Foster College of Business

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The Foster College of Business is a community of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders in the making. With 10 undergraduate majors, 11 minors, and two distinctive graduate degrees, our programs challenge you to think critically, act ethically, and make an impact. Whether you’re analyzing markets, conducting a financial evaluation of a new product, or leading a team, you’ll gain the knowledge and experience to excel in a changing global economy.

All business majors take an integrated interdisciplinary core to prepare them for their particular major.

College Core

MTH 114 or Higher – 3-4 hrs.
BUS 100 Contemporary Business – 3 hrs.
ATG 157 Accounting Principles – Financial – 3 hrs.
ATG 158 Accounting Principles – Managerial – 3 hrs.
MIS 173 Introduction to Business Analytics – 3 hrs.
ECO 221 Principles of Microeconomics – 3 hrs.
ECO 222 Principles of Macroeconomics – 3 hrs.
QM 262 Quantitative Analysis I – 3 hrs.
MTG 315 Principles of Marketing – 3 hrs.
FIN 322 Business Finance – 3 hrs.
BLW 342 Legal Environment of Business – 3 hrs.
M L 350 Managing for Results in Organizations – 3 hrs.
BUS 400 Business Capstone Client Consulting Project – 2 hrs.
M L 452 Strategic Management and Business Policy – 2 hrs.
Quantitative Skill Building – Choose One:
QM 263 Quantitative Analysis II – 3 hrs.
M L 353 Operations Management – 3 hrs.
Foster College of Business Core Electives – 6 hrs.*

* Foster College of Business Core Electives include any business course not required by the student’s first major.

Business Administration Minor

ECO 100 Introduction to Economics – 3 hrs.

ATG 157 Accounting Principles – Financial – 3 hrs.

MIS 173 Introduction to Business Analytics – 3 hrs.

FIN 322 Business Finance – 3 hrs.

M L 350 Managing for Results in Organizations – 3 hrs.

MTG 315 Principles of Marketing – 3 hrs.

FCB elective – 3 hrs.

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College Resources

AACSB ACCREDITATION

Bradley University’s Foster College of Business is among the top 2 percent of business schools in the world to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCB International), the leading business education accrediting organization. Further, our accounting program is accredited separately by AACSB, making the Foster College one of 186 institutions worldwide to be accredited in both business and accounting.

Why AACSB Accreditation Matters

AACSB holds institutions to very high standards to ensure quality and continuous improvement of collegiate business education. AACSB accredited schools:

Have faculty, staff, and students that are meaningfully engaged with their professional and academic communities
Are entrepreneurial, creating high quality and innovative programs that serve undergraduate and graduate students as well as working professionals desiring continuing professional education
Are impactful, making a difference for the communities, businesses, and academic societies that we serve
Are rigorous, dynamic, and relevant and prepare students for the challenging and changing global business environment
Have the highest-caliber instructors and leading-edge courses and programs that connect your education to the real world
Share the most-up-to-date knowledge to improve the business education globally

AACSB Accreditation Impact

Some ways that the innovative spirit of AACSB comes alive in the Foster College of Business are:

Multi-disciplinary learning, such as business and engineering student collaboration
Experiential learning through courses like Advanced Ethical Hacking or Marketing Research
Senior consulting projects with real clients
Hands-on learning through paid internships
Student participation in regional and national conferences and competitions
Community service, such as free tax return preparation for low income families
International study abroad trips
Consulting and coaching provided to business professionals through Center for Professional Excellence Center
Big Idea Competitions for students and recent alumni to pitch business ideas and win cash prizes, plus free legal and accounting services
Continuing workshops and seminars to support start-up businesses

We Achieve Great Outcomes

96 percent of our graduates received jobs within six months of graduation or are continuing their education (2023-2024).
Our graduates receive jobs at organizations such as Caterpillar Inc, Deloitte, Echo Global Logistics, Enterprise Mobility, Gartner Inc, Plante Moran, R&M Consulting, RSM US LLP, ULINE, W.W. Grainger Inc, and Weber Inc.
The Bradley Accounting program’s CPA exam pass rate outpaces most accounting programs in Illinois.
100% of Foster College of Business students graduate with experiential learning experience.

For further information, please review the Foster College of Business outcomes and retention and graduation details.

Bring your own device or use the BU issued Apple iPad to access the virtual desktop software that you will use in your courses. The virtual desktop software can be accessed from any computer type device from anywhere in the world you have internet access.

Center for Cybersecurity

Facilitates the advancement of cybersecurity education, research, and service.
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Turner Center for Entrepreneurship

Resources for startups and small businesses.
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Course-Embedded Microcredentials

Professional Pathways is an innovative, high-impact practice that bundles groups of approved credit courses into microcredentials to verify mastery of specific, industry-based skills.

Bradley University undergraduate and graduate students can accumulate the embedded microcredentials while working toward their degrees and use the resulting digital badges to showcase the granular knowledge and in-demand skills that set them apart in today’s job market.

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Special Programs

McCord Lectures Series
The McCord Lecture Series brings prominent business executives to the Bradley University campus to meet with students, faculty, and the community to discuss managerial and organizational applications. This series was made possible through the financial support of Illinois Mutual Life Insurance Company and named in honor of business role model and community leader, Robert A. McCord.

Through this series, attendees get the chance to meet leaders like ones they may read about in BusinessWeek and The Wall Street Journal and to discuss the challenges of leading a major enterprise. Recent speakers include Shannon Schuyler, Principal – Chief Purpose Officer at PwC, Michele Sullivan, President of the Caterpillar Foundation and Director of Corporate Social Innovation, Mike Dalton, President of Maui Jim, and John “Ozzy” Osborne, President and CEO of BBDO New York.

Falcon Speaker Series
The purpose of the Theresa S. Falcon Executive Speaker Series is to bring regionally and nationally known professionals to Bradley University’s campus in order to enhance the learning experience of the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program’s students and the surrounding community. Speakers support the experience of the program – transformation that involves becoming more knowledgeable, analytical, effective, and confident business leaders.

This series has been made possible through the financial support of the late Dr. Theresa S. Falcon.

The Caterpillar College of Engineering and Technology and Foster College of Business prepare students for the workforce providing them with hands-on, practical experiences. Our convergence and capstone projects allow students to collaborate with industry partners to solve complex problems and produce real world deliverables.

Each April, at the Capstone Open House, students present their findings to a diverse audience including clients, faculty, the Business and Engineering Advisory Council, members of the business and engineering sectors, and the public at large.

Capstone & Convergence Showcase

In the spirit of discovering and spreading ideas, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

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Global Scholars Program

In today’s global economy, businesses in every part of the world require employees who can readily adapt to new challenges, different cultures and diverse ways of thought. Coursework for the Foster College of Business’ Global Scholars Program has been designed to broaden students’ perspective by providing enhanced preparation for careers in a global marketplace. Topics and issues taught both on Bradley’s campus and in international environments will develop within students a capacity to assess international business opportunities and to understand business in the context of different cultures.

Invitation as guest of honor by the dean of the college and citation at the Foster College of Business Honors Banquet
Special designation on the student’s transcript as having achieved the Global Scholar status
Opportunity to study abroad as early as a student’s sophomore year with introductory study abroad programs in China or India
Seminars with experienced international business leaders
Social interaction with guest speakers, Bradley alumni, and international students

Coursework:

IBI 101: International Intellectual and Cultural Events
IB 204/ 205 : China/ India trip (Requirement waived if student does a full semester study abroad)
IB 206: Introduction to International Business

One of the following:
IB 302 – Global Trade
IB 323/ FIN 323 – International Financial Management
ECO 355 – Supply Chain Economics
MTG 388 – Global Supply Chain
IB 309/ ECO 390 – International Monetary Economics
IB 391/ ECO 391 – International Trade
ATG 461/ ATG 561 – International Accounting

Global Scholar Points

65 points needed for IB majors, 50 points for all other FCB majors

Complete a language major – 40 pts.
Pass the NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) exam – 35 pts.
Full semester study abroad (Waives requirement for IB204 or IB205, but then cannot be used for points) – 30 pts.
Complete a language minor – 30 pts.
International Internship (varies on case-by-case basis and must be approved GS Director or Coordinator) – 25 pts.
Complete a second Bradley led study abroad program (January term, May term, or second, I B 204 / 205) – 20 pts.
Substantive participation in an International Business case competition – 17 pts.
International Community Service trip (varies on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by GS Director or Coordinator) – 12 pts.
One semester foreign language (maximum two semesters for 16 points) – 8 (16) pts.
Each year serving as a Global Scholars Ambassador. Active participation confirmed by the
Global Scholars Coordinator (maximum 24 points) – 8 (24) pts.
Each year serving as an elected board position on FCB Global Business Association (GBA) and approval by GBA President in consultation with GBA Adviser (maximum 24 points) – 8 (24) pts.
Globally focused honors seminar (with approval by GS Director or Coordinator) – 8 pts.
Each committee led for Global Scholars as determined and approved by GS Coordinator (maximum 24 points) – 4 – 8 (24) pts.
Each year serving on the executive board of a culturally focused club (e.g. ALAS, etc.) (maximum 8 points) – 4 pts.
Attendance at pre-approved FCB Global Scholar lectures or events – 2 – 4 pts.
Participation in Global scholars committee or planning an international-related event (PAWAC, Activities Fair, etc.) (maximum 24 points) – 2 – 7 (24) pts.