In 1951, the Business Department was formed. Originally housed in former WWII barracks on the corner of Lucinda and Garden Road, the Business Department consisted of three faculty members who taught 11 business courses to 43 business majors.
Dr. Francis Geigle became the first Chair of department. During Dr. Geigle's administration the Business Department moved from the barracks to Altgeld Hall.
In 1954 Dr. Robert Thistlethwaite became the Chair. While he was chair, the department awarded the first M.S. in Education. In addition, programs related to a B.S. and M.S. in Business Administration were started. The Department was moved again, this time to McMurry Hall.
By the end of the decade their were two departments, Business Education and Business Administration, offering over 90 business courses being taught by 23 instructors.