����ֱ��

Less than one year since its formation, the College of Business at the ����ֱ�� is once again expanding to offer several new programs consistent with shifting workforce needs. 

Starting this fall, the college will begin offering interdisciplinary degree programs in Accounting, Finance, and Marketing to meet the need for in-demand careers in Maine and the nation’s growing business sector. 

Using a cross-disciplinary, entrepreneurial approach, the College of Business fosters the skills and knowledge of future business leaders through innovative programs, experiential learning opportunities, internships, and a strong network of industry partnerships. As such, the new degree programs have been crafted to equip students with the necessary skills and expertise required for success in today's competitive business landscape. 

������’s B.S. in Accounting ensures students are equipped with modern techniques and technologies essential for success, while the B.S. in Finance prepares students for leadership roles in financial management, wealth management, and investments using new financial technologies while emphasizing social responsibility. 

The B.S. in Marketing will prepare students for dynamic careers at the intersection of culture and business, training them to adapt to new consumer behaviors through strategic planning and technology integration.

Through courses in design-thinking, data analytics, innovation technology, and international finance, business graduates will be poised to drive growth in their fields, said Gwendolyn Mahon, ����ֱ�� provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.

“These new academic programs reflect the University’s commitment to meeting evolving industry standards and workforce needs while preparing students for the dynamic challenges and opportunities they will encounter in these fields,” Mahon said. “We are confident that our accounting, finance, and marketing graduates will be well-equipped to make a positive impact in businesses of all kinds across Maine and the nation.”

The College of Business also houses majors in Business Administration, Marine Entrepreneurship, Sustainability and Business, Sport Leadership and Management, and, as of November, a pioneering major in Outdoor Business and Innovation that will prepare students for dynamic careers in Maine’s $3 billion outdoor recreation sector.

Students enrolled in the latter program will leave ����ֱ�� with industry experience through paid internships and project-based learning provided in collaboration with Maine Outdoor Brands. The Maine Office of Outdoor is serving an advisory role in curriculum development for the program, which is the sole academic program in New England designed to address the growing need for skilled workers in this field. 

������’s College of Business, established in June 2023, supports experiential learning opportunities in preparing students for enriching careers and leadership positions with some of Maine’s and the nation’s most important employers. The University recently announced it has hired Norm O’Reilly, Ph.D., a leading business scholar with two decades of leadership experience in higher education, as the college’s inaugural dean.