Business

This course introduces the practical knowledge of personal finance and provides opportunity for its application. Students will gain hands-on experience in managing savings, making decisions about debt, budgeting for operations and emergencies, completing tax forms, and analyzing financial decisions related to career choice.

This course provides the basic knowledge and application of investment in the personal finance area. It helps students understand the basic terminologies, concepts, and tools needed to make decisions in personal finance. Topics include an introduction to financial products, the role of financial markets, anti-inflation investment and financial management, how to finance start-ups, 401k investment decisions, and personal borrowing management.

An introduction to business concepts, how they apply in daily life, and how they can be used to prepare for a career. Topics include leadership and motivation, entrepreneurship, personal financial planning, basic economic and accounting principles, marketing and ethics.

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

This course introduces business analytics and highlights its important role in analyzing and reporting data to inform strategic decision making. Students will use current technology and software to implement and apply basic analytical concepts to collect, clean, analyze, interpret, and communicate relevant data findings and engage in fact-based assessment and management. 

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

An analysis of individual and work group characteristics and those organizational factors which allow an organization to be managed more effectively. Topics include management theory and function, motivation and reward systems, and leadership practice, with a major emphasis on business ethics and ethical decision-making.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the vocabulary needed to understand information systems, and the skills necessary to use such systems to support business activities. The course also explores how information technology helps to achieve competitive advantage and improve decision making across business processes. Features of spreadsheets, databases, and other appropriate software will be used.

A course for innovation and change leadership of a business or nonprofit venture. Students will explore the impact of business on society, and how to develop a socially responsible organization that attempts to address market needs and/or solve complex societal problems. During the course, students will be exposed to a variety of resources and guest presentations from local economic development agencies and business owners who will assist in idea formulation for individualized product development. Students will learn how to lead change, build relationships, and motivate others in relation to developing a business concept. This class is experiential and experimental, where student assessment will center on participation and venture development. The course may also be offered in coordination with a venture development competition.

A course for the development of viable business models with specific attention to financial and legal organization at the state and federal level. The purpose of the class is to understand the challenges and opportunities related to the launch and first two years of operation. Statistically speaking, most small businesses fail within the first two years of operation with chances of long-term success rising significantly after 24 months. This course is intended to determine appropriate launch strategies while considering a two year strategic operating plan. The course is exploratory and experiential where students must engage in an individualized business development process in a meaningful way.

A study of the policies, institutions, and practices of international business and trade, with emphasis on the global integration of the United States' economy; international commercial and financial practices; international marketing and management techniques; differences in the cultural environment and customary business methods; and the role of multinational corporations. 

A study of the policies, institutions, and practices of international business and trade, with emphasis on the similarities and differences between US and business practices in another country; international marketing and management techniques; differences in the cultural environment and customary business methods; and the role of multinational corporations.

A study of the culture and economy of another country; the impact of the political and social environment on doing business; an investigation of the differences in the cultural environment and customary business methods; and an examination of the role of the government in the business system.

This course is designed to develop advanced business analytics skills through the use of data prediction and visualization, both of which contribute to strategic decision making and communication. Students will gain practical, hands-on experience with a variety of current and commonly-used analytical modeling tools that allow for the prediction of future outcomes. Focus will also be placed on data visualization techniques to support the clear communication of findings and recommendations to stakeholders. 

An examination of the legal and regulatory environment of business, including ethics and the place of law in society.

The management of operation systems in both goods manufacturing and service producing industries. Topics included are trade-off analysis, process analysis, workplace methods, production and inventory control systems, capacity planning, operations strategies, technology-driven information systems, information technology management, and decision support systems. This course makes extensive use of case studies in operations management. 

An examination of the principles, practices, and underlying theories of human resource management in relation to employee selection, training, motivation, and remuneration; interpersonal and group relationships; manpower planning.

A study of the principles of training and development, training needs, assessment, training solutions to organizational problems, skill training, different training options, and ways of integrating new behavior and attitudes into the organizational system.

An introduction to the principles, institutions, and techniques associated with the distribution of goods and services from the producer to the consumer.

A study of the impact of such factors as personality, motivation, perception, learning, attitudes, cultural and social influences, and life-style changes on buying behavior. A review of sociological, psychological, and economic models of behavior will be included. 

An examination of the social media marketing tools that can be used to engage with customers through integrated marketing communications channels. This course provides the knowledge and insights required to establish objectives and strategies, properly select and integrate social media platforms to engage consumers, and monitor and measure the results of these efforts. Topics will also explore the integration of other digital marketing tools such as search engine optimization, business-to-business digital marketing, and mobile marketing.

An examination and application of the process of planning a research project, gathering and analyzing secondary and primary data, and reporting (in writing and orally) the results for decision-making purposes. Applicable to those interested in social and behavioral sciences as well as business. 

A study of the principles of optimal financial policy in the acquisition and management of funds by the profit maximizing firm; the application of theory to financial decisions involving cash flows, capital structure, and capital budgeting. 

Supervised employment which provides students the opportunity to gain practical, professional experience in conjunction with their academic development. Pass/fail grading only.

A course focused on special topics in business. Topics will be chosen in accordance with faculty expertise. The course may include domestic travel in which enrolled students will be required to participate. A description of the topic, travel requirements and costs will be included in the registration schedule of the upcoming semester.

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

A research course required of Honors Scholars in which each student will begin to formulate an original research project that will culminate in a literature review in preparation for an honor thesis. The director of the research project must approve the preliminary research question and literature review before the student enrolls in BUS-498.
 

A course for the management of entrepreneurial operations, networks, and systems. This course examines how entrepreneurs effectively develop human resource strategies and control processes for emerging businesses. Entrepreneurs need to develop basic systems and processes for their businesses and interact with external networks. Entrepreneurs often experience legal issues relative to the launch and growth of their ventures. Students learn to apply these legal issues to new and growing ventures and explore long-term goals and decision-making. In addition, family business development, mergers and acquisitions, and succession planning are components of the course. The course is exploratory and experiential where students must engage in an individualized business development process in a meaningful way.

In this course, students are managing the Meredith Student Investment Fund. Students will develop the statement of investment, establish investment strategy for the Fund, do stock pitches and make investment decisions. Pass/Fail only.

A study of the principles of compensation and benefits, job analysis and job evaluation, market surveys and their effects on pay structure, performance pay and incentives, benefits, services and the comparable worth issue. 

An examination of critical staffing activities including job analysis, job descriptions, performance measurement, recruitment and selection, employment and termination. The primary focus will be on enhancing organizational performance through strategic planning of the recruitment and retention processes. An emphasis on economic volatility and how to adapt employment practices to demographics, competition demands, and changes made by legislation. Considerable use of HR metrics and quantitative analysis of HR functions. 

A study of the principles of recruiting, selection and retention of employees and the laws that pertain to them in the workplace, including the employer-employee relationship, discrimination, affirmative action, and government regulations. 

An analysis of professional selling practices with emphasis on the selling process and sales management. It will include the foundations of selling, the selling process, the difference in selling to organizational customers and to the ultimate customer, and the management of the sales function. Students will be required to make several presentations. 

An examination of the creative process, from strategy to execution, of advertising and promotional materials. Students will be required to develop the strategies, media plans, and draft executions of advertising and promotion materials. 

An in-depth study of the applications of theory to financial decisions involving optimal capital structure, capital budgeting criteria, and long- and short-term financing. 

A study of the theory and practice of portfolio management; analysis of securities; risk evaluation; alternative investment opportunities; and optimizing behavior of the individual investor. 

Supervised experience in business, nonprofits, or governmental institutions where work is related to any business functional area of organization. Pass/Fail grading only. 

Supervised experience in business, nonprofits, or governmental institutions where work is related to Human Resource Management. Pass/Fail grading only. 

Supervised experience in business, nonprofits, or governmental institutions where work is related to Marketing. Pass/Fail grading only. 

Supervised experience in business, nonprofits, or governmental institutions where work is related to Accounting. Pass/Fail grading only. 

Work experience of at least 120 hours in an organization where the student gains professional knowledge and skills related to business administration. Students are advised to seek approval of employment plans before starting work. After the experiential learning has been completed, students must submit documentation of the experience.

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

A culminating experience that provides students an opportunity to integrate material across the HR field through hands-on consulting-focused projects. The major project is an HR audit, which reviews regulatory compliance and strategic alignment of an organization's HR policies and procedures. Students will identify and communicate significant HR issues, and generate HR policies and procedures to resolve them. Additional projects will further student understanding of HRM consulting from a systems perspective. 

An in-depth study of managerial policy formulation, strategies, and problems, including the influence of economic, social, and governmental factors.

An in-depth endeavor that complements and enhances classroom learning. It is an active participation by students and faculty in the creation, discovery, and examination of knowledge through various methods of inquiry and analysis within the various disciplines of business. The project must meet Honors Program thesis requirements as well as expectations of business faculty.

An in-depth endeavor that complements and enhances classroom learning. It is an active participation by students and faculty in the creation, discovery, and examination of knowledge through various methods of inquiry and analysis within the various disciplines of business. It represents a study or investigation conducted by an undergraduate that makes an intellectual contribution to business.

This course is designed to help business students develop critical high impact leadership skills, with a focus on creating measurable outcomes and fostering sustainable growth in organizations. The course integrates theory with practice, using case studies, workshops, and simulations to prepare students to lead effectively in diverse business environments.

In this course, students will explore best practices for building and managing high-performing teams in dynamic organizational environments. Students will examine critical factors that influence team effectiveness, including elements of team composition and structure. The course will explore how teams use complex processes (such as communication, conflict management, leadership, and adaptability) to generate outcomes. The course also addresses modern challenges unique to managing hybrid/virtual teams and human-technology collaboration.

This course equips students with the strategic, leadership, and operational insights needed to effectively identify, navigate, break down resistance to and leverage change in dynamic business environments. It combines theory with practical application, ensuring students can apply what they learn to their own real-world organizational challenges.

This course explores the role of managers as ethical leaders in shaping the future of organizations within an increasingly complex global environment. Utilizing stakeholder capitalism principles, students will examine how organizations can align profit with broader social and environmental imperatives. Ethical frameworks are presented which students apply to development of leadership integrity and appropriate use of data and technology in the ethical decision-making processes. Students will engage with models of ethical decision-making, and sustainable people management strategies, learning how to cultivate ethical cultures and drive long-term value creation.

Managers must navigate HR-related challenges to lead teams effectively, ensure compliance, and support organizational goals, even if they are not working as HR professionals. This course covers essential HR functions such as staffing and employee selection, performance management, employee training and development, compensation, legal compliance, and labor relations. Students will understand a manager’s role in HR practices and develop skills to collaborate with HR departments and manage their teams strategically.

Organizations rely on HR professionals to attract and recruit a highly effective workforce. This course focuses on how HR can optimize a talent pool to meet organizational objectives and provides students with skills to strategically manage job analysis, workforce planning, recruitment, and selection processes to ensure person-job fit. The course explores modern HR practices, including global staffing, data-driven recruitment, talent acquisition technologies, nontraditional employment, and flexible work arrangements.

This course prepares students to design and implement strategies that sustain a competitive workforce by optimizing employee performance, engagement, and well-being. The course focuses on key HR functions (compensation, benefits, performance management, training, and career development), organizations use to create environments where employees can thrive. The roles of organizational culture, trust in HR, and effective communication in fostering employee satisfaction and retention are explored. The course covers strategies to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness in compensation and alignment of HR strategies with business objectives, to create a competitive and engaged workforce.

This course equips students with the skills to lead diverse, inclusive organizations and create organizational cultures that promote equity and belonging. Students will explore how individual differences and emotional intelligence shape workplace interactions, while learning strategies for managing diverse teams and fostering inclusivity. The course also examines the ethical use of power and influence to build cohesive, high-performing organizations.

This course explores how rapid societal, technological, and economic changes reshape the way organizations manage their people. To stay competitive and sustainable, companies must create an inclusive experience, while addressing challenges such as remote work, the gig economy, and automation. HR leaders must navigate the ethical use of technologies and analytics to support decision-making, enhance well-being, and ensure organizational agility. The course addresses emerging trends in people management, identifying competencies and practices that support future-focused HR professionals in helping organizations adapt for the future.

This course provides an examination of risk management from a human resources perspective, equipping students with the knowledge and tools needed to mitigate HR-related risks within an organization. Through the exploration of topics such as legal compliance, internal investigations, crisis management, executive-level succession planning, health and safety, and critical issues like harassment and privacy, students will learn how an HR department can help safeguard an organization against legal, ethical, and reputational risks.

An approach to analysis of accounting data and information relevant to management decision making. Students will develop skills necessary to assist with creation and interpretation of accounting information necessary for managerial decision making. Topics covered include financial accounting basics, performance evaluation and ratio analysis, job costing, CVP analysis, budgeting, allocation of costs, cost relationships, and standard costing.

This course explores introductory financial and managerial accounting concepts through the application of data analytics and statistical analysis, as well as the creation of data visualizations. Students will develop skills to ask the right questions and learn how to use tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau, etc.) to examine and analyze accounting data and effectively interpret results to make critical business decisions.

In this course, students identify and analyze new venture opportunities for startups and established businesses. Topics include lean canvas development, business model consideration, new venture financing, startup failure, demand assessment/market analysis, resourcefulness, risk management, Minimum Viable Product, startup legal matters, and others. The course is aimed at future entrepreneurs, corporate innovators, and those managing new innovation.

This course focuses on the basics of effective negotiation. Students will learn fundamental negotiation terminology, distributive negotiation tactics, techniques for capturing value, cooperative tacit negotiation, logrolling, dispute resolution, and threat management. Through a series of simulated negotiations in which negotiation partners students have asynchronous information, students will be able to explore the strategy options that work best for them and apply class principles in a low-risk practice environment.

This course further explores optimal negotiation strategies for students who have already completed the introductory negotiations course. Topics include multi-party negotiations, fair distributions, working with agents, mediation, negative ZOPA discovery, and auction strategy. Simulated negotiations and role-play exercises are again the primary learning vehicles in this hands-on, application-oriented course.

This course teaches students to develop an analytical framework for understanding investment and financing decisions in the world of corporate finance. The course provides students with the necessary skills to make such investment and financing decisions. The course topics include financial analysis, risk and return, cost of capital, capital structure, and valuation analysis.

This course delivers the theoretical framework, quantitative tools and practical issues that are critical for financial management. Students will learn the characteristics of financial markets and the nature of financial management. The course topics include financial markets and instruments, advanced capital budgeting analysis, firm valuation and merge and acquisition strategy, capital structure, and ESG and corporate governance.

An overview of contemporary issues related to managing information systems within organizations. The course introduces major information technology concepts that managers face when using, developing and managing information systems for competitive advantage. Topics include information system organization, strategy, knowledge management, IT-based decision making and information systems security and control.

An introduction to the fundamental concepts of business analytics, focusing on the role of data in decision-making. This course provides an overview of business analytics types (descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, prescriptive), an introduction to data types, data sources, and basic statistics, and an introduction to data ethics and privacy. Students will also learn basic visualization and reporting techniques.

This course teaches students how to summarize and interpret historical data to understand past performance and trends. Specific topics covered include data cleaning and preparation as well as statistics tools and measures to summarize and describe the essential features of a data set. The course will also cover data visualization techniques (charts, graphs, dashboards).

This course focuses on the strategic aspects of operations management and how businesses design their processes to gain a competitive advantage. Topics include aligning operations with overall business strategy, types of production processes (job shop, batch production, mass production, and continuous production), and facility layout and design (product-based, process-based, fixed-position).

This course focuses on the external aspects of operations management, specifically supply chain management, inventory control, and quality management. Topics include inventory management techniques (EOQ, safety stock, JIT, MRP), supplier selection and relationship management, global supply chain management, risk management, and sustainability, quality management systems: TQM, Six Sigma, and ISO standards, and continuous improvement, Kaizen, and benchmarking.

This course introduces students to a foundational understanding of project management principles, methodologies, and key frameworks. This course focuses on the "what" and "why" of project management.

This course focuses on the practical, hands-on tools and techniques needed for managing and executing projects. This course covers the "how" of project management, including the use of software and tools to manage real-world projects.

This course focuses on advanced project management methodologies and strategic approaches that allow project managers to handle complex and large-scale projects. This course delves into frameworks and high-level project strategies.

This course equips students with advanced tools and techniques to manage complex projects with a focus on metrics, data analytics, and decision-making for project optimization.