This is how HWS does business

At Hobart and William Smith, you’ll prepare for a career in business by developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills that define the liberal arts curriculum. You’ll take courses in data analytics, finance, marketing, accounting, administration and managerial practices from expert faculty. 

Through HWS’ Office of Career Services, you will work with a dedicated counselor to identify careers of interest, make connections in those industries and take advantage of our Guaranteed Internship Program. With the guidance of faculty, you’ll create a springboard to a career in business and, like so many of our alumni, go on to lead in the industry of your choosing.

Student Spotlight

Amponsah

Delores Amponsah ’25
Major: Business Management and Entrepreneurship
Minor: Sociology

“The skills I’ve learned in courses such as “Quantitative Tools” with Associate Professor of Business Management and Entrepreneurship Craig Talmage were useful in my internship at Bloomberg LP as an HR Transformation and Program Management intern. By understanding data visualization and basic statistical methods, I was able to analyze employee performance metrics and conduct meaningful workforce analytics.”

Jones

Nicholas Jones ’26
Majors: Business Management and Entrepreneurship; Economics

“The Business Management and Entrepreneurship Program has broadened the scope of professional opportunities ahead of me. The skills I have gained in the classroom were necessary for my success as a financial planner representative intern at Northwestern Mutual.”

Berk

Cyma Berk ’25
Majors: Business Management and Entrepreneurship; Media and Society

“The Business Management and Entrepreneurship Program has given me direction. Declaring a major at the end of my sophomore year really helped me to explore career paths that suited me. Taking courses like "Economic Principles for the Entrepreneur," "Fundamentals of Marketing" and “Organizational Management" gave me a great sense of direction in finding what types of careers and industries I would thrive in.”

As a Business Management and Entrepreneurship major, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the global market, develop the ability to lead in a wide range of industries, hone communications skills, understand how to build teams, and become adept at collecting and analyzing data. The B.S. in Business Management and Entrepreneurship requires completion of 15 courses, including seven core courses; four courses within a concentration; one ethics course; two electives; and a capstone course (MGMT 400).

Learning Objectives:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical foundations of managerial and entrepreneurial leadership and strategies across multiple disciplines.
  • Apply ethical, data-driven decision-making skills in both real-world and simulated contexts.
  • Develop and demonstrate an understanding of importance of stakeholder involvement in decision-making processes to bolster positive social, environmental and economic bottom lines.
  • Consistently craft business management and entrepreneurial strategies that incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusivity principles in a meaningful way.
  • Construct and interpret financial statements, including sensitivity analysis.
  • Apply historical and contemporary theories of management to analyze real-world management scenarios.

 

 

GUARANTEEDINTERNSHIP
GUARANTEED INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

PROGRAM

GUARANTEED INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Through the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education, you can explore careers, get one-on-one advising and land an internship with guaranteed funding. We guarantee that you will participate in at least one internship or research opportunity—and we have the funding to help pay for it. As early as the first semester of your first year on campus, you will be partnered with a dedicated counselor in career services who will help you better understand how your interests match internships and career options, and then connect you with opportunities and alumni mentors to guide you.

 
  • Top Internships
  • 1000 Internships
  • Top Career Services

Recent Internship And Research Placements For HWS Students Include:

  • Bank of America
  • Boston Private Bank and Trust
  • Citi
  • Dartmouth’s Tuck Business School Bridge Program
  • ESPN
  • Fidelity Investments
  • Frick Capital, Switzerland
  • Hitachi Corporation
  • J.P. Morgan Chase
  • Lilly Pulitzer
  • Merkley + Partners
  • Morgan Stanley
  • National University of Ireland, Galway
  • New York Stock Exchange
  • Ogilvy Public Relations
  • Sony Pictures
  • Special Olympics
  • Yale Medical School

STUDENT OUTCOMESMore Student Outcomes

  • Hobart and William Smith Colleges

    WALKER ’24 SET TO WORK AT FIDELITY INVESTMENTS AS FINANCIAL REPRESENTATIVE

    Walker ’24 accepts job after successful internship with the firm last summer.

    “My advisors were continuously supportive in guiding me through the process of developing and pursuing my interests…”

  • Hobart and William Smith Colleges

    RAMSAY '25 TO INTERN AT CITI

    Summer position as Global Wealth Intern to offer Ramsay ’25 insight into international banking.

    "Everyone has been super helpful. You can tell they really want other HWS students and alums to get involved with Citi.”

  • Hobart and William Smith Colleges

    Crane ’24 to Join Pricewaterhouse-Coopers

    Crane ’24 to work as Transfer Pricing Associate in New York City.

    “During my time at HWS, both economics and data analytics courses were crucial in leading me to this position.”

  • Hobart and William Smith Colleges

    BOTT ’23 EARNS FULBRIGHT TO TAIWAN

    Bott ’23 has been accepted into the U.S. Government’s flagship international exchange program.

    “I want to make a difference in my community, and a Fulbright Grant will provide me with an unforgettable, immersive experience to build a home and be a positive change….”

ALUMNI

Hobart and William Smith alumni are leaders in every field, and their success provides a roadmap for students to follow. Ranked 13th in the nation among private schools by the Princeton Review, HWS’ alumni network is truly stellar with graduates reaching back to provide students with internships and first jobs.

over 1,100 businesses Top Alum Network

Companies founded, owned or led by HWS grads include:

  • Bluewave Financial
  • Bozzuto Group
  • Compass Point Partners
  • Edgeworth Economics
  • Eric Cohler Design, Inc.
  • Fernish
  • Fidelity
  • Hempitecture
  • North Avenue Brands
  • Polaris Partners
  • Real Watersports
  • Volkswagen of America
  • 2•4•1 Cosmetics

 

Employers for recent HWS graduates include:

  • Aon
  • Avenue Capital Group
  • Bank of America
  • Beazley Group
  • Bloomberg
  • Bozzuto Group
  • Canaccord Genuity
  • Chubb
  • Citi
  • CTM Marketing
  • CybelAngel
  • Fidelity Investments
  • Gallagher
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Guidepoint
  • HSBC
  • Huron Consulting Group
  • J.Crew
  • JP Morgan
  • Lemieux & Associates
  • Liberty Mutual
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Merkley + Partners
  • Moelis & Company
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Peoples Security Bank and Trust
  • Prudential Financial
  • Putnam Investments
  • Rhone Athletics
  • S&P Global
  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
  • The Elliot Group
  • Third Bridge Group
  • UBS
  • UnitedHealth Group
  • Vanguard
  • Wavemaker

  • Wells Fargo

 

Alumni

Build Your Resume
Experiential Education

with Experiential Education

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION

Compete for $10,000 to start your own venture, be mentored by alumni in finance and real estate, and take trips to Boston and Wall Street to get one-on-one experience from alums in the business, finance and economic industries. At HWS, you’ll have exceptional opportunities to apply your business-related studies and build your resume.

Belonging, Equity and Diversity

Business programs, especially those with a heavy emphasis on economics courses, have historically lacked diversity. By requiring interdisciplinary concentrations, Business Management and Entrepreneurship expands the lens of business, inviting all viewpoints, questioning norms and thinking of new ways to overcome modern social, economic and global challenges.

Courses and Concentrations

Courses include:  

MGMT 101 - entrepreneurial leadership

Examine the attributes required of successful entrepreneurs in contemporary leadership roles. You will learn how to take an idea to impact and consider important concepts, such as ethics, sustainability, economic Darwinism, and managing uncertainty. You will discuss product invention, service implementation, economic choice, risk and return, scale and scope, value creation, and small business generation. You will develop a strategic plan for a product, service, startup or organization.

MGMT 120 - economic principles or principles of economics 

Gain a foundational understanding of microeconomic theory necessary to pursue enterprises in contemporary markets. Key topics include: economic principles guiding various types of organizations; rational behavior; competition vs. monopoly power; simple game theory; pricing strategies; and production costs and behavior in the short and long-term. 

MGMT 201 - quantitative tools 

Learn accounting, statistical and Excel skills with all examples in Excel. The accounting techniques covered include: accounting terminology; the accounting equation; how to prepare and analyze financial statements (the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows); operational costing considerations; cost behavior and cost-volume-profit analysis; differential analysis and product pricing; and budgeting.

MGMT 210 - Fundamentals of Marketing

Learn and hone your skills to manage successful marketing campaigns. Topics address customer and market analysis segmentation, targeting and positioning, product pricing and placement, social media strategies, regulation, ethical considerations, and communication strategies. 

MGMT 215 - managerial accounting 

Explore the need and purpose of accounting information systems. Emphasis is placed on the interpretation of financial statements, terms and accounting theories used by management to effectively participate in managerial activities such as long-range planning, capital budgeting, investments, internal control and various managerial scenarios. The class also covers key regulatory agencies and requirements, including the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

MGMT 220 - Social innovation 

Learn the foundations of social innovation and social enterprise to become future social entrepreneurs. Students work through social entrepreneurship frameworks, so they can become changemakers who understand the many facets of social change. Learn the basics of social enterprise, specifically earned-income strategies to serve social missions. Undertake critical perspectives when examining the social impacts of enterprises asking questions like, “Can purpose and profit can go together?” Deepen learning with in-class and out-of-class experiential cases.

MGMT 310 – managerial finance 

Develop the fundamental skills necessary to analyze and understand how businesses make investment and finance decisions. Topics covered include:  the concept of present value, discounted cash flow analysis, valuation techniques, capital structure, capital management and investment priorities, risk management, short- and long-term financing, and selected topics in international finance.

MGMT 315 - organizational management  

Engage with materials that will enhance your knowledge of the art and science of management across sectors (i.e., for-profit, nonprofit, public, etc.). 

MGMT 400capstone 

Identify a problem and learn how to apply creative solutions. Projects may include the development and launch of a product, service or organization (for-profit, non-profit, low-profit, hybrid, government service, etc.).


To major in Business Management and Entrepreneurship, students must take four courses in a Concentration, listed below. Students interested in finance can select the Data Analytics concentration or pursue a degree in Economics with a concentration in Finance.

Finance and Data Analytics

  • Data Analytics (see also Economics major with Finance concentration)

International Business

  • German for Business Management and Entrepreneurship
  • Spanish for Business Management and Entrepreneurship

Environment and Sustainability

  • Climate and Resource Management
  • Ecopreneurship
  • Food and Culture

Public Relations and Marketing

  • Strategic Communication and Professional Writing

Cultural Intelligence and Inclusion

  • Food and Culture
  • Gender, Sexuality, and Intersectional Justice
  • Meanings and Values across Cultures

Health Care

  • Public Health

Fine and Performing Arts

  • Dance Administration
  • Museum Management
  • Music Administration

Politics

Master of Science in ManagementSupercharge Your Undergraduate Degree

Enhance your skill set and career outlook with a Master of Science in Management (MSM) degree. The MSM program builds on the value of your undergraduate education, providing additional skills, knowledge and insight necessary to build a rewarding career and live a consequential life. Our program blends essential theory with practical insights, making it especially beneficial for individuals contemplating careers in business, nonprofits, or government. 

You have two flexible pathways for completion: An accelerated 3+1 track or a traditional 4+1 track. Both paths come paired with a dedicated Career Coordinator from our nationally recognized Salisbury Center for Career Services to assist you along your career pathway as you complete the program and beyond.

3+1 Master of Science in Management

With advanced planning, you can graduate with a bachelor’s and a master’s in four years at the same cost as a standard bachelor’s degree. To take advantage of this accelerated degree program, students should plan to transfer at least 4 credits to HWS at time of enrollment. Reach out to Professor of Business Management and Entrepreneurship Thomas Drennen to learn more.

 

PodcastENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS

Hear the stories of alumni and industry leaders on building the businesses and non-profits they wish to see in the world. Originally title Entrepreneurial Endeavors and now called CTFO, this podcast is hosted by Matt Nusom ’23 and produced and edited by Seamus Galvin ’23, HWS alumni who share a fresh, front-line perspective on launching business ventures.

HWS alumni Guests: