2017-2018 University Catalog 
    
    Apr 27, 2024  
2017-2018 University Catalog archived

Business Administration (BUS)


Honors: An Honors Program in business administration is offered for qualified students; see department head for details.

Department Head: Sandra L. Reiter

Faculty

First date is the year in which the faculty member began service as regular faculty at the University. Second date is the year of appointment to the present rank.

Robert M. Ballenger, Ph.D.—(2001)-2012
Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., Lehigh University

Amanda B. Bower, Ph.D.—(2002)-2012
Charles C. Holbrook Jr. ‘72 Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., University of South Carolina

Roger A. Dean, Ph.D.—(1984)-1991
Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., Michigan State University

Gavin L. Fox, Ph.D.—(2014)-2014
Associate Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., Florida State University

Dennis M. Garvis, J.D., Ph.D.—(1998)-2011
Professor of Business Administration
J.D., University of Iowa
Ph.D., Georgia State

Andrew M. Hess, Ph.D.—(2013)-2014
Associate Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology

Scott A. Hoover, Ph.D.—(2000)-2015
A. Stevens Miles Professor of Banking and Finance
Ph.D., Indiana University

Marc Junkunc, Ph.D..—(2017)-2017
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

George W. Kester, D.B.A.—(2000)-2000
Mamie Fox Twyman Martel Professor of Business Administration
D.B.A., University of Virginia

Keri Larson, Ph.D..—(2017)-2017
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., University of Georgia

Stephen J. Lind, Ph.D.—(2013)-2015
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., Clemson University

Sandra L. Reiter, Ph.D.—(2006)-2012
Darrold and Kay Cannan Term Associate Professor of Business Administration, 2017-2020
Ph.D., University of Washington

Jeff Schatten, Ph.D.—(2016)-2016
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., Georgia State University

Adam L. Schwartz, Ph.D.—(2006)-2012
Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., University of Georgia

Jeffrey P. Shay, Ph.D.—(2009)-2009
Rupert A. Johnson Jr. Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership
Ph.D., Cornell University

Robert D. Straughan, Ph.D.—(2000)-2010
Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., University of Houston

Julie F. Youngman, J.D.—(2015)-2017
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
J.D., Duke University 

Degrees/Majors/Minors

Major

Courses

  • BUS 105 - Life Finance


    Credits: 4

    Prerequisite: Not open to majors in accounting and business administration, business administration, economics, or public accounting. This course applies finance theory to topics in personal finance. Readings focus on personal-finance topics, financial-data sources, and other items in the financial press. Students begin the class focusing on their life’s goals: family, career, service to others, lifestyle. After considering personal goals, we explore the tools needed to achieve those goals. A computer lab component enables students to build spreadsheet models useful in making decisions in areas such as financial mathematics, household financial planning, financial markets, investments, and retirement planning. The class is intended for students with an interest in money matters but without a background in finance or economics. Staff.


  • BUS 125 - The Business of Contemporary Art


    (ARTH) FDR: HA
    Credits: 4

    This course combines finance, tax policy, marketing, economics, and art history to provide a ‘nuts-and-bolts’ view of how the contemporary art world operates. Appropriate for business students with an interest in contemporary art as well as museum studies and art history majors who wish to gain an understanding of business concepts in the art world, the course serves as preparation for students who may anticipate acquiring art for personal or business investment/use, serving on a museum board, pursuing employment in the art world, or advising high wealth clients on business matters related to art. Each topic begins with an overview of general principles before reviewing applications to the art world. For example, discussion of charitable giving covers the general tax rules of charitable deductions before discussing the specific rules related to art and museums. Additional course fee; see details link at http://go.wlu.edu/CourseOfferings. Alexander, King


  • BUS 180 - FS: First-Year Seminar


    Credits: 4


    First-year Seminar. Prerequisite: First-year standing. Topics vary by subject and term.

    Spring 2018, BUS 180: First-Year Seminar: International Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability (4). Prerequisite: FY standing and instructor consent. ACCT 201 recommended. Do corporations have an obligation to manage their social impact in addition to maximizing sales, profits and stock price? What happens when these objectives are in conflict with each other? This course seeks to explore the relative roles of businesses, not-for-profits, government and individual citizens in managing social and environmental impact. Significant time is spent exploring case studies and interacting with senior management of various companies. Recent examples include Carlsberg, Dr. Pepper-Snapple Group, Dunkin’ Brands, Norden, Novo Nordisk, Pandora, Proctor & Gamble, Starbucks, and Unilever. The class culminates with two weeks in Copenhagen visiting numerous Danish companies and developing a group research project on a topic chosen by the students. The time abroad also includes cultural excursions to places such as Frederiksborg Castle and Tivoli, dinners with Danish families, a harbor/canal tour, and a closing dinner featuring New Nordic cuisine. (EXP) Oliver and Straughan.

     


  • BUS 195 - Selected Topics in Business Administration


    Credits: 3 credits in Fall or Winter; 4 credits in Spring


    Prerequisite: Varies with topic. Topical coverage of areas in management, based on the interests of the instructor and students. Topics vary from year to year and are announced prior to registration. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

    Winter 2018, BUS-195A-01: Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship (3). Open only to students who have not taken a 200-level business administration course and who are not majors in business administration, accounting and business administration, or public accounting. This course is an introduction to the business world, intended to give non-business majors a sense of how a business operates by providing an overview of entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, leadership, information systems, and finance, while emphasizing the integrated role these functions have in a business. Junkunc.

    Winter 2018, BUS-195A-02: Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship (3). Open only to students who have not taken a 200-level business administration course and who are not majors in business administration, accounting and business administration, or public accounting. This course is an introduction to the business world and intended to give non-business majors a sense of how a business operates by providing an overview of entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, leadership, information systems, and finance, while emphasizing the integrated role these functions have in a business. Junkunc.

    Fall 2017, BUS 195A-01: Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship (3). Open only to students who have not taken a 200-level business administration course and to majors other than those in business administration, accounting and business administration, or public accounting. An introduction to the business world intended to give non-business majors a sense of how a business operates by providing an overview of entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, leadership, information systems, and finance, while emphasizing the integrated role these functions have in a business. In the future, this course will be a prerequisite for non-business majors wanting to take either BUS 381: Social Entrepreneurship or BUS 383: Technology and Entrepreneurship. Junkunc.

    Fall 2017, BUS 195A-02: Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship (3). Open only to students who have not taken a 200-level business administration course and to majors other than those in business administration, accounting and business administration, or public accounting. An introduction to the business world intended to give non-business majors a sense of how a business operates by providing an overview of entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, leadership, information systems, and finance, while emphasizing the integrated role these functions have in a business. In the future, this course will be a prerequisite for non-business majors wanting to take either BUS 381: Social Entrepreneurship or BUS 383: Technology and Entrepreneurship. Junkunc.


  • BUS 196 - Williams Investment Society


    Credits: 0

    Prerequisite: Permission of the department head. Students must participate in a competitive application process in order to participate. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. This cocurricular educational student organization manages a portion of Washington and Lee’s endowment. Students meet in formal and informal sessions conducted by faculty advisers and attend presentations made by outside speakers hosted by the Williams School. The experiential learning that occurs in this setting is grounded in fields such as accounting, economics, and finance, as well as the practice of investments and banking. Schwartz.


  • BUS 197 - Washington and Lee Student Consulting


    Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes
    Credits: 1

    Prerequisite: Instructor consent. Students must participate in a competitive application process in order to participate. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. This cocurricular student organization provides pro bono consulting services to businesses and not-for-profits. Experiential learning draws from business fields, such as marketing, finance, accounting, e-commerce, database management, business strategy, and human resources. In addition to working on various projects, students gain experience managing the organization. Straughan, Oliver.


  • BUS 198 - Entrepreneurship Field Consulting Experience


    Credits: 0

    Prerequisite: Instructor consent. Students must participate in a competitive application process to become a member of the W&L Venture Club in order to participate. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. This co-curricular student organization provides pro bono consulting services to entrepreneurial businesses and entrepreneurial not-for-profits. Experiential learning draws from business fields, such as marketing, finance, accounting, e-commerce, database management, business strategy and human resources. Students gain real world experience through writing business plans, marketing plans, and strategic plans for real-world ventures. A Hess, Shay


  • BUS 199 - Real Estate Society


    Credits: 0

    Prerequisite: Instructor consent. Students must participate in a competitive application process to become a member of the Real Estate Society in order to participate. Graded Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory. This co-curricular student organization seeks to develop an enhanced understanding of real estate development and investment. The group hosts guest speakers, conducts and publishes market research, and acts as pro bono consultants to external constituents. Hoover.


  • BUS 211 - Marketing Management


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: ECON 100 or both ECON 101 and 102; ACCT 201, and INTR 201; and at least
    junior standing (sophomores allowed in winter term). Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, JMCB or JMCS majors during first round of registration.
    An exploration of strategic marketing. The focus of the course is on the analysis of a firm’s current marketing strengths and weaknesses and the development of a strategic plan to capitalize on key opportunities. Topics include environmental analysis, market segmentation, targeting and positioning, and management of the marketing mix. Throughout the course, significant attention is devoted to international issues, the interrelationships between marketing and other disciplines, and the role of ethically and socially responsible marketing. Bower, Fox, Straughan.


  • BUS 217 - Management and Organizational Behavior


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: INTR 201; At least junior standing (sophomores allowed in winter term). Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, or JMCB majors during the first round of registration. A study of management in modern organizations. This course examines the factors which influence individual, group, and firm behavior in the context of the workplace. Topics covered include individual differences, motivation, leadership, business ethics, group behavior, decision making, and organizational design and change. Dean, Herbert.


  • BUS 221 - Managerial Finance


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: ECON 100 or both ECON 101 and 102; ACCT 201, 202, and INTR 202 or equivalent; at least junior standing (sophomores allowed in winter term). Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, MATH, or JMCB majors during the first round of registration. A study of finance from a managerial perspective emphasizing the primary goal of the firm as stockholder wealth maximization. Emphasis is on decisions relating to the acquisition of assets and funds and internal management-financial analysis, planning and control, working capital management, capital budgeting, sources and forms of long-term financing, financial structure and the cost of capital, and valuation. Hoover, Kester, Schwartz.


  • BUS 301 - Seminar in Organizational Behavior


    Credits: 3 credits in fall and winter, 4 in spring


    Prerequisite: BUS 217, and at least sophomore standing. Preference to BSADM majors during the first round of registration. May vary with topic. Offered from time to time when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

    Spring 2018, BUS 301-01: Leading Teams (4). Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing. This course is taught at the Middle River Regional Jail in Staunton, VA. Eight W&L students and eight soon-to-be-released inmates take the course together. Students learn from the professor and from one another as they explore the interpersonal processes and psychological factors that affect the way in which individuals interact and engage with one another. Students learn to understand conflict and how to effectively manage conflict in group settings. This course is mostly comprised of team activities and cases, which is intended to give students the tools, insight, and experience to better understand and manage teams. (EXP) Schatten.

    Fall 2017, BUS 301A-01: Seminar in Organizational Behavior: Leadership through Literature (3). Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing. Why are some leaders more effective than others? How are power and influence leveraged to enact change? What makes a moral leader? Drawing on some of the most compelling leaders found in literature, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, Ayn Rand, Lyndon Johnson, Phil Knight and Donald Trump, we endeavor to answer these difficult questions. Students also take part in personal leadership-development initiatives. This course is intended for future leaders and for those who are interested in grappling with the complexities of what it means to lead. Schatten.

    Winter 2018, BUS-301A-01: Cross-Cultural Leadership (3). Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing. Preference to BSADM majors in first round of registration. This course satisfies the international requirement for BSADM majors. An exploration of what makes for “effective” leadership in different cultures. We draw from history and current events, leadership theory, cultural anthropology, social psychology, and political philosophy, in order to explore the successes and failures of leaders in cross-cultural contexts. Through leadership development projects, students are better equipped to venture into leadership opportunities abroad. Schatten.


  • BUS 302 - Seminar in Finance


    Credits: 3 credits in fall or winter, 4 in spring


    Prerequisite: BUS 221 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC or JMCB majors during the first round of registration. Offered from time to time when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

    Spring 2018, BUS 302-01: Special Topics in Real Estate (?). Prerequisite: BUS 221 and at least sophomore class standing. This course covers special topics related to the development of commercial real estate. Students analyze real-world situations through a series of case studies and prepare written reports detailing their findings. When appropriate, guest speakers and/or site visits supplement the course. Hoover.


  • BUS 303 - Seminar in Marketing


    Credits: 3 credits in fall or winter, 4 in spring


    Prerequisite: BUS 211, at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM or JOURF majors during the first round of registration. Offered from time to time when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

    Fall 2017, BUS 303A-01: Customer Content (3). Prerequisite: BUS-211 and junior standing. Preference to BSADM or JMCB majors during first round of registration. Customer orientation, customer relationship management, and other such customer-centric topics are important foci in marketing and overall business profitability. While it is valuable simply to understand their roles and applications, it is absolutely essential that someone, somewhere in a firm, be able to actually execute them. The purpose of this course, therefore, is to provide students with experience in customer contact and the techniques used to influence customers, and to learn how to tailor these techniques to a diverse range of individual customers. Fox.


  • BUS 304 - Seminar in Management


    Credits: 3 in Fall, Winter; 4 in Spring


    Prerequisite: Varies with topic. At least sophomore standing. Preference to BSADM or JMCB majors during the first round of registration. Topics vary by term. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

    Spring 2018, BUS 304-01: Money, Power, and Lies (3). Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing. Preference to BSADM or JOURF(JMCB) majors during the first round of registration. How do we design and lead organizations that foster ethical behavior? This course integrates the disciplines of business ethics and organizational behavior to address this question. Students examine the impact of organizational forces on the ability of individuals to act ethically in large, complex organizations, with special emphasis on the financial industry. Beginning with the era of the ENRON and Arthur Anderson scandals and continuing through the 2008 financial crisis, the issue of unethical behavior in large organizations has grown more disturbing. The major case study we address is the 2008 financial meltdown and its aftermath. Outside speakers interact with the class and add perspective. Past speakers have included financial executives and business journalists from Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, and The Washington Post. Herbert.

    Spring 2018, BUS 304-02: Human Rights and Business: Changing Expectations in the Age of Transparency (4). Additional fee. Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing. Preference to BSADM majors or POV minors during the first round of registration. This course explores how business can work with human rights in a corporate context to manage stakeholder demands and expectations as well as to explore new opportunities. We investigate a number of different perspectives on business and human rights and engage in discussions of how businesses can manage human rights, which is by no means a simple task. The course includes a study tour to meet with relevant stakeholders in the field in Washington, D.C. Christiansen.

    Fall 2017, BUS 304A-01: Modern Business Writing (3). Prerequisite: INTR-201 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM majors during the first round of registration. From emails to pitch books, writing remains a foundation of modern business communication. This course offers students the theories, skills, strategies, and tactics to become effective written communicators in modern business settings. Students taking this course engage in discussions, presentations, and significant written work as they develop their abilities to ethically and effectively write for business. Projects are individual and collaborative and involve chirographic, print, digital, verbal, and non-verbal forms of business writing. Lind.


  • BUS 305 - Seminar in International Business


    Credits: 3 credits in fall and winter, 4 in spring

    Prerequisite: Preference to BSADM or JMCB majors during the first round of registration. Offered from time to time when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.


  • BUS 306 - Seminar in Management Information Systems


    Credits: 3 in fall, winter; 4 in spring


    Prerequisite: May vary with topics. Preference to BSADM or JMCB majors during the first round of registration. Topics vary by term and instructor. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

    Fall 2017, BUS 306A-01: MIS Seminar: Data Management and Analytics for Business (3). Prerequisite: INTR-202 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, JMCB, and JMCS majors during the first round of registration. Analysis of data is becoming a vital component of business decision-making. In this course, we examine the data challenges that businesses confront and how data management and analytics are used to help make sound management decisions. The first course module is data integration and management using Relational Database Management Systems. Students use MySQL and Structured Query Language (SQL) to define how data is stored, maintained, manipulated, and queried in relational databases. The second module is data analytics: the process of examining the data to generate information to draw conclusions. These conclusions are made possible by using various analytic tools including Excel, Tableau, and SAS. Ballenger.

    Fall 2017, BUS 306A-02: MIS Seminar: Data Management and Analytics for Business (3). Prerequisite: INTR-202 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, JMCB, and JMCS majors during the first round of registration. Analysis of data is becoming a vital component of business decision-making. In this course, we examine the data challenges that businesses confront and how data management and analytics are used to help make sound management decisions. The first course module is data integration and management using Relational Database Management Systems. Students use MySQL and Structured Query Language (SQL) to define how data is stored, maintained, manipulated, and queried in relational databases. The second module is data analytics: the process of examining the data to generate information to draw conclusions. These conclusions are made possible by using various analytic tools including Excel, Tableau, and SAS. Ballenger.


  • BUS 307 - Special Topics in Real Estate Development


    Credits: 4


    Prerequisite: ACCT 201 and other courses depending on topic. This course exposes students to issues related to commercial real estate development. Class lectures/discussions are supplemented with real-world case studies and site visits in an effort to provide students with practical knowledge in addition to theory and evidence. The focus of the course may change from term to term, so students should examine the syllabus for a given term carefully to better understand the course material. Potential topics include sustainability, international development, rebuilding cities through rehabilitation, or others.

    Spring 2018, BUS 307-01: Sustainability in Real Estate Development (4). Prerequisites ACCT 201 and BUS 221. In this seminar, students are introduced to issues related to economic, environmental, and social sustainability in the context of commercial real estate development. Other course topics include cost-benefit relationships, identifying and managing key development risks, and effective communication of analyses. Students learn about the implementation of sustainable practices through case studies. The seminar includes travel to Washington, D.C., to tour properties and learn from key alumni in the field. Hoover.


  • BUS 310 - Management Information Systems


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: INTR-201 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC or JMCB majors during first round of registration. The objective is to build an understanding of the value and uses of information systems for business operations, management decision making, and strategic advantage. Topics include basic systems concepts and major roles of information systems; computer, telecommunications, and database management concepts; and management issues in the implementation of information systems, including international, security, and ethical considerations. Staff.


  • BUS 315 - Database Management for Business


    Credits: 3

    Not open to students who have received credit for CSCI 317. Prerequisite: INTR-201 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM or JMCB majors during the first round of registration. An introduction to the theories, concepts, features, and capabilities of database management systems in a business environment. This course provides a greater understanding of how to design, develop and access database-driven business applications and emphasizes the use of database-management systems in real-world business settings and how this technology can be applied effectively to solve business problems. In this project-oriented course, students acquire the skills to document, design, create, test, and access a fully functional Oracle business database application. No prior programming or application development experience is assumed. Ballenger.


  • BUS 317 - Data Mining for Sales, Marketing and Customer Relationship Management


    Credits: 4

    Prerequisites: INTR 201, INTR 202 or equivalent, and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM or JMCB majors during initial registration. This course provides an introduction and overview to data mining as a means to understanding customers (existing and potential) in a broad sense, rather than focusing on underlying theory. Many organizations have a wealth of data residing in their databases. Business data mining is the process of collecting and turning this resource into business value. Basic data-mining methods have broad applications: market-basket analysis of scanner data, customer relationship management, churn analysis, direct marketing, fraud detection, click-stream web mining, personalization and recommendation systems, risk management, and credit scoring. The course provides hands-on experience in applying these techniques to practical real-world business problems using commercial data-mining software. Ballenger


  • BUS 321 - Multimedia Design and Development


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: INTR 201 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM or JMCS majors during initial registration. This course is an introduction to the study and creation of multimedia content primarily used in business. Students explore the steps used to plan and create multimedia content that effectively targets and delivers business information. This is a hands-on, project-oriented course with emphasis on the design and creation of media elements such as interactive web, graphic, audio, and video content. The course focuses on using WordPress development using Headway Themes with emphasis on Cascading Style Sheets, Adobe Photoshop, Reaper, and Final Cut Pro X as the foundation for creating online multimedia content. Ballenger.


  • BUS 325 - E-Commerce Development


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: INTR 201 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM or JMCB majors during first round of registration. An introduction to the benefits, capabilities and related information technologies, which comprise the current state and emerging technologies of e-commerce. This course provides an understanding of how to design, develop and implement e-commerce order processing websites using industry leading e-commerce shopping cart software. In this project-oriented course, students acquire the skills to design, create, and administer a fully functional Web-based e-commerce solution. Students learn how to leverage features of the e-commerce software to attract consumers, increase conversion rates, and maximize the return on their ecommerce investment. No prior e-commerce or Web development experience is assumed. Laboratory fee. Staff.


  • BUS 330 - Global Human-Resource Management


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: BUS 217 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM or JMCB majors during first round of registration. Human-resource management (HRM) is concerned with how to best attract, select, develop, and retain employees in organizations. This course examines HRM in the global context. Topics include employee selection, training, performance management, compensation, health, safety, and security, and termination. We focus on designing HRM practices in the context of the global social, legal, and technological environments. Dean.


  • BUS 335 - Ethics of Globalization


    PHIL 335
    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: At least junior standing. This seminar examines a number of ethical issues raised by the phenomenon of globalization. Though globalization is not new, recent business, technological, and policy developments have made the world more integrated and interdependent than ever before. Increasing economic, cultural, and political interconnections have created a host of new questions about how to conceive of the moral rights and responsibilities of individuals, multi-national corporations, nation-states, and global institutions within this new global framework. This course identifies and clarifies some of these questions, and considers how they have been addressed from a variety of different disciplinary perspectives. Questions concerning the ethics of globalization are approached through an analysis of a few specific topics, such as immigration, humanitarian intervention, and global poverty and inequality. Because the issues raised by the phenomenon of globalization cross disciplinary boundaries, readings are drawn from a wide variety of fields, including philosophy, business, economics, political science, and anthropology. Reiter and Smith.


  • BUS 337 - Economic Globalization and Multinational Corporations


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: At least junior standing. Preference to BSADM or JMCB majors during first round of registration. This course focuses on the historical and present effects and issues of economic globalization, and the role of multinational corporations in a global economy. Topics covered may include: production, supply chain, technology, trade, finance, natural environment, labor, development, poverty and inequality, privatization of utilities, immigration, and state sovereignty. Emphasis is on understanding the costs and benefits of economic globalization and the role business plays in contributing to these outcomes. Reiter.


  • BUS 343 - Markets and Morals


    Credits: 4

    Prerequisite: At least junior standing. Preference given by instructor consent to business administration majors or journalism majors with an emphasis in business journalism. Are there some things that should not be exchanged in the market? Is the intrinsic value of certain goods corrupted by its monetary exchange? This course examines these questions from a philosophical perspective. We first examine how markets work, the morality associated with markets, and how the value of a good is defined in the marketplace. We then analyze the role of markets in a democratic, egalitarian society. These examinations help us critically analyze the morality of markets in general and define criteria by which we may evaluate the morality of market exchanges for particular goods, such as blood, body organs, and female reproductive labor. Reiter.


  • BUS 345 - Business Ethics


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: At least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, or JMCB majors during the first round of registration. An examination of the moral and ethical issues associated with management policy and executive decisions. The course examines the basic approaches to moral reasoning, macro-moral issues concerning the justice of economic systems, and micro-moral issues, such as the following: conflict of interest, whistle blowing, discrimination in employment, product safety, environment, and advertising. Reiter.


  • BUS 346 - Foundations of Business Law


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: At least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, or JMCB majors during the first round of registration. An introduction to the law governing the relations between individuals and businesses in commerce, viewed through both an ethical and a legal lens. Students explore the issues that face both established businesses and innovation-driven startups exploring new markets, including the law governing intellectual property, products liability, contracts, business torts, sales of goods under the Uniform Commercial Code, employment and agency law, environmental law, and the formation and operation of partnerships and corporations.  Additional selected topics may be chosen in accordance with the interest of course participants.  Assignments apply legal theories to actual business disputes, court cases, and hypothetical situations. Youngman.


  • BUS 349 - Negotiation and Dispute Resolution in a Business Environment


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing. Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, or JMCB majors during first round of registration. This course is designed to give students the abilities to negotiate successfully in a commercial environment and to create business solutions when a problem or dispute arises. Lectures, written materials, group projects, video, and role-play are utilized to explore the various theories of negotiation and types of dispute resolution, and to equip students with practical skills for forming and preserving business relationships and resolving business disputes as they occur. Youngman.


  • BUS 350 - Building Financial Models


    Credits: 4

    Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Prerequisites: INTR 201 and BUS 221. Limited to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, or JMCB majors. Students may not receive credit for both this course and BUS 356 or BUS 359. This course offers exposure to a variety of topics in financial modeling. Class time is devoted to introduction of finance principles. An intensive lab component enables students to apply finance theory in a spreadsheet framework. Lecture topics include: time value of money, capital budgeting, optimization techniques, intrinsic valuation, and contingent claim valuation. Schwartz.


  • BUS 353 - Real Estate Development


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite or corequisite: BUS 221 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, ECON or JMCB majors during first round of registration. Students who took this course as BUS 302, should not take BUS 353. Studying the development of commercial real estate, the course covers a range of topics from the idea stage until the property is eventually sold after completion. Although much of the course is qualitative in nature, students also learn how to create simple financial models to analyze properties. In addition, students study in some depth the real estate crisis that began in late 2007. Through exploration of case studies and interaction with practitioners (guest speakers), emphasis is placed on application rather than theory. Assignments include readings, case studies, and one examination. Guest speakers will typically speak in the evening and except in rare circumstances students will be required to attend those sessions. Hoover.


  • BUS 355 - Cases in Corporate Finance


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: BUS 221 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, or JMCB majors during first round of registration. Through use of the case method of learning, this course focuses on applied corporate finance strategy, including financial forecasting, financing sales growth, short-term versus long-term financing, commercial bank borrowing, leasing, and capital structure policy. Classroom participation is emphasized. Kester.


  • BUS 356 - Financial Risk Management


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: BUS 221 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, or JMCB majors during first round of registration. This course provides an introduction to financial derivatives and risk management and is intended to help upper-class students planning a career in finance or actuarial science. The course considers options and futures from a practical and theoretical perspective. Topics explored include: derivative markets, the Black-Scholes option pricing model, binomial option pricing, Monte-Carlo simulation, future pricing, parity relationships, and hedging with derivatives. Text, projects, participation, and problem-solving. Schwartz.


  • BUS 357 - Multinational Business Finance


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: BUS 221 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, or JMCB majors during first round of registration. A study of the critical aspects of managerial finance in a multinational setting, covering both theoretical and practical issues. Emphasis is placed on identifying the unique risk-return opportunities faced by corporations that maintain business units across national borders. Topics included are foreign exchange and exchange rate determination, international capital markets, the environment of multinational corporate finance, risk management, and cross-border investment decisions. Text, readings, and projects. Staff.


  • BUS 358 - Corporate Mergers, Leveraged Buyouts, and Divestitures


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: BUS 221 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, or JMCB majors during first round of registration. This course focuses upon company valuation, mergers, leveraged buyouts, and divestitures. The interactive course makes extensive use of the case method in developing an understanding of business valuation methodologies and corporate financing decisions. Advanced-level finance concepts, models, and techniques are applied by students in the development of situational problem formulation, analysis, evaluation, and decision-making skills necessary to solve the unstructured problems faced in the practice of financial and business management. Classroom participation and group presentations are emphasized. Kester.


  • BUS 359 - Investments


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: BUS 221 and at least junior standing. Preference to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, ECON, or JMCB majors during first round of registration. A study of investments and investment management from a practical and theoretical point of view, including the institutional and economic environment relevant to common stocks, preferred stocks, bonds, puts, calls, and commodity future contracts. These assets are studied in terms of the markets in which they are traded, governing regulations, taxes, valuation, risk, characteristic line, and construction of a portfolio. Capital market theory and the Markowitz portfolio model are explored. Text, readings, and projects. Schwartz.


  • BUS 360 - Framing a Franchise: The Business of Entertainment


    Credits: 4

    No prerequisite. Appropriate for First-Years in 2017. Additional course fee required, for which the student is responsible after Friday of the 7th week of winter term. Entertainment franchises are big business that pervade our consumer culture. This course challenges students to evaluate the various practices used to “frame” such creative entertainment franchise properties. Students study a variety of global franchises, such as Peanuts, Star Wars, or Disney lines, analyzing key issues involved in creative product development. These issues include framing, fidelity, and audience management, as well practical processes like the role of development gatekeepers and product licensing structures. The course includes a one-week trip to Los Angeles to meet with entertainment industry executives at studio and key franchise locations. Lind.


  • BUS 365 - Modern Professional Presentations: Design and Delivery


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing. This course offers students the theories, skills, strategies, and tactics to become an effective oral communicator in a modern professional setting. The course focuses on the critical development and engaged delivery of information and ideas in various professional communication situations including live presentations and interviews. Proper design and deployment of slide-deck presentations and print materials is a vital part of developing competencies in these oral-communication situations. The course also emphasizes the importance of competencies in digital oratory through development and delivery of effective video communication. A hallmark of this course is significant individualized feedback from the professor and classroom peers. Lind.


  • BUS 370 - Integrated Marketing Communications


    Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes
    Credits: 4

    Prerequisites: At least junior standing and instructor consent. Nature and contributions of the elements of marketing communications (e.g., advertising, sales promotions, the Web) in creating brand equity and stimulating demand. A project-oriented course with an emphasis on the strategic application of concepts resulting in an integrated communication plan for products and/or services. Course has a complementary lab component to teach technical skills and reinforce concepts via practicum. Bower.


  • BUS 371 - Creative Strategic Planning


    Credits: 4

    Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing. Preference to BSADM or JMCB majors during first round of registration. Strategic planning (also called account or brand planning) is a philosophy of consumer research that fully incorporates the consumer in strategic developments. The course includes the types of qualitative techniques traditionally associated with social sciences (e.g., anthropology, sociology and psychology) in order to arrive at a brand (or other) strategy. The students must think creatively, independently, and interdependently as they apply the variety of research techniques, develop the strategic recommendations and present and defend both the research and recommendations. In addition to research techniques, students receive an orientation in relevant software (video editing, photo manipulation) and learn effective and persuasive presentation skills. The course is project-based, and the course culminates in the opportunity to present their work to the client (usually an advertising/marketing professional) for whom they’ve been working the course of the term. Bower.


  • BUS 372 - Cross-Cultural Issues in Marketing


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: Preference to BSADM or JMCB majors during first round of registration. A study of cultural theories and their effects on a variety of international management and international marketing practices. The course uses extensive readings and discussions of various cross-cultural theories and methods of inquiry from the social sciences, general management, marketing, and consumer/organizational behavior literature. Emphasis is placed on understanding both the theoretical dimensions of culture and the impact these dimensions have on a variety of business activities. Students develop and lead seminar sessions and develop an in-depth research proposal applying their understanding of cultural theories to some unexplored phenomena within marketing, or another functional area of management. Readings, discussion, written project, and presentation. Straughan.


  • BUS 376 - Adventures in Advertainment


    Credits: 4

    Open to both majors and non-majors. This course focuses on how to create strong marketing narratives and execute them through film-production techniques. The content draws heavily from creative writing, studio art, psychology, and branding to help students understand underlying themes of strong narrative development. In addition, much of the course is dedicated to learning how to use open-source film production software in order to bring these narratives to life in a team-based project. Fox.


  • BUS 381 - Social Entrepreneurship


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing. Social entrepreneurship is an approach to creating system-level change though the application of entrepreneurial thinking and problem solving to social ventures, non-profit organizations, government institutions, and non-governmental organizations to create economic, environmental, and social value for multiple stakeholders. The purpose of this class is to (a) introduce students to the strategic thinking that forms the foundation of successful entrepreneurial ventures, (b) engage students in the application of these strategic tools and frameworks through case analyses and discussion, and (c) to encourage students to change the world in a meaningful way by thinking about a social venture of their own. A. Hess.


  • BUS 383 - Technology and Entrepreneurship


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of process through which technological inventions are transformed into innovations.  Key works from scholars in the field will guide class discussions on understanding why managing innovation is complex, cross-functional, and a historically-dependent endeavor.  By the end of the class, students will have an appreciation for the entrepreneurial mindset, key actors in the start-up process, and the means through which technology is commercialized.  In addition to these discussions, students will travel to Silicon Valley to not only meet individuals who are a part of the recent start-up/technology scene, but also visit key locations that capture the history and context of innovation in the San Francisco/Bay Area. Fox.


  • BUS 390 - Supervised Study Abroad


    Credits: 4

    Prerequisites: Instructor consent, other prerequisites as specified by the instructor, and approval of the International Education Committee. These upper-level courses cover topics of current interest in business administration for which international travel provides a unique opportunity for enhancing understanding. Emphasis changes from year to year and is announced well in advance of registration.


  • BUS 391 - Corporate Social Responsibility Practicum


    Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes
    Credits: 4

    Prerequisites: Instructor consent. For sophomores and juniors, and any one of the following: ACCT 320, BUS 211, BUS 221, ECON 210. Students with relevant practical experience (e.g., CSR or not-for-profit management internships) are also encouraged to apply even if lacking the perquisite courses noted. BUS 304, Modern Professional Communications, is recommended. The course provides students an opportunity to explore corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability challenges from within an organization. The course is taught in Denmark, regarded as one of the most progressive economies in terms of CSR implementation. Initial reading, discussion, and research in the winter term prepare students to be matched with a Danish organization grappling with a CSR issue. Students work in small groups (four students) in a consultative capacity with a sponsoring Danish organization’s decision makers. Students also participate in larger group discussions of issues confronted during the practicum and reflect on their experiences in both a personal journal and group blog. Sponsoring organizations include both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and the nature of the issues varies from sponsor to sponsor. May be taken twice for degree credit if the topics are significantly different. Straughan, Oliver.


  • BUS 392 - Layered Berlin: German Culture and the Social Market Economy


    (GERM 392)
    Credits: 4

    Prerequisite: GERM 262 and instructor consent. A four-week course taught abroad that offers students a true immersion in German language, culture, and business environment. In order to give students a complete understanding of contemporary Germany, we integrate a literary-historical analysis of the country’s rich history from 1848 to the present day with an introduction to German social and economic system that focuses on stakeholder-centric business and sustainability principles. Through an exciting mix of literary fiction, historical readings and cases, film screenings, along with corporate and cultural site visits, students gain an understanding of the interdependence between “big C” Culture and business culture. Youngman and Hess.


  • BUS 398 - Strategic Management


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisite: Senior standing. Limited to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, or JMCB majors. A capstone course designed to expose students to a strategic perspective on global issues that impact the firm. Integrative in that it draws on concepts from functional disciplines (e.g., finance, marketing, accounting) in the diagnosis, analysis, and resolution of complex business situations. Practical problem-solving skills are emphasized. Case analysis and/or computer simulation are used extensively in oral presentations and written cases. Garvis, Reiter.


  • BUS 399 - Entrepreneurship


    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: BUS-211 BUS-221 and senior standing. Limited to BSADM, ACCB, PACC, or JMCB majors. A capstone course designed to expose students to a strategic perspective on business challenges in the context of entrepreneurial firms. Integrating concepts and analytical tools from functional disciplines (e.g., finance, marketing, accounting) in the diagnosis, analysis, and resolution of complex business situations, this seminar helps students develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to excel in either new ventures or in today’s increasingly entrepreneurial corporate environments. Among other activities, students learn from case studies, class discussions, and working together to develop and present a business plan. Shay.


  • BUS 401 - Directed Individual Study


    Credits: 1


    Prerequisites: May vary with topic. The objective is to permit students to follow a course of directed study in some field of management not presented in other courses or to emphasize a particular field of interest. Credits may not be used toward the major requirements in business administration.

    Spring 2018, BUS 401-01: Directed Individual Study: Environmental Impacts (1). Prerequisite: Instructor consent. Research on legal issues and business considerations related to state law requirements to create, enhance, and preserve wetlands as mitigation for the environmental impacts of the development of privately owned property. Youngman.

    Winter 2018, BUS 401-01: CSR Field Research (1). Prerequisite: Instructor consent. Graded Pass/Fail only. Preparatory course for the spring term abroad offering of BUS 391: Corporate Social Responsibility Practicum in Copenhagen. Oliver, E, Straughan.

    Winter 2018, BUS 401-02: Case Studies in CSR (1). Prerequisite: Instructor consent. Graded Pass/Fail only. Preparatory course for the spring term abroad offering of BUS 180: Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability in Copenhagen. Oliver, E, Straughan.

    Winter 2018, BUS 401-03: Directed Individual Study: Environmental Law and Business Practices (1). Prerequisite: Instructor consent. Research on legal issues and recent court decisions affecting the environment and sustainable business practices. Youngman.

    Winter 2018, BUS 401-04: Directed Study: Introduction to Cape Town Internship Program (1). Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent. Graded Pass/Fail only. Students selected for the summer Cape Town Internship Program discuss preliminary readings and research on South African history and Culture. Garvis.

     


  • BUS 402 - Directed Individual Study


    Credits: 2

    Prerequisites: Senior standing and consent of the instructor. The objective is to permit students to follow a course of directed study in some field of management not presented in other courses or to emphasize a particular field of interest. Credits may not be used toward the major requirements in business administration. Staff.


  • BUS 403 - Directed Individual Study


    Credits: 3


    Prerequisites: Senior standing and consent of the instructor. The objective is to permit students to follow a course of directed study in some field of management not presented in other courses or to emphasize a particular field of interest.

    Fall 2017, BUS 403-01: Directed Individual Study (3). Bower.

    Fall 2017, BUS 403-02: Directed Individual Study: Organizational Issues in a Portuguese Company in Transition (3). Prerequisite: Instructor consent. Research on organizational problems experienced by employees in a Portuguese business transitioning from government-owned to private company.  Garvis.

    Winter 2019, BUS 403-01: Directed Individual Study: Ad Class Advisers (3). Bower.

    Winter 2019, BUS 403-02: Directed Individual Study (3). Hoover.

    Winter 2019, BUS 403-03: Directed Individual Study (3). Ballenger.

    Winter 2019, BUS 403-04: Directed Individual Study (3). Shay.

    Winter 2019, BUS 403-05: Directed Individual Study: Non-profit Organizations and Social Enterprises; Governance and Taxation (3). This course uses the Institutional-Based View of organizations as a lens to view the governance activities and practices of social enterprise start-ups. In this context, governance in these entities are compared and contrasted to the governance of profit-driven organizations. Based on corporate governance research, seminar type instruction is provided to introduce students to key governance topics. Using various readings and resources, focus is on required and recommended practices for non-profit board governance in order to identify, discuss, and prioritize governance issues for two specific social enterprise start-ups. Garvis.


  • BUS 406 - Directed Individual Study


    Credits: 6

    Prerequisites: Senior standing and consent of the instructor. The objective is to permit students to follow a course of directed study in some field of management not presented in other courses or to emphasize a particular field of interest. Staff.


  • BUS 493 - Honors Thesis


    Credits: 3-3

    Prerequisites: Honors candidacy and minimum cumulative grade-point average in the major of 3.500. Honors Thesis.




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