Ohio Valley University’s College of Business offers students a solid business foundation taught from a Christian worldview perspective. All decisions at OVU are driven by four main pillars: spirituality, scholarship, service, and stewardship. Students are required to complete a Bible component every semester, and full-time students must attend daily chapel services. The CoB holds specialized accreditation through the IACBE, and OVU holds membership in the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the Association of Government Accountants.
Education
Business students take an online Concentrated Study Skills course the summer prior to their freshman year to learn how to be successful in college. Undergraduates earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Students can customize this degree with a major in Accounting, Business Administration, or Integrated Marketing Communications. The Accounting major allows students to focus on either Forensic Investigative Accounting, Governmental Accounting, or Public Accounting. Accounting students will be prepared to take the CPA, CFE, or CGFM exam after taking an included prep course. Business Administration students will choose a route in Aquaculture, Construction Management and Building Science, Energy Management and Production Engineering, Human Resource Management, Management, Project Management, or Sports Management. Additionally, a minor that pairs well with these business degrees is Alternative Dispute Resolution.
During freshman year, students will take Career Development, and during their college experience, they must complete a Work-Ready Requirement. Courses that will satisfy this requirement include an internship in Accounting, Business Administration, or Marketing. Alternatively, students may also fulfill this requirement by acquiring computer skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or Access. Professors know students by name and willingly take on a mentorship relationship.
OVU undergraduate Accounting students seeking to obtain a Master of Science in Accountancy will have completed the foundational courses during their junior and senior years. The University has a partnership with Marshall University, and all additional graduate requirements will be completed there.
Student Life
The small student body population allows students to assume leadership roles. Students and professors frequently congregate outside of the classroom for social events on campus. OVU offers social clubs that compete throughout the year in intramural sports, a talent show, and community service hours, and the highest average GPA. The CoB is home to a chapter of Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society for Business, Management, and Administration. Students can also compete in business competitions by joining Future Business Leaders of America.
The Honors Program offers a plethora of academic enrichment opportunities, such as field trips, research projects, cultural events, and guest speakers. Upon graduation, students in this distinguished program will be recognized as an “Honors Program Graduate” or an “Honors Program Graduate with Distinction” based on the number of honors credits they successfully completed.
In the summer, all students have the option to participate in a study abroad program consisting of two weeks of classroom learning on campus, followed by a four-week trip to Europe. Students who participate in this trip will explore England, Italy, and Paris. Professors also periodically lead study abroad trips to other destinations.