Course Descriptions for Business Minors
3 Credits
An introduction to the process of creating and fulfilling consumer and organizational needs through strategies involving the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods, and services in a market economy.
BUS 221 - International Marketing
3 Credits
This course focuses on theory and practice of marketing across international borders with an emphasis on the development of appropriate marketing strategies applicable to foreign socioeconomic and cultural environments. Case studies are utilized.
Prerequisite: BUS 220.
BUS 240 - Management & Organizational Behavior
3 Credits
This course focuses on the role of the manager in contemporary business and explores behavioral science concepts and research directed toward understanding human behavior and management within organizations.
BUS 251 - Retailing
3 Credits
A study of the role of retail organizations in creating customer satisfaction. Course topics include the evolution and dynamics of the retail industry, contemporary business practices, organizational structures, operational functions, physical distribution, and retail mathematics.
Prerequisite: BUS 220; MTH 100 or equivalent.
BUS/PRS 270 - Integrated Marketing Communication
3 Credits
An overview of promotion as one key component of a marketing strategy. Students review the possible elements that may comprise an organization's promotional mix: e.g., public relations, personal selling, advertising, and sales promotion.
Prerequisites: BUS 220.
BUS 305 - Non-Profit Management
3 Credits
This course focuses on the management of the non-profit, mission-based organization. Topics extend from issues around formation or start-up to an exploration of critical skills necessary to lead a thriving non-profit enterprise. The course will explore fundraising, grant writing, program development, communication and public relations, board relations, planning and budgeting, and mission-driven decision making.
BUS 343 - Human Resource Management
3 Credits
This course provides a broad understanding of the complex role of the human resource management function. Special emphasis is placed on demographic, professional and workforce trends that shape human resource management in contemporary business.
Prerequisite: BUS 240, or BUS 305 for non-business majors, and junior or senior status. Not open to students with credit in BUS 243.
BUS 360 - Innovation & Entrepreneurship
3 Credits
This course examines creativity and innovation in existing businesses as well as in
entrepreneurial ventures. The course will explore the structural and management variables
that support creating and sustaining work environments that foster innovation. Finally,
the course will explore the factors unique to the entrepreneurial start-up venture.
Prerequisites: BUS 240 and junior or senior standing.
BUS 361 - Starting a New Business Venture
3 Credits
This course focuses on the start-up phase of the entrepreneurial venture as well as all the related financial, operational, marketing, and relational challenges. It also examines attributes of successful new businesses as well as issues related to the innovation of new products and services. Finally, the course provides students an opportunity to build and present a business plan for a new venture.
Prerequisites: BUS 240 and junior or senior standing.
BUS 362 - Building, Operating & and Passing on a Family Business
3 Credits
This course focuses on issues related to the developmental lifecycle of the family business. Given that the vast majority of active (large and small) businesses are family businesses, this course examines critical success factors related to growth, success and succession. Additional topics covered include managing family dynamics in the context of the business, managing family member entrance and exit to the business, and selling or passing on the business.
Prerequisites: BUS 240 and junior or senior status.
BUS 360 - Innovation & Entrepreneurship
3 Credits
This course examines creativity and innovation in existing businesses as well as in
entrepreneurial ventures. The course will explore the structural and management variables
that support creating and sustaining work environments that foster innovation. Finally,
the course will explore the factors unique to the entrepreneurial start-up venture.
Prerequisites: BUS 240 and junior or senior standing.
BUS 370 - Professional Selling
3 Credits
This course is organized around the process of making informative and persuasive verbal strategies, presentation materials and formats, handling objections, reaching decisions, and servicing customers as these topics apply to any member of an organization who makes a presentation. Case study, role playing, professional speakers, and group interactions project the student into the real world of the business person and salesperson.
Prerequisite: BUS 220.
BUS 371 - Sales Force Management & Leadership
3 Credits
This course focuses on an examination of the common problems confronting the sales manager. Topics include recruiting, selecting, training and education, motivating, leadership and supervision, and compensation and evaluation. Emphasis is placed on the personal side of management throughout the course.
Prerequisite: BUS 220.
BUS 378 - Marketing for Service Industries
3 Credits
This course is an exploration and study of the nature of service organizations and the principles that guide the marketing of their products. Emphasis will be placed upon a marketing mix that is fundamentally different than that found in traditional goods marketing.
Prerequisite: BUS 220.
CIS 150 - Programming Fundamentals
3 Credits
Introduction to structured programming techniques, design, and style. Concepts of
modularity and elementary data structures are introduced. The laboratory component
of the course emphasizes the logical approach to problem solving through the analysis
of concrete examples and programming problems.
Prerequisite: MTH 102 or equivalent.
CIS 234 - Database Management Systems
3 Credits
A study of relational database management concepts and features, including the creation, maintenance, and manipulation of database files using a current relational database management system.
Not open to students with credit for CIS 204 and CIS 340.
CIS 316 - Networks & Data Communications
3 Credits
A study of current trends, concepts, and goals in computer networks and data communications,
including protocols, configurations, implementations, and applications with emphasis
on local area networks and internet-working.
Prerequisite: CIS 106, or CIS 107, or CIS 180. Not open to students with credit for CIS 206 and CIS 310.
CIS 370 - Software Tools for Data Analysis & Visualization
3 Credits
In this course students will study how to use a number of utilities in different computing environments to assemble and process data for further analysis. They will also work with a set of software tools for visualization and demonstration of different types of data.
Prerequisite: CIS 150.
ECN 207 - Principles of Microeconomics
3 Credits
A basic study of the decision making behavior of individuals, households, firms, industries, and other economic units regarding resource allocation. Students will explore how markets function to coordinate the economic activities of different economic units. Topics include scarcity, opportunity cost, demand and supply, consumption, production, market structures, and profit maximization.
ECN 260 - Financial Institutions & Markets
3 Credits
A study of the structure, regulation and management of financial markets and institutions.
It adopts a historical and evolutionary perspective to emphasize how innovation, globalization,
regulation and technology affect the financial environment. It covers monetary policy
and the role of financial institutions and markets in the global economy.
Prerequisite: ECN 205 or ECN 207-208. Not open to students with credit for ECN 360.
ECN 325 - Intermediate Micro Economics
3 Credits
A study of the roles of the price system as a mechanism for resource allocation and
as a guide for price and output determination. It provides the tools for cost-benefit
analysis vital to decision making in organizations.
Prerequisite: ECN 205 or ECN 207-208. Not open to students with credit for ECN 225.
ENV 279A - CORE: Applied Sustainability
3 Credits
What is sustainability? How is it addressed across a range of disciplines? How can
we understand how to live sustainably, in community from the local to global perspective?
An integrated approach will apply understanding and advances in architecture, business,
chemistry, biology, education, psychology, and ecology to living sustainability in
community with others and the environment.
Prerequisite: CORE 179 or appropriate transfer status.
Pre- or Co-requisite: ENG 102 or ENG 111. This course fulfills the science requirement
for non-science majors. Not open to students with credit in ENV 230.
FIN 325 - Managerial Finance
3 Credits
A study of the forms of business organization, the financial organization of business
activities, and financial decision theory.
Prerequisite: ACT 210 or ACT 205; ECN 205 or ECN 207-208; MTH 140.
FIN 328 - Entrepreneurial Finance
3 Credits
This course introduces the theories, knowledge, and financial tools an entrepreneur
needs to start, build, and harvest a successful venture. Sound financial management
practices are essential to a venture’s operation. The successful entrepreneur must
know how and where to obtain the financing necessary to launch and develop the venture.
Eventually, that same successful entrepreneur must know how and when to interact with
financial institutions and regulatory agencies to take the venture to its potential
and provide a return and liquidity for the venture’s investors.
Prerequisite: MTH 102 or higher.
FIN 410 - Intermediate Finance
3 Credits
This course is designed for finance majors and serves as an extension of FIN 325 Managerial
Finance. Much of the material in FIN 325 will be revisited in greater depth. The objective
of the course is to explore the theories and concepts of corporate finance, including
the fundamentals of working capital, acquisition of capital, capital budgeting, and
dividend policy in greater depth.
The focus of this course in on financial management techniques under uncertainty and
managing the balance between assets and liabilities. This course is designed to prepare
the student for graduate level finance work.
Prerequisite: FIN 325.
IBA 301 - World Economic Resources & Business Sourcing
3 Credits
This course is a study of the geographic locations of major economic resources in
the world and the strategies developed by international firms for accessing them,
and the establishment and maintenance of supply network management. It explains the
off-shore location decisions by the resource-oriented industries, market-oriented
industries, and manufacturing firms. It emphasizes the strategic and tactical objectives
of out-sourcing. Lectures are complemented with case studies.
Prerequisite: ECN 205 or ECN 107-208 or any course in business administration.
IRM 210 - Fundamentals of Insurance & Risk Management
3 Credits
This is an introduction to risk management frameworks, standards, and processes. Students
will study risk identification and control techniques, and insurable loss exposure.
There will be an emphasis on the basic structure of insurance policies and the benefits
of insurance in personal and commercial risk reduction.
IRM 220 - Operations & Management of Insurance Companies
3 Credits
This course is a study of the organization of insurance entities. It examines how
market and regulatory conditions influence organizational structure, and processes
and functions such as underwriting, actuarial, claim, reinsurance, handling, audit,
markets, and distribution. Students will examine insurers’ goals and strategies.
IRM 301 - Personal Property-Casualty Insurance & Risk Management
3 Credits
A study of personal property and casualty insurance policies and their role in personal
risk management and financial planning. It includes analyses of property and liability
exposures for individuals and families, provisions of personal auto and homeowners
policies, and compensation approaches. Regulation of personal and casualty insurance
providers will be discussed.
Prerequisite: IRM 210.
IRM 303 - Project Management
3 Credits
This course is a study of the basic foundation, framework, and key components of project
management. It covers methods for managing project scope, project cost, project evaluation
and review, and project communication. It emphasizes the role of effective project
management in the overall risk management strategies of various organizations.
Prerequisite: IRM 210.
IRM 350 - Life & Health Insurance
3 Credits
This is a study of the provisions, coverage, and regulation of life insurance and
annuity contracts, and individual and group health insurance products. It covers Social
Security, and the key challenges and features of disability income and long-term care.
Students will examine these policies as part of an overall plan to manage risk by
individuals and businesses.
Prerequisite: IRM 210.
IRM 401 - Commercial Property-Casualty Insurance & Risk Management
3 Credits
This course is a study of the role of commercial insurance in risk management. It
covers the provisions, coverage conditions and regulation of commercial property and
liability insurance. Students will examine commercial risk exposure and strategies
to manage overall business risk using various insurance products.
Prerequisite: IRM 210.
IRM 497 - Internship in Insurance & Risk Management
3 Credits
This is an internship placement with an insurance company during a student’s junior
or senior year. Students must complete 120 clock hours with the organization. The
practicum placement must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor. Prerequisites:
at least nine credits of IRM courses and junior standing.
Prerequisites: At least nine credits of IRM courses; junior standing.
PRS 201 - Contemporary Issues in Reputation Management: Public Relations Principles
3 Credits
A theoretical approach to the principles of the field of public relations in corporate,
non-profit, and agency applications. The role of public relations in the overall organizational
communication structure.
PRS/BUS 265 - Business Writing & Presentations
3 Credits
This course allows students to refine their business writing skills and to become
better presenters in preparation for careers in business or a nonprofit setting. In
an interactive, hands-on environment, students will practice writing proposals, executive
summaries, business letters, persuasive emails, and presentations.
Delivering effective business presentations will also be covered, along with practice
and critique. This course is ideal for students who plan to lead people and departments,
start their own businesses or want to be more effective communicators in the workplace.
Prerequisite: ENG 102 or ENG 111.
PRS 340 - Internet Strategies: Social Media, e-Commerce & More
3 Credits
This course is designed to provide an in-depth look at the principles, practices,
and strategies utilized when incorporating the Internet into a public relations or
marketing communications plan. This course will utilize lecture and case analysis
to build a body of knowledge for students that they can apply to a professional setting.
Prerequisite: PRS 201 or BUS 220 is recommended.
PSY 212 - Social Psychology
3 Credits
A study of theory and research on how individual behavior is influenced by its social
context. Topics include social beliefs and judgments, attitude formation, persuasion,
altruism, aggression and violence, prejudice, and group processes.
Prerequisite: PSY 100.
3 Credits
A study of basic marketing concepts with applications to sport organizations, both amateur and professional. Topics include promotions and public relations, sport consumer behavior, strategic market planning, marketing information management, marketing communications, sponsorship, and fund raising.