Meet the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business

Posted: July 11, 2022 | Author: Kate Lyons | Read Time: 12 minutes

Meet the School of Business With over a dozen business degree programs to choose from, the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business at Southern Utah University satisfies a wide variety of interests on top of providing a student-centered education, a commitment to inclusion, and an inspiring community of faculty and peers.

A rich world of student resources awaits in the AACSB accredited School of Business. They have expert academic advisors to help you through every step of your undergraduate or graduate degree. The school also provides career services specific to business majors and minors, such as internships, jobs, resume assistance, as well as devoted staff to help you with your search for a job after graduation. Have you ever wanted to travel internationally? The School of Business can help achieve your goal as well as help you earn your degree with their Business Student International Opportunities.

You’ll find a multitude of disciplines in business including accounting, business analytics, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, hotel, resort and hospitality management, management, marketing, military science, and professional sales. If you already have your undergraduate degree, or if you’re looking into graduate school, the School of Business also offers a Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Business Analytics, and a joint MAcc/MBA program.

Due to their strong commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, the School of Business created a committee in 2020 to increase collaboration in order to create a greater experience for students, faculty, and staff. The committee also aims to provide the necessary tools and resources to better serve everyone in the School of Business.

School of Business Degree Programs

Accounting Degree

Math, economics, management, and more go into preparing students to be a CFO, auditor, fraud investigator, and many other occupations in the accounting program. Here, students can earn a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts degree in accounting, or students can choose to pursue a minor in accounting. Undergraduate students have the unique opportunity to complete a master’s in accountancy in a two-semester fast track upon graduating with their bachelor’s degree.

As part of the accounting program, you’ll soar to higher standards in knowledge and ethics, gain a higher chance of employment post-graduation, and belong to a program that has a history of students passing the CPA exam at a higher rate than the national average.

If you’re looking for stability in your career, reach out to SUU’s accounting program for more information.

Economics Degree

Gain technical skills and understand how choices are made with a degree in economics. The program offers a cutting-edge curriculum in addition to effective and student-focused teaching by faculty who consistently strive to continue their academic research.

Students can pursue a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree in economics or a minor in economics. No matter which path you choose, you’ll develop problem-solving skills and be prepared to work in a wide variety of jobs in a changing environment. You’ll also have the chance of taking elective courses focused on sports, public policy, and international, behavioral, or gender economics.

Obtain the degree that can go anywhere by reaching out to SUU's economics program.

Entrepreneurship Program

SUU’s Entrepreneurship program is where ideas take flight! The program is not only dedicated to students in the School of Business but to students across campus. They offer the Entrepreneurship Speaker Series, the Entrepreneurship Leadership Council, mentoring, as well as the Business Breakthrough and S4 competitions. Plus, if you’re looking for a possible scholarship, the entrepreneurship program has you covered.

The program seeks to educate and elevate its students through relevant experience through their entrepreneurship minor. You will learn about sales, accounting, marketing, and finance to help set you up for success as you make your ideas into a reality.

Contact the SUU Entrepreneurship program to see how high your ideas will take you.

Finance Degree

The finance program takes students on a journey where they participate in the management of a $150,000 investment portfolio, and receive personalized attention and learning opportunities. Students learn to combine analytics, economics, management, and marketing, all of which help them qualify for a wide variety of jobs in the workforce.

Home to expert faculty who are focused on student learning and success, the finance program offers a bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in finance, in addition to a minor in finance. Earning your degree in finance means you’ll have the skills and knowledge to be a fundamental part of any business!

Explore the success a degree in finance can give you.

Hotel, Resort, and Hospitality Management Degree

Looking for a job that can take you anywhere in the world? SUU’s Hotel, Resort, and Hospitality Management program is the perfect place for you. The program is designed to offer students skills in management, business operations, customer service, leadership, and event planning. The University holds a strong relationship with industry leaders and alumni who provide summer internships that often lead to career opportunities. Here, you’ll get hands-on experience and visit some of the best hotels, restaurants, resorts, and convention centers in the mountain west.

The hotel, resort, and hospitality management program offers a bachelor’s degree with three possible emphases – event planning and management, food and beverage management, or lodging management. There is also an 18-credit-hour hospitality minor for students to enroll in to enhance their undergraduate degree. Every student declared as a hospitality major will graduate fully equipped to take their career anywhere they choose after completing the required 800 hours of work in a hospitality-related position.

Make it possible to take your career anywhere with a degree in hospitality!

Management Degree

The management program will help you discover the leader you are meant to be. You’ll be ready to navigate the waters of any business environment by learning about finance, accounting, international business, human resources, marketing, and much more. With on-campus and online options, you can earn your degree from anywhere and still receive the benefit of expert faculty and small class sizes.

The program provides management options through a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree in management, as well as a management minor. Through your time in the program, you will hone skills in decision-making, technology, communications, and leadership. With the help of an outstanding curriculum, you’ll join a community of other management graduates who have a high-placement rate in their chosen career field after graduation.

Stand out in the workforce with a degree in management!

Marketing Degree

Allow your aspirations to soar with a degree in marketing. Students will find themselves in a community of small class sizes that allow for mentorships with talented faculty. A degree in marketing prepares students to go on to graduate school or straight into the workforce with great success, and offers opportunities for study abroad, internships, and more. The program can take you to some amazing places, including Paris, France to study luxury-brand marketing! If luxury isn’t your interest, students in the marketing program have also traveled to Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and more.

A degree in marketing provides flexibility with the options of pursuing a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science in addition to a marketing minor. Students learn cutting-edge skills in online advertising, social media, and search engine optimization along with traditional approaches to marketing. Students will enjoy ample opportunities for hands-on projects while enjoying an inspiring community.

Reach out to the marketing program to start your standout degree!

Military Science

Go above and beyond with the Army ROTC program. This elective curriculum allows freshmen and sophomores to participate without any obligation to join the Army. Through classes, leadership labs, physical training, and field training exercises, you’ll learn to lead and motivate others. If you’re looking for scholarship opportunities, the ROTC can also help pay for your college tuition! Upon graduation from ROTC, you will earn the bar of Second Lieutenant and be commissioned into the Active Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.

Discover the meaning of teamwork and get something more from your college experience through the ROTC.

Professional Sales Degree

60 percent of college graduates will work in a sales-oriented field. Get a head start by learning the fundamentals of sales and management with the professional sales program. As part of the program, you’ll receive a pathway to study, learn, and practice essential sales techniques. With a dedicated and ambitious faculty, you’ll be sure to soar above the rest when you pursue a minor or certificate in professional sales. The program also offers a certificate in entrepreneurship sales. As a student, you’ll be invited to participate in exciting competitions that offer great prizes, industry connections, and additional experience.

See what exciting path the world of professional sales will lead you!

Graduate Degrees in Business

A master’s degree can take you further than you knew possible. The School of Business offers four graduate degrees in business, some of which provide fully online options. Choose from a Master of Accountancy (MAcc), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), or a joint MAcc/MBA. All degrees offer a relevant, well-balanced yet rigorous curriculum that is sure to provide you with the foundation needed to launch or further your career.

Contact the School of Business to begin your journey with a master’s degree in business.

Business Clubs at SUU

Collegiate DECA is a student-driven organization that prepares students for their careers by integrating classroom knowledge with real-world experience through internships, scholarships, competitions, and networking.
The Finance Club offers networking opportunities, career training and insights, relevant knowledge, and a supportive community.
The Entrepreneurship Club is a community for SUU student entrepreneurs to grow while receiving guidance, networking opportunities, problem-solving skills, and brainstorming.
Hospitality Guild provides students with industry experiences, leadership roles, and preparation and encouragement for the hospitality leaders of tomorrow.
Investment Scholars Group invests real money in real stock markets and is open to all majors. Serious students are invited on a trip in the fall to meet with highly successful money managers in Salt Lake City. The investment team (Value, Growth, or Momentum) who beats their benchmark by the largest margin can win $1,000 in cash. It's fun. It's exciting. It's educational.
Student Management Association provides networking opportunities, relevant knowledge, career training, career insights, and a community of like-minded peers.
Professional Business Leaders is a national organization that helps its members to build impressive portfolios through a wide variety of activities and competitions.
The Professional Accountancy Club is designed to prepare students for their future careers by providing internship and career guidance, and providing experiences directly with professionals through career exploration trips and on-campus events and experiences.
The Thunderbird Sales Club provides students the opportunity to work together and excel in the sales field by participating in events and competitions, build connections with industry professionals, earn money, and gain critical, real-world experience.
The SUU Economics and Analytics Club engages students in economics and analytics, aids students in career preparation, and hosts meaningful events.
The Marketing Club offers students a wealth of knowledge about marketing while providing hands-on experience and networking opportunities.
Women in Leadership supports women who have or want to have a position of leadership through networking opportunities, women speakers, and the empowerment of other women.

School of Business Faculty

Greg Powell, associate professor of management at SUU, discovered his love for teaching while working in the consulting world of business. He found that the relationships he has with students and watching them grasp concepts to be motivating. Powell’s teaching approach is understanding that students aren’t a clean slate so to meet them where they’re at, while also understanding he can learn as much from them as they can from him. For Powell, he knows his place is with SUU and never dreams of doing anything else.

Dr. Michael Kroff, professor of marketing at SUU, discovered his passion for marketing while pursuing his MBA. Kroff eventually moved to Texas to earn his Ph.D. in marketing, then moved to Montana to teach at Montana State University for ten years before coming to Southern Utah University in 2016. His research is specific to consumer behavior and the interaction between consumers and brand interaction on social media. However, the most rewarding part of his career is his students. Dr. Kroff was awarded the Influencer Certificate by the SUU Division of Student Affairs and Career and Professional Development Center in recognition for his dedication of service, leadership, and influence on the lives of SUU students.

School of Business Alumni and Students

Nouman Kante was student body president for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years and majored in business management and also earned his MBA. Since coming to SUU in 2016, Kante was heavily involved in campus activities and organizations from being president of the African Union Club and working in the International Affairs Office. He comes from Mali, a country in West Africa and at the age of 14, came to the United States. Kante is the first in his family to graduate from high school and is the first in his family and community to attend college. Now that he has graduated, Kante cannot wait to make a difference in the lives of others and help them to achieve their dreams.

Tayson Whittaker began his SUU journey in finance in the School of Business. During his final semester, he created the Entrepreneurship Club to help create more opportunities for students aspiring to be entrepreneurs through brainstorming, overcoming obstacles, and working with resources available to them on campus and in the community. Now, Whittaker is the founder and president of Outdoor Vitals, an online company that sells outdoor equipment. He assists with product design, sourcing, online marketing, and management.

Chelsey Gillespie graduated from SUU in 2020 with her Master of Accountancy degree. The program offered her a way to reach her dreams while juggling a full-time job and being a mom. Now, Gillespie works at Uintah Basin Technical College as a business operations manager. There, she supervises the accounting department, generates annual financial reports, and prepares financial statements for the board of directors and the Utah System of Higher Education.

Placing student success first through an outstanding curriculum, plentiful internship and networking opportunities, and a close and inspiring community are the cornerstone of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business at SUU. No matter which program you choose, you’ll find yourself immersed in a world of talented and supportive faculty who will help you reach your individual aspirations while earning a business degree.

Tags: School of Business Student Life