Wichita State University’s W. Frank Barton School of Business believes that the future can be significantly impacted by collaboration, creativity, and a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. This idea runs through the veins of every business degree program and helps graduates succeed in the rapidly changing business marketplace. The school is named after an esteemed, intelligent, and successful businessman who was the chairman of Rent-A-Center and whose wife, Patsy, is a WSU alumna. The AACSB-accredited School of Business will soon reside in the brand new, $50 million Woolsey Hall. It will provide extensive opportunities and top-of-the-line technology for business students, faculty, and staff.
Education
Undergraduate students can major in Accounting, General Business, Entrepreneurship (the only one in the state), Finance, Human Resource Management, Information Technology & Management Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Business Administration in Economics. Several of these majors carry an optional emphasis in Real Estate. Graduate students can obtain a Masters in Accountancy with options in Accounting Information Systems or Taxation; Business Administration; Applied Economics with options in Data Analytics, Financial Economics, or International Economics; and Management Science & Supply Chain Management. The MBA provides optional areas of concentration in Business Analytics & Information Management, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Finance, Health Care Administration, Human Resource Management, and Marketing. There is also an Executive MBA degree available.
Many people need financial assistance to attend a university, and the Barton School of Business provides numerous scholarships for its students totaling $800,000 a year. These include the Clay Barton Scholarship, Fran Jabara Entrepreneurship Scholarships, General Business Scholarships, and Koch Scholars Scholarships. To accumulate both college credit and international experience, students can study abroad in places like France, Germany, China, and Austria.
Student Life
Business students have many options of ways to get involved on campus through fraternities & sororities, students organizations, service-learning opportunities, Student Government Association, Student Activities Council, leadership development programs, and civic engagement. The network of professionals is vast in the largest city in Kansas. This allows students access to an extensive business network for co-ops, apprenticeships through Apprent-ICT, and internships with companies like Google, the Mayo Clinic, Microsoft, and even the White House. Applied learning education is a part of every degree program which includes hands-on opportunities, volunteering, research, service, and the Mentorship Program. The Career Development Center assists students with resume, interview, and career preparations; career fairs; networking events; and finding jobs on-campus. The Professional Edge Program enhances the skills necessary for professional growth in areas such as time management, industry knowledge, financial literacy, proper communication styles and behaviors, and networking.
Online Programs
Barton offers a variety of flexible and convenient online degree programs. There is a Bachelors in General Business, Human Resource Management, or Management available to undergraduate students. For graduate students, there is the MBA, MBA in Marketing, and a Masters in Human Resource Management.