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Haworth History

Established in 1949 as the Department of Business studies, the Haworth College of Business has become a leader in business education and research.

The first Bachelor and Master of Business Administration degrees were granted in 1953 and 1961, respectively, starting a tradition of business education excellence.

In 1970, the School of Business became the College of Business. That same year, the College was granted American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCB) accreditation for undergraduate programs. Accreditation for graduate programs was granted in 1981. Graduate and undergraduate programs have been reaccredited.

In 1957, the department was designated as the School of Business with two departments: Accounting and General Business. The latter was subsequently organized as the Department of Finance and Commercial Law. In 1958, the predecessor of the Department of Business Information Systems was established as the Department of Business Education. In 1962 the Departments of Management and Marketing were founded. In 1964, a graduate degree in Accountancy and an off-campus Master of Business Administration program in Grand Rapids were added. Finally, in 1970, The School of Business became the College of Business. In 1989, the College was renamed the Haworth College of Business.

The College of Business earned accreditation for undergraduate programs in 1970 from the Association for Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCB). Accreditation for graduate programs was granted in 1981. Graduate and undergraduate programs have been reaccredited. In 1989, Haworth, Inc.'s generous support of the new building led to the naming of the Haworth College of Business.

The College facility, Schneider Hall, is adjacent to the John E. Fetzer Center, forming a unique and outstanding business education complex.

Western Michigan University is an equal opportunity/affirmative
action institution.