The School of Business and Public Affairs at Southwest Minnesota State University produces graduates who are equipped with the essential knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in the ever-changing, competitive and evolving international world of business. The mission, “Discover.Engage.Lead.” helps prepare students to identify and solve trending economic problems and positively impact their peers and community. Every faculty member has the extensive industry experience and is dedicated to helping students achieve their academic and career goals.
Education
Associate degrees lay a solid foundation of general business principles and can be beneficial for entry-level positions. Students can earn an Associates in Agribusiness Management, Accounting, or Marketing. Bachelors degree students can major in Management with concentrations in International Management, Human Resource Management, Supply Chain Management, or General Management; Agribusiness Management with concentrations in Farm Management & Marketing or Agricultural Finance; Marketing; Finance; Hospitality Management with concentrations in Hotel & Event Management or Culinary Management; Culinology; or Political Science.
For graduate students, there is a Masters in Business Administration degree with either a General MBA, Leadership, or Marketing concentration. The MBA enhances critical and strategic thinking, communication skills, understanding of diverse markets, leadership, and teamwork ability. MBA students can complete courses in the evenings. Scholarships like the Accounting Program Outstanding Achievement Award, Business Administration Scholarship, and the Brian Schmiesing Agribusiness Agronomy Fund help provide the needed funding for students to obtain a degree of higher education. An excellent way to have the experience of a lifetime, expand your worldview, immerse in a different culture, and earn college credit is through the numerous study abroad opportunities. SMSU will help students find the best fit for study abroad through its connection with multiple third-party providers.
Student Life
A student must engage in student organizations, activities, events, projects, and social gatherings to glean the most out of the college experience. Student organizations, specifically for business students, include the Accounting Club, Ag Club, ENACTUS, Sigma, Post-Secondary Agricultural Student Organization, Student Investment Group & Management Association, Student Hospitality Opportunities Club, Society for Human Resource Management, American Marketing Association, and Graphic Design Club. Residential students can live on campus in dorms and houses with other business students, like the Ag House, for agricultural students, where they can experience learning and growing together.
Academic development and career preparation are highly crucial for every student, and SMSU provides numerous resources to assist business students in their journey. A great way to grow is through serving others, and the resource, MustangsVolunteer, connects students with local organizations and opportunities of service. Hands-on learning is available throughout every degree program like the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, where Accounting and Finance students can assist people in the community with their taxes for free. Hospitality students help serve at the University Gala and the Interactive Dinner.
Online Programs
Business students can earn a flexible and accessible online Masters in Business Administration degree. The online MBA offers concentrations in Leadership, Marketing, or General.