BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS/E-BUSINESS

Required Course of Study

The Bachelor of Science in Business/E-Business (BSB/EB) program blends the study of business and information technology to address the emerging field of e-commerce and e-business. The program courses provide fundamental knowledge and application in both business and information technology. The curriculum is designed to produce graduates ready to function in e-business positions with the competencies, skills, and attitudes necessary for success in the workplace. It forms the basis for continued career growth, life-long learning as a professional or for the student who desires to continue his or her education in a graduate program.

Business courses include coursework in management, organizational behavior, critical thinking, research and evaluation, financial analysis, and marketing. Information technology courses include coursework in business system development, project planning, operating systems, programming, databases, networks and telecommunications, the Internet and Web, and e-business.

This undergraduate degree program has a 60-credit Required Course of Study: 42 credits are allocated to the BSB/EB Major, 15 credits to foundational business coursework, and 3 credits to the integrating course. Some courses have prerequisite requirements.

In addition to the Required Course of Study, students must satisfy General Education and Elective requirements to meet the 120 semester-credit minimum required for completion of the degree.

Course Sequence and Prerequisite System

(Note: All courses are five weeks, three credits.)

Course Descriptions

MGT 330 Management: Theory, Practice, and Application

This course explores the rich field of management both in theory and in practice, as both a science and an art. The course also addresses the role of managers in the current world of rapid change, increased competitive forces, and increased expectations for successful performance of employees and organizations. This course focuses on some of the ways and means of achieving these desired ends. The student will leave this course with a solid grounding in the nature and work of management and managers. Applications to current workplace issues will be stressed.

MGT 331 Organizational Behavior

This course in organizational behavior encompasses the study of individual and team behavior in organizational settings. Managing organizational behavior challenges individuals to understand and embrace workforce diversity, elements of change, effective communication, and performance systems. A comprehensive review of these processes, as well as others, allows students to examine their role in organizations of the new millennium.

MGT 350 Critical Thinking: Strategies in Decision Making

The course provides students opportunities for analysis, synthesis, and prescription of the roles of critical thinking and decision making in the organization. Emphasis is placed on preparing managers who can deal clearly and creatively with the dynamic worker and workplace. This course equips students with concrete skills in critical thinking and decision making that will allow them to solve organizational problems and provide strategic direction.

CIS 319 Computers and Information Processing

This course introduces the fundamentals of computer systems and the role of information processing in today’s business environment. These subjects prepare students to integrate their management expertise with information technology. The successful student will be prepared to work with information systems professionals and department computer specialists to obtain business solutions with the assistance and support of information technology.

RES 341 Research and Evaluation I

This course integrates applied business research and descriptive statistics. Examination of the role of statistics in research, statistical terminology, the appropriate use of statistical techniques and interpretation of statistical findings in business and research will be the primary focus.

RES 342 Research and Evaluation II

This course is designed to equip the students with business research techniques and statistical tools. The student will be able to identify a problem, research, evaluate, and recommend alternatives to improve a situation, solve a problem, or change a process in a business environment.

BSA 375.1 Fundamentals of Business Systems Development

This course introduces the fundamental logical and design considerations addressed during system and application software development. It provides a solid background in information systems analysis and design techniques through a combination of theory and application. Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) will be fundamental to the course.

CMGT 410.1 Project Planning and Implementation

This course provides the foundation for understanding the broad concepts of successful planning, organization, and implementation within the realm of information technology. This course uses real-world examples and identifies common mistakes and pitfalls in project management. Topics covered include project scoping, estimating, budgeting, scheduling, tracking and controlling.

POS 355.1 Introduction to Operating Systems

This course provides a conceptual foundation of the organization and operation of computers for the information systems professional. Topics covered include computer components and operation, operating system concepts, program execution, and operating system internals such as paging, segmentation and virtual memory.

POS 360 Programming Concepts

This course provides the conceptual foundation for the logical structures necessary to develop business-related computer software programs. Topics include input/output operations, variables, functions, conditional structures, looping, arrays, and computer program development.

DBM 380.1 Database Concepts

Data storage and management plays an essential role in all information systems. This course covers data management concepts from a business perspective, and will enable the IT manager to develop a strategy for managing and organizing corporate data to support the business activities of the organization. Areas to be emphasized include data analysis, the principal data models with emphasis on the relational model, entity-relationship diagrams, logical design, data administration and normalization.

DBM 405.1 Database Management Systems

This course is a continuation of skills learned in DBM 380 Database Concepts. Students will learn to transform data models into an actual database using Microsoft® Access. This includes creating tables, forms, queries, reports, graphics, and macros.

NTC 360.1 Network and Telecommunications Concepts

This course provides an overview of telecommunication systems in a business environment. Topics covered include telecommunication applications, standards, transmission, networks, computer telephony and management. The course also prepares students to perform an analysis of a company’s tele/data communication requirements, to evaluate possible solutions, and to select and present a solution.

FIN 324 Financial Analysis for Managers I

This course is designed to frame financial issues for non-financial managers. Basic accounting and financial terminology, and purposes and formats of financial statements are introduced. In addition, the significance of the following topics to the non-financial manager is addressed: depreciation of assets, capital budgeting, cash management, lease versus buy, and inventory management, among others. The course also covers techniques for preparing, implementing, and evaluating specific types of budgets.

FIN 325 Financial Analysis for Managers II

This course is designed to frame financial issues for non-financial managers. Basic accounting and financial terminology, and purposes and formats of financial statements are introduced. In addition, the significance of the following topics to the non-financial manager is addressed: depreciation of assets, capital budgeting, cash management, lease versus buy, and inventory management, among others. The course also covers techniques for preparing, implementing, and evaluating specific types of budgets.

MKT 421 Marketing

This course involves an integrated analysis of the role of marketing within the total organization. Specific attention is given to the analysis of factors affecting consumer behavior, the identification of marketing variables, the development and use of marketing strategies, and the discussion of international marketing issues.

WEB 350.1 The Internet: Concepts and Applications

This course is an introduction to business use of the Internet, including the history, facilities and services, browsers, search engines, architecture and intranets. Also included is an overview of development tools and security. The student will be able to use the World Wide Web to research business problems and understand the role of the Internet to support business operations such as marketing, data transfer and customer service.

WEB 400 Web Programming

This course introduces World Wide Web programming. Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is covered in detail. An overview is also presented of XML, JavaScript, and Java.

EBUS 400 E-Business

This course introduces applications of e-business. Business-to-customer, business-to-business, and individual-to-individual e-business transactions are considered. Areas examined in e-business are marketing, business operations, and risk management.

GEN 480 Interdisciplinary Capstone Course

This is the capstone course for business, health and human services, and information technology undergraduate students. The course provides students with the opportunity to integrate and apply learning from their professional programs of study in a comprehensive manner. Students will also assess the impact of their educational experiences on their ethical perspectives and critical thinking skills. Students will reflect and evaluate their personal and professional growth, the benefits of lifelong learning, and the impact of these elements on their future.