Quarter 1

ENG 4107 Critical Thinking for College Writing (6 q.h.)

This course will explore students’ hopes and anxieties, demonstrating how to exploit these emotions so they promote rather than inhibit achievement. The course guides students to acquire three basic perceptual roles: observer, reader, and thinker. Students will be guided through the basic processes of inventing, planning, drafting, revising, and editing. The basic premise of the course, writing with confidence, means writing from a position of strength. This strength comes from self knowledge, perceptual sensitivity, technical skill, and the practical experience of writing in different modes and voices for different purposes and audiences.

SOC 4170 Race and Ethnicity (3 q.h.)

Because human beings belong to different racial and ethnic groups, the study of these constructs is important to sociology. This course examines race and ethnicity as constructed differences and explores the reasons for their existence, the power dynamics behind constructions of difference, the impact of difference on identity, and ways that visual and other presentations influence perceptions of self and others. Students will explore the history of race and ethnicity and how history has influenced the study of these topics.

ECN 4110 Macro-Economics (4 q.h.)

Macro-economics, the study of the economy as a whole, applies the basic principles of economics to whole economic systems and the relationships among sectors of the economy. Students explore unemployment, inflation, national income and employment theory, government expenditures and taxation, the role of the banking system, the Federal Reserve System, and supply-side policies.

Quarter 2

LDR 4125 Assessing and Developing Leadership Capacity (6 q.h.)

Organizations are only as effective as the individuals who work in them. This course focuses on enhancing students’ individual awareness, reflection, and effectiveness as leaders. Through a self-assessment, students will learn to appreciate the differences between themselves and others and deepen their understanding of what motivates people in the work environment. The nature of leadership is explored through various perspectives to deepen and enrich the appreciation of its complexity. The activity-rich experience of this course will provide students with ongoing feedback from peers and opportunities for growth and development.

ECN 4111 Micro-Economics (4 q.h.)

The study of micro-economics centers on individual areas of activity such as a firm, product, or consumer. Students apply basic principles of economics to current economic problems and explore such topics as the role of a market pricing system, supply and demand, the costs of production, profits and the supply decision, competitive markets, monopoly, oligopoly, factor markets, and income distribution. Economic principles are also applied to selected problem areas including poverty, pollution, and international trade.

MGT 4446 International Business and Management (3 q.h.)

This course focuses on the principles and practices of international business, comparing domestic and international business activities, responsibilities, and influences. Economic, social, political, and legal contexts of conducting business in a multinational environment are highlighted. Students will examine this “foreign factor” and its impact on decision making for U.S. companies.

Quarter 3

CMN 4103 Organizational and Group Communication (6 q.h.)

Why is communication important for organizations and how do individuals within organizations become effective communicators? This course provides the foundation in the study of organizational communication and introduces students to other relevant topics, such as meeting dynamics, crisis communication, and measurement and assessment of the quality of organizational communications.

ECN 4254 Statistics (6 q.h.)

The first half of this course introduces the collection and organization of data, including the measurement, presentation, and uses of elementary set theory; measures of central tendency and variability; basic probability; and probability distributions. The course continues with sampling and basic estimation techniques, “t” distribution, testing of statistical hypotheses, and analysis of variances.

Quarter 4

MGT 4412 Project Management (6 q.h.)

This highly interactive, skill oriented course offers a balance of the critical and technical skills needed to be a successful project leader. The entire process of implementing a project is examined. Students will utilize various tools and techniques to achieve the following: identify project stakeholders, develop the project scope definition, scheduling, financial, and budgetary factors. Quality criteria and successful project closeout is examined in detail. Contemporary management techniques, based on Project Management Institute (PMI) current practices, are used in case analyses to deepen student understanding. Current software options are discussed.

PHL 4182 Business Ethics and Decision Making (6 q.h.)

The fact that there is not one universal set of behaviors one considers ethical, and no guidelines to follow to determine ethical behavior, poses unique challenges to managers today. As managers we are faced daily with situations where individual values may conflict with those of our teams or organizations. This course focuses on basic ethical viewpoints as a foundation and begins to examine specific characteristics of business life through cases and examples. Participants will apply a decision-making model using real-world ethical dilemmas; participants will analyze behaviors and consequences and make recommendations for actions ethical managers can make.

MIS 4446 Information Systems Management (3 q.h.)

Students will learn how information technology (IT) supports corporate goals. Emphasis is placed on the management of IT rather than on computer technology or programming. Readings and case studies will illustrate how IT may be employed to support general management functions. Issues such as the types of information systems, the impact of information systems on individuals and organizations, outsourcing, and the use of IT as a weapon of competitive strategy will be discussed along with technological issues such as database management systems, electronic data interchange, decision support systems, and expert systems.

Quarter 5

HST 4654 Leadership Themes in World and American History (6 q.h.)

This course will examine the development of leaders in major historical contexts, i.e. fascism and communism, around the world and its relevance to world leadership issues today. The dimensions of leadership will be explored, focusing on the relationship of leaders to the social context from which they emerge.

CMN 4158 Persuasion, Argumentation, and Negotiation (6 q.h.)

This course introduces students to the techniques of persuasion, dispute resolution, and negotiation. The curriculum pays particular attention to the processes of mediation, facilitation, and negotiation. Through readings, lectures, and activities, students will have the opportunity to explore methods of applying these skills to analyze situations in politics, advertising, social interaction, sales, and business.

Quarter 6

BL 4104 Employment Law-Employee Rights (6 q.h.)

This course focuses on fundamental concepts of the employment relationship and legal rights/duties of employer and employee. Risk management of various prevalent statutory claims of sex, age, or racial discrimination as well as sexual harassment will be covered. Wrongful termination, EEO, ADA, Family Medical Leave Act, and other emerging case law doctrines will be analyzed. National Labor Relations Act, wage and benefit legislation, and the Occupational Safety Act will be discussed. Current court rulings, case studies, and analysis will focus students on critical issues and challenges facing individuals, businesses, and society entering the 21st century.

MGT 4452 Business Strategy Intensive (6 q.h.)

This advanced course, combining the content of MGT 4450 and 4451 Business Strategy 1 and 2, is designed to be the capstone course in the BS/BA degree program. Building on a solid foundation of business and liberal arts courses, this course examines the total management process—from planning to implementation— for executing competitive business strategy. The course covers the development of corporate objectives, plans, and policies, emphasizing the interaction between the enterprise and its environment. Students are challenged to develop the capacity to think strategically about a company, examining issues including current business position and strategy, long-term directions, and opportunities for gaining sustainable competitive advantage. In the second half, students will gain knowledge of the organizational and administrative methods for converting plans into achievements. Using case studies from profit and nonprofit enterprises of various types, the course explores concepts of strategic planning and implementation from the perspective of the general manager, with attention to top management functions, responsibilities, styles, values, and organizational relationships.

LDR 4240 Leadership Practicum (3 q.h.)

This capstone practicum is an opportunity for students to integrate theory and practice in a real world setting. Through experience, students will demonstrate competence in the areas of leadership knowledge and skills. With the guidance of faculty, students will define an appropriate project and undertake their own action research.