BUSN - Business

Course Descriptions

BUSN 5000 Business (3)

This course is designed to provide a foundation in such general business concepts as economics, finance, accounting, business law, marketing and other business systems.

BUSN 5100 Introduction to Project Management (3)

This course examines the basic theory and practical tools of project management. The student learns to manage projects and achieve project objectives by organizing, planning, scheduling and controlling the project.

BUSN 5135 Business Law & Economics in the Oil & Gas Sector (3)

The oil and gas industry is dynamic and complex. This course purposely combines the interrelationship between law and economics in this sector. Various actors including governments, financial markets, the global oil market, the uncertainty of the economic environment, licensing and contracts are some of the important topics considered. Other topics that will also be covered include investment appraisal, taxation, health, safety, the environment and issues related to supply and demand. An international approach will be applied to the study of the markets. 

BUSN 5200 Basic Finance for Managers (3)

Managers and human resources management professionals must be able to understand financial information contained in financial statements and reports. Line managers must be able to understand financial information contained in financial statements and reports in order to evaluate their unit's financial performance, to communicate clearly with other managers, and to apply financial information when making decisions. Human resources management professionals must understand financial statements and principles if they are to effectively assist line managers and be strategic partners with other business functions. This course will focus on the interpretation and use of basic financial information by non-financial managers, not on the production of financial statements and reports. (FINC 5000 cannot be substituted for BUSN 5200.)

BUSN 5210 Financial Management and Budgeting in Nonprofits (3)

This course will prepare students to understand and participate in the financial management of nonprofit organizations. The course will provide an overview and specifics of nonprofit financial management, including budgeting, resource allocation, accounting, financial reporting (internal, board and governmental) and working with CPAs. 

BUSN 5220 Global Supply Chain Management (3)

This course is designed to increase understanding of the management of flows of materials/goods and information in a global supply chain network. The topics covered include supplier selection, procurement, production/outsourcing, transportation, warehousing, etc. in the context of global supply chain environment and global logistics strategy. Import/export as well as third party logistics (3PL), documentation, customs procedures, government regulations and free trade zones (FTZ) are also reviewed.

BUSN 5250 Enterprise Systems (3)

This course helps students understand enterprise systems in today's organizations. The contents includes the evolution of enterprise systems, the components of an enterprise system and the process of implementing enterprise systems to increase the overall success of the organization. The course also emphasizes the strategic role of the enterprise systems in providing a platform for improved business operations and productivity.

BUSN 5300 Project Procurement Management (3)

This course examines the basic theory and practical tools of the procurement process and contract management when the projects are completed using outside resources and contractors. The course will help students understand the procurement process and manage contracts effectively so that the project can be completed successfully.

BUSN 5360 Operations & the Supply Chain in the Oil & Gas Sector (3)

Two very central aspects and closely interconnected aspects of the oil and gas industry are the operations and supply chain management. Operations focuses on the upstream and downstream activities including exploration, production, transportation, refinery operations and bringing the products to the markets. A key aspect of the topics of the supply chain is that it can be a central source of cost efficiency and thus a competitive advantage for organizations that best manage their supply chains. The supply chain becomes an even more important strategic component when the international scale of many oil and gas ventures are considered.

BUSN 5400 Supply Chain Planning & Inventory Management (3)

This course will address the fundamentals of a demand-driven supply chain and allows students to understand why optimized inventory and replenishment helps overcome in-system weaknesses and deliver results. Students will gain a solid basis of understanding in the areas of Just in Time, Efficient Consumer Response, and Collaborative Forecasting, Planning, and Replenishment. 

BUSN 5410 Transportation Management (3)

After this unit, the student will know what modes of transportation serve certain types of freight and the cost implications of modal choices. They will understand the trade-offs between speed and cost and understand what a transportation management system (TMS) does. Lastly, students will be familiar with regulation governing transportation providers and the differences between asset versus non asset providers. Regulations, tariffs, and freight classes will be discussed. 

BUSN 5420 Warehouse Management (3)

In this course, students will be able to describe the different types of warehousing strategies including, but not limited to, insource/outsource, public/fractional/multi-client/single-client. Students will understand distribution management, different warehouse layouts, labor and picking strategies, be familiar with slotting strategies and warehouse management (WMS) tools, be conversant in a variety of automation strategies, and understand the impact of warehouse strategies on transportation costs and customer satisfaction.

BUSN 5500 Professional Seminars (1-3)

Students participate in seminars designed to examine contemporary issues in business. The professional seminar supplements the core and elective courses in the area of business by focusing on issues of current and special interest. Course may be repeated for credit if content differs. Graduate students may apply a maximum of 3 credit hours of these seminars as electives to meet the credit-hour requirements for graduation. This course may not be completed by directed study.

BUSN 5600 Accounting Theory and Practice (3)

Students examine the accounting function and its role in modern business. Basic accounting theory and principles are examined and some of the more important contemporary accounting developments are reviewed. Case studies are analyzed with an emphasis on situations from the students' own work experiences. This course is designed for consumers as opposed to producers of accounting. Prerequisite: BUSN 5000 or HLTH 5000.

BUSN 5620 Current Economic Analysis (3)

Implications of current economic events are examined through the applications of economic theory. Emphasis is placed on acquainting the student with methods of economic analysis in the context of current economic issues.

BUSN 5630 Business Law (3)

This course provides a basic understanding of laws that relate to business with emphasis on the law of contracts, negotiable instruments, secured transactions, business organization and structure, relationships among firms and property. Case studies are analyzed in order to give the student an understanding of how these various laws have evolved.

BUSN 5680 Issues in Business (3)

Current and significant issues in business are examined. The course focuses on existing theories and practices as well as on new and emerging topics in the field. Course may be repeated for credit if content differs.

BUSN 5700 Advances in Project Management (3)

This course examines the advanced theory and tools for implementing projects in organizations and will provide a comprehensive overview of the skills needed and challenges to be faced in managing them. The primary goals of this course in Project Management are to help students understand important concepts and principles in project selection, scheduling, risk and resource management and develop analytical and interpersonal skills that will be useful to them as project managers. Prerequisites: BUSN 5100.

BUSN 5760 Applied Business Statistics (3)

The student examines the application of statistical analysis, hypothesis testing and regression analysis in business decision making. The course should focus on the utilization of statistical methods as applied to business problems and operations.

BUSN 5900 Consulting Project (3)

The iMBA Consulting Project aims to closely integrate the curriculum with career development and practical research, providing professional and systematic guidance and assistance for students' career development and business practice. Students will be paired with business professionals, work in teams to identify, research and propose solutions to real industry problems and opportunities.   

BUSN 5970 Supply Chain Data Analytics (3)

This course examines the application of the analytical tools to solve the supply chain design and planning problems. Students will also learn the impact of supply chain analytics on the supply chain efficiency to achieve competitive advantage.

BUSN 6050 Macroeconomic Analysis (3)

The course provides the consumer of macroeconomic news a conceptual foundation in macroeconomic theory. The goal is to prepare the manager/analyst to consume macroeconomic news and analysis and to draw independent conclusions. Prerequisite: BUSN 5620.

BUSN 6080 Business Information Systems (3)

The student examines information systems in business organizations. This course will develop the framework for an information system and explore how systems that support the business functions of the organization are integrated and aid the manager with decision-making responsibilities within the operational, tactical and strategic hierarchy of the company. Underlying the examination of various organizational information systems will be an exploration of emerging technologies that drive these systems. This course provides the student with the skills necessary to effectively understand and use information technology and shows how information technology provides organizations with a strategic competitive advantage. Students who have completed MNGT 5540 may not take BUSN 6080.

BUSN 6100 Quantitative Business Analysis (3)

Students examine the techniques of optimum research allocation, emphasizing the application of the quantitative methods to practical problems. Topics covered include: optimum values, minimum and maximum values with and without constraints, queuing, linear models and techniques, and statistical methods. Emphasis is less on derivation than on application. Examples used for application come from all areas of business, manufacturing and institutional experience.

BUSN 6110 Production and Operations Management (3)

This is a course that focuses on the major managerial issues in manufacturing management and the tools that can be used to manage them. Special attention will be given to quality management, capacity management, plant location, layout and design, production planning and scheduling,  inventory management, supply chain management and project management, Where appropriate, the use of operations management techniques in service and distribution organizations will be demonstrated. 

BUSN 6120 Managerial Economics (3)

The student examines the application of microeconomic theory as applied to the managers' responsibilities within the organization. This course should emphasize the quantitative and qualitative application of economic principles to business analysis. Prerequisites: BUSN 5620 and BUSN 5760.

BUSN 6140 Business Research Analysis (3)

The student examines the application of the tools and methods of research to management problems. The course focuses on the nature of research; the use of research in decision making; decision making; research concepts and methods for the collection, analysis and interpretation of data from surveys, experiments and observational studies; and the evaluation, use and presentation of research findings.

BUSN 6150 Business Communications and Technology (3)

The student examines the methods, protocol, and appropriateness of various forms of communication for business decision making, which include written, oral, networking, teleconferencing e-mail and other modern methods of communication that are required in today's business world. The course should include all types of communications the student needs to operate in the national and international aspects of business, including sales promotions and financial promotions, as well as computer networking within the business structure.

BUSN 6160 Integrated Business Processes and ERP (3)

This course provides students a comprehensive understanding of how Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems foster the integration of the fundamental business processes in today's business organizations. This course also examines the evolution of ERP and the components of a modern ERP system. There is a significant technology component to this class. Students directly practice real business functions and transactions in an ERP system to gain hands on experience.

BUSN 6180 Configuration of ERP Systems (3)

Students will examine the configuration of ERP systems in organizations. Through the use of hands-on projects using an ERP system, students will explore the steps necessary to configure various business processes for the purpose of furthering the objectives of the organization. In addition, not only will students in this course become familiar with configuration, but their knowledge of the important business processes of organizations will also be reinforced. Students will also be expected to report on and explain their conclusions with respect to ERP system case studies. Prerequisite: ACCT 5310 or BUSN 6160.

BUSN 6185 Business Intelligence and ERP (3)

The objective of this course is to demonstrate the concepts of Business Intelligence through hands on exercises. Concepts taught are: introduction to big data, online analytical processing (OLAP), multidimensional modeling, the databases' role in business intelligence (BI), and extract, transform and load (ETL) technology. There is a significant technology component to this class. Students will interact with a real business enterprise resource planning (ERP) system's operational and data warehouse. Hands-on exercises will be conducted on an ERP system such as SAP ERP R/3. Prerequisites: BUSN 6160 and BUSN 5760.

BUSN 6200 Strategy and Competition (3)

The student examines the conceptual and practical aspects of business policies and policy decision making by utilizing all the concepts, theories and tools that were presented in the previous courses. The student should be able to analyze and recommend a comprehensive and workable approach to the situation. The course should cover current business issues and developments. There is an additional course fee of $99. Prerequisite: Completion of all other required courses in the MBA.

BUSN 6400 Integrated Studies in Supply Chain Management (3)

This course will review the eight essential learning blocks of supply chain management and aid in preparation to take the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) SCPro Level One certification course. Students will be able to apply their learnings and demonstrate a solid foundation of knowledge in all functions of supply chain management. Prerequisite: BUSN 5220, BUSN 5400, BUSN 6110, BUSN 5410, BUSN 5420, BUSN 6160

BUSN 6500 Business Internship (1-6)

This course is designed to enhance the graduate business curriculum. Along with a faculty internship coordinator, students play an instrumental role in creating an experience that blends coursework knowledge with practical knowledge by working with a host organization under the supervision of a qualified professional. All work performed for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of the internship program must in some way relate to the student's major or emphasis. 

BUSN 9910 Travel Course-Operations and Project Management (3)

This is a course that focuses on the major managerial issues in manufacturing management and the tools that can be used to manage them. Special attention will be given to project management, including PERT, critical path scheduling, and time-cost models, in operations management and other business settings. The major operations management issues are quality management and control, capacity management, plant location, layout and design, production planning and scheduling, supply chain management and inventory management. The analytical tools covered include queuing theory, statistical quality control, linear programming and learning curves. Where appropriate, the use of operations management techniques in service and distribution organizations will be demonstrated. This course includes a mandatory short-term travel component. Prerequisite: BUSN 5760.

BUSN 9950 Travel Course-Issues in Business (3)

Current and significant issues in business are examined. The course focuses on existing theories and practices as well as on new and emerging topics in the field. Course may be repeated for credit if content differs. This course includes a mandatory short-term travel component.