The Gary E. West College of Business is named after a beloved alumnus and friend of the University. West “started his career by purchasing Valley Welding Supply Company” and turned it into the largest privately-owned distributor of industrial and medical gases and welding supplies in the U.S. West donated $1.5 million to the school in hopes that other students would have the opportunities to become successful in business like himself.
The College of Business holds esteemed accreditation with the IACBE and is committed to quality in “curriculum, instruction, and the development of students as professional and ethical business leaders.”
Education
Undergraduate students in the College of Business at West Liberty earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree and can choose a major under that degree with choices such as Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Cybersecurity, Entrepreneurship, Finance, General Business, Healthcare Management, Management, Marketing, Sport Management, and Zoo Management. For graduate students, a Master of Business Administration degree is offered with concentrations in Management, Accounting, and Healthcare.
The Zoo Management major is something unique to West Liberty University. Students get hands-on experience during an “internship working with the animals at Oglebay’s Good Zoo in Wheeling, WV.” Students get to go behind the scenes and learn the different facets of how a zoo operates at this nationally recognized zoo.
Student Life
Study abroad programs are available through the College of Business and may include destinations such as Spain, Morocco, and Portugal.
The Activities Board enriches the educational experience of students at WLU and supports the overall mission of West Liberty by providing many co-curricular experiences for students planned by students. Activities include fun programs such as TopperFest, West Lib Idol, Open Mic Nights, Hilltoppers Got Talent, and Paint N Sits.
Online Programs
The West College of Business offers an accelerated online MBA program. The program is designed to help students enhance their business careers by helping them to become strategic and resourceful professionals. The program is 30 credit hours, and each course is seven weeks long. Classes for the program start each January, May, and August. An MBA with an accounting focus can be completed in as little as twelve months while others may take up to 20 months with the program. This program is one of the least expensive and most economical for MBA students.
An online Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management is offered at West Liberty University for those seeking to advance their professional knowledge and skills in the healthcare business. Courses are offered year-round for this accelerated program that can be completed in as few as six months.