Return to: Undergraduate Academic Departments and Programs

The Department of Economics and Management offers five majors: Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, and Marketing. Double major programs are available in Economics and Political Science (BA degree) and Economics and Mathematics (BA degree).

Each of our programs prepares students to be successful and productive members of any organization they join, enables them to contribute to the greater good of society, and provides a solid foundation from which they can expand and learn throughout their personal and professional lives.

The Economics major leads to a BA in Economics and is primarily designed to build a framework where students can learn to analyze economic issues in contemporary society. As a broadly-based social science, the program in Economics will consider various societal concerns such as unemployment, inflation, the environment, income distribution, poverty, global trade and competitiveness. The student receives a systematic introduction to the basic theoretical and empirical techniques of economics, and has a range of upper level electives which provide deeper appreciation of various economic topics. A major in Economics is suited to accommodate a broad range of student interests, including preparation for careers in business or government, and graduate school in economics, business, law, or public administration. In addition, double major programs are available in Economics and Political Science (BA degree) and Economics and Mathematics (BA degree).  

Students in the Accounting, Finance, Management and Marketing majors earn a BS degree. Students in these majors complete a core of business courses, which provide fundamental business skills. The business core provides an analytical framework for applied decision making in the business world, along with practical preparation for tomorrow’s workplace. Course work throughout the program provides students with a broad perspective of managerial decision making and includes consideration of ethical and cultural constraints and issues regarding diversity. This integrative approach is reinforced in our final capstone courses; Business Policy/Strategy and International Business.

In addition to completion of the business core, students major in one of the primary functional areas of business: Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing. While students need to satisfy at least one of these area’s requirements, there is no prohibition on taking courses from more than one functional area. The intent is to allow flexibility and variety so that students are able to develop an individualized portfolio of skills that meets their educational and professional objectives.

The Business Internship program reinforces the emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning. Each semester, this program places academically-proficient upper-level students in local, regional, and national business organizations.  Through these internship opportunities, students are able to get first-hand exposure on the application of analytical classroom material to real world business situations.

For more information about the Department of Economics and Management, visit our homepage: http://wwwbus.westfield.ma.edu/.

Accounting Major:

The Accounting major focuses on business theory as well as practical accounting skills to prepare students to work in many different professional contexts. Students study the theory of financial reporting, tax planning, and organizational decision-making.  Courses are designed to develop an appreciation for the professional responsibilities and ethics of the accounting profession. Students graduating with a degree in Accounting often become Certified Public Accountants (CPA) or Certified Management Accountants (CMA).

Finance Major:

The Finance major prepares students to plan, manage, and analyze the financial and economic aspects of business.  Students study current developments in the economy and in financial markets and institutions. Courses emphasize theoretical knowledge and the development of practical skills for success in finance-related fields. Students graduating with a degree in Finance find employment in commercial banking, financial planning, investment banking, money managing, insurance, and real estate.

Management Major:

The Management major focuses on a mix of theoretical and practical management knowledge and skills that will enable students to work as professional managers and leaders of modern organizations. Students learn to address a wide variety of challenges - financial, material, human, legal, political, and environmental by learning the interpersonal, systems, and strategic skills to build and manage effective business teams. Four concentrations enable students to specialize in human resources, entrepreneurship, general management, or sports management.

Management Concentrations:

Management majors must choose and complete one of the concentrations:

• Human Resource Management
• Entrepreneurship
• General Management
• Sports Management 

Human Resource Management
​Human resource managers oversee the recruitment, training and compensation of a company’s employees. By ensuring a high-quality workforce, human resource managers have a critical impact on organizational success. Students choosing the Human Resource Management concentration take advanced courses in human resource management, leadership, diversity, and social justice.

Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs start new businesses or take over existing ones and run them in better ways.  The Entrepreneurship concentration appeals to students who have a strong desire to do whatever it takes to bring good new ideas to market.  Students learn to build, promote, and manage their own businesses from the concept stage to the exit strategy.  The curriculum provides flexibility for students to choose courses that contribute to their personal goals and desired business paths.

General Management
The General Management concentration is designed for students who want to become managers but do not have a specific field in mind.  The concentration allows students to build strong communication and/or data analytic skills in addition to studying key areas of management.  Students will be able to choose courses that match their own preferences and interests due to the versatile design of the concentration.

Sports Management
Sports Management involves any and all business aspects of sports and recreation at four major levels - amateur, high school, college and professional sports.  The Sports Management concentration is designed to provide a pathway for students who want to combine a business and sports focus.  Students will have a strong foundation in the traditional business disciplines while also learning about the sports industry, the economics of sports, and event planning and marketing.  Students may choose courses in entrepreneurship, group exercise, sports history, or adventure education to complete the concentration.

Return to: Undergraduate Academic Departments and Programs