6. What Skills are Required for a Business Career?
The following section highlights a few ways to develop the most important transferable
skills while you are in college. Each category includes sample courses and outside-the-classroom
experiences that can develop these skills. This is not meant to be a comprehensive
list: seek out additional ways to develop these skills. While it is common to
pick the experiences that look most enjoyable, be sure to seek opportunities that
challenge you in new ways.
Oral Communication Skills
Possible classes include:
- Comm
1101 Introduction to Public Speaking
- Comm
33605W Persuasive speaking and Speech Writing
- Rhet
1223 Oral Presentations in Professional Settings
- Th
1301 Beginning Acting for Non-Theater Majors
- Rhet
3257 Scientific and Technical Presentations
- BA
3033W Business Communication
- ABus
4024 Effective Oral Communication and Business Presentations
- All
classes requiring oral presentations or active class participation
Sample involvement opportunities:
- Join Carlson Toastmasters
Club
- Apply for SpeakerQuest, a program to help individuals overcome their fear
of public speaking, (612) 626-3566
- Become an admissions ambassador, community adviser, peer adviser, or New
Student Weekend counselor
- Take a leadership role that requires public speaking through a student organization,
fraternity, or sorority
- Get involved in planning/promoting a campus event such as Homecoming or
Spring Jam
Written Communication Skills
Some possible classes include:
- EngC
1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016 University Writing & Critical
Reading
- EngC
1021W Intermediate Expository Writing
- EngC
3027W Advanced Expository Writing
- EngC
3029W Professional Writing
- Rhet
1101 – Writing to Inform, Convince, and Persuade
- Rhet
3562W Technical and Professional Writing
- Rhet
3441 Essentials of Grammar, Punctuation, and Style (2 cr.)
- ABus
4023 - Communicating for Results
- Writing intensive
courses
Use Student Writing Support at the Center for
Writing in 10 Nicholson Hall to get assistance with your writing.
Sample involvement opportunities:
- Seek out employment at the Minnesota
Daily
- Write newsletters, press releases, and brochures for your student organization,
sorority, or fraternity
- Volunteer to write an article for a department's newsletter such as
Global Campus, the English Department, or the Career and Community Learning
Center
- Anth
1005W Understanding Ourselves and Others
- AmSt
1112 American Cultures II
- AmSt
1113 American Cultures III
- AmSt
3113W America's Diverse Cultures
- GLOS
4802 Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Work
- Soc
3211W American Race Relations
- Cultural
Diversity and International Perspective courses
- Language
courses
Diversity/Cultural Awareness
Some possible classes include:
- Anth 1005W - Understanding Ourselves and Others
- AmSt 1112 - American Cultures II
- AmSt 1113 - American Cultures III
- AmSt 3113W - America's Diverse Cultures
- GLOS 4802 Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Work
- Soc 3211W American Race Relations
- Cultural Diversity and International Perspective courses
- Language courses
Sample involvement opportunities:
- Get involved in one of the cultural and diversity based student organizations
on campus
- Visit cultural events held by campus cultural centers
- Volunteer in a diverse setting through the Community
Empowerment through Learning and Leadership Program (CELL)
- Do a national student exchange in a culturally rich part of the United States
(345 Fraser Hall)
- Participate in a HECUA program for academic credit -- community involvement & social change
- Study abroad anywhere around the world. Visit www.umabroad.umn.edu
Interpersonal Communication/Teamwork
Some possible classes include:
- Comm
3402 Intro to Interpersonal Communication
- Comm
3411 Intro to Small Group Communication
- Comm
3625 Communication Ethics
- Rhet
3266 Group Process, Team Building, and Leadership
- ABus
4021 Small Group Behavior and Teamwork
- ABus
4023W Communicating for Results
- Courses
that include group projects and activities
Sample involvement opportunities:
Leadership Skills
Some possible classes include:
- PA 1961/EdPA 1301 - Personal Leadership in the University
- EdPA 3302/PA 3961 - Leadership, You, and Your Community
- Comm 3131 - Leadership Theory and Practice
- ABus 4041 - Leadership in a Global and Diverse Workplace
- Consider a 16 credit minor
in leadership.
Sample involvement opportunities:
- Attend the Siggelkow Leadership Retreat or become part of LeaderQuest and
plan this retreat , (612) 626-3566)
- Take an executive position in a student organization, fraternity, or sorority
- Become an admissions ambassador, community adviser, peer adviser, or New
Student Weekend counselor
- Join ROTC
- Take a leadership role in a group project either in class or at a work/volunteer
site
Critical/Analytical Thinking Skills
Some possible classes include:
- CSci 1101 - Intro to Computing and Problem Solving;
- Phil 1001 - Introduction to Logic;
- Comm 1313W - Analysis of Argument;
- ABus 4012 - Problem Solving in Complex Organizations
- Virtually all liberal arts courses enhance critical/analytical thinking
skills. Take those that challenge you to think in new ways.
Sample involvement opportunities:
- Take quantitative and qualitative courses to diversify different types of
thinking skills
- Seek out work and volunteer experiences which require you to solve problems
and develop new perspectives
Technical Skills
Some possible classes include:
- BA
1001 Introduction to Information Technology
- BIE
5011 Introduction to Computer Applications
- BIE
5013 Introduction to Spreadsheet Analysis Using Computers
- BIE
5014 Database Computer Applications
- CSci
1121 Introduction to the Internet
- CSci
2121 Introduction to the Internet 2
- Consider
a 14-credit minor in information technology that emphasizes web and Internet
technology
Sample involvement opportunities:
- Develop a website for yourself or for a campus organization
- Seek out job opportunities or internships that allow you to develop skills
utilizing a wide variety of computer software
- Become a computer lab attendant on campus
- Join a technology based campus student group
- Take a non-credit computer
short course
Business Knowledge
Some possible classes include:
- Econ
1101 Microeconomics
- Econ
1102 Macroeconomics
- Acct
2050 Introduction to Financial Reporting
- FINA
3001 Finance Fundamentals
- MGMT
3001 Fundamentals of Management
- MKTG
3001 Principles of Marketing
- Span
3022 Advanced Business Spanish (prereq 1004)
- Consider
a Management minor (16-credits) through the Carlson
School of Management, (612) 624-3313
Sample
involvement opportunities:
- Gain
experience bookkeeping and budgeting by being a student organization treasurer
- Join
a student organization with a business focus
- Read
business periodicals such as Forbes, Business Week, The
Wall Street Journal, or Fortune
- Seek
employment in the Minnesota Daily's business office, at a local
bank, or in a fundraising office on campus
- Do
a business-related internship or part-time work in an interest area
Gain Experience!
Each and every skill listed above can be learned through real world experience
including part time work, internships, and community service learning. These experiences
are extremely valuable because you can develop many skills at once often with
the guidance of a supervisor. Students who have gained related work experience
often find that this is the most valuable thing they experienced to prepare for
permanent employment. The resources listed below are places on campus where you
can begin searching for related experience. Internships: 135 Johnston Hall Community
service learning: 345 Fraser Hall Part-time work experience: 170 Donhowe Building
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