Why business at Oberlin?

I have been asked on several occasions, “why a business program at Oberlin College and Conservatory?” I suppose for those familiar with Oberlin’s long standing association with the liberal arts, performing arts, and social progressiveness, the idea of standing up a business program seemed surprising.

The decision to create a business program was deliberated at length by the faculty and administration. Advancing new curriculum includes being responsible stewards of what makes Oberlin special. What aligns us all is the question, “What is best for our students?”

That question animates everything we do. And it is where a lot of our excitement comes from. Students across majors see business as a way to augment what they learn here at Oberlin.

Obies learn how to design creative approaches to create value. Those insights can lead to sustainable and thriving business models. But even for those who don’t go on to build businesses, learning about business helps students see more possibilities in their talents.

When you can recognize a problem and communicate a compelling story of how you help others by solving it at scale, your opportunities to create impact will always be abundant. I want Oberlin students to genuinely and credibly feel that confidence.

Regardless of domain, that abundance allows students to build careers that are in tune with their talents, passions, and desire to make a difference.