Courses – Undergraduate Business Administration

Effective communicators are skilled at both informing and inspiring other people. This course provides instruction and practice in making oral and written presentations based on the principle that ideal communication is a frictionless flow that nourishes both sender and receiver. Topics include word processing and presentation software; library and Internet research skills; oral presentations; writing letters, reports, proposals, and manuals; and the principles of ideal communication. (4 credits)

The goal of the course is for each participant to identify a business or product idea that they would like to develop into a viable product or company and then develop, write and present a summary of the idea into a Concept Statement. Businesses thrive on creativity. In this course, you will learn how creative thoughts and ideas can be developed into life supporting, sustainable products or services which fulfill needs and contribute to the expansion of happiness in society. This course is a workshop for idea-stage entrepreneurs, coached by the professor, so bring your best ideas to class. (4 credits)

Understanding proper use and common misuses of numbers and graphs can improve thinking and decision-making of all stakeholders of organizations and citizens in modern societies. This course applies basic mathematics and statistics to the analysis and interpretation of real-world quantitative information in the context of business and society. (4 credits)

The sequential transaction processing system of the accounting cycle provides information for both internal and external decision-makers. This course provides a firm basis for any stakeholder to implement “due diligence” in their management, investing, or financing decisions. Topics include: the conceptual framework of accounting; the internal control structure; general use financial statements for external decision makers; and the most useful managerial accounting reports for internal decision makers. (4 credits)

Law is a tool of progress. It creates the legal form of the business and enables business people to communicate clearly. It facilitates their commercial relationships and averts problems before they arise. Familiarity with business law and the natural laws upon which it is based promotes success for the individual and society. Topics include contracts, torts, agency, bankruptcy, secured transactions and property (real, personal, and intellectual property.) Students learn to select the most appropriate form of organization for their business and draft simple contracts. (4 credits)

Marketing is the process of creating exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational objectives. Topics include consumer behavior, market research, market segmentation, competitive positioning and strategy, advertising, pricing, distribution, and channel management, selling techniques and sales force management, and new product development. Students conduct industry analysis and write the marketing section for their business plan. (4 credits)

An understanding of the principles of human behavior at the individual, interpersonal, group, and organizational levels of analysis is critical to successful planning, organizing, and implementation by any manager. This course explores the dynamics of individual and group achievement from the perspectives of both skills and theory. Topics include general management theory, leadership, delegation and coordination, planning and problem solving, organizational structure, and organizational change. (4 credits)

In this capstone course of the BA degree in Creative Entrepreneurship, students integrate and apply the knowledge gained throughout their major to create a business plan. Topics include identifying problems and business opportunities, market analysis, execution plan, and financial projection. Students evaluate sample business plans, review and give feedback on classmates’ business plans, and revise and present their own business plans to faculty and mentors. (4 credits)

This course provides a holistic overview of business for new management majors or students from other majors. Principles of marketing, finance, operations, accounting, and human resources are taught in the perspective of an integrated business strategy and are illustrated by lively examples from videos, case studies, guest speakers, and field trips. (4 credits)

This course reviews the basic assumptions and logic of classical microeconomics and macroeconomics considering their modern critique through sustainability. Specific topics will vary from one offering to the next. However, frequent themes in the course are the social responsibility of business, the importance of local versus global markets, equality of economic opportunity, the distribution of wealth and income, the role of government in the economy, the conservation of natural resources, and the goals of an economic system. (4 credits)

This course uses economic analysis to understand the market and competitive environment of the entrepreneurial firm. On the consumer side of the industry, we study consumer behavior, the factors that affect consumers’ purchase decisions, strategies for pricing a product, and revenue models for a business. On the competitive side, we study how firms position themselves to compete within an industry, types of competitive strategy, and opportunities for collaboration with firms that offer complementary products or have access to complementary markets. We also use economic analysis to study the cost structure of a business to determine the break-even sales rate. At the completion of this course, students in the Creative Entrepreneur program will write the Industry Analysis section of their business plan. (4 credits)

Ever increasing globalization makes it imperative that students understand the different cultures in their world. This course provides frameworks useful in classifying cultures and understanding cultural norms and traditions. Analyzing case studies and participating in workshops and presentations enable students to establish patterns of behavior that facilitate cross-cultural communication. (4 credits)

We explore the modern science of systems leadership both theoretically and experientially. Leadership will be considered behavior by any member of an interconnected social hierarchy, whose behavior helps the group meet its adaptive challenges. Concepts and skills learned will begin to prepare students to envision leadership in organizations ranging from family to small and large professional organizations, to nations. Modern theories will be examined in the light of the Vedic science of leadership. Learning methods will include seminal readings, Socratic discussion, and self-designed leadership experiment projects. A capstone oral presentation will integrate these (4 credits)

People are an organization’s most important asset. Success comes from organizing and managing people to produce the products and services that customers value. This survey course exposes students to the full array of human resource functions human resource planning, recruitment and selection, training, performance management, compensation, unions, and upholding employer/employee rights and responsibilities. The students become familiar with the role of human resource department staff in designing human resource systems, as well as the critical role line managers and supervisors play in using these systems effectively to attract, retain, and motivate employees. Students also design a comprehensive human resource section for their business plan. (4 credits)

This project-based class challenges students to employ every ounce of their creativity and
apply their knowledge to finding solutions to the world’s most challenging problems, whether local or global, in the area of environmental sustainability, education, communications, or business. Each week we will connect with and learn from social entrepreneurs from around the world working in education, mobile technology, community development and so forth, and draw inspiration from their relentless vision and determination. Through the study of innovations in the social sector, we will develop an understanding of core principles and tactics of social change as well as the necessary leadership qualities of social entrepreneurs. Students will work individually or in groups to conceive of a social intervention of their own design. Students will present their plans, models and media to a committee to evaluate the potential of their work to create social change. (4 credits)

The course has a practical focus on career discovery and implementation. In the framework of Consciousness-Based principles for success, students consider their own skills, abilities, and objectives and learn to design a career that utilizes their talents and creativity for maximum effectiveness, achievement, and evolution. They design an action plan to implement their career goals and then work with the best Internet resources to research occupational interests, business and service organization profiles, and industry trends. Students learn networking strategies, including interviews, and using the telephone and Internet for extending their professional networks. They also develop scripts for introducing themselves and describing their achievements and capabilities with confidence in various formats, writing about themselves in the cover letter, resume, and portfolio, and speaking about themselves and what they can offer to potential colleagues, funding agencies, and employers. (2 credits)

Financial management provides an intelligent direction to the flow of funds for maximizing firm value. This course introduces techniques and concepts necessary to effectively manage the financial resources of any organization in order to achieve strategic goals. Topics include the time value of money, stock and bond valuation, risk and return, capital investment decisions, analysis of financial statements, financial forecasting, working capital management, the investment banking process, and the sources of funding for a business. Students will develop capital requirements, plan the raising of capital, and develop a cash flow design for their business plan project.  (4 credits)

This course is a survey of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration methods of resolving disputes without litigation. Students gain practical negotiation skills through workshops and case studies. Topics include: understanding other parties, building a productive framework for negotiation, defining objectives and strategy, framing proposals, and finding “win/win” solutions. (4 credits)

The ultimate purpose of Internet/Digital Marketing channels/tools in e-business is to elevate the satisfaction of online customers to the highest level. This course presents the core aspects of marketing online, including usability-oriented site architectures, pay-per-click campaigns, search engine optimization, social media, and content strategies. Students develop a working website to demonstrate mastery of these concepts. (4 credits)

This course offers practical experience through work in business administration, public administration, or educational administration. Students maintain journals that record their growth in understanding and experience, as well as their impact on the organization. (variable credits)