Business

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

BUSI 100 : Introduction to Business

This course is an introduction to the ever-changing business world. Students will study how the fundamentals of management, marketing, human resources, finance, and entrepreneurship work together in different types of business organizations (e.g., sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations) to affect change in both the domestic and global environment.

BUSI 101: Personal Finance

This course explores practical and realistic models and methods to manage personal finance effectively including buying and selling a house, balancing a checkbook, budgeting, negotiating, investing, insurance issues, financial planning, valuing stocks and bonds, investing for retirement, and buying insurance for property and person.

BUSI 200: Digital Media and Digital Culture

This course provides the student with the history, structures, processes, and practices of digital media and examines the effects of technology on American and global culture. Key concepts that are integral to understanding the digital age are examined, as well as the effect of new content distribution venues like iTunes and YouTube. Various areas of digital culture are examined including the Internet, the World Wide Web, virtual community and virtual identity, social networking sites, gaming culture, and mobile technology. (This course may be taken for credit as COMM 200.)

BUSI 203: Principles of Advertising and Public Relations

This course covers the history and principles of advertising and public relations and discusses the different fields of marketing including industry and non-profit work. Advertising and public relations’ relative places in integrated media and marketing plans are also discussed. (This course may be taken for credit as COMM 203.)

BUSI 205: Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics

Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics teaches the mathematical tools from Calculus and Linear Algebra which are used in Economics and Business. Topics include derivatives, multivariate derivatives, and systems of equations applied to problems from Economics and Business. (Not be open to students who have taken MATH 201. This course cannot replace MATH 201 as a pre-requisite for MATH 202) (This course may be taken for credit as ECON 205).

BUSI 212: Social Media and Digital Marketing

This course will provide a deep dive into Social Media and Digit.al Marketing communication strategies, best practices, tactics, platforms and media alternatives. Students will be connected with an outside “client” organization. They will conduct secondary and informal primary research, including a social media audit, competitive analysis, and SWOT analysis. Students will then develop and present a social media-driven digital marketing plan to the client. (This course may be taken for credit as COMM 212.)

BUSI 220: Business Applications

This course is an introduction to applications utilized in making business decisions, covering the use of application software including, but not limited to, spreadsheets, databases, graphics, word processing, and computer communications. Students will develop beginning level skills with commonly used applications in order to use the computer as a tool for making strategic business decisions and will be able to make informed business decisions concerning computer generated information.

BUSI 222: Research Methods in Business

This course introduces elementary research methods in business and economics. The course includes the use of microcomputers in business and economics. Emphasis is on using spreadsheets to prepare quantitative research projects in business and economics. The course also covers writing quantitative reports in business and economics. (This course may be taken for credit as ECON 222).

BUSI 235: Introduction to Entrepreneurship

This course helps students to understand the many facets of entrepreneurship and to expose them to many of the behaviors that result in successful, as well as unsuccessful, business ventures.

BUSI 242: Social Media Marketing

This course explores how to effectively use social media to move those consumers to action. In order to be a successful marketer, students will learn how to plan a campaign that aligns with strategic goals, execute using the appropriate channels and tactics, and measure the success or failure of such marketing efforts.

BUSI 246: Viral and Organic Growth

"Going Viral" is the goal of most web-based marketing content. Companies that generate content that can spread through the internet organically are the most successful in growing their brand. In this course students will learn what drives people to share content and how to build content that is shareable and meme-worthy. By the end of this course, students will understand what drives viral sharing and learn how to facilitate it. 

BUSI 257: Health Systems of the United States

This course is your introduction to the US healthcare system and the practice of healthcare management. You will learn how the healthcare industry functions and explore the roles and impacts of its various parts. You will also have the opportunity to compare and contrast the US healthcare system with those of other nations. By the end of this course, you will know the ins and outs of the American healthcare system. 

BUSI 287: Organizations and Human Behavior

This course is a study of specific aspects of organization culture, such as motivation, conflict, power, and leadership. Focus is on improving the effectiveness of organizations by strengthening human processes. (This course may be taken for credit as ECON 287 or PSYC 287.)

BUSI 300: Student Investment Fund

This course provides students the opportunity to utilize their finance and investment knowledge to make hands-on investment decisions in managing a portfolio of approximately $1 million. The students learn, research, and implement various aspects of fund management such as: establishing portfolio objectives and risk management; researching and analyzing the current economic and investment environment; industry sector analysis; company analysis and evaluation; assessment of risk tolerance; portfolio formation; trading and performance evaluation.

BUSI 303: Organizational Communication

This course is an examination of the principles of communication in an information society, especially in the context of business, service, and media organizations. Major organizational theories are explored from a communication perspective and examined in the context of the roles and skills needed by individuals within organizations. Examples are drawn mainly from media organizations, but the principles are applicable to all types of organizations and individuals. (This course may be taken for credit as COMM 303.)

BUSI 308: International Business

This course is an introduction to the concept of international business as a system and the theories that underlie it. Students are introduced to globalization and the cultural, economic, political and legal environment of international business. Students are exposed to the risks, challenges, and opportunities of competing in a global marketplace. Students also learn about trade relations, international finance, and legal and labor agreements.

BUSI 309: Small Business Management

Expose students to the importance of small businesses and its effects on the economic and social structure of a community, both local and extended. Students will also learn how to assess opportunities and develop business plans to allow proper appropriation of returns to an entrepreneur, investors, and to the community.

BUSI 310: Principles of Marketing

This course introduces the fundamental concepts that help improve marketing decision-making. The student is introduced to the language of marketing, the concepts of marketing strategy, the concepts of product development, the psychology of consumer behavior, the mix of intermediate channel members, and the role of promotion and pricing.

BUSI 311: Principles of Management

This course exposes students to the general principles of the field of management, which includes planning, organizing, leading, innovating, and controlling organizational efforts. It also examines the role of ethics and the role of management within the broader social context.

BUSI 312: Principles of Corporate Finance

Principles of Corporate Finance is an exploration of corporate organizations and the planning of their financial requirements. The course includes an intensive study of cash flow, ratio analysis, budgeting, capital decision making, external financing, and corporate failure and reorganization.

BUSI 316: Financial Markets and Institutions

Financial Markets and Institutions is a study of the behavior of various financial institutions with emphasis on the operation of commercial banks and the Federal Reserve System. The course also includes a review of money, interest rates, and income determination.

BUSI 317: Healthcare Finance

This course teaches students how to apply concepts of finance and accounting to healthcare. Students learn how to track and evaluate the financial status of a healthcare organization and how healthcare systems finance their growth, and other projects. By the end of this course, students will be able to analyze issues and trends in healthcare finance and use financial information to support healthcare decision-making.

BUSI 322: Operations Management

This course is an introduction to the concepts, issues, and practices of operations management, with an emphasis on the managerial processes utilized to provide effective operations in both goods producing and services rendering organizations. Topics to be covered include operations strategy, process design, capacity management, demand planning, resource management, operations scheduling, quality control, and project management.

BUSI 325: Investment Management

Investment Management is a critical study of the various types of investment instruments and the relative merits of each. In addition, the course explores investment procedures, security analysis, portfolio theories, and portfolio analysis.

BUSI 328: International Marketing

The course will include the analysis of various methods of analyzing market demand, competition, costs, the structure of distribution, and other factors which influence marketing management decisions in foreign countries.

BUSI 329: Entrepreneurial Finance

This course is designed to develop the student’s skills and knowledge in entrepreneurial finance. The entrepreneurial finance framework is similar to that used in traditional corporate finance; however, the entrepreneurial venture is more focused on cash flow, returns, and recognizable value.

BUSI 330: Consumer Behavior

This course provides a study in how marketing meets consumer needs. It provides a psychological base upon which to make decisions while taking into consideration a consumer’s culture. Behavioral outcomes and associated issues are also discussed.

BUSI 332: Business Law I

This course is an introduction to the nature and development of common law and of the Uniform Commercial Code. Included is the study of contract law, business aspects of criminal law, ethical aspects of legal issues, and issues related to partnerships and corporations. (This course may be take for credit as ACCT 332.)

BUSI 337: Healthcare Law and Ethics

This course is an overview of healthcare laws in the United States. Students are exposed to ethical and legal issues that healthcare providers and administrators are confronted with in the modern workforce. By the end of this course, students will understand how the legal environment shapes the medical profession and how to analyze and respond to a range of ethical and legal issues. 

BUSI 338: Sport Marketing

This course is a study of the concepts and specialized strategies used in marketing sport and raising funds within sport organizations. Special emphasis is on public relations. (This course may be for credit as PLIED 338.)

BUSI 340: Marketing Management

This course is designed to investigate and practice marketing as the core of an operating business, interfacing with customers, competitors, collaborators, and the environment. In addition to an examination of contemporary marketing topics, case studies may be used to clarify and examine key marketing topics.

BUSI 342: Email Marketing

This course covers email marketing campaign strategies. Students learn how to craft successful email marketing campaigns for sales, engagement, and activation. By the end of this course, students will know how to write emails that drive customers to take desired actions and how to structure campaigns for maximum effect. Students will also build their own marketing campaign.

BUSI 345: Intercultural Communication

This course focuses on communication among individuals from divergent cultures. The processes by which perceptions are created, expressed, and influence interpersonal relationships are examined. Emphasis is on identifying and controlling the roles that culture plays within a wide range of communication contexts. (This course may be taken for credit as COMM 345.)

BUSI 346: Search Engine Optimization/Search Engine Marketing (SEO/SEM)

This course covers the use of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) as marketing tactics in effective and efficient marketing strategies employed by organizations. Companies use SEO and SEM to ensure that potential consumers see them first every time they utilize a search engine. By the end of this course students will learn how to optimize a website so that it shows up first on a search, and how to build search ads that will drive customers to a company's website.

BUSI 347: Health Data and Analytics

This course will help students understand the process of analyzing patient and other healthcare data to drive change and achieve greater efficiencies in healthcare systems. Students will learn to build the programming and scripting skills and analyze and explore data sets. By the end of this course, students will be able to perform basic statistical analyses of healthcare data and tum it into actionable information to improve healthcare
systems. 

BUSI 362: Digital Marketing Analytics

This course covers how to analyze digital customer behavior data using a range of tools, and use that data to test marketing hypotheses and improve customer acquisition. The ability to use this data is what differentiates successful marketing efforts from failed ones.

BUSI 371: International Financial Management

International Finance is a study of the balance-of-payment accounts, foreign exchange rate determination, fixed and flexible exchange rate regimes, currency futures and options, international capital flows, indebtedness, interest rates, and the international banking environment.

BUSI 377: Healthcare Service Operations

This course is an introduction to healthcare operations and systems management within the context of healthcare systems, how hospital supply chains work, and how to analyze operational processes to improve efficiencies. By the end of this course, students will understand how to evaluate and optimize hospital processes.

BUSI 385: Compensation

In this course students will learn why businesses not only have to consider paying their employees a fair wage for performance; but also benefits, cost of living adjustments, long term objectives (involving stock options and/or pensions) are also a part of compensation that is "intangible." Students will learn about the various parts of the overall compensation package and why they are costly for employers and why workers must contribute in
order for their company to succeed and prosper. By the end of the course, students will be able to evaluate the pay model of compensation, understand decision-making for the betterment of the business, competition, commission vs. salaried employees and the general psychology of the compensation system.

BUSI 387: Human Resources Management

This course examines the concepts of human resource planning and development and its use in business organizations. The course examines the establishment and operation of a total human resource program including recruitment, selection, training and development, performance appraisal, incentive programs, benefit programs, role of human resource departments and the role of government on such issues.

BUSI 397: Organizational Leadership

This course will focus on the leader as a relationship builder, social architect as well as the personal side of that individual. Traits, behaviors, relationships and the strengths of an organizational leader will be addressed. Various studies and evaluations of individual leaders (by name) and historical leaders will be topics discussed in this course

BUSI 400: Professional Selling

This course introduces interpersonal communication, influencing, and percussion processes designed to satisfy customer and company needs; stresses the structure of sound sales presentations through lectures, persuasive presentations, and appraisal and correction of common selling errors.

BUSI 403: Globalization and International Communication

This course examines the principles, variables, and processes involved in globalization and the international media systems as well as varying practices of media production and consumption in other countries. Students will study sample countries and will research economic, political, media and cultural factors as transmitted through the media system of a foreign country. (The course may be taken for credit as COMM 403).

BUSI 412: Integrated Marketing Communications Campaigns

This course uses the integrated marketing communications (IMC) approach of utilizing appropriate advertising, marketing, personal selling, and public relations principles and practices to develop a strategic communication campaign. Students conduct research, develop goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics for a client. The campaign is presented to the client in written and audio-visual form. The campaign is evaluated. (This course may be taken for credit as COMM 412.)

BUSI 422: Financial Analysis

Financial management concepts relating to cost of capital, capital structure theory, optimal capital structure, capital budgeting techniques, dividend policy, common stock and bond issuance, hybrid financing, mergers and acquisitions. Emphasis is placed on financial analysis using excel and other computer applications.

BUSI 425: Derivative Securities

This course teaches how to value and interpret a variety of derivative products, focusing on options, futures, and swaps. The use of the binomial approach as a valuation framework is assumed throughout the course, after taking steps to develop the Black-Scholes model. An understanding of the fundamentals underlying derivative products and why institutions utilize them to mitigate risk will be emphasized through the use of problem sets and an investment project.

BUSI 437: Healthcare Strategy

This course is the culmination of coursework in the Healthcare Administration track. Students learn to apply strategic thinking to healthcare management and complete a major project in which they propose a systemic change to a hospital or hospital system. By the end of this course, students will have developed relevant skills and created a portfolio project to show future prospective employers.

BUSI 460: Marketing Research

The methods and techniques of securing, analyzing, and interpreting data for effective marketing management decision making will be explored. The course focuses on the conceptual design of marketing research studies and the interpretation of data.

BUSI 470: Professional Internship

The Professional Internship in Business is aimed at enriching the student’s experience in practicing and using
business knowledge in a professional context, either on campus or off campus, in a domestic or international setting, and in face-to-face mode or remotely. The student documents the experience in a manner to be determined by the supervisor. The course instructor determines the student’s required proficiency for the experience based on the requirements of the host organization/agency. The internship may be repeated for credit with a maximum of 6 credits. Fifty hours of work is required for each one credit.(This course is a credit/no credit course.)

BUSI 478: Senior Capstone Seminar

The Senior Capstone Seminar is a capstone course integrating the student’s previous work in the areas of accounting, finance, management, marketing, and economics. The course includes the utilization of integrated case analysis and focused writing of reports on assigned cases. This course is for finance and management majors.

BUSI 480: Topics in Business

This course is intended to provide business students topics or areas of study that are timely and are not offered in the regular course offerings.

BUSI 481: Business Law II

This course is a continuation of Business Law I. Topics include: Commercial; Real and Personal Property; Bailment; Landlord and Tenant Relations; Wills Intestacy and Trusts; Intellectual Property; Computer Privacy and Speech; Employer-Employee Relationship; Employment Law; Product Liability; Professional Liability, International Business Law; and, Contract Interpretation. (This course may be taken for credit as ACCT 481.)

BUSI 482: Ethics in Business

This course exposes students to the social and economic responsibilities of business to society by examining the critical role of ethics in business decision making and its application to key strategic business decisions.

BUSI 490: Senior Project

The Senior Project is open only to students with a major in Finance, International Business Management or Marketing. Students prepare and present a senior project. The topic for the senior project must be approved by the advisor of the finance, international business, management or marketing majors.

BUSI 601: Corporate Financial Management

This course covers the financial markets, the role of financial institutions, valuation of stocks and bonds, time value of money, determination of weighted cost of capital, capital budgeting decisions, corporate bond refunding policy, hybrid capital funding, leasing decisions for asset management, dividend policy, short term working capital decisions, mergers and acquisitions, and bankruptcy and reorganization for business entities.

BUSI 602: Global Marketing Management

This course covers the role of the marketing function, marketing strategies and tactics, product mix, selection and positioning, and successful marketing strategy implementation in achieving business goals and objectives in a global environment. The importance of culture, environment, government regulations, and economic systems are addressed in understanding the impact on competitive advantage and strategic positioning.

BUSI 603: Human Resource Management

This course examines the establishment and operation of a total human resource program including various strategic HR functions such as recruitment, staffing, selection, talent management, performance, compensation, legal issues pertaining to employment, and determining the effective utilization of scarce resources in achieving the long term objectives of a business.

BUSI 604: Management of Projects

This course focuses on project management methodology that will allow students to initiate and manage projects
efficiently and effectively. The course covers key project management skills and strategies, and the application of this knowledge through case assignments.

BUSI 605: Management of Operations & Supply Chains

This course provides a broad understanding and knowledge of various operations management concepts and problem solving techniques which include operations strategy, process design, forecasting, inventory management, scheduling, supply chain management, and quality management. Emphasis is placed on the application of these concepts to actual business situations.

BUSI 606: Management of Business Information Systems

This course covers the importance of information systems technology to support the management activities in a business enterprise. Topics include fundamentals of hardware, software, database management, data communications, transaction processing information systems, decision support systems, information reporting systems, expert systems and systems analyses and design.

BUSI 607: Legal Environment of Business & Ethical Issues

This course covers the legal environment that businesses operate under and the implications of ethical issues in this context. Topics include legal environment affecting the formation & governance of business entities, laws pertaining to business transactions, legal conflict resolution, employment law and antitrust competitive laws.

BUSI 608: Business Policy, Ethical Leadership, and Strategic Management

This is a capstone integrative and interdisciplinary course that draws together and builds on all the ideas, concepts, and theories from various functional areas and introduces the key concepts, tools, and principles of global strategy formulation and competitive analysis as ethical business leaders.

BUSI 610: Corporate Finance & Management Accounting Decisions for Managers

This course covers the basics of cost of capital, capital budgeting decisions, bond refunding policy, hybrid capital funding, leasing decisions, and other financial decisions for managers. Students will also be exposed to accounting terminology, cost determination strategies, problem solving techniques, budgeting, leverage analysis, cost variances, and decision making as applied to real world situations.

BUSI 611: Marketing Analytics

This course introduces marketing analytics for generating marketing insights from data in such areas as segmentation, targeting and positioning, satisfaction management, customer lifetime analysis, customer choice, product and price decisions using various types of text analysis and search analytics. The course covers data management, data visualization, regression and cluster analysis, market based analyses and social media analysis.

BUSI 612: Marketing Research

This course provides an introduction to marketing research and covers key concepts, processes, and techniques and applications; the breadth and depth of the subject and its significance for a business enterprise; research design, including qualitative and quantitative data; and quantitative methods used for analyzing research data to make informed business decisions.

BUSI 613: Multicultural Marketing

This course provides greater insights for effective marketing and communication strategies in reaching diverse ethnic groups within the US. The course explores the cultural beliefs, values, perceptions, and behaviors in Asian American, African American, LGBTQ and the larger Hispanic markets and reviews the best strategies used by marketers to establish effective customer relationships with these groups.

BUSI 621: Compensation and Benefits Management

This course covers total compensation systems and wage and salary administration in private and public organizations. Overall employee benefits and incentive programs are examined along with interrelationships among employee performance, intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, perceived equitable payments, and employee satisfaction.

BUSI 622: Labor Relations Management

This course is a comprehensive study of collective bargaining; the negotiation process; and the scope of labor contracts. The course covers day-to-day administration of contracts; the major substantive issues in bargaining; negotiating with unions; and the problem of dealing with labor conflict. 

BUSI 623: Negotiation Management

This course covers analytical and communication skills that are necessary for successful business negotiations. The negotiation is described as a complex three-stage process which consists of preparation, negotiating, and post-negotiation implementation and evaluation.

BUSI 631: Contemporary Public Administration

This course is an introduction to the policymaking process to understand how participants and institutions (both within and outside of government) interact to produce public policies and how these policies are implemented in public agencies and non-profit organizations. The course also introduces policy analysis, evaluation, public administration, and management to understand the impact of public policies and programs as well as the management of public agencies and non-profit organizations.

BUSI 632: Proposal Development and Grant Administration

This course covers how to develop and write grant proposals, needs assessment, program planning and development, coalition-building, goals and objectives formulation, developing clear measurable outcomes for programs and evaluation of plans. This course also covers how to research potential grant funders, create a marketing plan, develop a post-grant sustainability plan and explore the potential of other funding sources.

BUSI 633: Law and Public Administration

This course provides foundational knowledge of the separation of powers and role of the judiciary in the administration of government and examines the formal powers of the judicial branch over the executive, the development and implementation of administrative law, and varying individual legal concepts that have shaped public administration. Specific case laws will be examined to understand the impact of the judicial branch on administrative governance and management.

ESPT 100: Introduction to Games

Games sit at the intersection of technology, art, and culture, so success within the games industry requires you to understand all three. This course explores why we love games, what role they play in society, and the industry that produces them. You'll also learn the basics of game development. This course was developed in partnership with Unity and the IGDA to help everyone interested in the games industry start on the right foot. This online class has optional live sessions.

ESPT 180: Introduction to Esport Management

This course will introduce students to the history of competitive gaming and will explore its ecosystem. Students will learn to navigate Esports leagues, teams, players, publishers, tournament operators, media and affiliate organizations. Furthermore, students will get firsthand experience in analyzing the space. This online course has optional live sessions.

ESPT 300: Convention, Event, and Trade Show Planning

This course will teach students how to turn a gaming convention into a big win. By the end of this course, students will understand how to handle planning, marketing and logistics for a corporate presence at a major convention. This online course has optional live sessions.

ESPT 400: Distribution of Games

This course teaches students how publishers promote games and bring them to market. By the end of this class students will be able to plan a game's launch and promotion. This online class features optional live sessions.