Business: Course Descriptions

Students who complete four or more courses with a B- or better in each course are awarded the Business Certificate Program. Students may also apply to take individual courses without pursuing a certificate.

The courses are offered both on-campus and online through our web-based learning platform designed to deliver innovative, social and highly interactive learning experiences. Learn more about the technical requirements for online courses here.

Please note that online courses have separate calendars, for important dates refer to the online program calendars here.

• BUSI K3998. Math Methods for Business. 3 pts.
• BUSI K3998. Math Methods for Business. 1 pts.
• BUSI K4001. Introduction to Finance. 3 pts.
• BUSI K4003. Corporate Finance. 3 pts.
• BUSI K4008. Options and Futures. 3 pts.
• BUSI K4009. Financial Accounting. 3 pts.
• BUSI K4010. Managing Human Behavior in the Organization. 3 pts.
• BUSI K4020. Introduction to Marketing and Marketing Management. 3 pts.
• BUSI K4025. Marketing Strategy. 3 pts.
• BUSI K4040. Security Analysis. 3 pts.
• BUSI K4100. Global Emerging Markets. 3 pts.
• ACTU K7004. Enterprise Risk Management. 3 pts.
• IKNS 4301. Management and Leadership in the Knowledge Domain. 3 pts.
• SUMA K4020. Cost Benefit Analysis. 3 pts.
• SUMA K4195. Green Accounting. 3 pts.

BUSI K3998. Math Methods for Business.  3 pts.

Students will reach a level of increased competence in mathematics and expand their understanding of the applications of mathematical concepts in business activities. Emphasis is placed upon learning mathematical concepts through practical application to common business problems. By the end of this course, students will have developed the skills necessary to enroll in advanced level business and finance courses.

Spring 2013

BUSI K3998. Math Methods for Business.  1 pt.

This section does not count towards the Business Certificate. Especially for returning students, students will reach a level of increased competence in mathematics and expand their understanding of the applications of mathematical concepts in business activities. Emphasis is placed upon learning mathematical concepts through practical application to common business problems. By the end of this course, students will have developed the skills necessary to enroll in advanced level business and finance courses.

Spring 2013

BUSI K4001. Introduction to Finance.  3 pts.

Students will be introduced to the fundamental financial issues of the modern corporation. By the end of this course, students will understand the basic concepts of financial planning, managing growth; debt and equity sources of financing and valuation; capital budgeting methods; and risk analysis, cost of capital, and the process of securities issuance.

Spring 2013

BUSI K4003. Corporate Finance.  3 pts.

Students will learn the critical corporate finance concepts including: financial statement analysis; performance metrics; valuation of stocks and bonds; project and firm valuation; cost of capital; capital investment strategies and sources of capital, and firm growth strategies. At the end of this course students will understand how to apply these concepts to current business problems.

Prerequisite BUSI K4001 Introduction to Finance/or Professor Approval is required

Spring 2013

BUSI K4008. Options and Futures.  3 pts.

Students will learn about financial derivative securities: their role in financial management is becoming increasingly important, especially in portfolio management. By the end of this course students will be able to identify valuation of various options and futures as well as their use in risk management. By the end of this course, students will be able to understand option and futures pricing models, option strategies and index arbitraging.

Prerequisite: BUSI K4001 Intro to Finance and BUSI K4003 Corporate Finance/ or Professor Approval required

Spring 2013

BUSI K4009. Financial Accounting. 3 pts.

Students will examine the generally accepted account principles (GAAP) underlying financial statements and their implementation in practice. The perspective and main focus of the course is from the users of the information contained in the statements, including investors, financial analysts, creditors and, management. By the end of this class students will be able to construct a cash flow statement, balance sheet and decipher a 10K report.

Spring 2013

BUSI K4010. Managing Human Behavior in the Organization.  3 pts.

Students will gain an overview of major concepts of management and organization theory, concentrating on understanding human behavior in organizational contexts, with heavy emphasis on the application of concepts to solve managerial problems. By the end of this course students will have developed the skills to motivate employees, establish professional interpersonal relationships, take a leadership role, and conduct performance appraisal.

Spring 2013

BUSI K4020. Introduction to Marketing and Marketing Management.  3 pts.

Students will learn fundamental marketing concepts and their application. By the end of this class you will know: the elements of a market, company strategy, how to identify customers and competition, the fundamental elements of the marketing mix (product, price, placement and promotion) how to research consumer behavior, and pricing strategies. Students will have extensive use of case study projects.

Spring 2013

BUSI K4025. Marketing Strategy.  3 pts.

Students will develop analytical skills used to formulate and implement marketing driven strategies for an organization. Students will develop a deeper understanding of marketing strategies and how to implement tactics to achieve desired goals. Students will work on case study projects in both individual and a team based projects. By the end of this course you will be able to develop a marketing strategy based market assessments and company needs.

Prerequisite BUSI K4020 Introduction to Marketing/or Professor Approval is required

Spring 2013

BUSI K4040. Security Analysis.  3 pts.

Students will learn about the valuation of publicly traded equity securities. By the end of the semester students will be able to perform fundamental analysis ("bottoms-up," firm-level, business and financial analysis), prepare pro forma financial statements, estimate free cash flows and apply valuation models.

Prerequisite: BUSI K4001 Intro to Finance and BUSI K4003 Corporate Finance or Professor Approval required

Spring 2013

BUSI K4100. Global Emerging Markets.  3 pts.

Students will be able to benchmark countries’ performance and analyze business opportunities in the world economy.  Additionally, students will learn to examine the relationships between trade policy, financial flows and development to understand factors contributing to financial crisis and the policies to remedy them. By the end of this semester students will be able to construct frameworks needed to formulate a global investment strategy.

Prerequisites: BUSI K4001 Introduction to Finance (mandatory) and BUSI K4009 Financial Accounting (recommended) or Professor Approval

Spring 2013

ACTU K7004. Enterprise Risk Management.  3 pts.

Enterprise risk management (ERM) is a significant advancement in the field of risk management. ERM provides a process for companies to identify, measure, manage, and disclose all key risks to increase value to stakeholders. ERM provides a better framework for fundamental risk-return decision-making at the highest levels, elevating ERM to an advancement in business management. This course will cover the latest methodologies in ERM and how they are implemented in practice, and will address all major aspects of ERM, including ERM framework; risk identification; risk quantification; risk decision-making; risk messaging; and risk governance. Students will learn how to effectively design and implement an ERM program at corporate entities (financial services and non-financial services companies) as well as non-corporate entities, such as non-profits, government agencies, and for individuals.

Spring 2013

IKNS K4301. Management and Leadership in the Knowledge Domain.  3 pts.

What are the management issues facing leaders in an increasingly complex information and knowledge environment, and how do we address them? In this course students learn the basic principles of management and leadership, specifically as they relate to enterprise-wide information and knowledge services management. Attention is given to such topics as planning, financial management, human resources, change management, and the corporate culture. Classroom discussions focus on leadership skills and knowledge sharing in the promotion of innovation and change. The course covers the “aspirational “elements of knowledge strategy, and includes extended discussion of the practical aspects of implementation.

Spring 2013

SUMA K4020. Cost Benefit Analysis.  3 pts.

This course is about cost-benefit analysis and the economic evaluations of policies and projects. Cost benefit analysis (CBA) consists of a comprehensive set of techniques used to evaluate government programs. It is now routinely applied in such program areas as transportation, water projects, health, training and education, criminal justice, environmental protection, urban policy and even in the international arena such as foreign direct investment. Many of the techniques of CBA can also be applied to private sector decision-making. The objective of CBA is to determine whether the benefits of a particular program, policy or decision outweigh its costs. The techniques used to determine this are sometimes quite simple, but on other, increasingly frequent occasions are highly sophisticated. Sophisticated cost benefit studies are based on a framework that utilizes the basic concepts of economic theory. In addition, statistical and econometric analyses are often needed to estimate program effects from diverse available data. The course has two parts: methodology and practice. The goal is for students to be practically adept to undertake an independent cost-benefit analysis.

Spring 2013

SUMA K4195. Green Accounting.  3 pts.

The course introduces practitioners of environmental science and sustainability management to a number of approaches to accounting for environmental costs in business and policy.  The course provides a basic introduction to financial accounting and analyzes the income statement, cash flow statement and the balance sheet using examples of cleantech and resource extraction companies.  Conventional cost and management accounting concepts for business entities are introduced, with a focus on accounting for waste, depletion and byproducts.  Green accounting methodologies with a systems focus such as life cycle analysis and sustainability metrics are presented.  Conventional national income accounting is introduced and critically evaluated, with a detailed examination of green accounting alternatives.  Worked examples and case studies are integral to each topic.  Students are assumed to have had no previous exposure to accounting.

Spring 2013