Program Curriculum

Business English and Communications is intended to help students think strategically about communication and aid in improving writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills within a managerial setting. We will look at a set of "best practices" or guidelines that have been derived from both research and experience, give students the opportunity to put those guidelines into practice, and provide them with feedback on their work to help strengthen abilities. More often than not, we will be using a format that will rely heavily on writing exercises and assignments.

Organization Communication and Report Writing covers advanced technical report writing, focusing in particular on some of the new software technologies for delivering technical reports. In this course, you will explore a broad range of technical reports--not only ones in print in public and corporate libraries, but ones that have been created online. You will also study important aspects of technical report writing: finding information, documenting the sources of borrowed information, and developing technical reports. And of course, as with any writing course, you will continue focusing on achieving a clear, accurate, and concise writing style.

Introduction to Literature is an introduction to an array of works in fiction, poetry, and drama, with a generic focus on developing critical reading skills. Studies may be organized either by theme or by genre. Selected authors and literary works vary from term to term.

Philosophy introduces students to some of the major ideas and problems in Western philosophy, using texts selected from both classical and contemporary sources. The course consists of 14 lessons, comprising an introduction, conclusion, and four main themes: God and Faith; Free Will and Moral Responsibility; Morality and Moral Problems, and the Legitimacy of Government and the Nature of Social Justice. Students in this course will gain the knowledge to understand and coherently articulate alternative positions on a range of ethical and political problems.

Introduction to Art Appreciation introduces the student to the following: the stature of the visual arts in contemporary society; terms and mediums used in art discourse; various techniques and styles of visual art produced by renowned artists; art period classifications in history; and variations in visual arts produced and appreciated within different global cultures.

Film Studies in Culture exposes the students to the media of film as a quasi-scientific resource. In order to generate an intellectual understanding of film and culture, students will study the "language" of film by exploring film technique, film structure, the history of film, and undergo exposure and analysis of specific films that have accurately shaped and/or reflected cultures.

History of Technology: The Role of Objects will study the objects of everyday life. The course approach will use such concepts as the cultural construction of meanings, the mobilization of resources for enforcing designs and meanings, and the modes through which designs, meanings, and uses are implemented. Students will become familiar with the employment of such approaches from material culture studies, economic analysis, technology studies, anthropology, social history, design analysis, and literary theory to investigate the foundations and propagation of objects in society.

Transfer up to 6 credit hours of foreign language studies or receive 6 credit hours if your native language is non-English.

Computer Applications in Business is designed to introduce students to up-to-date contemporary business related computer skills. The course assumes that the student has had no previous formal training in applied computer skills. The objective of the course is to provide the student with a level of computer literacy that will then enable them to pursue further skills on their own. Primary topics will include terminology, nomenclature and capability/capacity specifications of computer hardware, contemporary business software; and, basic applications of software programs to specific business operational and problem solving tasks such as communication finance, accounting, and marketing.

General Mathematics utilizes mathematical operations to solve practical business application problems. The primary objective is to provide the learner with a comprehensive knowledge of the ways to solve various business problems using the formula and algebraic approach. This will allow the learner to use the techniques learned to solve personal and business math problems. The core chapters that will be covered will include percents with applications, trade and cash discounts, markups and markdowns, interest, notes, compounding and present value, annuities and sinking fund, installment buying, and stocks. A review of basic mathematics will be covered as needed.

Introduction to Business Statistics offers a unique progression of online developmental sessions that, combined with easy-to-use statistical software, facilitates learning the basic statistical concepts leading to the interpretation and graphical presentation of business data. Realistic exercises and exciting Internet-based cases provide application of theory modeling typical workplace scenarios. Up-to-date materials cover topics such as: data gathering, probability concepts, distributions, sampling, hypotheses testing, analysis of variance, time series forecasting, simple and multiple linear regression. A structured yet flexible approach accommodates busy schedules, while stimulating motivation using feedback and choices.

Introduction to Biology is a course designed to provide a survey of the foundations of biological diversity. It is intended for non-science majors. Students will gain an understanding of such components as the cell, biochemical processes, physiological systems, genetic engineering, DNA and RNA, nutrition, reproduction, diversity, and evolution.

Fundamentals of Microeconomics begins with a look at the basic economic principles that will assist you in understanding both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Then, in the microeconomic vein, we will move on to supply and demand, elasticity, government policies, consumer and producer issues, the efficiency of the markets, taxation, international trade, externalities, public goods, cost of production, firms in competitive markets, monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition, and consumer choice.

Fundamentals of Macroeconomics begins with a look at the basic economic principles that will assist you in understanding both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Then, in the macroeconomic vein, we will move on to gross domestic product; nominal and real interest; production and growth; savings, investment, and the financial system; unemployment, money growth, and inflation; macro fluctuations and the business cycle; aggregate demand and aggregate supply; and fiscal and monetary policy.

Comparative Politics introduces students to the major issues facing the nations and states of the world using a comparative method. The first half of the course consists of a discussion of the relevance of the study of politics and provides definitions of the major conceptual tools. The second half of the course focuses on specific countries as case studies. The country studies include England, Russia, China, Mexico, India, Nigeria, and the United States. By the end of the term, students should be able to study any country of the world using the basic model provided.

International Politics will provide students with both an understanding and explanation of incidents of conflict, deprivation, cooperation, environmental degradation/mitigation, peace, stabilization, and efforts to disseminate justice. Students will explore various issues to enhance an understanding of international politics within the contextual theories of the discipline-realism, constructivism, and liberalism. Students will learn to formulate causal models from each of these theoretical approaches to provide political-perspective accounts for international developments and events.

Introduction to Psychology will provide students with an introduction to the field of psychology and the primary sub areas within the discipline: the biological basis of behaviour, sensations, perceptions, learning, memory, motivation, emotion, personality, stress; as well as specific concentrations within the discipline -- abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and social psychology.

Introduction to Sociology will acquaint students with the foundational knowledge of sociology as a discipline, a perspective, and an applied science. The organization of this course is based on the required text, assigned references, and Elluminate Live!™ participation focusing on selected critical-thinking questions. In general, as a survey course, Introduction to Sociology covers the historic development of the discipline; the presentation of recognized persons attributed to the advancement of the discipline; the study of primary sociological theories, definitions/applications of sociological terms and variables; and the fundamental concepts that delineate/identify sociological topics or fields of study.

Introduction to Anthropology is a course designed to introduce the methods and perspectives of cultural anthropology as an academic/scientific discipline. This survey course covers the basic areas of cultural anthropology; including culture and social life, key anthropological variables and subjects, and the analyses of the nature and variability of human institutions. The components that deal with cultural anthropology and cultural diversity on a world scale are the most heavily emphasized parts of the course.

Accounting I - Financial provides a comprehensive introduction to basic accounting statements and techniques using a three-part approach to financial analysis. Part One covers the fundamentals of accounting - the basic accounting statements and techniques that form the foundation of a solid accounting education. Part Two covers economic concepts that are central to accounting. Part Three covers specific aspects of GAAP, such as accounting for receivables and inventories, a comparison of GAAP and economics, and financial statement analysis issues.

Accounting II - Managerial focuses on the management of the financial aspects of an enterprise. Managerial accounting information is used within the organization for planning, control, motivation, and decision-making. This course will pursue specific features of record preparation and control on cost information: the accumulation of costs within manufacturing and non-manufacturing firms, the use of costs for planning and control, cost allocation, and the identification of relevant costs for decision-making.

Introduction to Business is a survey course that provides business students with an introduction to the environment and language of business and will highlight major functional topics of business such as: accounting, finance, management, and marketing. In addition, students will be exposed to the overall structure of the business world in terms of organizational types and the various institutionalized roles that businesses provide in modern society.

Managing New Product Development aims to develop an understanding of new product and service development as a strategic process and explore/apply a variety of approaches to its management. The course further seeks to develop an understanding of the broad role of innovation and entrepreneurship in the context of new product development. It will pay particular attention to the operational environment which enables and supports new product development, and the critical functional/facilitator roles in the organizational management structure.

Research Methods focuses on research methodologies as they are applied to specific business enterprises or categories and the general business community. The course explores typical characteristics of business research, the articulation and synthesis of researchable problems/issues in the business sector, identification and classification of common variables of measurement in business research, operational definitions and units of analysis; as well as techniques of data collection and analysis, research design, and the ethics of research grounded in ordered steps of "the scientific method."

Analyzing Business Policies and Procedures focuses on the five fundamental pillars of strategic business policy. Firstly learners will be introduced to the skills needed by modern managers to lead business units within an enterprise. Secondly learners will be encouraged to begin to think of strategic management as a key business function rather than just a planning tool. Combining strategy and planning encompasses the third and fourth pillars through which we will discuss strategy and business planning as a long-term iterative process rather than a point in time exercise. Finally, learners will conclude their journey by developing an understanding of general management as a professional practice that crosses all the functional units of a modern day enterprise.

Business Plans and Strategies involves business planning and strategizing, which is grounded by two primary concerns: 1) What businesses should a firm participate in? and, 2) How should a firm compete and optimize performance? Consequently, in this course students will explore external environmental scanning and assessment tools, and the processes utilized in business plan/strategy preparation stages; and will in addition, become familiar with an array of key assessment-measurement features that are unique to specific firm-types within their operating environments.

Examining Business Ethics focuses on the examination of ethical situations faced by employers and employees, and business operations and consumers. The methods used to evaluate ethical behaviours and alternative courses of action will be conveyed to the students in a manner which will enable them to rationally approach ethic-based issues or situations, and direct appropriate responses in individual and/or organizational ethical decision making processes.

International Business adopts modern knowledge management as the overarching approach to international and global business. Practical tools and techniques to acquire and share knowledge on how to expand globally are discussed. Students who complete this course should have an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the use of knowledge for gaining and sustaining a competitive advantage in the global business.

Introduction to eCommerce introduces students to the concept and practice of Internet commerce. The primary objective is to familiarize students with the history and evolution of eCommerce. Additional topics include: the assumptions that underlie the electronization of business; eCommerce landscape, how the Internet is used for effective marketing and business processes; security concerns; and current trends in the eCommerce industry.

Finance I - Managerial intends to help students understand and apply the theories of managerial finance. It focuses on the dynamic economic environment in which corporate financial decisions are made, the role of the financial manager within the firm, and the empirical aspects of corporate finance. Topics include the financial environment; techniques of financial analysis and planning; management of working capital; fixed assets and capital budgeting; cost of capital; dividend policies; and sources of long-term financing.

Finance II - Corporate is designed to enhance the student's knowledge of financial strategic management, capital markets & risk, cash flow analysis,  profit maximization, and recent financial issues. It is a study of the field of finance that has developed over time and focuses on risk relationships and the maximization of shareholder return, management's social responsibility, and international exchange rates.

Managing Human Resources will help students understand how organizations can gain sustainable and competitive advantage through people. The role of HR managers is no longer limited to service functions such as recruiting and selecting employees. Today, HR managers assume an active role in the strategic planning and decision making at their organizations. Meeting challenges head on and using human resources effectively are critical to the success of any work organization.

Business Law I is designed to introduce students to the broad topics of business law as it relates to modern business practice and to provide a survey of several business-related components of law which a student may desire to pursue in further legal studies. Specific topics of study will include litigation, contract and torte case framing for court actions, constitutional law relating to business, criminal law relating to business, tort law relating to business, common law of sales and contracts, warranties, product liability, and consumer protection.

Business Law II covers specific areas of the law which was not covered in Business Law I, such as intellectual property, negotiable instruments, secured transactions, bankruptcy, environmental law, and wills and trusts. Students will learn to apply the legal concepts and terms, and employ case law to hypothetical situations.

Organizational Theory and Design is primarily concerned with understanding, explaining, and predicting how an organization should be designed in order to achieve its goals effectively and efficiently. The focus of organization theory is on organizations themselves. Although organization theorists are concerned about the people within organizations, they are more concerned about the effects of human actions on organizations and the relations between organizations. Thus, whereas the behavior of organizations is the result of human actions, the level of analysis in organization theory is at the organizational level, not at the individual level.

Organizational Behavior and Change will help students understand how knowledge of organizational behavior can enhance productivity and satisfaction in the workplace. Organizational behavior is about human (individuals) behavior on the job. This course begins with a micro view of individuals in the workplace and moves to a discussion of groups, inter-group dynamics, and finally to a macro view of organizational systems.

Management in the Small Business Sector  covers the topical basics of planning, marketing, and management elements in the propagation, operation, and growth of small businesses. Students will be exposed to various theories relating to the aforementioned topics as well as the roles of entrepreneurship; and will study cases relating to applications of management in the context of current business practices, ethical issues, and regulatory standards which have direct impacts on small business operations.

Introduction to Marketing Principles explores theory and practice that draws on Customer needs, Company skills, Competition, Collaborators, and Context in marketing and product development (5C's). The course combines cases, discussions, and readings to provide a mix of integrating concepts and hands-on problem solving. A variety of perspectives on marketing issues are encouraged.

Customer Relationship Management  introduces students to the service-oriented strategies, processes, and other related activities that business establishments use to benefit customers and ultimately provide a competitive advantage to the product or service providing business enterprise. The course will survey customer information management processes and technologies, service design and delivery strategies, customer relationship management planning/implementation/assurance procedures in the business organization, business/corporate culture, yield management, quality assurance/control, service guarantee and recovery, and customer loyalty.

Marketing Research introduces the student to the functions of marketing research, research concepts and terminology, information gathering and analytic techniques and methods of presentation. The course will also cover the role of marketing research in society and in the business enterprise, and consideration of various factors that influence marketing decision-making.