Prepared to Lead

Puget Sound is one of only a handful of liberal arts colleges in the U.S. to offer undergraduate studies in business administration. The Puget Sound School of Business and Leadership offers hands-on learning in small classes, access to innovative internships, and creative approaches to business and finance studies. Given the success of our alumni, Forbes magazine has recognized Puget Sound as one of the “Top 20 Most Entrepreneurial Colleges” in the country.

While the beautiful brick, stone, and glass of McIntyre Hall harken back to the past, the classes occurring inside are aimed at preparing business leaders of the future through Business Administration, International Business, and Business Leadership Program majors. Students studying strategic planning, as an example, do so through investigations of historic expeditions by figures like Lewis and Clark. Marketing students collaborate on presentations in Chinese, Spanish, French, or German, all languages offered at Puget Sound.

“Majoring in business in a liberal arts environment offers students the opportunity to be both generalists and specialists, depending on their personal goals,” notes Jeff Matthews, the George F. Jewett Distinguished Professor in the School of Business and Leadership. “This is important in today’s global environment, where firms have to take into consideration social, environmental, and political concerns. The focus on critical independent thinking and communication gives students the opportunity to be more effective at their jobs, and it also allows them to be more flexible, adaptable, and agile as they grow professionally.”

This innovative approach to business, which includes thinking critically, writing clearly, and conducting presentations with confidence, are the building blocks of Puget Sound’s business programs. Graduates of the program are uniquely prepared for internships with major corporations such as Target and the Bank of Hawaii, and for careers at places like Amazon, Boeing, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Jeff continues, “The Pacific Northwest has an established and innovative community of businesses that offer resources to faculty and students to complement the classroom experience. Students are offered networking experiences with industry professionals via guest lectures, seminars, professional meetings, mentorships, field trips, and internships. Tacoma and Seattle offer access to a very diverse business community that includes world-renowned companies in international trade, finance, consulting, health care, philanthropy and nonprofits, the public sector, and tech.”

Students can also put their knowledge into practice on campus, gaining firsthand experience managing a $125,000 fund from the university’s endowment through The Puget Sound Investment Club, or by sponsoring campus events with the Entrepreneurial Club.

JEFF MATTHEWS, George F. Jewett Distinguished Professor of Leadership

Four Horsemen Investments is a nonprofit organization, completely run by Puget Sound students, that manages about 500 small-dollar, short-term loans per year. Its mission is to provide financial education to students, faculty, and professionals through research and community outreach. Students involved in the organization have published and presented their research in professional forums in the U.S. and in England, Costa Rica, and Spain. Plus, they have helped numerous Tacoma community members prepare their taxes and make sound investments.

Other business-related student clubs and organizations include The Puget Sound Investment Club, the Business Leadership Program Student Advisory Board, and the Entrepreneurship Club.

The school’s signature Business Leadership Program (BLP) asks students to select a Business Administration Emphasis or an International Business Emphasis and combines core courses in established business fields with classes in the liberal arts. “In the BLP, students are required to engage in extensive reflection, critical analysis, and original thinking that enable them to develop self-understanding, problem solving, and innovation,” says Alan Krause, associate professor and director of the Business Leadership Program.

Cohorts of about 25 students are selected to participate in mentorships with faculty, alumni, and business partners, as well as in guest lectures, job shadowing, internships, networking, field trips, and coursework in a variety of subjects. Collin Noble ’19, sees true benefits from his Business Leadership Program mentoring relationship. “My professional mentor is a great connection to Seattle and the current business world,” says the Boise, Idaho, native.