Business & Social Entrepreneurship

Introduction
      Sterling College has created a unique business program that will prepare Sterling students for the workplace and/or graduate school immediately upon graduation. Sterling has done so with a practically relevant core curriculum that emphasizes workplace training. Traditional business theory will also be emphasized, and will be taught from an application perspective.

Research Based Curriculum
      The Business Department’s core course requirements were derived from a survey sent out to over 1000 people in the business world. Their responses confirmed what our secondary research had indicated; businesses need people who can communicate, write, think critically, act ethically, listen, follow directions, as well as have foundational business knowledge. The Sterling College business curriculum will meet these needs.

Real Life Application for Course Credit
      The Sterling College Business Department is actively integrating actual business projects into the curriculum. At this time, there are two teams of business students researching potential franchise opportunities for the city of Sterling. Each team will recommend a franchise to an investor in January of 2007. The investor will make a choice based on the recommendations, and those two teams, along with other Sterling business students, will then go through the process of building and opening a franchise in Sterling.
      Students are also involved with the planning and development of a shopping center north of campus as part of a real estate special topics course.

Integration of Christian Principles into the Classroom
      Biblical teachings are integrated into each and every course in the business department. Students are given the opportunity to apply foundational Christian concepts to business situations with guidance from faculty members.

Real Estate Concentration
      The Business Department is excited by the launch of the real estate concentration. Students choosing this concentration have the opportunity to be involved with actual real estate projects in the Sterling area, as well as receive foundational concepts in the classroom.

Hybrid Online Courses
      Students have the opportunity to take “hybrid” online courses through the business department. These courses will be taught online through on campus faculty. The courses will still meet certain weeks for an hour (at the professor’s discretion) to provide an opportunity for some student interaction, and the professors will be available through office hours to provide one on one help as needed.