PACE Curriculum

What does it take to have a meaningful career in business? Our graduates in executive positions at leading companies say that success is primarily driven by who you are and how you act. Accordingly, we focus on the development of each student's Professionalism, Academics, Character, and Engagement (PACE), to ensure they can successfully pursue the personal and career goals they are passionate about.

At Lindner, business is more than a major. It's a behavior.

Professionalism

Team meetings. Video conferences. Emails. Presentations. The modern workday demands that employees navigate many types of communication and interaction. Real-world learning opportunities ensure that our students learn the professional communication skills they need to excel in the conference room and the boardroom, virtually or face-to-face.

Lindner's emphasis on professionalism benefits students in a variety of ways:

  • Lindner co-op students earned $12.5M in during the 2022-23 academic year, an average of over $11,000 per co-op.
  • Lindner students earned an average salary of $55,247 on their first co-op.
  • 95% of Lindner graduates are employed or continuing education a year after graduation.

Academics

Our students are distinct individuals with unique goals and interests. That's why our curriculum ensures that students have a foundational understanding of the key business functions, but the majority of each student's academic plan is fully customizable. We have a breadth of majors and minors to choose from, and students can augment in-class learning with cooperative education, internships, and international study experiences of their choosing.

Lindner has repeatedly been named one of the best business schools in the United States by U.S. News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek. For more rankings information, visit our rankings page.

Character

Character means having the strength and conviction to lead and work with teams made up of people with diverse backgrounds and differing viewpoints. Lindner students build these skills through hands-on, collaborative projects, often working with Cincinnati businesses.

Business is global, and learning from diverse cultures is vital. At Lindner, study abroad is a top priority. Our international options range from week-long programs to entire terms abroad, with multiple options in between. Explore Latin America, Asia, or Europe, or visit a different continent each year. It's your choice, and we want you to take full advantage. The Lindner student body also includes students from over 40 countries around the world.

A Lindner education prepares students for the moments when philosophical questions become real-world dilemmas through ethics seminars, global experiences, and leadership opportunities.

Engagement

Your life and your career will be comprised of more than just work. Community service, citizenship, and organizational involvement are all key components of personal growth. We empower students to get involved in the things they care about via the 20-plus student organizations within the Lindner College of Business, the 300-plus organizations within the University of Cincinnati, and ongoing partnerships with service organizations like the United Way of Greater Cincinnati.


PACEsetters

The PACEsetter distinction is awarded to Lindner undergraduate students who take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the college’s PACE curriculum.

The distinction of a PACEsetter is awarded to Lindner undergraduate students who excel in all areas of PACE: Professionalism, Academics, Character and Engagement. PACEsetters perform strongly in the classroom, are active in student organizations, volunteer and serve in their communities, and seek out co-ops and other experiences that round out their professional portfolio.

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Awarded PACEsetters at the 2023 Lindner Student Awards.

  • Lindner undergraduate students with a minimum of 30 completed credit hours (at the time of application) will be considered. Students with more than 90 credit hours are generally not eligible.

  • Minimum GPA: 3.5

  • Lindner Business Honors students are not eligible for this distinction.

  • Eligible students are nominated by Lindner faculty and staff, student organizations and the Lindner student body. Nominations begin during spring semester, with nominated students completing a questionnaire and an essay that evaluates their overall achievements and excellence. The PACEsetter distinction is awarded each spring at the Lindner Student Awards ceremony. 

Isn’t this just another Honors Program?

No. It is not a program, a student organization or an Honors fraternity. This is a distinction, similar in nature to the Dean’s List but recognizing more than a student’s GPA. The PACEsetter distinction was created to recognize non-Honors students who take full advantage of the opportunities offered by Lindner's PACE curriculum. 

Who is eligible to become a PACEsetter?

Any Lindner undergraduate student with at least 30 credit hours — but not more than 90 — is eligible. This allows transfer/transition students and non-Honors students an opportunity to earn this distinction.

Why aren’t Honors students eligible?

Lindner Business Honors students already receive a variety of benefits, including scholarships and Honors recognition. The PACEsetter distinction provides hard-working non-Honors students with opportunities befitting their distinction.