Student credits Introduction to Business class with expanding her real-world view of business today.

Are you a student planning to major in business? Or maybe a non-business student who’d like to get a basic understanding of business to round out your general education?

Patricia Schnoor

According to student Patricia Schnoor, in either case, you should consider taking Introduction to Business, a fully online course offered as part of the College of Business Administration’s undergraduate curriculum.

“You should take this course before you take any other business class,” she said. “If you love it and find it as fascinating and useful as I did, then you know you are on the right path. In fact, the course can help you select the business major or minor that’s right for you. If you don’t like the course, then perhaps majoring in business is not for you, which is a good thing to learn sooner rather than later.”  

For Schnoor, the Introduction to Business class played a pivotal role in confirming her decision to pursue her bachelor’s degree. She is on track to receive her BBA in 2009.

A mid-life career change leads Schnoor back to college.

With an earlier degree in electronics, Schnoor had started her career as a bio-medical technician and then moved into the quality control area—where she had become the director of quality and compliance for medical systems for more than 700 hospitals.

“I was writing a lot of policies and procedures and taking on increasing management responsibilities, but I felt that I needed another degree to further my career opportunities,” Schnoor said. “I thought about pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, but the truth is, I was really more interested in business. In particular, I decided to aim for a business degree with a concentration in risk management.”

So at the age of 46—and with more than twenty years’ experience in the electronics field—Schnoor decided it was time to make a change and head back to school.

A resident of Miami, Schnoor did her homework on local colleges and universities—and was impressed with what she learned about the business school at Florida International University.

“When I saw that the College of Business Administration is ranked among the top business schools in the country, I decided then and there that’s where I’d apply,” she said.

Course covers business from every angle.

Truth be told, Schnoor did not follow her own advice. Once accepted into the college, she took a few other courses before enrolling in the Introduction to Business class.

“It was hubris on my part, I admit. I thought to myself, I’ve been in business for all these years, I can figure it out,” she said. “Now, with hindsight, I wish I had taken the Introduction to Business class first. It provided such an excellent foundation in the entire spectrum of business—from the basic principles to specific areas, such as sales, accounting, and human resources.”

Taking the course also helped Schnoor develop a greater understanding of the terms that are bandied about freely in almost any work environment.

“Everyone talks about IT or IS, but now I’ve learned the true scope of what’s required for someone to manage information technology or information systems,” she said. “I also gained greater insight into the scope of a project manager’s responsibilities. This is knowledge that will help me wherever I end up professionally.”

Schnoor also believes lessons learned in the Introduction to Business class can be applied to her everyday life.

“Knowing more about what goes on behind the scenes in today’s business world has given me new perspectives that I feel make me a better consumer,” she said. “Business and marketing play a huge role in our everyday lives. I find it’s very helpful to understand why a business may do this, say that, or advertise a product in a particular way.”

Online is a great way to learn.

Schnoor found the online coursework challenging and engaging.

“The interactive materials were very well done,” she said. “I had taken online courses before—and this was one of the best.”

According to Schnoor, the online course incorporated current events to illustrate business concepts and to help sharpen business vocabulary skills.

Associate Dean Clifford R. Perry Landon Undergraduate School of Business

When questions arose during the course, Schnoor found that her professor, Associate Dean Clifford R. Perry, Landon Undergraduate School of Business, was easily accessible via email and phone as well as with the occasional in-person office appointment.

“I was happy to learn that there’s a human connection behind the online class,” she said. “Professor Perry was extremely helpful and supportive.”

Today, Schnoor is a full-time student in the college. She also works part time handling bookkeeping responsibilities for her husband’s consulting business.

“I actually was studying business licensing and corporations at the time my husband was considering incorporating, so I was able to help him do that,” she said. “Already, I’m putting what I’m learning about business into practice.”

To learn more about the Introduction to Business course, visit http://business.fiu.edu/landon/intro_to_business.cfm.
You can also view the video in which Patricia Schnoor talks more about what she learned from the Introduction to Business course at http://business.fiu.edu/media/?urlb=i.