summer business institute
Bridging the Gap Non-business majors find the best of both worlds and build on their business skills
Cristina Dominguez (second row fourth from the right), now an Operations Analyst at Morgan Stanley, with her Summer Business Institute Class of 2009.
students’ chosen discipline and the world
junior majoring in psychology, Cristina
their answers at the Villanova School
of business. Innovative thinking, ethical
Dominguez hoped to enhance her pros-
of Business’ Summer Business Institute
leadership, strategic management, and
pects for employment. “I loved my psych
(SBI). Founded in 1997, SBI runs for 10
globalization are a few of the business
classes but wanted something that would
weeks each summer, immersing students
essentials stressed at SBI.
tie in business-related topics and make
in a rigorous curriculum designed to give
me more marketable,” says Cristina, a
non-business majors or recent graduates
A Worthy Investment
2010 graduate from Puerto Rico.
with non-business degrees a competitive
“Because it is offered as a stand-alone
edge in the corporate world. Villanova
summer program, SBI allows students
a basic understanding of everyday
students who successfully complete
to fully concentrate on business integra-
business principles. The mechanical
the program earn a minor in business.
tion, which would be hard to do during
engineering student from Philadelphia
Students from other colleges and univer-
a regular semester when there are so
knew that a business background
sities receive an SBI Business Certificate.
many competing priorities,” explains
Ameer Jones also wanted to gain
could accelerate his chances for a more
Taught by the multidimensional
Melinda German, associate dean for
Villanova School of Business (VSB)
undergraduate business programs.
faculty, who draw from a wealth of
“Because they fully understand the goals
the gap” between engineering and busi-
real-world business experience, SBI
of non-business students, our faculty
ness. A civil engineering student from
coursework provides instruction
purposefully tailor the SBI curriculum,
East Brunswick, N.J., Bryan worked in his
in accounting, economics, finance,
schedule, and activities to meet their
parents’ business during summers and
marketing, management, and corpo-
needs. Despite ‘giving up’ a summer, our
figured a formal business background
rate responsibility. Modeled after VSB’s
participants find this experience is well
could only help him achieve higher levels
top-ranked undergraduate program, the
worth the investment.”
of success.
SBI curriculum offers a vital link between
fulfilling future. Bryan Wagner just wanted to “bridge
14
All three Villanova undergrads found
villanova business | fall 2010
This year, Villanova’s program boasted
PHOTO: John Welsh
As a Villanova University
