Course Descriptions

BUS 363 — Operations Management (3)

In this course you will learn the fundamentals of Operations Management, enhance your managerial insight and intuition, and improve your business decisions. This will be accomplished through: (i) understanding of the business environment and the structure of important operational problems; (ii) analysis of the relevant principles, issues, and trade-offs; and (iii) working knowledge of relevant methodological tools, solution procedures, and guidelines. Prerequisites: MSB 200, CIS 110, and ECON 221.

BUS 363L - Operations Management Lab (1)       

This course requires students to complete the business problems utilizing relevant technologies cycle and prepare solutions to business problems utilizing computer applications. Prerequisites: MSB 200, CIS 110, and ECON 221. Course should be taken with BUS 363.

CIS 110 — Introduction to Business Information Systems (3)

This course is designed to familiarize students with the terminology, computer applications, and concepts related to technologies used in business information systems.  Students will gain a better understanding of how technology empowers business and can create transactions through strategic competitive advantages and efficiencies.  Students will be introduced to business applications and learn how these applications support the business mission.  This curriculum addresses the six general knowledge and skills areas detailed in the AACSB standards.  This course focuses on Microsoft Excel, Access, and Power BI. 

ECON 111: Introduction to Macroeconomics (3)

Macro-Economics: the theory of national income, aggregate demand, and the level of employment; money and banking; and government fiscal policy.

ECON 112 — Introduction to Microeconomics (3)

Micro-economic principles: the theory of price under various market conditions; the economic function of government; elements of international economics.

ECON 221 — Statistics and Predictive Analytics​ (3)

An introduction to statistical and mathematical methods used in business fields and economics. Topics include descriptive statistics, sampling, probability, basic statisti­cal distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, and introduction to regression analysis.  This course applies statistical analysis, predictive techniques, and data analytics to problem-solving and business decision-making.  Excel utilized.

ECON 358 — International Economics (3)

The development of the theory of international specialization and trade, the questions of free trade and protectionism, an analysis of foreign exchange rates and balance of payments with an appraisal of internaitonal financial institutions.  Prerequisite: ECON 111 or ECON 112.

FIN 378 — International Finance and Commerce (3)

Focus on the international financial environment, the operation of the foreign exchange markets and currency-related derivative securities, and the international operations of the corporation. Topics include international monetary agreements, the balance of payments, exchange-rate determination, management of foreign-exchange risk, and international capital budgeting. Prerequisite: MSB 220.

IB 241 — Globalization (3)

This course will provide a broad overview of the environment in which international business takes place. The topics to be covered include but are not limited to analysis of the political, legal, ethical, and cultural environments in which international businesses operate; understanding corporate strategy formulation in the face of government intervention; understanding the International monetary system; and discussing international trade and foreign direct investment. The course covers a broad spectrum of topics to equip students with the fundamentals of international business.

IB 450 — Management of Multinational Corporations (3)

Globalization of markets and integration of production; growing importance of the emerging markets; and global impact of diverse forces such as financial crisis, wars, terrorism, and disease define the nature of today’s businesses. Developing management processes and making strategic choices are the foundations of successful decision making in this increasingly complex global environment. This class will help students develop the essential skills needed to formulate and implement successful strategic moves in the new competitive and interdependent global environment. Case studies will focus on foreign operations management; planning and implementing global strategies; developing multinational company structures; and adapting administrative practices and operating policies to international diversities. Prerequisites: IB 241 and MSB 200.

MATH 123 — Finite Mathematics and Business Analytics (3)

Topics include lines and linear functions; a geometric approach to linear programming; the simplex method; sensitivity analysis; integer-valued optimization problems; sets and counting; elementary probability; probability distributions and statistics. Utilization of graphing technology for the visualization of data; solving multivariable problems using Excel.  Business applications emphasized.  Prerequisite skills in arithmetic and Algebra II required.

MKT 385 — Global Supply Chain Management (3)

Global supply chain management involves development of the chain of supply, not merely from one level in a channel of distribution to that above it (i.e., from retailer to manufacturer), but rather involving examination of a channel up to producers of raw materials, to insure the efficacy, and increasingly, the ethics of said channel. While the course would focus on the supply chain issues facing businesses, discussion could include the ultimate consumers as they begin to question human rights issues surrounding the production of the products they buy, as well as the environmental impact of said products. As it is increasingly difficult to construct a supply chain which involves purely domestic entities, this course takes a global perspective. Prerequisites: MSB 200 and MSB 210.

MKT 390 — International Marketing (3)

Introduction to multi-national marketing, with emphasis on international competition; distribution systems; pricing and credit policies; promotional methods to include advertising; trade barriers; trade agreements; and the political, legal, cultural, ethical, and technological backgrounds. Prerequisites: MSB 210.

MSB 100 — Introduction to Business (1)

The purpose of this course is to introduce students interested in pursuing academic majors in business to the William G. McGowan School of Business’ majors in conjunction with the Angelo P. DeCesaris ’53 Executive in Residence initiative, which seeks to assist students in making informed and proactive career decisions.  The Angelo P. DeCesaris ’53 Executive in Residence initiative in the School of Business seeks to develop business students’ knowledge of the professional competencies of business and community and to have students apply these competencies in supporting the common good. The student and career development process presented in this course will allow students to understand and make choices and career plans based on an assessment of their interests, skills, and values as well as up-to-date information and mentoring about occupations and trends in the job market for students in the majors of the School of Business.

MSB 110 — Introduction to Financial Reporting (3)

A survey of the financial accounting concepts and procedures used as applied to service and trading business with an emphasis upon the uses and interpretation of financial statements.

MSB 120 — Introduction to Management Control and Planning (3)

An introduction to the role of accounting information in the measurement of business and employee performance, and to facilitate planning decisions such as product and ser­vice selection, budgeting, investments, and profit measurement. Prerequisite: MSB 110.

MSB 200 — Principles of Management (3)

The course provides an overview of the history of management thought and of managerial activities and analysis of the process of planning, organizing, leading, controlling, and forces of environments in which businesses operate. Topics include strategic planning, organizational design, human resources management, decision-making, ethics, and social responsibility. Relating topics to the current business environment is emphasized. The case analysis concerned with each of these forces is discussed, with emphasis on problem solving.

MSB 210 — Principles of Marketing (3)

An introduction to the field of marketing with particular emphasis on how companies develop marketing programs that are responsive to consumers' needs and wants for products and services.

MSB 220 — Financial Management (3)

The course introduces basic principles in finance such as cash flow, the time value of money, valuation of the firm and financial assets, and capital budgeting. Prerequisites: MSB 120, and ECON 221.

MSB 240 — Business Law I (3)

A study of the nature of law, legal reasoning, and procedures, relating to the court systems, government regulation, administrative agencies, and the private judicial systems of arbitration and mediation. Topics include crimes and torts including economic and business related aspects of each. Special emphasis is placed on contract law, including the formation, breach of contract, and legal remedies. Selected actual cases illustrate practical problems. Prerequisites: ENG 110, COMM 101, and CIS 110.

MSB 250 — Business Communication and Mentoring (3)

This course will help students to become more effective writers and presenters in the business workplace. The focus of this course is on the essentials of style, organization, and professionalism in the development of fundamental business correspondence, reports, and presentations. An interactive software program will be used to examine and refine writing abilities. Students will be required to produce documents and present information which reflect the appropriate and effective use of technology. Career exploration and mentoring components will be woven throughout the curriculum. Prerequisites:  MSB 100, ENG 110, and COMM 101.

MSB 287 — Business Ethics (3)

Examination of the vocation and moral context of business; critical reflection, through engagement with the philosophical and Catholic traditions, on how to make a living and live well; and extended consideration of issues and problems that arise in contemporary business settings. Prerequisite: PHIL 101.

MSB 305 — Organizational Behavior (3)

An introduction to the field of Organizational Behavior. Organizational Behavior is an interdisciplinary field that examines human behavior in organizational settings and concerns the behavioral interactions of individuals, groups, and the organization itself. Prerequisite: MSB 200.

MSB 400 – Professional Seminar (2)

The course provides students the opportunity to draw upon and enhance their professional knowledge learned and applied throughout their coursework and allows  them to reflect upon this body of knowledge.  This course will also permit the students to combine their prior professional knowledge, career planning, and mentoring experiences to formulate a final action plan for a lifelong commitment to learning, career, and socially responsible behavior.  Prerequisites:  MSB 100, MSB 210, MSB 220, MSB 240, MSB 287, and MSB 305 and senior status.

MSB 480 — Strategic Management (3)

This capstone course uses strategic planning as a means of confirming and integrating participants’ comprehensive business competencies. Conceptual knowledge acquired from business foundation courses is applied to the realities of the global management environment. The goal of this course is to provide an opportunity for students to synthesize concepts, identify problems, analyze and evaluate alternative solutions, and to formulate socially responsible actions. Prerequisites: MSB 100, MSB 210, MSB 220, MSB 240, MSB 287, and MSB 305 and senior status.