The Wake Forest University School of Business is the business school of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It offers management-related masters programs and executive education programs, as well as undergraduate program to around 1,314 students.[1] The school is SACSCOC, AACSB, and AACSB-Accounting accredited.[2][3][4] It has a second campus in Charlotte, North Carolina.
History
The Wake Forest University School of Business was established in 1969 as the Babcock Graduate School of Management, admitting its first classes of full-time and executive students in 1971 and presenting its first graduating class in 1973. The Babcock School was established with a gift from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation and named in honor of Charles H. Babcock, a businessman and philanthropist who influenced civic, cultural, and economic development in Winston-Salem and North Carolina.
In 1985, the Babcock Graduate School of Management earned its accreditation from the AACSB, and in 1993, the school moved into the newly constructed Worrell Professional Center, the first building in the nation to house both graduate business and law schools under one roof. In 1987, Babcock launched its evening Master of Business Administration (MBA) program in Winston-Salem, followed by an evening MBA program in Charlotte in 1995 and a Saturday MBA program in Charlotte in 2004.[5]
It was announced in the fall of 2014 that the full-time MBA program would be discontinued in order to focus on the evening program, with the last class matriculating in the spring of 2016.[6][7][8]
Deans
Annette L. Ranft (2022–Present): Previously Dean of Auburn University's Harbert College of Business and Dean at North Carolina State University's Poole College of Management.[9][10]
Charles Iacovou: Previously the Vice Dean, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty, Senior Associate Dean of Graduate School Programs and Director of the full-time MBA program.[10][11]
Steve Reinemund: Previously PepsiCo's Chairman and CEO; Executive in residence at the School of Business in 2015.[12]
Academics
Undergraduate programs offered include a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree program with majors in finance, accountancy, mathematical business, and business enterprise management.[13] Graduate business programs include an MBA, MS in Management, an MS in Business Analytics, a Master of Accounting, and MS in Accountancy.[14] Joint degree programs are also offered: an MD/MBA; a PhD/MBA; a combined MBA with a master’s in accounting; and an MBA and J.D. from the Wake Forest School of Law.[15][16][17] Joint degree programs are also offered: a MD/MBA; a PhD/MBA; a combined MBA with a master's in accounting; and an MBA and J.D. from the Wake Forest School of Law.[18][19]
Degrees
Bachelor of Science
Students who enroll in this degree program can choose to major in finance, accountancy, mathematical business, or business enterprise management.[20][21]
Master of Science in Management
This is a 10-month program designed for students with non-business academic backgrounds and/or limited business knowledge.[22] Specifically it is for recent liberal arts, sciences, and engineering graduates.[23] The coursework covered includes business concepts related to finance, marketing, accounting, communications, strategy, operations, business analytics, accounting, economics, organizational behavior, law, career management, information technology, and ethics.[23]
The program includes a graduate consulting project that pairs student teams with organizations, an Emerging Leaders Program for students interested in dual degrees in management and physician assistant studies, and an International Leaders Program for international students who desire an MSM and business analytics degree.[23][22]
Centers and institutes
The Wake Forest University School of Business houses several centers and institutions.
Students celebrate the opening of the 2007 Marketing Summit.MBA students pitch their ideas during the Elevator Competition.
Each year, the school hosts a Marketing Summit which includes an MBA case competition, undergraduate case competition and a marketing forum. In the undergraduate case competition, competing teams participate in a three-phase challenge over the course of two months in which they deal with pressing issues facing the event's corporate sponsor.[25]
Another event at the campus is the Elevator Competition. The competition was first held in 2000 and has been held every year since at the Wachovia Center in downtown Winston-Salem. During this competition, MBA students with an interest in entrepreneurship pitch their ideas to a venture capitalist while riding in an elevator for two minutes. The objective is to earn more time to present their ideas formally to a panel of venture capitalists, which chooses the winners.[26]
Lecture series
Through the Babcock Leadership Series and Broyhill Executive Lecture Series, MBA students can meet, both formally and informally, with business and government leaders.
Members of Pilobolus also visited to stress the importance of creative thinking in the business world.[27][28][29]
Career & Professional Development
Pre-Wall Street Career Track
This program is available for students focused on a career in investment banking, asset management, sales and trading or private equity.[30] It provides students with specific coursework, mentoring and coaching, experiential learning and networking opportunities.[30]
Business Solutions
Under this program, students complete business projects for local organizations.[31]
MBA Global Immersion Program
In this course, students travel internationally and complete business projects for different organizations.[32][30]
Ready7
This is a model or toolkit created by the school that helps students develop life skills across seven different areas that include personal branding, networking and leadership.[33]
Center for Market Readiness Employment
The Center for Market Readiness Employment (MRE) staff works with students to assess career options, refine goals, and network with well-placed corporate contacts. Beyond the immediate job search, the staff works with students to develop interview and résumé skills.
Student clubs and organizations
Students at the Wake Forest University School of Business can choose from among nearly 20 clubs and organizations, or they can participate in a variety of events including the Greater Babcock Open and a Charity Auction. Student organizations include the Black Business Students Association, Entrepreneurs Club, Hispanic Club, Net Impact Club, Strategy and Consulting Club, Women in Business and The Joint Degree Society.[34]
More than 75% of the school's faculty have international consulting, teaching work or research experience. More than 90% hold a PhD or other doctoral degree, 33% serve on a company board of directors, and 30% have experience owning their own company.[34]
