OpportunitiesDepartment of Business and Economics

Diversify your portfolio of business and finance experience, from studying international business in Spain to winning seed money for your start-up company. Check out all the possibilities to grow outside your classes.

Discover the Opportunities with Business and Economics

  • Entrepreneurship Gustavus provides an excellent environment for aspiring entrepreneurs. A liberal arts focus on critical thinking and creative problem-solving are essential for success. The Gustie Entrepreneur Cup pairs student entrepreneurs with alumni mentors to develop and pitch a business concept. The winning pitches win seed money to help their dream get started.

  • Mentoring This campus-wide program matches Gustavus students with a Gustavus alum, parent, or friend for a mentoring relationship. It prepares students for their transition to professional life upon graduation. Most graduates from the Economics and Management Department participate in the mentoring program.

  • Student Clubs Student organizations are a great way to get involved and engage outside of the classroom. The Department has several clubs, all focused on building strong relationships while gaining professional skills and career knowledge.

    • Accounting Club helps students learn more about a career in accounting by fostering relationships between students, accounting firms and other professional organization. The group meets a few times a month and holds networking events and information sessions with companies that hire Gustavus graduates. Being involed will help prepare for job interviews and secure an internship.

    • Finance Club organizes campus events to teach financial literacy that better prepare your for a career in finance and you will learn strategies to nurture your personal financial well-being.

    • Investment Club helps students learn about markets and investing by actively managing a diversified investment portfolio with a market value in excess of $250,000. Members also compete for prizes and bragging rights in an annual stock market simulation game. The Skone Club contributes a portion of its gains to student scholarships every year. The E. Terry Skone Investment Club was established in 1997 by a generous donation from Terry Skone ’63 as a way to help students understand the complex world of equities and make informed decisions about a diversified portfolio. Since 1997, student leaders and members of the Club have actively managed a six-figure account, meeting to discuss holdings, offer stock watch suggestions, evaluate buy and sell opportunities, and ultimately make decisions about the portfolio’s equities. Investment decisions are supported by the Club’s social responsibility statement and its investment guidelines. All students are welcome to join regardless major, class-year or investing experience.
    • Gustavus Women in Leadership (GWIL) GWIL is a campus student organization that is popular among Econ/Management students. GWIL's purpose is to prepare, promote, and inspire Gustavus women in their professional and personal leadership development to reach their fullest potential.

  • Study Away Many students in the department choose to do a semester studying away from campus. Credits from semester-long programs can meet requirements of the major or minor. The Department also coordinates a January independent study in Hong Kong to provide an opportunity to learn about international business and global financial markets and experience Asia's banking center.

  • Internships Most students complete at least one internship before graduating. Internships are an outstanding way to explore possible career paths. An internship may be for academic credit or independent, either paid or voluntary. Our strong alumni network provides connections and opportunities.

  • Careers/Graduate School Gustavus graduates leave the Hill prepared to lead and excel in a wide variety of business careers and Gustavus prepares students to be successful in a myriad of different graduate programs. Some of the most frequently selected paths are an economics PhD and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programs.

  • Innovation Scholars
    The Innovation Scholars Program is an innovative experiential learning opportunity for students at participating private colleges and universities in Minnesota. Students are provided with first-hand research and marketability analysis experience with new real world innovation projects from leading inventors and researchers at Mayo Clinic, Medical Alley, and NASA. Students work in teams of four, with at least one science major and one business major on each team, to complete research projects that ultimately assist inventors in the assessment of ideas for new products submitted by researchers. Interested juniors and seniors majoring in either science, nursing, or business may apply for an internship position with the Mayo Innovation Scholars Program.