Business Administration

An overview of the various functions of businesses, including management, accounting, finance, marketing, operations management, law, as well as other areas. Coverage emphasizes how these functions work together to form a profitable enterprise. First-year course.

This course equips students with the essential communication skills needed to succeed in professional business environments. It covers core areas, including resume and cover letter writing, mock interviews, business etiquette, verbal and non-verbal communication, and interpersonal effectiveness in professional contexts. Using Amy Newman's Communication and Character, students will develop communication skills that emphasize ethical decision-making, character, and integrity in professional settings.

This course teaches practical data science skills, applied to real business problems, using the python programming language.  Students will learn essential skills that span the fields of statistics, data science and programming.  Statistical models will be developed for time series, cross sectional and panel data analysis. Interpretation is strongly emphasized as students navigate causation and correlation.  Students will use virtual machines to spin up cloud instances that perform the entire data pipeline from importing/merging data using different sources, cleaning/transforming data, deploying statistical models and visualizing results.  This course does not assume any prior knowledge of either statistics or programming. 

A practical overview of the U.S. legal system and its influence on business operations, with an emphasis on ethical decision-making and legal risk management.  Topics include contracts, torts, property, business formations, agency, employment and labor law, environmental regulation, and bankruptcy.  Students develop legal vocabulary, analyze case law, and apply core concepts through a project examining the legal structure and liabilities of a real-world business.  Designed for Business Administration majors, the course equips students to navigate legal challenges with strategic insight and professional integrity.

This course consists of the study of investment characteristics of stocks and bonds, the securities market, introduction to securities analysis, commercial banks, FinTech, the federal reserve system, inflation, deflation and money supply, and the history and nature of money and financial management.

This course is a study of personal financial matters including long-term financial planning techniques, insurance, investing, income taxes, consumer purchases, use of credit, and budgeting.

A study of the moral and ethical environment in which businesses operate. This course emphasizes the necessity to develop and abide by ethical standards while pursuing profit maximization goals. 

This course presents financial concepts from the point of view of individual investors and businesses. It highlights the financing, investment, and dividend policies adopted by corporations to maximize shareholder value. Coverage will focus on the time value of money, financial environment of the firm, capital management, capital budgeting, ratio analysis, and related financial policies.

This course covers areas concerning money, banking, and the financial markets and institutions. The course will examine financial instruments and interest-rate determination, the structure and operations of banks and financial institutions, the operations, tools, and policies of central banks, and money and inflation.

Deals with the basic principles of security analysis and analytical techniques. Includes a study of the economic functions and operations of the security markets, portfolio management, and the formulation of investment program.

This course is a study of leadership theory, the nature of leadership, major theories of leadership and their application in organizations.

This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of key financial management topics beyond the basic BUA 341 Corporate Finance course. In BUA 431, the previous background is taken to the next level by determining capital budget cash flows, the optimal capital structure choices, risk management techniques, and the differences and benefits of payout policies. Study goes on to explore mergers, acquisitions, and international issues. The firm is examined as a whole to determine how capital structure affects corporate strategy.

A study of the international dimensions of business and how they affect the activities of the firm. Emphasizes global and domestic factors affecting management decisions to move domestic operations abroad or vice versa, as well as the development and management of multinational corporate strategies.

This course is designed to teach finance principles and applications from a deeper level than just the basic course. These concepts and tools are needed to handle complex problems to maximize a firm’s value through value creation from global perspective. Students learn how to become effective managers by analyzing financial statements, cash flows, cost of capital, capital budgeting, capital structure, corporate valuation, and with exposure to global financial management. (Prerequisites: BUA 241 Personal Finance and BUA 341 Corporate Finance)

An in-depth study of selected contemporary issues in the business discipline.

An in-depth study of selected contemporary issues in the business discipline.

Independent study in a selected field or problem area of business related fields. The topic or problem to be studied will be chosen in consultation with departmental faculty under whose guidance the study will be conducted. Subject to Independent Study regulations and restrictions.

Independent study in a selected field or problem area of business related fields. The topic or problem to be studied will be chosen in consultation with departmental faculty under whose guidance the study will be conducted. Subject to Independent Study regulations and restrictions.

Students work part or full time in business and industry applying the concepts that they have learned in the classroom. Students become familiar with how the basic managerial functions are applied in a business or industrial setting. Limited to majors in the department, subject to Internship regulations and restrictions. Students must be junior or senior status.

Students work part or full time in business and industry applying the concepts that they have learned in the classroom. Students become familiar with how the basic managerial functions are applied in a business or industrial setting. Limited to majors in the department, subject to Internship regulations and restrictions. Students must have junior or senior status.

Students design, implement and report on an approved research project. Subject to Senior Essay regulations and restrictions.

A study of small business matters including entrepreneurship, forms of ownership, innovative products, franchising, sources of funding, and creating a business plan. Emphasis will be placed on the entrepreneurial role of small business managers, including risk management, innovation, creativity, and profit maximization.

This course focuses on financial analysis, financial forecasting, financing, capital costs and working capital management of startup businesses and existing businesses in the early stages of development. 

This course examines the entrepreneurial process from recognizing an opportunity to planning, organizing, and growing a new venture. A defining feature of this course is its focus on persuasive communication. Students learn the mechanics of a persuasive 5-minute elevator pitch. Presentations are graded individually based on innovation, thoroughness, delivery, and persuasiveness.

Students are required to develop a professional business plan based on a strategic planning model. This course emphasizes evaluation, refining and expanding a business plan for an actual start-up business. Students will explore entrepreneurial issues in depth as they relate to risk taking, innovation, creativity, and profit maximization.

A fun-based study of small business matters including the entrepreneurial mindset, forms of ownership, and sources of funding, and focuses on revisiting foundational concepts to ensure alignment with current goals identifying area for improvement in business operations and strategies (Internships, Memorandum of Understanding, etc.).

This course is the culmination of a business or startup program and is structured by a professional business development curriculum - currently Propel Business Lab. It synthesizes skills, such as market research, business modeling, finance, and product development, into a single, actionable project. Students will build a comprehensive business plan, validate their concept with customers, and assemble a professional pitch deck to be presented as part of the course.

e-Sports is one of the fastest growing industries, attracting 450 million viewers and generating over $1bn in revenue in 2020. This course will introduce you to the history of competitive gaming and will explore its ecosystem. You will learn to navigate Esports leagues, teams, players, publishers, tournament operators, media and affiliate organizations. Furthermore, you’ll get firsthand experience in analyzing the space. [This course is offered through the RIZE Education Consortium]

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. 

e-Sports and Gaming companies rely heavily on conventions for marketing. Shows like TGS, PAX and E3 attract audiences from 60,000-300,000 and are tremendous opportunities for companies to generate excitement and drive sales. This course will teach you how to turn a gaming convention into a big win. By the end of this course, you’ll understand how to handle planning, marketing, and logistics for a corporate presence at a major convention. This online course has optional live sessions.  

The role of a publisher in the games industry is to ensure that a game can get in front of its audience successfully. To do that, a publisher must consider a variety of distribution strategies and channels. This course explains the role of a publisher in game distribution and details the various channels by which a game can be distributed. 

An introduction to the management process of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. This course includes contemporary topics such as managing diversity, globalization, and ethical issues.

A study of the management of the workforce. Includes motivation and job satisfaction theory, wage and salary administration, incentive plans, manpower planning, recruiting and hiring, and retirement programs.

This course is a study of leadership theory, the nature of leadership, major theories of leadership, and their application in organizations.

A study of the international dimensions of business and how they affect the activities of the firm. Emphasizes global and domestic factors affecting management decisions to move domestic operations abroad or vice versa, as well as the development and management of multinational corporate strategies.

An introduction to the theory and practice of negotiation as a process of creating agreements between interdependent parties. This course examines the structure, strategy, and psychology of negotiation across a variety of personal and professional contexts. Students will explore key concepts such as bargaining strategy, conflict management, communication, and decision-making while developing practical skills through experiential exercises and simulated negotiations. Emphasis is placed on applying negotiation principles to achieve effective, ethical, and mutually beneficial outcomes.

An examination of human behavior in organizations. Emphasizes organizational culture, performance management systems, leadership, and the future of human relationships in work environments.

A capstone course integrating all functional areas of business. Focuses on managerial strategies and policies that affect total enterprise performance. All students will be required to take the Comprehensive Business Exam as part of program assessment. 

An overview of domestic and international marketing focusing on the marketing mix system (i.e., product, price, communication, and distribution). This course introduces the student to consumer behavior and marketing research. Ethical issues are integrated into all phases of the course.

This course is a comprehensive study of behavioral models and concepts to help understand, evaluate, and predict consumer behavior in terms of marketing implications. The course emphasis is upon understanding the processes that influence the acquisition, consumption, and disposition of goods and services.

Applied digital marketing covering SEO and AEO, online advertising, Web analytics, email marketing, social media, and reputation management. Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) study is designed to prepare marketers for the "AI-first" era, moving traditional SEO to ensure brands are cited as direct answers in tools like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews (SGE), and voice assistants.

This course in professional selling focuses on business-to-business selling, helping students learn how to design and deliver effective sales presentations, analyze and manage individual accounts and markets, prospecting, developing sales plans, and managing the sales force. Job opportunities exist in professional sales for graduates who enjoy the independence and economic rewards that a sales career provides.

A practitioner-oriented introduction to the methods of marketing analytics. Class examples and exercises are drawn from contemporary applications, and students will be actively engaged in executing the methodologies using relevant software.

This course develops students' ability to use facts in the analysis of marketing strategy. A capstone course that serves as a vehicle for the application and integration of the concepts, analytical tools and problem-solving approaches taught in lower-level marketing courses.

Project Management is about executing ideas on time, in budget, and adapting to challenges along the way. All modern business professionals need to understand it. This course, which culminates in a final project, gives you the foundational tools to do that: Waterfall and Agile methodologies, the project management lifecycle, precise goal-setting, professional progress trackers, stakeholder engagement, and project analysis. Learn more at rize.pub/PROJM-1. 

Most projects fail at the planning stage. This course teaches you to create plans that keep projects on track from day one. Define project scopes that adapt to change, develop timelines with Gantt charts and critical path analyses, and create budgets that succeed under pressure. Using project-based coursework, you'll learn to develop plans that are both ambitious and achievable, mastering the skills to optimize resources and deliver results that matter. Learn more at rize.pub/PROJM-3. 

Imagine skydiving without a parachute - that's what it's like to run a project without a risk management plan. This course teaches you to see the storm coming and prepare, turning looming disasters into manageable challenges. You'll learn to cut through the noise, create clear action plans, and keep control even when the pressure is on. Be the manager who's ready for anything, who stays calm, steady, and ahead of the game when things get tough. Learn more at rize.pub/PROJM-4. 

You've mapped out the perfect project plan, but things are slipping. What now? This course dives into the real challenges of project execution - where theory meets chaos. Learn to track KPIs to catch issues before they spiral, handle conflicts head-on, and pivot with confidence when things shift. Master the art of data storytelling to make your progress clear, wrap up projects seamlessly, and create impact that reverberates across the business. Learn more at rize.pub/PROJM-5. 

When change outpaces planning and requirements keep shifting, traditional project management falls short. That's where Agile comes in - designed to thrive in uncertainty and deliver value in fast-paced environments. Here, adaptability beats predictability, and customer satisfaction takes priority over rigid plans. In this course, you'll learn to pivot with purpose, keep your team aligned, and impress stakeholders, even when the ground is constantly shifting. Learn more at rize.pub/PROJM-6. This course is offered through the RIZE education Consortium.

In this capstone course, you'll step into the real role of a project manager, leading a complex project from start to finish and showcasing everything you've mastered. By semester's end, you'll not only have a standout portfolio piece to impress future employers but also sit for the CAPM exam - demonstrating your skills, knowledge, and readiness to tackle the field. Learn more at rize.pub/PROJM-7.

Have you ever wondered how that Amazon package arrived at your door so quickly? Supply chain management is the process by which organizations get us the products we consume, and companies need talented employees to help optimize their supply chain. This course will teach you how to use forecasting techniques to match supply and demand and how to develop logistics networks that help minimize costs and deliver top customer service. This online class has optional live sessions.

Everything from the best concert you saw to your Covid-19 vaccine relies on the existence of effective supply chains. In this course, you'll learn about the application of supply chain systems to vital real-world functions. By the end of this class, you'll have a much better understanding of why supply chain management is vitally important, how it intersects with business, national and global interests, and how supply chains literally save the world. This online class has optional live sessions.

In today's modern economy, something as simple as a razor might be manufactured in multiple countries with each part coming from a different supplier. This course will teach you how businesses manage this increasing complexity behind the scenes through efficient sourcing of suppliers and operations. You will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge by conducting a real-world case study of a product of your choosing. This online class has optional live sessions.

This course covers the major relevant supply chain technologies and systems. In this course you'll survey the systems that enable the supply chain in best-in-class supply chain organizations. Understanding of how information flows throughout the supply chain is critical to managing a supply chain and this will be the main focus in this course. By the end of this course, you will have gained a basic understanding of how supply chain systems work and how they make the supply chain more efficient and effective. This online class has optional live sessions.

This course - built in collaboration with corporate advisors - is the culmination of your work as a student of supply chain management. In this course you'll be tasked with creating a series of solutions to actual problems faced by a real-world company in delivering their product to consumers. By the end of this course, you will have built experience in solving real-world supply chain problems and seeing how your solutions compare to the professionals. This online class has optional live sessions.