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Richard E. and Sandra J. Dauch College of Business and Economics

Dean
Derek Yonai

Associate Dean
Lance Kaltenbaugh, Associate Professor of Sport Management

Administrative Staff
Carrie Hartsel, Internship and Experiential Learning Coordinator, COBE Operations Manager
Tara Mowry, Administrative Assistant to the Dean
Tom Sudow, Director, Burton D. Morgan Center for Free Enterprise & Entrepreneurship

Faculty by Department
Chair: Jeffrey Russell, Associate Professor of Economics
Paul Holmes, Associate Professor of Economics
Mark A. Nadler, Associate Professor of Economics
Dennis Witherspoon, Associate Professor of Finance

Description of Majors

Economics

Economics majors study the principles and institutions that form the foundation of our economy. We look at the policies that affect the development of industries, the growth of the economy, and consumers' standard of living. In addition to gaining specialized knowledge and communication skills, economics majors focus most of their attention on the key managerial thinking competencies of logical thinking, conceptualization, and the application of theories and concepts to the problems found in the real world.

Student Learning Outcomes for Economics:

  1. Identify how price is formed as a means of allocating scarce resources in a market economy.

  2. Identify and analyze major models of the economy.

  3. Identify the role of government in a market economy and evaluate the effects of government policies.

  4. Develop tools that can be used to measure outcomes in markets and the economy.

  5. Explain how businesses use information to make price and output decisions and to maximize profit

Finance

Finance students obtain knowledge in corporate finance, financial strategies, security analysis, investment portfolio management, money and banking, insurance, and global finance. They also have the unique opportunity to manage a portion of Ashland's endowment fund–actually making decisions about buying and selling of equity, fixed income, and other securities. They may also choose a curriculum to prepare to take the NASD Series Seven examination and become a licensed securities broker immediately upon graduation.

In addition to a focus on specialized knowledge, managerial thinking skills and communication skills, our finance program will help students to develop the competency of maintaining high ethical and professional integrity.

Student Learning Outcomes for Finance:

  1. Apply time value of money calculations to determine present values and future values of a real or hypothetical situation and describe how this information can be used to support financial decisions.

  2. Describe and/or demonstrate how non-cash expenses and assets impact financial decision-making.

  3. Describe and/or demonstrate how the capital budgeting process is performed and explain the advantages of taking a macro view when managing a company’s operations.

Business Analytics

The Business Analytics program equips students with data analytics and business intelligence (BI) skills, a broad category of analytical techniques, technologies and applications, and apply them to analyze, understand and interpret data. Business analytics searches for new insights and patterns in the data to improve organizational performance based on statistical methods. The major's primary focus is on analyzing industry data using industry-standard statistical software and technical communication skills.

Student Learning Outcomes for Business Analytics:

  1. Prepare data for analysis.

  2. Conduct statistical analysis and make recommendations appropriate for management decision-makers.

  3. Present analytical results understandable to a non-technical audience.

Degree Requirements

Assessment – The assessment of student learning outcomes for all business majors includes both internal and external assessments in selected courses, culminating in the MGT 489 Senior Seminar - Business Capstone course and the MGT 499 Senior Assessment course.