Business Administration (B.A., B.S., Adult Completion Program, Minor)
 Executives in today’s spirited global economy must have a strategic appreciation and understanding of the overall business enterprise. This holistic perspective is one of the reasons that Business Administration remains one of the most popular majors for college students. The Business Administration major provides the student with a broad foundational understanding of numerous business competencies: ethics, law, accounting, economics, statistics, management, marketing, and finance. Beyond the required core of 32 semester hours and 6 semester hours of upper level coursework in Management Information Systems and International Business, students are allowed to tailor the remaining 12 hours in the major to meet their particular interests and career goals. The Business Administration major prepares students for executive career opportunities as executives in a variety of organizations, including manufacturing, financial services, health care and government enterprises.
MAJOR IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION —
Required Business Core Courses for the BA: 33 semester hours
ACC2010 Foundations of Financial Accounting (3)
ACC2020 Foundations of Management Accounting (3)
BUS2010 Legal Environment of Business (3)
ECN2010 Foundations of Microeconomics (3)
ECN2020 Foundations of Macroeconomics (3)
BUS3200 Foundations of Management (3)
BUS3300 Foundations of Marketing (3)
BUS3400 Foundations of Finance (3)
BUS4990 Senior Seminar in Business Strategy (3)
MTH1120 Finite Mathematics (3)
MTH2320 General Statistics (3)
Required Courses: 6 semester hours
BUS3220 Management Information Systems (3)
BUS3500 International Business (3)
Selected Courses: Choose 12 semester hours from the School of Business offerings in accounting, management, and marketing. At least 3 semester hours must come from each of the 3 areas below:
Accounting
ACC3110 Intermediate Accounting I (4)
ACC3120 Intermediate Accounting II (4)
ACC3210 Cost Accounting (3)
ACC3310 Federal & State Taxation of Individuals (4)
ACC3320 Federal Taxation of Business Entities (3)
ACC4140 Advanced Accounting (3)
ACC4410 Auditing (4)
ACC5510 Accounting Information Systems (3)
ACC5520 Governmental and Non Profit Accounting (3)
BUS4010 Advanced Business Law (3)
Management
BUS3250 Human Resource Management (3)
BUS3280 Organizational Behavior (3)
BUS4440 Entrepreneurship and Venture Initiation (3)
BUS4600 Intrapreneurship and Innovation (3)
BUS3810,4810 Selected Topics (2-4 with approval of program chair)
BUS3940,4940 Business Internships (2-4)
Marketing
BUS3310 Integrated Marketing Communication (3)
BUS3320 The Professional Sales Process (3)
BUS3350 Consumer Behavior (3)
BUS4350 Marketing Research (3)
BUS3810,4810 Selected Topics (2-4 with approval of program chair)
BUS3940,4940 Business Internships (2-4)
Students planning to attend graduate school should consider a BS.
For the BS, the following 10 semester hours are required in addition to the requirements for the BA for majors in Business Administration, Management, and Marketing.
BUS4230 Operations Management (3)
ECN3300 Business Statistics (3)
MTH2120 Calculus for Management & Sciences (3)
or
MTH2210 Calculus I (4)
NOTE: Supporting coursework in computer science, sociology, psychology, writing, and philosophy is strongly recommended by the faculty.
SECONDARY MAJOR IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (for non-business majors)
The Secondary Major in Business Administration is intended for those students who are pursuing a primary degree that is outside of the School of Business and wish to earn a secondary major in business. A secondary major in business provides a broad foundational background within the various business disciplines and is a most powerful and useful complement to any non-business discipline. This major provides the necessary understanding of business theory and principles as well as providing the practical tools needed to function successfully in a chosen field. While not providing an in-depth course of study within any of the business discipline areas, the secondary business major does provide a solid grounding to be prepared for entering the business world. The Secondary Business Major is not a stand-alone
degree and is only available to non-business majors as a secondary major option.
The Secondary Major in Business Administration prepares the student in numerous business competencies: ethics, law, accounting, economics, statistics, management, marketing, finance and fulfills all of the prerequisite courses for admission to the Master of Business Administration program. These areas are all reflected in the required courses that are listed below. If the student wishes to build upon this foundation, and pursue a primary degree in business, then 18 additional semester hours of upper level business course are required. Students interested in this advanced course of study should explore their options with their academic advisor.
Required Core Courses for the Secondary Major in Business Administration: 33 semester hours
ACC2010 Foundations of Financial Accounting (3)
ACC2020 Foundations of Management Accounting (3)
BUS2010 Legal Environment of Business (3)
ECN2010 Foundations of Microeconomics (3)
ECN2020 Foundations of Macroeconomics (3)
BUS3200 Foundations of Management (3)
BUS3300 Foundations of Marketing (3)
BUS3400 Foundations of Finance (3)
BUS4990 Senior Seminar in Business Strategy (3)
MTH1120 Finite Mathematics (3)
MTH2320 General Statistics (3)
MINOR IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - 21 semester hours
This minor is exclusively offered to non-business majors. It is strongly recommended for those students seeking a general understanding of business principles and practices.
NOTE: The minor in business administration is available at George Williams College in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.
Required Courses:
ACC2010 Foundations of Financial Accounting (3)
ACC2020 Foundations of Management Accounting (3)
BUS2010 Legal Environment in Business (3)
ECN2010 Foundations of Microeconomics (3)
ECN2020 Foundations of Macroeconomics (3)
BUS3200 Foundations of Management (3)
BUS3300 Foundations of Marketing (3)
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
BUS1010 Business Environment and Ethical Dimensions 2 semester hours
This course is designed to familiarize students with a range of information that speaks to the many institutional and human arrangements, and ethical dimensions associated with the profession and practices of business. Course content will include, but not to be limited to the different forms of business organization; the underlying economic laws that govern business and consumer behavior; the legal and regulatory environment; the many responsibilities that managers must discharge in order to ensure business success; and, an examination of both basic accounting principles and financial markets, among other subjects. In addition, this course examines the ethics of management and provides the students with a template with which to analyze and address the complex nature of moral problems in business management. By doing so, this focus can serve to inform and to sensitize the students to the ethical challenges that will test them not only when doing business, but in living their personal lives as well.
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Aesthetic and Philosophical Expression” Group A requirement.
BUS2010 Legal Environment of Business 3 semester hours
This course introduces students to the nature of the legal system in which society functions, including criminal law, litigation, basic business agreements, business entities and government regulation. (Fall and Spring)
No prerequisites.
BUS3010 Dynamics of Leading Organizations 3 semester hours
An analysis of the development of various leadership theories and the practice of leadership. Topics include leadership, motivation, groups, and influence. The concept of transformational leadership, contrasted with transactional leadership, is stressed. Students analyze case examples from organizations, practice leadership roles in class, and apply their knowledge in a course project. (Spring)
Prerequisites: BUS3200 and restricted to Organization Management majors.
BUS3200 Foundations of Management 3 semester hours
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the fundamental concepts and techniques involved in managing today’s dynamic organization. A solid grounding in management is essential to successfully guiding organizations. Students will become familiar with such basic managerial practices as planning, organizing, leading and controlling in a variety of organizational settings. (Fall and Spring)
No prerequisites.
BUS3220 Management Information Systems 3 semester hours
This course explores the variety and richness of support systems for management — the wide range of users, problems, and technologies employed and illustrates how the concepts and principles have been applied in specific systems. Designed to be an introduction to this continually developing field, the course includes the full range of systems and users, but extra emphasis on managers and their use of systems such as EIS, rather than an emphasis on management analysts who develop expert systems. A module of this course will also train students on how to create their own Web site. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisite: Satisfy Technology Proficiency Requirement.
BUS3240 Diversity in the Workplace 3 semester hours
This course will investigate the similarities, differences and stereotypes of individuals in the workplace. Although similar in many ways, individuals do differ in many other ways including leadership styles, communication styles, status concerns and relationship behavior. This course will provide students with a thorough understanding of these similarities and differences and thereby enhance their effectiveness working with other individuals.
Prerequisite: Restricted to Organization Management majors.
BUS3250 Human Resource Management 3 semester hours
This course is a detailed study of the theories, principles, and practices of employing, organizing, and leading people. Emphasis is placed on recent research in communication, leadership and supervision, motivation, organizational behavior, appraisal, development, compensation, and other traditional functions of staff personnel and development departments.
Prerequisite: BUS3200.
BUS3260 Organizational Development 3 semester hours
This course will provide students with a comprehensive look at systems in organizations that facilitate organization goal achievement as well as individual and group development. Models for collaborative goal achievement, high performance teams, reproduction of learning, personal, interpersonal and group interventions, and the analysis of systems and processes will be presented.
Prerequisite: Restricted to Organization Management majors.
BUS3280 Organizational Behavior 3 semester hours
A study of the social and psychological factors that influence the management of groups and individuals in work settings. Topics include communication, leadership, decision-making, power, politics, and job design.
No prerequisites.
BUS3300 Foundations of Marketing 3 semester hours
In this course, students will be introduced to all aspects of marketing foundations and principles with a focus on an application of meeting target customers needs and wants, a marketing strategic approach based on product, pricing, promotional, and place objectives, brand building, value delivery methodology, evaluating market opportunities based on changes in environmental business forces, and analyzing marketing problems and provide solutions based on critical examination of marketing information. (Fall and Spring)
No prerequisites.
BUS3310 Integrated Marketing Communications 3 semester hours
The purpose of this course is to provide a thorough understanding of promotional objectives, integrated marketing communications (knowing how different media work synergistically), and the development of promotional campaigns (using specific promotional activities) that convert qualified leads into prospects, prospects into new customers, and new customers into long-term relationship partners. Students learn the logic of how prospects become interested in what organizations offer. Students develop a promotional campaign designed to elicit a direct inquiry or response from a qualified lead (a member of a narrow target market) to a prospect. Additionally, students determine how to form communication with customers that create a relationship with existing customers in order to develop on-going repeat purchases. As a result of completing this course, the student will be able to conduct a promotional plan and direct marketing/advertising campaign. Students develop a multistep promotional plan and create the promotional pieces for a campaign designed to generate an initial inquiry and initial trial purchase. (Spring)
Prerequisite: BUS3300.
BUS3320 The Professional Sales Process 3 semester hours
As a result of taking this course on professional selling and sales management, students will be able to work through the entire sales process. This includes prospecting, sales preplanning, writing sales proposals, preventing and handling objections, sales closing, and post sales servicing. The student will be able to use these selling tools to enhance his/her sales performance. In addition, students will be able to make better sales management decisions including hiring and motivation activities. The specific outcomes students will obtain from taking the course include: mapping out the entire client/customer buying process, conducting written sales plans and a professional interactive oral sales presentation, developing a sales strategy with action points for every step in the professional sales process, knowing how to use multiple prospecting methods, responding effectively to objections, and asking for commitments that move the sales process forward and complete in a buying decision. Students will also examine sales force management issues. They will investigate the specific responsibilities of sales managers including: sales force recruitment and selection, training and motivation of the sales team, and compensation strategies. (Fall)
Prerequisite: BUS3300.
BUS3340 Prospecting Methods 3 semester hours
Prospecting is one of the most crucial components of the entire sales force. In short, prospecting is the process of identifying leads, qualifying leads, and obtaining permission from the buying party to determine if a buying need exists. In this course, students will examine a series of different prospecting methods and qualification practices.
Prerequisite: BUS3300.
BUS3350 Consumer Behavior 3 semester hours
An investigation of behavior and communication research, appraising models, methodology, and concepts applicable to marketing. Designing marketing communication systems whose structure and output reflect a behavioral buying orientation toward the market place. Uses contemporary examples to illustrate consumer behavior models.
Prerequisite: BUS3300.
BUS3360 Sales Management 3 semester hours
To effectively manage a sales force, three processes need to be taken into account. These include the formulation of a strategic sales program, the implementation of the formulated sales program, and specific evaluation, control and measurement of sales performance. Sales managers are responsible for taking into account a variety of issues that affect the overall performance of their sales teams. The issues can include the business environment their company and sales people work within, the perceptions of work roles of the sales force, developing aptitude, skill, and motivational levels of the sales force.
Prerequisite: BUS3300.
BUS3360 Sales Motivation and Performance 3 semester hours
This course examines the underlying relationship between being personally motivated to succeed and its impact on sales performance. We will specifically consider the factors that lead someone to be motivated within, to make the independent decision to achieve sales excellence. This has often been called developing the inner drive. Can sales performance be heightened by developing a stronger desire to succeed? In an increasing competitive marketplace, more value is being placed on “hunting” activities while simultaneously maintaining strong relationships with current customers. This course will consider the motivational factors required to balance the demands of new client acquisition and current client development. Additionally the course will address how to resist and overcome some of the obstacles common in selling such as sales rejection and call reluctance.
Prerequisite: BUS3300.
BUS3400 Foundations of Finance 3 semester hours
This course introduces students to financial markets; time value of money; risk and return; market valuation of securities; capital budgeting, capital structure, and the fundamentals of international finance. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisites: ACC2010, ACC2020, ECN2010, ECN2020, MTH1120, MTH2320.
BUS3480 Financial Markets and Institutions 3 semester hours
This course will examine the types and functions of financial institutions and the operation of financial markets. Specifically, it will study how fluctuating economic and government forces, such as the Federal Reserve and SEC, influence money and capital markets.
Prerequisite: ECN2020.
BUS3500 International Business 3 semester hours
This course examines the “rules of the game” in international business and their impact on the strategies and operations of multinational firms. Divergent political, economic, social institutions across countries, and key international institutions of trade and investment, (e.g., WTO and NAFTA), will be studied. The objective of this scrutiny is to understand how the global and national business environments affect critical business decisions such as global functional strategies, global opportunity analysis, market(s) selection, market entry and timing, choice of production site for global sourcing, and organizational implications. Students learn to develop global marketing and management strategies, paying attention to their implementation through organizational innovations such as fostering a global mindset within the organization and using global strategic alliances.
(Fall and Spring)
Prerequisites: BUS3200, BUS3300, ECN2020.
BUS3520 Advanced Software Applications 3 semester hours
This course focuses on application software used in the real business world. This course focuses on advancing competencies and introduces additional business software at the PC level. Using software such as Access and Excel, students develop advanced skills in using personal database applications and computerized spreadsheets for problem-solving and decision-making. However, the course is not limited to MS Office products and will include exposure to other widely used software applications like accounting packages, HRIS packages and quality control.
No prerequisites.
BUS3530 Business Communication Systems and Networks 3 semester hours
Students will learn about the various network systems that are available, including slightly dated ones since businesses are not always running the latest network server software/hardware. Administrative policies and best practices procedures, documentation, network securities, network software licensing, and other related topics will be covered. Novell, Linux and other operating systems will be examined.
Prerequisite: CSC1500.
BUS3540 Current Issues in Management Information
Technology 3 semester hours
This course examines current management information technology, legal, financial, security and ethical issues. Students evaluate different aspects of end user training, data structure and further their knowledge of business processes using management information technology. Other topical issues will be introduced as appropriate. Students will learn the ways they can stay abreast of the latest management information technology issues. The course focuses on the people and data resources of information systems.
No prerequisites.
BUS3940/BUS4940 Business Internships 2-4 semester hours
Students will have the opportunity to embark on new business related experiential learning opportunities through the use of general elective business internships. Students will work with a faculty coordinator to identify an organization where they can gain pragmatic business skills. Specific new learning objectives will be set and agreed upon by the student, site coordinator, and faculty member.
Prerequisite: Determined by faculty sponsor.
BUS4010 Advanced Business Law 3 semester hours
A basic understanding of the law regarding contracts, partnerships, corporations, agency, and property. In addition, students will demonstrate an understanding of the legal environment in which businesses operate; the judicial and law enforcement systems; laws regarding patents, copyrights, and trademarks; anti-trust issues, monopolies, and price-fixing; and factors in the remote business environment such as social, technological, political, economic, and ecological, which impact the operation of business. (Spring)
Prerequisite: BUS2010.
BUS4230 Operations Management 3 semester hours
Recent developments in both manufacturing and service industries have emphasized the importance of operations excellence in achieving and maintaining competitive advantage. This course strikes a balance between the qualitative (behavioral) aspects of operations management and the increasingly important quantitative or technological aspects. The course considers important advances in designing operating systems, managing the supply chain, and ensuring quality. (Fall)
Prerequisites: MTH1120, MTH2320, BUS3200.
BUS4350 Marketing Research 3 semester hours
Methods of design and analysis of marketing research studies, including surveys and laboratory and marketplace experiments, information evaluation, sampling techniques, instrument construction and statistical analysis; problems of validity and reliability. Students design and execute a complete marketing research data collection project.
Prerequisite: BUS3300.
BUS4440 Entrepreneurship and Venture Initiation 3 semester hours
Designed to instruct students on how to formulate, plan, and implement a new venture. The course is divided into three sections. First, the course studies the critical role and attributes of entrepreneurs. Second, the entrepreneurial process of creating new ventures is addressed. Topics include evaluating opportunities, writing business plans, and alternative sources of financing. Third, attention is paid to managing the new venture during growth, early operations, and expansion. Specific topics include mergers and acquisitions, alliances, negotiation, and time management. (Fall)
Prerequisites: MTH1120, MTH2320, BUS3200.
BUS4590 Capstone in Management Information Technology 3 semester hours
This course focuses on analysis of business systems using current techniques to analyze business activities and solve problems. Interviewing skills, group dynamics, and development of process flows, data flows and data models are emphasized. Students learn to identify, define and document business processes and problems, and to development solutions.
Prerequisites: BUS3520, BUS3530, BUS3540, CSC1500, CSC3500.
BUS4600 Intrapreneurship and Innovation 3 semester hours
Intended for students who want to manage growing companies in an increasingly professional manner while stimulating creativity and technological innovation within the organization. This course consists of two parts. First, the course examines the innovative process within organizations and the range of internal and external forces which impact innovation and growth. Second, the course deals with the strategic issues intrapreneurs must address to exploit opportunities when industries are either created or transformed by emerging new technologies. The principle objective of this course is to develop students’ creative skills for evaluating and managing innovation in an existing business environment. (Spring)
Prerequisites: MTH1120, MTH2320, BUS3200.
BUS4750 Senior Seminar in Business Policy and
Strategy Practicum 6 semester hours
Useful models for deciding what a company’s policy and strategy should be and the methods, as well as the systematic analysis, used in developing policies and multi-level corporate strategies. Strategic issues of national, multi-national, and transnational businesses are discussed; supplemented by case studies. Using this knowledge, students will develop a strategic plan for George Williams College or the community constituency they attended during the internship experience. Multimedia Portfolio - At the conclusion of the senior year, the student completes a multimedia portfolio that demonstrates the student’s integration of theory and application by combining coursework and experiential content. The portfolio must include faculty-approved projects, papers, and presentations taken from all completed courses. The portfolio must also include resume, cover letter, references, career goals, and self-assessment of leadership style.
Prerequisite: Completion of all coursework in the Organizational Leadership major.
BUS4760 Leadership Practicum 3 semester hours
In this course, students gain practical experience in a structured professional management environment. The practicum enables students to arrange an internship experience in their field that is monitored by a faculty member and an on-site supervisor. In the semester prior to their practicum, students must complete a practicum agreement that must be approved by the Curriculum Committee.
Prerequisite: Consent of program chair at George Williams College.
BUS4990 Senior Seminar in Business Strategy 3 semester hours
A capstone course for those majoring in business administration, accounting, marketing, or business management and innovation. In the course, students test and further develop both knowledge and skills by being cast in the role of top executives for a major company. In that role, students must analyze the industry in which they are operating and develop an implementable and winning strategy for the company they represent. It is a highly challenging semester-long project, and requires students to deal with a complicated real-world situation. Students work in cross-functional teams of three or four members each, draw on the range of knowledge they have accumulated, and use major analytical and quantitative tools they have developed. At the conclusion of the semester, students present detailed reports of their findings and recommendations. In addition to thorough written reports, students make formal presentations as if they were presenting to senior management. (Fall and Spring)
Prerequisites: BUS3200, BUS3300, BUS3400.
For more information, contact:
Ileana
Brooks
The Dunham School of Business
Aurora University
347 S. Gladstone Ave.
Aurora, Illinois 60506
630-844-4892
ibrooks@aurora.edu
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