CANTON, Mo. — Culver-Stockton College’s Division of Business, Education and Law is growing its curriculum with the addition of five bachelor’s degrees that will provide students with key skills that are in high demand within the regional labor market.
In addition to 13 other majors, the division is adding majors in digital marketing, esports and gaming administration, human resources management, professional sales and supply chain management.
“These majors are part of our ongoing commitment to serve the needs of our students and the business community here in the Tri-States and wider Midwest by preparing our graduates for the jobs of the 21st century,” said Dr. Douglas B. Palmer, president of Culver-Stockton College.
Courses for these majors are available starting in the Fall 2021 semester. Courses are offered in partnership with the Lower Cost Models for Independent Colleges Consortium, a coalition of almost 70 private colleges and universities committed to making higher education more accessible for all students and sustainable for the long term.
Digital Marketing
Digital marketing teaches students to be nimble thinkers, skilled in the art of persuasive communication and the science of data analytics. Culver-Stockton’s program will give students a deep background in both, along with the intuition needed to blend them into effective strategy. They will start with core business fundamentals, then learn about the latest concepts in social media marketing, search engine optimization and analytics.
Esports and Gaming Administration
The number of players and programmers is growing exponentially, and the gaming industry needs business-minded leaders with expertise in distribution, research, sales and marketing. The number of jobs in esports grew a staggering 85 percent between 2018 and 2019. The esports and gaming administration program was built in partnership with Unity, the world’s most-used game engine, and the International Game Developers Association, a nonprofit professional association. It builds off core business courses to provide a solid understanding of the nuances of games and the complexities specific to managing esports teams and leagues.
Human Resources Management
Human resources is a core function of essentially every business, and more companies are seeking college graduates to fill roles in their HR departments. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows HR managers earn a median annual salary of $113,300, with projected job growth 40 percent higher than the national average during the next 10 years.
Professional Sales
Qualified salespeople are a critical component of almost every business, with sales managers earning a median salary of $126,640 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. The professional sales major will provide students with relevant, project-based learning that allows them to develop skills sought by Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing technology firms.
Supply Chain Management
Supply chain management has become a critical area for companies with a need to move products around the globe. Indeed, a worldwide employment website for job listings, and Universal Logistics, a full-service provider of customized transportation and logistics solutions, show employees in supply chain management earn an average of $82,000 annually, and that number jumps to $97,000 annually for professionals with 3-5 years of experience. The program is designed to provide students with the skills to secure an entry-level position in SCM while also providing the background necessary to grow in their careers.
“These new programs will allow us to offer highly specialized majors that are typically found only at large universities, but now we can offer them with all of the advantages of a small college, such as a highly-personalized student experience,” said Dr. Lauren Schellenberger, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college.
The curriculum for the five new business majors has been created by Culver-Stockton’s business faculty — Maria Berhorst, lecturer in business; James Cosgrove, professor in business administration; Tammy Ellison, director of institutional technology and design; Dr. Dell Ann Janney, professor of accounting and associate dean of experiential education and external relations; Jeanne Johnson, senior lecturer in management information systems; Eric Larson, senior lecturer in business; Dr. Matthew Osborn, assistant professor of business; John Reinhardt, lecturer in accounting; and Julie Straus, associate professor of accounting.
Culver-Stockton has been ranked as the top college or university in Missouri for getting a job in 2019 and 2020, according to Zippia, Inc., a California-based national resource website with career information for job seekers. With an enrollment of more than 1,000 students, Culver-Stockton now offers 49 undergraduate programs.
Contact the Marketing & Public Relations Office, at pr@culver.edu or 573-288-6000 ext. 6728 for more information.
NOTE: A number that appears immediately after a person’s name (i.e. Jane Doe ’18) is a reference to the year that person earned their bachelor’s degree from Culver-Stockton.