BUS - Business Course Descriptions
A minimum grade of "C" is required in ACC 207, ACC 208, BUS 101, BUS 202, ECO 121, ECO 201, ECO 202, and ECO 212 in order to take 300-400 level ACC, BUS, ECO, and ENT courses.
A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required to register for 300-400 level ACC, BUS, ENT, and ECO courses.
Familiarizes the beginning business student with the organization, structure, and operations of the various forms of business enterprise along with problems of planning, controlling, and integrating the major functions of business.
Notes
Business Department Majors and Minors: a minimum grade of "C" is required in this course in order to take 300-400 level ACC, BUS, ECO, and ENT courses.
This course exposes students to Catholic teaching on personal vocation and leadership. Students will recognize the dignity of human freedom and how personal vocation is both a gift and call from God. Students will identify their unique gifts, how they have already used them to serve the common good, and how their gifts can be developed in a business context. Students will use assessment tools, engage in self-reflection, and gain exposure to some of the best classic business thinking on leadership and management, as well as leading works on Catholic social teaching and Franciscan values.
Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, or Marketing majors/minors only
This is an introductory course in marketing. It examines the role of marketing in our society and as a vital part of successful organizations. The general and competitive environments, segmentation and buyer behavior are considered in developing optimal product, service, pricing, promotion, distribution, and branding strategies. An introduction to business-level strategies along with business portfolio planning is included. Marketing ethics are considered from both a secular and Catholic social teaching viewpoint.
Notes
Business Department Majors and Minors: a minimum grade of "C" is required in this course in order to take 300-400 level ACC, BUS, ECO, and ENT courses.
Students will be exposed to the broad array of legal issues that may confront business leaders, including torts, criminal law, contracts, sales, real and personal property, bailments, insurance, agency, partnership, commercial paper, negotiable instruments, business organizations, corporations, bankruptcy, and governmental regulations.
Presents the range of skills, methods, and tools deployed in planning, monitoring, analysis, using statistics, data mining and business modeling, exploring data, and the results of analysis and communication of business problems and solutions. Emphasis is on a problem-solution format to explore data analysis options and to cover best practices for delivering solutions in Excel. Students will learn to perform in-depth data analysis via pivot tables and reports, use data visualization to present data and tell impactful stories to audiences, scale to massive data volumes, and deliver analytical insights to organizations.
This course addresses the practical aspects of communication in business to integrate critical verbal and written skills required in business environments. Preparing a variety of professional documents, creating visually organized presentations, facilitating group communication, crafting a business communication strategy, and researching professional documents, and interpersonal communication skills in the context of the business environment are explored. Business communication methods, grammar, punctuation, spelling, professional expression, career communication, scholarly business communication are additional topics covered.
In this second course of Business Leadership and Personal Vocation students build on habits of self-leadership gained in BUS 130 and begin to focus on how to build and develop healthy teams. Students continue to learn from the very best thinkers on business management and leadership, Catholic teaching on the dignity of work, the dignity of the worker, the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, and Franciscan values. They gain a distinctively Catholic and Franciscan approach to the dignity of the human person, the common good, and how to apply that understanding to business as a personal vocation.
BUS 130 or
UNV 115; Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, or Marketing majors/minors only
Is an introduction to the field of international business. It will provide an overview of the interrelationships of global business operations and provide the general framework of international business including the cultural, political, social, legal, and economic aspects of conducting business on a global scale.
Presents the development of the union movement; the relationship between management and unions and their varying approaches to collective bargaining; the issues in collective bargaining; public policy toward labor relations; administration and interpretation of union contracts; and the settlement of labor disputes.
Investigates the basic functions of management (planning, organizing, directing, and controlling) to provide a comprehensive familiarity with managerial literature, style, principles, and practices. It also encompasses evaluation of line, functional and line, and staff organizations, along with traditional and contemporary perspectives of management functions with emphasis on the systems approach.
Notes
Additional course fee.
Employs a mathematical and statistical approach to prototype decisions in business and economics. This provides a conceptual understanding of the role management science plays in the decision-making process. Resource allocation, queuing, competitive situations, and scheduling are considered. Some quantitative methodologies studied are linear and other mathematical programming, decision theory, and Markov analysis.
Provides students with an overview of the theory and practice of professional selling and sales management with an emphasis on the business-to-business selling environment. The selling process is presented, including prospecting, sales call planning, the approach, the presentation, negotiation, closing, and after-sale follow-up and service. Sales management topics include strategic planning, organizing, directing, controlling, motivating, compensating and evaluating the sales force.
BUS 202, minimum of 45 credits completed
Analyzes basic understanding of buyer decision-making processes and psychological, sociological, and cultural factors that influence these processes. This provides a basis for marketing decisions leading to buyer satisfaction.
Examines the field of marketing communications, with emphasis on consistent branding, marketing strategies and creative campaigns across both traditional and non-traditional marketing channels. Students will learn how to use branding, advertising, public relations, promotions, email marketing, and social media in the digital age to reach a brand’s awareness and sales goals. This course also provides a brief overview of inbound marketing and how it applies to integrated marketing communication plans
is an introductory course dealing with financial securities, investment principles, operation of securities markets, and the selection process for various investments. The purpose of the course, in the context of portfolio management, is to give students insight into the suitability of financial securities and basic evaluative techniques.
Security analysis is a method of performing fundamental research of tradeable financial instruments, namely stocks and bonds, to determine their intrinsic value. Derivatives and debt linked to securities will also be discussed. The process follows a bottom-up approach, focusing on quantitative factors but not excluding qualitative factors, to assess risk and value of individual securities.
studies the impact of the Federal Reserve, banking, insurance, economics, fiscal policy, and monetary policy from the perspective of finance. The course studies the history of financial institutions and policies from their origins through current events and issues. This allows students to develop a deeper understanding of the effect these institutions and their policies have on finance, investments, and the economy. Understanding how these institutions evolved and their direct or indirect impact on the economy is valuable for making sound decisions in finance.
While strengthening the habits of effective self-leadership and the development of healthy teams gained in BUS 130 and BUS 230, students in the third course reflect on how business as a vocation can be a force for good. By examining the stories of great business leaders alongside Catholic social teaching, students gain conviction and practical insight for how they can serve the common good through their own business practices. They learn to embrace work as a primary context for building healthy cultures of personal vocation and growth in faith. Students also gain insight into how they can live their faith in the largely secular business environment of the contemporary world. Students will prepare a capstone paper that applies concepts related to personal strengths, the development of healthy teams, and leadership to demonstrate how business can be a force for good by advancing the dignity of work, the dignity of the worker, the common good, subsidiarity, and/or ongoing conversion and our quest for holiness.
BUS 130 or
UNV 115; Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, or Marketing majors/minors only
Seeks to enhance the student experience in the semester abroad by facilitating informed cultural awareness, enhancing appreciation of European business practices, and advancing student engagement with faculty and professionals in European businesses and governmental agencies.
Addresses who is a European and looks at both past and current cultural crises and fears. The course emphasizes sensitivity to ethnic differences and promotes leadership in creating a cultural synergy and development of best practices for managing diversity in the global work culture.
Focuses on strategies for motivating, leading, and communicating with people across different countries and cultures. The course emphasizes a global perspective on hiring, training and developing employees, dealing with international labor unions, and building an effective global workforce.
Junior standing
Is a work-experience opportunity with the purpose of expanding education by applying accumulated knowledge in business administration. The availability of internships is limited to upper-level students, normally juniors and seniors with a 3.0 quality point average. Students are approved individually by the academic department. A contract can be obtained from the Career Services Office. Internships count as general electives.
Business senior standing and permission of chairman. Internships must be preapproved.
examines the main concerns in human resource management in terms of policies and procedures. Among the topics that are presented are work force administration, human resource management system, meeting human resource requirements, developing sound employment policies and practices, creating a productive work environment, and providing compensation and security. Emphasis is placed on the review of the legal framework impacting the field of human resources.
This course provides an understanding of those managerial concepts and quantitative tools required in the design, operation, and control of production systems and provides an introductory approach to the complex processes in supply chain management. Considering supply and demand, the components of the supply chain are explored, including the linkages between operations and logistics. The general analytical tools required in supply chain management will be explored in relationship to forecasting, capacity management, project management, sales and operations planning, materials requirements, quality control, production planning, inventory control, distribution, and order fulfillment. Global and domestic challenges in supply chain coordination are examined.
Focuses on the principles and practices of financing the corporate form of business. Students will learn how to analyze corporate financial needs and gain an understanding of the methods of capital formation.
studies the management of one's money as well as saving and investing in concurrence with the economic environment. This course develops financial planning skills by encompassing budgeting, banking, insurance, mortgages, investments, retirement, taxes, and estate planning. As a capstone, these skills will contribute to the development of a personal financial plan for each student at the end of the course.
Explores the relationship between the business firm and its social responsibilities to both the public and private sectors. Among the concerns presented are strategic management and social responsiveness, human investment, consumer welfare, ecology, corporate governances, and multi nationals.
Provides an overview and basic application of marketing research methods. The course presents the types of qualitative and quantitative research design, sampling, data collection and analysis techniques and the interpretation of results to support effective decision making
This course examines the public economy within a framework of institutional economics, focusing on collective activity, property rights, the role of public entrepreneurship, and the fiscal process. In addition to addressing the theory of the public economy, students will study cases highlighting budgetary and financial management tools applicable to governmental settings.
Examines the basic principles of retail store management, sales promotion, store location, selection and training of personnel, handling of merchandise, budgeting, control, and selling techniques.
Presents an overview of issues encountered by enterprises as they establish and maintain linkups with end users of their products and services. Screening international marketing opportunities, analyzing buyers in different cultural and political contexts, conducting research, and sustaining flows of product, two-way information, and customer service are crucial in today's global marketing environment. Strategies, control relationships, and key functions performed are considered.
BUS 202, minimum of 75 credits completed
Students are expected to analyze various marketing opportunities and make effective business decisions considering specific situations and requirements. This will be accomplished either through case studies, a web-based marketing simulation, the development of a real-world marketing plan, or a combination of these approaches. The course aims to integrate both strategic and tactical marketing considerations and decision making.
Notes
Additional course fee.
To succeed, managers must develop the resources and capabilities needed to gain and sustain advantage in competitive markets. This course introduces the concept of strategic management through case analyses and considers the basic direction and goals of an organization, the environment (social, political, technological, economic and global factors), industry and market structure, and organizational strengths and weaknesses. The emphasis is on the development and successful implementation of strategy in different types of firms across industries. This capstone course requires development of a strategic plan as a demonstration of mastery.
Notes
Additional course fee.
Continues the study of capital formation with an emphasis on management problems related to corporate structure, cost of capital, and short-term financial planning and management, including cash, liquidity, credit, and inventory management.
In this course, finance students consider in depth a specific topic or area of finance such as portfolio analysis, options and futures markets, financial policy, cost control and analysis, financial reporting issues, principles of insurance, or other current financial problems/topics. This course can be taken more than once since its content will vary.
Permission of department
Is required of all students majoring in business administration. Guidance and supervision on individual research work will be provided by members of the department. For a description of the economics courses, see the catalog section designated for economics.
This course will examine the legal dimensions of the employment relationship in a non-union setting. Students will become familiar with the employment-at-will doctrine and will understand the exceptions to that doctrine. Several federal laws will also be examined including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the American with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Equal Pay Act, OSHA, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. The course will also cover other issues including privacy in the workplace, employment testing, and performance appraisals. The course will also provide students with analysis of formal and informal initiatives, processes and structures developed by business organizations and managers to address common ethical problems at work in order to prepare students to participate in their organization's efforts to promote ethics at work.
Students will reflect upon the unique ways in which they and others are called to leadership, and how this leadership relates to each person’s call to holiness and quest for personal and organizational excellence. Students will learn how to apply timeless principles, practices, and behaviors grounded in virtue, Catholic social teaching, and research to their own leadership of relationships, teams, systems, and organizations.
This course aims to provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of microeconomic theory and its relevance to business decision-making. The heart of the course is an intensive examination of the neoclassical theories of demand, production, cost, and pricing.
This course is designed to familiarize the students with the basic cost concepts and the techniques of accumulating cost data that may assist management in planning, controlling, and decision making. Topics will include the fundamentals of managerial accounting, cost classification and behavior, job order and process costing; absorption and variable costing; and standard costing and variance analysis. Budgeting and profit planning, cost-volume-profit analysis, capital budgeting, and investment analysis are also covered.
This course equips MBA students with the statistical and analytical tools necessary to interpret data and inform strategic business decisions. Key topics include descriptive and inferential statistics, predictive analytics, data visualization, and the use of statistical software. Through case studies and practical applications, students will learn to analyze complex data sets, develop predictive models, and effectively communicate insights to stakeholders. Emphasis is placed on virtuous leadership considerations and the strategic implementation of data-driven solutions in various business contexts.
Students examine essential theories related to organizational behavior and communication. These theories include, but are not limited to job performance, commitment, stress, motivation, trust, ethics, decision making, personality, culture, structure, and leadership. Through examination of these different theories and case studies, students will explore the impact each has upon not only their personal environment but also the global environment.
The course focuses on the application of management tools and thoughts in the solution of problems centering in the marketing function. It covers such topics as: marketing policies, research, strategy, organization, demand analysis, product planning, pricing, physical distribution, demand stimulation, sales management, retailing and wholesaling techniques and structures, marketing law and current marketing literature. The course also involves case studies, various types of reports and oral presentations by students; and widespread reading in current marketing periodicals.
This course examines the application of management tools and thought to the solution of business problems centering in the financial function. Coverage includes topics such as financial management of business units with emphasis on organization, structure, collection and use of financial data; profitability, liquidity, sources of capital and external financial institutions, and their operations; taxes, regulation and types of lending markets and operations, insurance and risk management; investment objectives, types of investments and their relative merits, security prices and yields, investment programs and taxes.
This course provides an understanding of the managerial concepts and quantitative tools required in the design, operation, and control of production systems. Coverage includes topics such as: productivity/ competitiveness, product design, process selection, staffing considerations, system start- up, steady-state operations, and other planning and control methods. All are couched in the framework of a product life cycle.
Each MBA student must complete a research paper on a topic of his or her choice. The paper is to discuss a pragmatic problem involving original research by the student, with supporting library documentation. Topics will be subject to the approval of the student's advisor, and the specific research requirements and organization appropriate to each topic will be worked out in conjunction with the advisor. Topics may be operational in nature and would include such areas as inventory control, job enrichment, and strategy tactics. Students will present their papers to a faculty executive board for approval.
This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of what market research can and cannot do and to introduce a basic structure for problem analysis. Subject matter includes scope and practice of marketing research, survey technique and questionnaire construction, experimental design, data collecting, and statistical techniques.
This course considers problems in the management and leadership of sales and distribution channels. Topics include the personal selling process, account management, determining sales force size, organization, evaluating individual and group performance, and compensation plans. The course also covers optimal channel selection, conflict, power, and control.
This course has a marketing management direction and orientation. The objective is to integrate the major elements of marketing communication in both consumer and industrial markets. These elements include advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, packaging, and publicity and public relations.
The course is structured to integrate two key aspects of the marketing practice-sales management and integrated marketing communications-which many companies struggle to integrate. Over the first six weeks we study sales management, including hiring, training, directing, motivating, and analyzing the sales force through selected readings, real-world case studies and classroom discussions. Over the next six weeks we study the integrated marketing communications function with emphasis on optimal decision-making by marketing managers related to problem-solving situations in advertising, public relations, branding, promotions, incentives, and social media. Over the last four weeks we study challenges and approaches to integrating these important functions as well as relevant ethical considerations in both areas.
This course is designed to enable the student to understand, from a variety of perspectives, factors that affect buyer decision making. These include psychological, sociological, and cultural factors. Such an understanding provides a basis for marketing decisions that aim to enhance buyer satisfaction with the goods and services of the firm.
Examines the process organizations use to develop strategic marketing plans. This course includes an overview of marketing audits, how to appraise market opportunities, ideas for designing new activities and products, and marketing planning processes and development.
This course examines the key elements that support opportunity development, start-up launching, and financial and growth issues for new initiatives in the private and the not-for-profit sectors.
Builds on concepts developed in Financial Management and provides additional concepts and models for financial decision-making. Theoretical and practical aspects of the capital budgeting are examined with emphasis on including the concept of risk into the capital budgeting decision. An analytical framework is presented to evaluate leasing, bond refunding, dividend policy and mergers and acquisitions.
Business forecasting concentrates on quantitative approaches to forecasting, such as regression analysis, exponential smoothing and ARIMA models. Students will gain an understanding of the limits and diagnosis of forecast models, as well as the crucial role of sound human judgment.
This course begins with a review of basic investing then goes deeper into understanding financial securities, investment principles, operation of securities markets, and the selection process for various investments. The purpose of the course, in the context of portfolio management, is to allow students to conduct some security analysis and choose investments to build a sound investment portfolio according to a criterion of goals and objectives.
The development of financial accounting theory and practical application of that theory will be studied. Content will include review of the conceptual framework of financial accounting as promulgated by the FASB. Particular emphasis will be placed on the objectives of financial reporting, the elements of the financial statements, and the principles of recognition and measurement.
This course is designed to provide an in-depth study of the accounting and financial management principles and practices associated with governmental and other not-for-profit entities. Special emphasis will be placed on state and municipal governments; however, coverage will also include the accounting/financial practices of colleges and universities, hospitals, and health and welfare agencies.
This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth study of the audit process. The course will begin with a review of the attest function, including various phases of the audit process, such as engagement planning, audit control, and execution. Finally, coverage will return to compilation and review engagements.
This course is designed to improve the quality of ethical decisions made by accounting students in the practice of their profession, by giving them a forum within which to encounter and debate the moral problems of the profession. Professional responsibilities of accountants in public and private practice will be examined, including responsibilities to clients, management, owners, colleagues, and society at large.
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of corporate tax planning and its application to both corporate shareholders and estates. Subject matter includes types of business entities, determination of corporate net income, taxation of distributions to shareholders, and taxability of corporate formations and liquidations.
This course is designed to provide an in-depth knowledge of various personal computer application programs. Subject matter includes an introduction to computers, use of Microsoft Windows, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, and database tools.
This course is designed to provide an in-depth knowledge of human resource management. Topics include the nature of human resource management, staffing the organization, training and developing human resources, compensating strategies, employee relations and global HR.
The ability to effectively contribute and lead teams is frequently listed as a top skill needed by employers. This course provides a foundation on the topic and practical tools to help students diagnose complex group dynamics and become productive team members and leaders. Leadership strategies for creating effective teams is a focus in the course, covering key topics including trust, conflict, commitment, accountability, and results.
This course presents a study of the key principles of Catholic social teaching on economic life, business, and society. Students examine the major papal encyclicals and the crucial implications for managing organizations from a Christ centered view. Texts of other writers are also considered. The aim is to ground students in the moral dimensions of historical, political, and economic life. Topics will include: business as vocation and calling, the virtues of business leaders, and core principles of Catholic social thought from Leo XIII to the modern period, including emphasis on the role of the family, the nature of work, human dignity, the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity.
Examines the interactions among organizational resources, organization design, management practices and external forces from a macro-organizational perspective. Topics include: the inter-relation of system design, work design and management theory; as well as an overview of organizational theory. Study concentrates on organizations as systems and managerial, technical, structural, and cultural subsystems as they relate to the broader environment.
This course is designed to equip managers to plan, organize, direct, and control the information resources of the firm; to help them work effectively with computer personnel; to enable them to discriminate among software products; and to instill a sense of urgency to stay abreast of rapid changes in the field of information technology that affect the strategic positioning of their firm.
Learn to understand, implement, and leverage generative AI in your organization, addressing ethical considerations and up-skilling your workforce for a competitive edge.
Explore various AI models, their business applications, and basic Python for predictive and prescriptive modeling to identify and implement effective AI strategies in your organization.
Gain insights into AI governance, ethical guidelines, and regulatory compliance to develop and enforce responsible AI policies within your organization.
Acquire skills in managing the entire lifecycle of AI projects, from planning to deployment, ensuring alignment with business objectives, and effective stakeholder communication.
This course introduces MBA students in the AI specialization to the foundational principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST) as a lens for ethical business decision-making. It situates CST in dialogue with contemporary challenges of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity; students will critically examine how AI in business can serve human flourishing and integral economic development, rather than reduce persons to data points or undermine moral responsibility.
This course is designed to familiarize the student with neoclassical labor theory and the issues surrounding the labor market in the U.S. Subject matter includes, among other topics, demand for labor, demand elasticities, quasi-fixed labor costs, supply of labor, household production, and compensating wage differentials.
This course is designed to provide the student with a knowledge of current problems in the economy. The subject matter of this course changes as economic issues change. Readings include publications of the Federal Reserve System, The National Association of Business Economists, as well as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, Business Week, National Review, Conservative Chronicles, and others.
This course is designed to familiarize the student with the major aspects of antitrust, economic, and social regulations as it relates to the firm. Subject matter includes, among other topics, the philosophy of regulation, consumer benefits, capture theory, public choice theory, airline regulation, energy regulation, job safety regulation, environmental regulation, and antitrust regulation.
This course is designed to equip the student with an understanding of issues and firm strategy when a firm competes internationally. Subject matter includes country factors, global trade and investment environment, global monetary system, and strategy and structure of international business operations.
Introduction to role of finance in companies and to capital markets. Key areas covered include present value analysis, risk and return, capital budgeting, company capital structure, corporate financial planning and budgeting, and risk analysis.
Covers bond valuation, risk measurement, cost of capital, portfolio theory, CAPM (the Capital Asset Pricing Model), interest rates, and basics of futures and options contracts.
Covers financial statement analysis, ratio analysis, risk assessment, pro forma statements, and valuation techniques, equipping students to evaluate and value companies effectively.
With a general theme of disruptors in traditional finance, covers blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and DeFi (decentralized finance).
This course equips MBA students in the finance specialization with a Catholic Social Thought (CST) framework for interpreting financial practices, institutions, and decision-making. Students will critically evaluate the moral dimensions of finance, considering issues such as just investment, responsible lending, corporate governance, speculative behavior, and the role of finance in serving human flourishing.
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of major trends, issues, and problems confronting healthcare professionals and policy makers. Subject matter includes, among other topics, evolution of healthcare systems and policy, nursing issues, healthcare system reform, financing healthcare, managing healthcare costs, peer review organizations, and long-term care for the elderly.
Selected students will be permitted to complete a maximum of four credits of independent studies (two, two-credit electives, or one, four-credit elective). Guidance and supervision on individual research work will be provided by members of the graduate faculty.
Advanced research or field project work under the supervision of a faculty member arranged to suit the individual requirements of the student (independent study).
Permission of instruction
Students will analyze major decisions in the context of the entire philosophical framework of business through case studies. Emphasis is placed on the relationship of business to outside forces and to the integration of functional operations. The effects of major policy decisions on marketing, finance, manufacturing, and personnel will be analyzed. The course covers strategy, policy definition, planning, organizing, direction, control, and an in-depth look at management and its sources and responsibility. This course brings together all of the principles of business studied in previous courses. Oral and written presentations of case studies are used to further develop communication skills.
Notes
Additional course fee.