
  37. ^ "Budd may have had 'rookie' advantage". Davie County Enterprise Record. June 30, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.

External links edit

  • Official website

36°08′14″N 80°16′30″W / 36.1373537°N 80.275078°W / 36.1373537; -80.275078