Business

Linda Clark was a pioneer at a time when women were rarely invited into boardrooms, leadership roles, or technical business careers. She was:

• One of the first women to lead a major professional association in Chicago
• An early advocate for women in business, data, and technology
• A national award winner for advancing the practical use of statistics in business decision-making
• A mentor to young women long before mentoring was common or expected

Her legacy lives on at Cottey through a simple philosophy:

Access creates opportunity. Experience creates confidence.

Through the Clark Institute, Business Administration students don’t wait until graduation to build a résumé. They start building it now!

Students supported by the Institute may receive:

• Paid internships that can include wages, housing, and transportation
• Funding for professional certifications (such as SHRM, QuickBooks, Global Business Professional, and others aligned with career goals)
• Access to innovation spaces, including the Maker Space and Think Tank
• Leadership roles in student-run businesses and real operations
• One-on-one mentoring with selected career professionals for job shadowing and career connections anywhere in the U.S.
• National and international field trips for real-world exploration of industries
• Paid participation in DECA without fundraising. Real conferences & competitions to build connections and professional experiences.

This is not simulated learning. These are real responsibilities, with real outcomes.

Clark Institute students don’t just use resources—they manage them.

Through the Entrepreneurial Lab and Maker Space, students:

• Run the Cottey Spirit Shop
• Manage accounting and budgeting using QuickBooks
• Design, price, purchase, and track inventory
• Lead marketing, promotions, and sales strategy
• Support a “Meet the Maker” model where students and faculty sell what they create

They learn what it means to make decisions, manage risk, and own results. These are all skills employers value and recognize.

The Clark Institute also supports Cottey’s Senior Consulting Capstone, where every business administration student:

• Secures a real business, nonprofit, or startup client
• Conducts a full strategic analysis
• Delivers a three-year strategic plan with measurable KPIs
• Presents professional recommendations to both the client and the Cottey community

Each senior is paired with a U.S.-based professional mentor and completes an in-person job shadowing experience in their field of interest.

This is where classroom learning meets professional credibility.

Our graduates don’t just say they’re “prepared,” they prove it with experience, results, and confidence.

The Clark Institute ensures that when Cottey students step into interviews, internships, or leadership roles, they aren’t explaining potential. They’re talking about what they’ve already done.

Data Analytics and Visualization will prepare students to clean, process, and visualize data. They will also learn software programs such as advanced Excel and Tableau. Students will learn skills to use data to solve problems and support business decisions. Communication skills include verbal communication through story-telling applications related to data.

This course provides an overview of theories and concepts regarding human behavior at work. Students will obtain a comprehensive knowledge of factors and forces that shape individuals’ actions and how they respond to their working environments. Subjects include different leadership styles, ways to increase employees’ motivation and satisfaction, teamwork and team-building, job enrichment and employee empowerment.

Strategic Management is a senior-level course that focuses on the culmination of business coursework and real-time cases of business decisions from a leadership and global perspective. Students work with real business situations to apply analysis and decision-making scenarios to real problems.

This course examines the responsibilities of businesses and their stakeholders regarding business operations. It explores various theories and investigates the state of current sustainable practices. It includes concepts of ethics, environmental and social responsibility, governance, compliance, and sustainability.

This course analyzes cross-cultural and international management practices and the problems that arise from managing in a global environment. It focuses on cultural and regional differences, political and economic influences, global market factors, and other variables that multinational enterprises must face.

Turn ideas into action. Learn by building something real.

This minor is built for doers. Students gain hands-on experience through the Entrepreneurial Lab, where real decisions, real money, and real outcomes matter.

Why it stands out:

• Hands-on venture creation and small business management
• Experience running operations, marketing, and finances
• Entrepreneurial thinking that applies to startups and established organizations
• Pitch competition for real start-up money

Perfect for:

Creators, innovators, artists, future founders, and students who want to build.

Think Globally, Stay Ahead.

This minor prepares students to operate in a world where business, politics, culture, and ethics cross borders daily. You’ll explore how global systems work and what it takes to succeed within them.

Why It Stands Out:

• Global perspective on business strategy and ethics
• Courses that connect business with international relations and culture
• Strong complement to majors in business, political science, languages, or social sciences

Perfect for:

Students interested in global careers, nonprofits, international service, or study abroad.

Create demand. Build influence. Drive results.

Marketing isn’t just creativity; it’s strategy, data, and persuasion. This minor gives students hands-on experience understanding consumers, designing campaigns, and communicating value in competitive markets.

Why it stands out:

• Digital marketing, professional sales, and consumer behavior
• Real-world projects and applied learning
• Strong alignment with creative, analytical, and communication-focused majors

Perfect for:

Students who want to influence audiences, build brands, or communicate ideas that matter.

Where creativity meets leadership.

This interdisciplinary minor bridges the gap between artistic vision and business execution. Students learn about budgeting, marketing, strategic planning, and event technology.

Why it stands out:

• Combines business administration with fine arts and theatre
• Hands-on experience in event management and arts administration
• Prepares students to lead creative organizations, not just perform in them

Perfect for: 

Theatre, fine arts, and creative students who want leadership roles in arts organizations or creative enterprises.

Do business that actually matters.

The CSR minor is for students who believe organizations should be profitable and responsible. This interdisciplinary program explores ethics, sustainability, social impact, and global responsibility. Students are then asked to apply those ideas to real-world challenges.

Why it stands out:

• Blends business, ethics, environmental studies, and social policy
• Focus on sustainability, equity, and responsible leadership
• Prepares students for careers in ESG, nonprofits, public policy, and mission-driven organizations

Perfect for:

Students who want to lead with values, but still want to make strategic, informed decisions.