Wake Forest University School of Business is committed to teaching business values beyond those that can be learned from a textbook, such as to approach every challenge as an opportunity. U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks the business degrees among the leading programs in the nation. In 2019, the Economist placed the SOB among the nation’s best for Career Opportunities. The faculty and Board of Visitors empowers females and other minority students to reach their career goals. Kate Johnson, who serves on this board and as the Microsoft U.S. President, recently addressed caring for customers at Fortune’s “Most Powerful Women Next Gen Summit” in December of 2019. The SOB continuously evolves to offer easy access to meet students’ needs. The online MBA will launch in September of 2020 as a partnership with Kaplan.
Education
Undergraduate students gain a solid foundation in business fundamentals. The majors offered include Accountancy, Business and Enterprise Management, Finance, and Mathematical Business. Classes are brought to life with case studies, and students have the chance to hear new perspectives through visiting business executives. These practical experiences lead to 99% of graduates accepting their first position within six months of graduation.
Graduate students enrolled in the MBA program at Wake Forest typically see a salary increase of 23% and frequently receive promotions while still in the program. Students can attend evening classes at the Charlotte or Winston-Salem campus, and graduate within two years. Saturday only classes are also offered at the Charlotte campus. A concentration in Strategy/Leadership is offered, as well as numerous electives to further customize the degree. The cohort includes students representing 71 companies, so students have a lot of opportunities for building a professional network with their peers. A Master of Science is also available in Accounting, Business Analytics, and Management. These specialty master’s degrees can be completed in just two semesters. Accountancy students can pursue a track in Assurance Services, Tax Consulting, or Financial Transaction Services. The professors do an excellent job preparing students to be successful on the CPA exam, and as a result, students have received the highest pass rate multiple times over the past 20 years.
Student Life
Internships provide exciting experiences for the SOB students to get a glimpse into their future. Currently, 94% of students representing all four business majors are placed at internship sites in 22 different states and six countries. The SOB also operates three academic centers, which connect students to real business opportunities: Center for the Study of Capitalism, Allegacy Center for Leadership and Character, and the Center for Analytics Impact. In conjunction with Lowe’s, the Center for Analytics Impact created Retail Learning Labs for students to analyze data. The Wake Forest Business Solutions program allows students to complete meaningful business projects for local organizations. Global immersion courses focus on international business projects in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Financial Global immersions in Germany, Amsterdam, and Dubai. During these trips, students will also tour companies.
Online Programs
MBA students now have the convenient option to complete all courses fully online.