Minor in Business

Many students at Marian who major in non-business fields like the arts and sciences strengthen their post-graduation career options by adding a minor in business to their plans of study.

Why? Because understanding the basics of sound business management can open doors to a range of employment opportunities, especially in the first few years after college.

The knowledge, skills, and experience you’ll gain by studying applied business practices and principles will serve you well, both in your professional life and your personal life.

Why choose a minor in business at Marian?

College graduates who know how to manage people and projects, understand financial statements, and sell goods and services are always in demand.

In fact, there are very few jobs that don’t relate to some aspect of business. Whether you want to manage an art gallery, perform with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, or conduct scientific research in a medical lab, you’ll profit by studying how to make smart, strategic business decisions.

Marian University’s Byrum School of Business will provide you with real-world, significant business experience from your first day of classes. You will complete high-impact courses in which you learn business by actually doing business.

The Byrum School’s experiential curriculum focuses on applying what you learn to:

• Analyze business problems and make data-driven decisions
• Build a budget and account for expenditures
• Create a comprehensive business plan
• Manage business functions like accounting, distribution, finance, operations, marketing, and sales
• Present a business plan and seek financing from investors

Along the way, you will closely communicate and collaborate with faculty, peers, and local business executives and civic leaders. The best part? You’ll earn your minor after completing two intensive, immersive courses. And you’ll obtain valuable skills that can help you manage your personal finances, plan for a secure future, and make you more attractive to employers upon graduation.

What will you study?

Our business minor is for students who will earn a bachelor’s degree in a field other than business. If that describes you, you’ll complete 18 credits of business coursework through two nine-credit courses:

• BUS 109: Business Plan Competition. This course introduces basic concepts, theories, best practices, trends, and tools in finance, accounting, economics, marketing, and management—everything you need to run a successful business. You and your team will get small business start-up experience and pitch an original business concept to Indianapolis executives with a financial stake in the outcome. You’ll complete a market analysis, develop funding requirements and financial projections, create sales strategies, and devise an operational strategy.

• BUS 209: Quantitative Analysis of Business. In this integrative, collaborative, and experiential course, you will complete economic, business, and financial analyses in order to (1) understand and predict behavior, including that of consumers (2) measure performance, like tracking profits or numbers of repeat customers, and (3) to make data-driven about when to expand operations or invest in new equipment, technologies, or employees. Quantitative analysis requires searching, sorting, and analyzing various types of business data to discern patterns, like correlations between pricing and sales. You’ll apply what you learn to make recommendations for real businesses, companies, and nonprofit organizations.

What are your career paths?

With a major in business, you’ll have excellent prospects for a dynamic career. Depending on your major, here are some sample corporate, nonprofit, government, and business career paths that you might choose.

• Biology major + business minor = hospital or clinic health services management, pharmaceutical or medical device sales, research and development project management, or life science and bio-technology marketing.
• Chemistry major + business minor = research or administrative management positions with agriculture, alternative fuel, petroleum, pollution and hazardous waste, or food and drug testing enterprises.
• Communication or English major + business minor = advertising director, marketing manager, publicist, digital media coordinator, technical writer/editor, or video production specialist in corporate, nonprofit, and government settings.
• Math major + business minor = statistician, logistician, data scientist, business analyst, actuary, applied mathematician, computer and information systems manager, database administrator, and management analyst.
• Music major + business minor = recording studio owner, nonprofit management, talent agent, music technology developer, and marketing or general manager of cultural and performing arts venues.
• Visual arts + business minor = museum curator, gallery manager, studio director, arts administrator, nonprofit manager, art director for a marketing agency, and commercial or technical illustrator.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), here are employment projections for some of those occupations.