Business, Communication, and Innovation

In Business, Communication, and Innovation (BCI), students gain the tools, knowledge and experience needed to become leaders and to make a positive impact on the business world and beyond. Our approach to professional education enhances students’ abilities to be critical, creative thinkers who communicate effectively and excel in a diverse and ever-changing global economy.

BCI’s curricular design ensures that our content and teaching methods meet the changing needs of our graduates, their employers and the community. Full-time and executive/ professional adjunct faculty teach a broad array of courses relevant to future business and societal demands, with ethical leadership, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and global perspectives integrated throughout our curriculum.

BCI educates an average of 300 undergraduate and 200 graduate students each academic year. With a value-based and student-centered approach, we prepare students to be successful, ethical, and entrepreneurial community leaders.

The programs in Accounting, Business, and MBA are nationally accredited by ACBSP.

Undergraduate Information

Accounting, Business, and Organizational Behavior and Leadership
Communication Studies

Graduate Information

MBA
MS in Accounting
MS in Organizational Leadership and Change
MA in Social Innovation and Sustainability Leadership

Go directly to program listing.

Undergraduate Information

Accounting, Business, and Organizational Behavior and Leadership Overview

Edgewood College’s Business, Communication, and Innovation offers innovative undergraduate degree programs in Business. Courses employ active learning approaches to foster student development. Our integrated approach helps students develop a holistic view of how organizations work, how different business disciplines interface, and how to effectively impact organizations.

Business majors choose an area of concentration (optional for Accounting majors). Students take courses in a specific discipline to develop a deeper level of expertise. There are five Business major concentration options: Accounting, Finance, General Business, Management and Marketing. All Business and Accounting majors are required to complete one internship experience of at least 160 hours. While completing the internship, students take a course for credit that helps develop their career management skills.

Policies for Accounting, Business, and Organizational Behavior and Leadership Students

For students earning a major in Business, a minimum of 18 credits in Business courses numbered 300 or above must be earned at Edgewood College. For students earning a major in Accounting, a minimum of 18 credits in Accounting courses numbered 300 or above must be earned at Edgewood College. For students earning a minor, a minimum of 6 credits in Business courses numbered 300 or above must be earned at Edgewood College.

Once enrolled at Edgewood College, all coursework to be applied to a major or minor must be taken at Edgewood College. Exceptions to this rule will occur only in extreme circumstances and require prior written permission of both the student’s academic advisor and the Associate Dean of Business, Communication, and Innovation. During their junior year, students must complete the Declaration of Major form with assistance from their advisor and submit it to the Registrar’s Office.

Specific courses have prerequisites that must be satisfied prior to enrollment. See course descriptions for more details.

Policy for the Waiver of Undergraduate Internship Requirement for Accounting, Business, and Organizational Behavior and Leadership

Students requesting to obtain a waiver for the undergraduate internship requirement must meet, at minimum, the following criteria:

Student must submit a request to waive the undergraduate internship requirement at least one semester prior to intended semester of graduation.
Student must submit a resume to be reviewed by members of the undergraduate Accounting, Business, and Organizational Behavior and Leadership faculty and staff. Student should be willing to complete any revisions suggested after review of resume.
Student must demonstrate a significant amount of external experience which would meet or exceed the requirements of the undergraduate internship. Experience should be demonstrated by the submission of a personal statement from the student along with supporting letters of reference and/or industry credentials/certifications.
Student must provide rationale for the inability to complete the internship requirement as traditionally mandated. Student should demonstrate through documentation and personal statements that completion of the internship requirement in the traditional format would impose undue hardship or otherwise not be logistically possible.
Student may be required to complete written and/or oral assignments related to the internship course for which they are petitioning a waiver.

Policy for the Timeline of Submission of Waivers of Program Requirements

With regards to waivers for the undergraduate Accounting, Business, and Organizational Behavior and Leadership programs, students should request and submit finalized, signed paperwork no later than one semester prior to their anticipated semester of graduation. It is vital to the successful progress of the student that this procedure be handled within a timely manner to ensure that students are aware of their academic requirements. Students who fail to adhere to this timeline will not be automatically denied approval but may risk delaying their date of completion.

Policy to Standardize the Age of Accepted Transfer/Continuing Credit

For the purpose of evaluating transfer-in and returning student course credit for the Accounting, Business, and Organizational Behavior and Leadership undergraduate programs:

No credit shall be accepted that is older than 10 years for program specific courses.
No credit shall be accepted which does not meet the C or better grade requirement for program specific courses.
In the instance that a student must continue a sequence of coursework, such as in accounting or finance, the student may be required to retake the equivalent of the most recently successfully completed course in the sequence if the completed course is more than 5 years old.
Students whose credit is outside of the 10 year window may petition to renew the credit through completion of a portfolio project which would demonstrate current knowledge of the content.

Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Coordinator of the content area of the course(s), and/or the Associate Dean of Business, Communication, and Innovation.

Prerequisites for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Business or Bachelor of Science in Accounting programs

Admission to the BS in Business or BS in Accounting programs requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 and a grade of “C” or better in each of the following courses:

O: Intro to Communication
T: Logic and Critical Thinking
W: College Writing
ECON 255 GJ - Principles of Macroeconomics OR ECON 256 J - Principles of Microeconomics (Only one of these courses must be completed prior to admission into the BS in Business major or BS in Accounting major)
MATH 121 M - Statistics
MATH 122 - Finite Mathematics
CS 150 I - Computing & Business Applications .

Students must complete an application process prior to being formally admitted to Business, Communication, and Innovation to be eligible to complete the Business or Accounting majors.

Communication Studies Overview

The Communication Studies programs prepare students for fulfilling personal and professional lives enriched by community engagement and based on a theoretical and practical understanding of communication.

As a Communication Studies major, students learn how to listen, how to persuade, and how to engage in civic life. Students study communication in personal relationships, in businesses and other organizations, in media, and across genders and cultures. In addition, students gain valuable hands-on experience through internships, community-based projects, and research classes.

Graduate Information

Admission Requirements for MBA and MSA programs

Graduate programs in Business, Communications, and Innovation at Edgewood College offer exceptional and varied learning opportunities from faculty and peers alike. Applicants are therefore assessed for their potential for academic success, what they bring to the classroom, and their capacity to reflect the quality of an Edgewood College degree.

To be considered for admission, applicants must provide the following to the Graduate and Professional Studies Admissions Office:

Completed graduate application: https://www.edgewood.edu/apply. The application fee is waived for Edgewood College alumni and veterans.
Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic credits received from a United States regionally accredited or equivalent post- secondary institution, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 on a 4.0 scale, should be sent directly to Edgewood College. The cumulative grade point average is computed on the highest degree held at the time of application to Business, Communications, and Innovation.
Two letters of recommendation from college or university professors, supervisors, and/or professional colleagues who can speak to the applicant’s potential for success in Business, Communications, and Innovation graduate program selected. Additional guidelines for submitting letters of recommendation may be found on Business, Communications, and Innovation website.
A written statement explaining what the applicant hopes to gain from participation in the program, what the applicant brings to the program and how specific background experiences of the applicant will aid in their success as a student.
A detailed resume evidencing at least two years of relevant professional experience.
Documentation showing that applicant meets one of the following criteria:

Five or more years of relevant professional experience AND a GPA of at least 2.5 overall or on the last 60 credits,

Bachelor of Business Administration or Bachelor of Science in Business from Edgewood College AND an overall GPA of at least 2.5 for the last 60 credits of the degree program,

Current, active military or former military personnel, or veteran, honorably discharged. Veterans are considered those who have served at least 180 days of active duty (not including training) or who have been injured and determined to have a disability before 180 days. (Does not include those who served the length of their term in the National Guard or Reserves without being activated at any time.),

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) with a score of at least 430 (or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) converted to comparable GMAT score).

For review and study assistance for the GMAT or GRE, visit www.Princetonreview.com or www.kaplan.com. Students must call 1-800-717-4628 or go online at http://www.mba.com to register for the test. Enter the name and city of the school to find testing centers. Students can also contact the Madison Testing Center with the following information:

Pearson Professional Center
8517 Excelsior Drive
Madison, Wisconsin 53717
608-833-3991

Please see Graduate Admissions in the Admissions section of the catalog for additional international student requirements.

Admission Requirements for MSOLC program

To be considered for admission, applicants must provide the following to the Graduate and Professional Studies Admissions Office:

Completed graduate application: https://www.edgewood.edu/apply. The application fee is waived for Edgewood College alumni and veterans.
Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic credits received from a United States regionally accredited or equivalent post- secondary institution, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, should be sent directly to Edgewood College. The cumulative grade point average is computed on the highest degree held at the time of application to Business, Communications, and Innovation.
A written statement explaining what the applicant hopes to gain from participation in the program, what the applicant brings to the program and how specific background experiences of the applicant will aid in their success as a student. Please include two references.

Admission Requirements for MA in Social Innovation and Sustainability Leadership program

Admission to the MA in Social Innovation and Sustainability Leadership program is determined by assessment of the candidate’s academic qualifications, work experience, and interest in the field.

Completed graduate application: https://www.edgewood.edu/apply. The application fee is waived for Edgewood College alumni and veterans.
Submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate academic credits received from United States, regionally accredited or equivalent post-secondary institutions.
Each applicant must participate in an interview conducted by the Director of the Social Innovation & Sustainability Leadership Program. This interview may be done in person, via telephone, or internet.
Submit a 2-3 page essay addressing the following questions:
1. Why are you interested in the Social Innovation & Sustainability Leadership Program?
2. How do you see the Program supporting your professional and/or personal goals?
3. Are there specific items you are hoping to learn or gain through the Program?
4. What background and interests do you bring to the Social Innovation & Sustainability Leadership Program?

Students can write and submit their essay online or as an attachment in an email. Completed essays can be emailed to gps@edgewood.edu. Students should include their full name, email address, and telephone number.

Submit at least one letter of recommendation from a college or university professor, supervisor, and/or professional colleague who can speak to the applicant’s potential for success in the Social Innovation & Sustainability Leadership program.

The entirety of the application materials above are considered in evaluating candidates.

Application materials may be sent to:

Edgewood College
Graduate Admissions Office
ATTN: Admissions Manager
1000 Edgewood College Drive
Madison, Wisconsin 53711

Programs

Certificate

Major

Minor

Graduate Pathway