Graduate School Advising
Department of Economics and Business




Kalamazoo College students receive a broad liberal arts training that leads to future success.  Many K students continue their education through professional and graduate programs.  Economics and Business majors have many options:

Masters in Business Administration (MBA) is probably the most popular program for our graduates.  Many majors complete MBA programs at top universities, but most graduates work before starting an MBA.   Strong programs usually require 3-5 years of professional experience.  MBA programs prepare students to take leadership roles in major corporations.  K has a large number of successful alums who have followed this path. Business Week Rankings
 
Rank MBA programs by selected characteristics
Law school (JD) is another popular option for our graduates.  Economics provides an excellent background for legal studies.  Law and Economics is a growing field within both disciplines.  Law school provides the training and credentials to practice law in both the courtroom and corporate settings.
 
Internet Legal Guide Law School rankings

Public Policy schools (MPP) are another option for our majors.  Public policy programs prepare students for careers in government and public service.  These programs draw from a variety of disciplines to provide professional training.
Industry and Labor Relations programs (MLR) have also been popular with our graduates.  These programs combine economics, psychology, and business courses to prepare for careers in human resources. Michigan State's Master of Labor Relations and Human Resources

Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Graduate school in Economics (Ph.D.) is also an option for strong students.  Each year, a small number of our students choose to continue their education in economics.  Some have become quite prominent in the profession.  Graduate training in economics is highly mathematical.  These programs typically require a minimum of 3 calculus courses, linear algebra, and statistics for admission.  If you are considering this career path, a math minor would be useful.  PhD programs prepare students for academic, government, and corporate positions
Of course, many other graduate programs exist.  Recent graduates have gone to study Arts Management, College Administration, Accounting, Environmental Management, and a variety of other fields.  Don't narrow your options too early.  The Career Development Center may be helpful in starting your search.


    Useful Links

US News rankings

Advice for undergraduates considering graduate school by Phil Agre (UCLA)

Grinnell College's grad school links

Writing Admissions essays (RPI)

The National Science Foundation provides funding for graduate study in economics (but not business) through their Graduate Research Fellowship Program 

You may also be interested in Advice for Graduate Students by Jason Hong

 

Created and maintained by Chuck Stull

Department of Economics and Business