IC News

Walk into the "World of Business" class at Ithaca College's School of Business and you won't find any textbooks or traditional exams. Instead, you'll hear the buzz of teamwork, the energy of live pitches, and the genuine excitement of students discovering where they fit in—and what they love about—business.

Recently reinvigorated as part of the School’s new strategic plan, the course is designed as a supercharged introduction to all the subfields of business. It’s immersive and hands-on in ways that go far beyond a typical first-year class.

"In the end, it all comes down to how we learn," says Dean Michael Johnson-Cramer. "Many business schools start with theory, then struggle to get students to apply it. We start with experiences—pitching ideas, analyzing markets, building ventures, getting messy, taking risks. Students arrive at their next class eager to dig deeper and learn new ways to solve the challenges they’ve encountered.”

The course’s innovative design was recognized during Ithaca College’s recent AACSB reaccreditation—a rigorous review process that affirms a business school's commitment to excellence, continuous improvement, and preparing students for the future of business.

Each Monday, about 100 first-year students gather for a lecture featuring faculty and guest speakers. Wednesdays and Fridays, they break into smaller groups of about 20 to dig deeper into the week's topic. And instead of tests, they pitch: first a marketing campaign, then a stock analysis, and finally a venture concept of their own creation.

Beyond the classroom, World of Business also introduces students to the broader Ithaca community. Guest speakers include local business leaders, alumni, and industry experts who share real-world insights and career advice. Students also head downtown to visit organizations like Rev: Ithaca Startup Works, a business incubator where many will later pitch new ventures during the college’s Demo Day competitions. At the most recent Demo Day, students—some of whom first sharpened their pitching skills in World of Business—competed for a $15,000 prize pool. 

"It's such a unique program for first-years," says Ed Catto, instructor of management. "They get thrown into this intense classroom where they get a smorgasbord of different aspects of business. We focus on each of those aspects roughly each week—marketing, finance, entrepreneurism. We bring in guest speakers who have expertise in each of those topics, and all of the faculty are involved."

Sarah Germonprez, assistant professor of accounting and business law, agrees: "We kind of lead them into the deep end right away. It's a lot, but it’s purposeful. We want them to build confidence and push their limits, and, they do swim."

Working in teams is a major component throughout the course—a reflection of real-world business environments. "Of course, in American business, very seldomly does anybody work on their own," Catto says. "So, how are you going to work with a group? Who's going to be the leader? Who will be the follower? How do you deal with adversity and scheduling issues?"

For first-year accounting major Josh Bourdoulous ’28, the experience was eye-opening. His team won the stock pitch competition by recommending ExxonMobil—a choice that surprised some classmates. But Bourdoulous and his team made a compelling case: ExxonMobil’s growing investments in sustainability initiatives positioned the company for long-term success, making it a smart stock bet despite its traditional image.

"I knew the stock pitch would definitely be my strong suit because I'm very much a numbers person, and that's what clicks for me," Bourdoulous said. "But I didn't think I'd have as much trouble with the marketing pitch as I did."

He found that marketing required a different kind of thinking. "The marketing pitch takes creativity, and I needed to think outside the box," he added. "But thankfully it was a group project, and hearing other people's voices helped me build off their strengths. And eventually we got a really creative marketing idea."

The team dynamic stood out for Bourdoulous. "I've never taken a class that was so group-oriented, which is honestly a good thing," he said. "Oftentimes, in high school, one person in a group does the work while everyone else slacks off, but it was refreshing in this setting. It was balanced. Everyone was doing the work, and everyone brought something to the table. I learned that I prefer that."

By the final stock pitch, Bourdoulous said, he felt transformed. "Public speaking was huge. I got so much more comfortable going up in a public setting that by the end of the class, I felt like a pro with that final stock pitch."

This year’s World of Business marks the start of a bold new approach—one that gives students a deep, hands-on immersion into the business world from their very first semester. Built around collaboration, real-world projects, and early career exploration, the course is designed to do more than introduce students to business; it empowers them to experience it firsthand.

"Business isn’t a spectator sport—we want students in the game from day one," says Dean Johnson-Cramer. "By actively trying to do business—be it marketing, finance, or entrepreneurship—they discover their strengths and passions, and that’s what makes an IC business education so special."