The Business Department's mission is to enable students to gain an excellent
education that will equip them with the competencies defined as the knowledge,
skills, attitudes, and values that are crucial to understanding and operating
in the changing international and technological world of business.
Students receive individual advising and have the opportunity to engage
in group projects, internships, independent study, and study abroad.
It is the intention of the business faculty that our graduates will be
life-long learners who will go on to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
By successfully completing a major or minor in business, a student will
be able to understand themselves and the environment in which they work
and live. Specifically, they will be able to apply their competencies
in organizations or as entrepreneurs in the global business environment.
Graduates will be able to:
In addition to the Business Major, business students may add a
concentration (Note: concentrations are not required). Concentrations enable the student to focus on an area of special interest.
There are five standard concentrations; each consisting of an additional nine
credits. The concentrations are:
Accounting
Core plus BUS 318 plus six credits chosen from BUS 319, 320, 422, 423,
424, 427, 494, 497.
Finance
Core plus nine credits chosen from BUS 332, 430, 432, 438, 444, 494, 497.
Management
Core plus BUS 453 plus six credits chosen from BUS 358, 452, 454,
455, 494, and 497.
Management Information Systems
Core plus BUS 385 plus six credits chosen from BUS 381, 454, 482,
483, 485, 494, 497, and MAT 137.
Marketing
Core plus BUS 469 plus six credits chosen from BUS 366, 461, 466,
494, 497, JOU 200, ART 130, 363, and 364.
Individual concentrations can be arranged with prior approval of the
student’s advisor or the Department Chair in Business. Business faculty
work with faculty from other departments to help students design such concentrations
based on each student's special interests and talents. For example,
students with
interests in the Fine Arts might develop a concentration in Fine Arts
Management (Note: All individual concentrations should be planned well
in advance, ideally by the end of the student’s sophomore year).
Restrictions
The business major may not be combined with any other major or minor
listed in the business section of this catalog.
The Management Information Systems Minor offers students majoring in
other disciplines an opportunity to gain a fundamental understanding of
this fascinating area.
BUS-100 Introduction to Business 3.0 cr.
Fall. An introduction to the private enterprise system and the component
areas of business including: marketing, management finance, production,
business and government relations, organized labor, and the ethical
and social responsibilities of business organizations. This course is
designed for non-majors.
BUS-200 Small Business Management 3.0 cr.
Fall. Prereq.: BUS 100 or permission. Students develop their enterprising ability
as a foundation for ongoing personal and professional growth. They also
develop their understanding of the small business environment and entrepreneurship.
During the semester, students create a business plan for a new venture
as a way to integrate and apply the abilities and knowledge in marketing,
finance, management and organization.
BUS-201 Introduction to Management Information Systems 3.0 cr.
Fall, winter, spring. An introduction to research, analysis, and communication
skills using information technology. This course is designed to offer
life skills that all students can utilize through proper understanding
and application of information technology. Current software programs
will be taught to support problem-solving skills. All students, regardless
of major, are encouraged to enroll.
BUS-221 Financial Accounting 3.0 cr.
Fall, spring. An introduction to the field of accounting, emphasizing
double-entry record keeping, preparation of balance sheets and income
statements, and the uses and limitations of external financial reporting.
BUS-222 Managerial Accounting 3.0 cr.
Fall, spring. Prereq.: BUS 221. A study of the role of accounting information
in decision making emphasizing the use of accounting data for internal
management decisions. The course includes an introduction to cash flows,
cost accounting, cost-volume-profit relationships and budgeting in business
decisions.
BUS-231 Personal Financial Planning 3.0 cr.
Winter. Survival skills necessary to insure financial life after graduation.
Students will discuss and develop a personal philosophy of spending,
saving, and investing. Topics of consumption expenditures will include
housing, insurance, investments, personal expenditures and the use of
credit. Students will use computer programs to develop personal financial
plans for the present and projections for the future.
BUS-232 Value Investing 3.0 cr.
Alt. years. A study of the principles and practices developed by the 'Dean'
of financial analysis, Benjamin Graham. Students will learn principles
of valuation based upon proven fundamental techniques practiced by successful
investors like Warren Buffett for many decades. Graham's philosophy
of investing will be contrasted with other views of investing and speculating,
thus giving students a perspective on investing strategies.
BUS-294 Independent Study 1.0 to 3.0 cr.
Arranged. Prereq.: permission. Research in various areas of business
for qualified students. This course will not fulfill the general graduation
requirement for independent work. See independent study guidelines.
May be repeated.
BUS-318-319-320 Intermediate Accounting 3.0 cr. each
Fall, winter, spring. Prereq.: BUS 221, 222. A comprehensive study of
the theory, principles and procedures used in reporting financial information
to decision makers via the balance sheet and statements of income, retained
earnings and changes in financial position.
BUS-330 Principles of Finance 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: BUS 221, 222; POE 271, 272. An introduction to finance
with emphasis on the theories and problems of resource allocation, the
cost of capital, capital budgeting, asset valuation, capital structures,
financial control.
BUS-332 Financial Institutions 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: POE 271, 272. Analysis of financial markets and intermediaries
including theory and practice in financial intermediation, the nature
and function of money, interest rate theory, money and capital market
instruments, monetary theory and policy, and government regulation.
BUS-340 International Business 3.0 cr.
Fall. Prereq.: POE 262, BUS 221. An analysis of international business
from the viewpoint of entering into multinational business activities,
examining cultural, social, economic, and political factors related
to transnational operations. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY)
BUS-350 Management Science 3.0 cr.
Fall, spring. Prereq.: BUS 201, 221 and MAT 211 (or 311) or permission. A
study of managerial decision making and how analytic frameworks are
used to support decisions. Topics include decision modeling, forecasting,
linear programming, and statistical quality control. Extensive use of
computers.
BUS-357 Organizational Behavior 3.0 cr.
Fall, spring. The application of behavioral science theory and methods
to better understand and manage individual and group behavior in organizations.
BUS-358 Human Resources Management 3.0 cr.
Winter. This course examines how the management of
human resources can help organizations successfully deal with today's
legal and ethical, social, global, quality, and technological challenges.
Emphasis is on developing HR policies and implementing programs regarding
the recruitment, selection, training and development, and compensation
of employees.
BUS-360 Principles of Marketing 3.0 cr.
Fall, Spring. Prereq.: BUS 221, POE 271. A foundation course in marketing
which addresses the process of planning and executing the conception,
pricing, promotion, and distribution of goods, services, and ideas to
create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational goals with
consideration of the social, ethical, economic, and international environments.
This foundation course is a prerequisite to all other marketing courses.
BUS-366 Marketing Communication 3.0 cr.
Winter. Prereq.: BUS 360. An analysis of the field of advertising, sales
promotion, public relations, and personal selling management from an
integrated marketing communications perspective. The course will focus
on an examination of the marketing process, consumer behavior, communications
theory, and the role of research to effectively plan, implement, and
evaluate advertising and promotional programs.
BUS-381 Electronic Commerce: Business Uses of the Internet 3.0 cr.
Fall. Prereq.: BUS 201 or familiarity with the use of the Internet.
Business opportunities, challenges, and strategies for use of the information
superhighway will be explored, as will strategies and vision on how
to leverage the emerging national and global information infrastructure.
Includes review of the tools and technologies necessary for electronic
commerce and the impact of the emerging electronic market and commerce
reengineering in today's corporations.
BUS-385.1 Management Information Systems 3.0 cr.
Fall, spring. Prereq.: BUS 201. A course which surveys
the use of computer-based information systems in business. Uses a socio-technical
approach to examine the organization, management, infrastructure and
support for information technology in businesses preparing to become
digital entities. Introduces topics covered in more depth in BUS 381,
482, 483, and 485.
BUS-391 Legal Environment 3.0 cr.
Fall, spring. Prereq.: ENG 100.1 or ENG 101or WRI 150. An introduction to the fundamental principles
of law affecting business. Topics will include contract law, UCC, property
rights, partnerships and corporations, rights of creditors, business
regulation, rights of shareholders, and other legal concerns of both
profit and non-profit organizations. This is a writing intensive course
and writing skills are part of the grading process.
BUS-422 International Accounting 3.0 cr.
Alt. years. Prereq.: BUS 221. Investigation and research into
the development of international accounting theory as it responds to
multinational business in a multicultural world.
BUS-423 Auditing 3.0 cr.
Fall. Alt. years. Prereq.: BUS 320 or permission. A study of the principles governing
the independent review of financial statements, professional standards,
ethics, evaluation of internal control, auditing procedures and preparation
of working papers.
BUS-424 Tax Accounting I 3.0 cr.
Spring. A study of income, excise, and social security taxation emphasizing
individual and small enterprise tax problems. Selected fields of small
enterprise activity are explored to provide specific emphasis.
BUS-427 Cost Accounting 3.0 cr.
Spring. Prereq.: BUS 222. A study of the role of accounting information in
decision making emphasizing the use of accounting data for internal
management decisions. The course includes an introduction to cash flows,
cost accounting, cost-volume-profit relationships, and budgeting in
business decisions and the theory, terminology, accumulation, reporting
and evaluation of costs, including job order process and standard cost
break-even analysis and budgeting techniques.
BUS-430 Advanced Financial Management 3.0 cr.
Fall. Prereq.: BUS 330. Contemporary issues in finance. Topics can include
liquidity management, asset valuation, capital budgeting, capital structure,
and financial strategy.
BUS-432 Investment Theory & Practice 3.0 cr.
Fall. Prereq.: BUS 330 or permission. A study of the nature of investment,
classification and analysis of bonds, stocks, etc., risk and return
analysis, the Efficient Markets Hypothesis, CAPM, Modern Portfolio Theory,
and the selection and management of financial portfolios.
BUS-438 Financial Problems 3.0 cr.
Alt. years. Prereq.: BUS 330. Research and reports on selected problems or
topics in finance.
BUS-444 International Finance 3.0 cr.
Spring. Prereq.: BUS 330. Provides a framework for understanding financial
management issues from a global perspective. Includes an introduction
to the international financial system, the balance of payments, exchange
rate determination, the management of multi-national corporations, and
hedging currency and capital risks.
BUS-452 Total Quality Management 3.0 cr.
Alt. years. Prereq.: BUS 350 or permission. An analysis of total quality
management in organizations as developed by W. Edward Deming and others.
The course will integrate key components of decision science, behavioral
science and organization analysis.
BUS-453 Principles of Production & Operations Management 3.0 cr.
Fall. Prereq.: BUS 350 and MAT 124 (or 150 or 151), or permission.
Studies the development of operational planning consistent with the
organization's business strategies. Topics include capacity planning,
facility location and layout, allocating resources, inventories, scheduling,
and projects. Extensive use of computers.
BUS-454 Simulation Analysis 3.0 cr.
Winter. Prereq.: BUS 350 or permission. The use of simulation analysis
in solving business problems. Most of the work in this course will involve
the creation and manipulation of simulation models on the computer.
BUS-455 Interpersonal Dynamics 3.0 cr.
Alt. years. Prereq.: permission. This course allows students
to develop the inter-personal competencies necessary to deal with people
in a variety of situations with an emphasis on work organizations. These
managerial skills include active listening, giving feedback, motivating
and coaching, delegating, and negotiating and managing conflict. Emphasis
is placed on managerial skillfulness in addressing important human,
task, organizational, and ethical issues effectively through interactions
with others.
BUS-459 Policy Studies 3.0 cr.
Fall, spring. Prereq.: senior standing. A study of business problem
solving and decision making under conditions of uncertainty. Analysis
of issues which relate to the determination of objectives and policy
from a general management perspective.
BUS-461 Marketing Research 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: BUS 360, 350 or permission. A study of the concepts and
techniques necessary to design, conduct, and manage market research
projects from their inception to completion. The course is centered
on the market research process, including problem definition, research
design, data collection methods, statistical analysis, as well as the
interpretation, presentation, and application of results.
BUS-466 Consumer Behavior 3.0 cr.
Alt. years. Prereq.: BUS 360. A study of how consumer psychological processes
interact with both social and situational influences to shape consumer
perceptions, decision-making processes, and purchase behavior. The social
identity of distinctive groups of consumers who express ethnic, age-related,
or lifestyle values through market and media choices will also be examined.
(CULTURAL DIVERSITY)
BUS-469 Marketing Policy & Strategy 3.0 cr.
Spring. Prereq.: BUS 360 and at least one course listed in the marketing concentration.
Capstone course in marketing focuses on the major issues faced by marketing
managers, synthesizing the concepts, definitions, and models students
have studied in prior marketing courses into a broad understanding of
marketing and its strategic application. Case studies and a marketplace
simulation will address problems and decisions found in profit and nonprofit,
small, medium, and large firms operating in domestic, foreign, and multinational
environments.
BUS-482 Database Management 3.0 cr.
Alt. years. Prereq.: BUS 201 or permission. Introduction to database management
systems, including: relational models; normalization; security, integrity
and recovery issues; query interfaces; data analysis, design, implementation
and basic application development using Microsoft's Access.
BUS-483 Project Management 3.0 cr.
Alt. years. Prereq.: BUS 201 or permission. Examination of
how projects can be managed from start to finish, including specific
emphasis on planning and controlling to avoid common pitfalls. Includes
software applications and configuration management. Topics include identifying
needs, defining requirements, project costing, scheduling, resource
allocation, and project politics. All students, regardless of major,
are encouraged to enroll.
BUS-485 Information Systems Analysis & Design 3.0 cr.
Spring. Prereq.: BUS 201 or permission. Examination of
analysis and logical design of business processes and management information
systems focusing on the systems development life cycle; techniques for
gathering and analyzing information systems requirements; and use of
various techniques for logical system design. Topics include concepts,
methods, and tools for the development of information systems management.
This is a useful supplement to programming classes in the Mathematics
department.
BUS-494 Independent Study 1.0 to 3.0 cr.
Arranged. Prereq.: permission. Research in the field of concentration
for qualified students. See independent study guidelines. (INDEPENDENT
WORK)
BUS-497 Internship 1.0 to 3.0 cr.
Arranged. Prereq.: permission. Individually arranged and supervised
internships with sponsors such as business organizations designed to
provide practical experience in the field of concentration. Periodic
reports and papers may be required. See internship guidelines. (INDEPENDENT
WORK)
BUS-499T Special Topics in Business 1.0 to 3.0 cr.
Topics vary.