The school originally began as the School of Business Administration in 1948.^[5] In 1969, the Wake Forest University School of Business was established 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.^[6]

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 full-time class matriculating in the spring of 2016.^[7][8][9]

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.^[10][11]

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.^[11][12]

Steve Reinemund: Previously PepsiCo's Chairman and CEO; Executive in residence at the School of Business in 2015.^[13]

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

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.^[19][20]

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.^[21] Specifically it is for recent liberal arts, sciences, and engineering graduates.^[22] 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.^[22]

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.^[22][21]

Master of Science in Business Analytics

This degree was launched in 2016. In 2018, an online version was added.^[23] 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.^[24]

Core subject areas covered by the program include: career management; analytics software technology; probability and statistical modeling; analytics in society: security, legal, policy, and enterprise issues with data; and forecasting.^[25] There is a practicum that spans three courses and requires students to use what they’ve learned in a real-world project for a corporate partner.^[26] STEM and OPT certified.^[27][26]

Master of Science in Accountancy edit

Students in this degree program can choose between concentrations in Assurance Services, Tax Consulting, or Financial Transaction Services.^[28][29] The last track is exclusive to Wake Forest.^[30][31]

The school offers an optional third semester for students with an opportunity for a paid, nine-week internship.^[32]

Master of Business Administration edit

With three program formats across two campuses, the MBA curriculum covers business topics with a global perspective across varying disciplines, including finance, operations, marketing, entrepreneurship, and information technology. Optional concentrations are available in Business Analytics, Strategy and Leadership, Finance, Project Management, and Digital Marketing.^[33]

Academic Centers edit

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

• Allegacy Center for Leadership and Character^[34]
• Center for Retail Innovation
• Center for the Study of Capitalism

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

Notable past speakers have included:

• Elizabeth Dole, former U.S. Senator and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation
• Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board
• Hugh L. McColl Jr., retired Chairman & CEO of Bank of America
• Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, former U.S. Ambassador to Finland; current Chair of the American Red Cross
• Robert Rubin, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury; current Director, Citigroup
• Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister
• Anna Cabral, Treasurer of the United States
• John Mackey, Chairman and CEO of Whole Foods Market.

Members of Pilobolus also visited to stress the importance of creative thinking in the business world.^[35][36][37]

Face to Face Speaker Forum edit

In fall 2020, the Office of the President at Wake Forest University launched the Face to Face Speaker Forum^[38] to bring world-class names to Winston-Salem. The events in each season cover a variety of topics, including political affairs, arts & culture, innovation & business, and social justice & global issues.

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.^[39] It provides students with specific coursework, mentoring and coaching, experiential learning and networking opportunities.^[39]

Business Solutions edit

Under this program, students complete business projects for local organizations.^[40]

MBA Global Immersion Program edit

In this program, students travel internationally and complete business projects for different organizations.^[41][39]

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.^[42]

The Center for Market Readiness Employment (MRE) staff works with students to assess career options, refine goals, and network with well-placed corporate contacts, including alumni at more than 8,000 companies nationwide. Beyond the immediate job search, the staff works with students to develop interview and résumé skills so they can be competitive throughout their career.

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.^[43]

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.

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.^[43]

• Ted Budd - U.S. Senator; former member of the United States House of Representatives^[44]
• Charlie Ergen – Chairman and CEO, EchoStar Communications Corporation
• Cheslie Kryst, Attorney and Miss USA 2019
• Warren Stephens – Chairman, President and CEO, Stephens Inc.
• G. Kennedy Thompson – Chairman, President and CEO, Wachovia Corp.
• Anil Rai Gupta - Chairman and Managing Director, Havells India
• Eric C. Wiseman - Chairman, VF Corporation

• List of business schools in the United States
• List of Atlantic Coast Conference business schools
• List of United States business school rankings

• Official website

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