Societal Impact through Business

The coursework for the program includes the pre-business courses required to declare and take advanced coursework towards a Business School major, and also includes a unique Applied Business course which provides students with an opportunity to explore and discuss the various business disciplines

*Students with AP Credit for Calculus I should contact Dr. Mehkari to discuss the option to opt out of MATH 211.

ECON 101: satisfies the general education requirement for social analysis (FSSA)

MATH 211: satisfies the general education requirement for symbolic reasoning (FSSR)

ECON 102, ACCT 201: are all course requirements towards the major/minor in Business Administration

Fall 2025

• Students will also have the opportunity to take BUAD 202: Business Statistic and BUAD 205: Business Communications as a cohort. BUAD 202 and BUAD 205 are all course requirements towards the major/minor in Business Administration
• During the sophomore year, advisors in the program will work with Endeavor RSB students to help them declare a major in the Robins School of Business and choose their first field-specific class based on their individual interests. Fields offered include Accounting, Business Analytics, Economics, Finance, International Business, Management-Entrepreneurship, Management-Consulting, and Marketing
  
  

Fundamentals of Financial Accounting (ACCT 201):

Students in the introductory financial accounting course will be introduced to the language of accounting. They will learn all about financial statements so that they can manage their own and organizational finances, invest wisely, help companies develop financial strategies, and be knowledgeable stewards of financial resources.

Applied Business Topics (BUAD 100):

BUAD 100, Applied Business Topics, will provide students with an opportunity to engage in professional development activities and active learning experiences beyond the classroom. In the past, this has included team competitions such as pitching a product by creating a marketing campaign using AI and other team consulting projects, student resume and LinkedIn workshops, career development discussions, and a series of applied Excel classes. In addition, this course provides access to forums, speakers, and field trips to area businesses.

Statistics for Business and Economics (BUAD 202):

BUAD202, Statistics for Business and Economics, will introduce students to the fundamental tools of statistical analysis. We will examine a variety of real-world applications, thinking about how to interpret quantitative information and how to develop quantitative approaches to problem-solving.

Business Communications (BUAD 205):

In BComm, the slang name for BUAD 205, students take a practical (yes, this means practice is involved!) approach to learning successful verbal, non-verbal, and written business communication techniques. While the content focuses on use in professional settings, past students share that the course has enhanced their personal communications as well.

Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 101):

Principles of Microeconomics is devoted to how we as a society allocate our resources. Shall our factories produce more passenger sedans or more battleships? Should high quality health care be available freely or only to those able to pay for it? When do unfettered markets deliver the greatest good for the greatest number and when do markets fail? By equipping students with the analytical tools to answer these questions, this course will help them become more informed decision makers, both in the context of business as well as in their personal and civic lives.

Note: This course satisfies the general education requirement for social analysis (FSSA)

Principles of Macroeconomics (ECON 102):

In this course students will learn about how businesses and households make decisions, how macroeconomic data can be used to measure the impact of these decisions, and how policy-making can be used encourage households and businesses to alter their decision-making towards the goal of increasing the economic welfare of society.

Calculus I (MATH 211):

Calculus is the mathematical language that allows humans to understand and describe change. To prepare for the future workforce, Forbes recommends gaining familiarity and prowess with change. In this semester of calculus you will learn the two key concepts that model instantaneous and total change: the derivative and the integral. These powerful tools can be used to explore a wide array of problems, including modeling the spread of a virus or measuring income distribution.

Note: This course satisfies the general education requirement for symbolic reasoning (FSSR)

I already have AP credit for Calculus I. If I am selected into the program, will I still be required to take Calculus I?

While students with AP credit can choose to opt out of Calc I, we strongly advise them not to. The Calc I course is closely integrated into the program curriculum and students who opt out of it will be unable to fully appreciate how calculus can be used to model and solve business problems.

I already have AP credit for Principles of Microeconomics and/or Principles of Macroeconomics. If I am selected into the program, will I still be required to take both Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics?

Students in the program will be required to take ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics. Given the fundamental nature of the course and its integrated nature with the program curriculum students electing to be part of the program may not apply their Economics AP credit. Students are highly recommended to take ECON102: Principles of Macoeconomics in the Sping semester, but may choose to opt out if a scheduling conflict arises.

Nancy Bagranoff is Professor of Accounting and University Professor (bio). She teaches courses in introductory accounting and cybersecurity. She enjoys introducing students to accounting in a broad context and helping them to understand its importance in their lives and in contributing to a prosperous society.

Della Dumbaugh is Professor of Mathematics and Mathematics Coordinator in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (bio). She teaches across the mathematics curriculum and beyond. She has created travel courses to Vienna and a First Year Seminar on correspondence. She especially enjoys teaching Calculus and leveraging the powerful ideas of the subject to develop successful skills for the future. She has written about how Calculus prepares you for the future workforce in Medium. You can find her article here.

Timothy Hamilton is an Associate Professor of Economics who teaches courses in Environmental Economics, Statistics, and Econometrics (bio). He’s excited to be a part of the Endeavor RSB program because he believes strongly in the effect of a positive classroom atmosphere and a collaborative learning environment.

Kathy Hoke is Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (bio). She teaches courses at all levels of the mathematics curriculum, but she particularly enjoys teaching calculus. Her favorite courses to teach are sections of calculus taught in context; she has taught SMART calculus (calculus coupled with a biology and chemistry section) and calculus with a social justice context.

Shakun Mago is a Professor of Economics (bio). She teaches Principles of Macroeconomics as well as elective courses in Game Theory and Industrial Organization. She is excited to work with the Endeavor RSB students and instill in them a critical appreciation of the art and science of economic thinking.

Cassandra Marshall is an Associate Professor of Finance (bio). She teaches Principles of Corporate Finance where she enjoys teaching the foundations of finance to students from all business majors, intermediate Corporate Finance where her students learn the theory behind corporate decisions and how to analyze data through Excel modeling, and Financial Modeling in the MBA program. She demonstrates the importance of financial decisions made by businesses as well as personal financial decisions made by each individual and how these decisions collectively affect outcomes in our society.

Saif Mehkari is an Associate Professor of Economics (bio). He teaches courses in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Mathematical Economics, and Computational Methods. He really enjoys teaching the principles level courses and thinking about how firms and households make decisions, and how these decisions can have a societal impact!

Kelley Ranager is the Administrative Coordinator for the Economics Department (bio). She has a background in Economics and Public Policy and is happy to help you in any way she can!

Laura Thompson is Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Student Services in the Robins School of Business (bio). She often speaks with prospective Spiders, so you may have already met her on a college visit?! She is excited to work with the Endeavor RSB pre-Business students to develop their academic paths. She is also looking forward to teaching Endeavor RSB students her favorite class, which is BUAD 205 Business Communications.

Are there any other course restrictions I should be aware of?

Students are highly recommended to take no more than 4-4.25 courses per semester their first-year. The two courses per semester required by this program along with the required First Year Seminar will not allow for any space on a student’s schedule to take an intensive language course in French, Italian, or Spanish during their first semester. We will work with students who want to take an intensive language course during their Spring semster.

If after the first or second semester I decide I am no longer interested in the Endeavor RSB program can I leave the program?

Our ultimate goal is to work with all of our students to create a meaningful and successful cohort experience and path into the Robins School of Business; however, due to unforeseen circumstance where a student may need to leave the program, we will fully support that student as they transition into an alternate academic path.

As part of the Endeavor program, you will participate in the popular Endeavor Pre-Orientation program, where you will take a short course.

Short Course Description:  Societal Impact through Business

This short course will describe a framework for analyzing the many opportunities businesses have to make a real impact in our society. You will learn how to examine the role that businesses play in creating products and services that meet the needs of society, are technically feasible to develop, and have sustainable economic viability. Faculty and peer mentors will also provide expertise and demonstrations on adjusting to college life, improving your well-being through mindfulness, and navigating group dynamics through interactive activities, group discussion, and self-discovery.