Academic Catalog

Business (BUS)

BUS 1700  Spreadsheets  (1 Credit)  
This tutorial course prepares students to take the initial MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) Excel exam. A full set of features for importing, managing, analyzing, formatting, and reporting spreadsheet data is covered. Practice exams help prepare students for the actual first-level MOS Excel exam, which is taken at the conclusion of the lessons. Passing the exam fulfills the spreadsheet competency requirement in SBGE.
BUS 2000  Purpose and Practice of Business  (5 Credits)  
Business touches all aspects of society and can either create or solve social problems depending upon how it is designed to operate. This class will explore the purpose and practice of business, with an emphasis on how business can serve the social good by providing products and services, meaningful employment, and support for other institutions. Students will develop their understanding of the interrelationships between financial information systems, product development, marketing and management as they create a business plan focused on serving a real world issue of contemporary social importance. Typically offered: Autumn, Spring, Winter.
BUS 2330  Introduction to Sustainable Management  (5 Credits)  
This course will provide a general overview of the problems and opportunities provided by the challenges of sustainable management. In addition, the course will explore Christian themes and values that informs advancing human flourishing. Students will learn about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and what it means to manage for people, planet, and productivity simultaneously. The class will also help students develop a system thinking approach to sustainable management issues and opportunities. Typically offered: Autumn.
BUS 2414  Legal Environment of Business  (5 Credits)  
Studies the relationship between law and business. Includes coverage of laws that impact the employer-employee relationship, product safety, advertising, contracts, business organizations, and business crimes and torts.
BUS 2500  Integrated Topics in Business, Economics and Political Science  (5 Credits)  
Many of today’s persistent social problems are so intractable precisely because they are complicated problems. They cut across so many domains of life that they defy easy solution. Therefore, to solve them one must tackle multiple dimensions. To that end, this class will consider a single social issue or problem from multiple disciplinary perspectives. A portion of each term will be taught by faculty members from different disciplines within SBGE and will address economic, political/ governmental, and commercial/ market-based considerations.
BUS 2600  Managerial Communication  (2 Credits)  
Prepares students for communicating effectively in organizations. Topics include writing concisely and clearly; writing effective reports and business correspondence, including email and memos; delivering oral presentations; and mastering presentation software.
BUS 2700  Statistics for Business and Economics  (5 Credits)  
An introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics with emphasis on problems from business and economics. Topics include graphical representation of data, probability, discrete and continuous distributions, Central Limit Theorem, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation and linear regression. Spreadsheet software is used for data management, analysis, and reporting. Typically offered: Autumn, Winter, Spring.
BUS 2910  Early Career Preparation  (1 Credit)  
Prepares students for their early career experiences. Students will develop skills related to identifying and articulating strengths and skills; preparing for the job search; networking and interviewing; and preparing for the workplace. It is recommended that students take this class during their sophomore year. Typically offered: Autumn, Winter, Spring.
BUS 3250  Business Finance  (5 Credits)  
Studies the principles of financial markets, internal and external sources of funds and their costs to the firm. Includes management of working capital, capital budgeting, valuation issues, and financial planning.
BUS 3251  Investments  (5 Credits)  
Studies the basic problems and issues concerning development and implementation of a personal investment program. Includes analysis of investment risks, types of investments, securities markets and portfolio theory. Also considers securities analysis and valuation techniques.
BUS 3330  Climate Change Action  (5 Credits)  
This course will build an understanding of the underlying science of climate change and ways humans interact with the natural world. In addition, it will examine and develop an understanding of the current ways individuals and organizations measure and report their carbon footprint (and other environmental impacts) and potential mechanisms to mitigate that impact. Finally, students will explore issues of equity in both climate change as well as climate action solutions. Typically offered: Winter.
BUS 3541  Marketing and Society  (5 Credits)  
Studies the principles of marketing. Employs a systems approach to examine the impact of marketing on the quality of life. Considers both macro and micro dimensions of marketing.
BUS 3542  Marketing Research  (5 Credits)  
Focuses on consumer and business insight generation through marketing research and data analytics. Examines exploratory, descriptive, and experimental methods. Applies statistical software, data analytics, and data visualization tools for collecting and processing data and for presenting findings.
BUS 3544  Digital Social Media Marketing  (5 Credits)  
Introduces various digital marketing topics including user experience and interface basic, website design, search marketing, digital advertising, re-targeting, email marketing, affiliate marketing, social media, content marketing, mobile, and emerging technology marketing. The course includes skill development regarding digital marketing platforms and tools.
BUS 3548  International Marketing  (5 Credits)  
This course examines the theory and application of international marketing from a global, rather than a U.S.-centered viewpoint. International management issues are examined both from the perspective of small and mid-sized businesses, as well as multinational firms. The course also focuses on ethical issues concerning the global diversity of customs and morals, environmental issues, and the impact of trade.
BUS 3600  Gender and Leadership  (5 Credits)  
This course explores why women and men continue to have differing rates of representation in leadership roles in the workplace. Leadership styles, organizational practices, perceptual biases and other factors that influence leadership outcomes for men and women will be examined. The course reviews recent research from a variety of social science disciplines including social psychology, sociology, economics, political science, management and organization science. Typically offered: Varies.
BUS 3614  Organizational Behavior for Managers  (5 Credits)  
An introduction to theory, research, and practice related to the management of human behavior in an organizational context. Course topics include individual characteristics, motivation, learning, communication, leadership, decision making, group dynamics, conflict, power, and politics. The course involves significant group activities and requires multiple oral presentations.
BUS 3615  International Organizational Behavior  (5 Credits)  
An introduction to theory, research, and practice related to the management of human behavior in a global context. Course topics include individual characteristics, culture, motivation, communication, leadership, decision making, group dynamics, cultural diversity, conflict, and power, all examined in a cross-cultural setting. Only available on study abroad programs.
BUS 3620  Management Information Systems  (5 Credits)  
Studies the processes for collecting, verifying, and processing information to assist management in making decisions to achieve the organization's goals. Software, hardware, networks, and electronic data interchange will be examined, with computer systems viewed as one part of the complete information system.
BUS 3657  Human Resource Management  (5 Credits)  
An introduction to the management of human resources in organizations. Theory, research, and practice in the areas of human resources planning, job analysis and design, recruiting and staffing, training and development, performance appraisal, compensation, organization development, government regulation of HRM, and quality of work life will be studied.
BUS 3670  Management in the Nonprofit Sector  (5 Credits)  
The non-profit sector encompasses more than 1.5 million organizations across the United States. They play a key role in our society by operating in diverse areas and engaging in the initiation and implementation of many programs and services. However, one of the biggest challenges for non-profits and their leaders has been quality of management. Non-profit leaders must be prepared and equipped with the management skills essential to confront a multitude of challenges, including poverty, hunger, climate change, and more. In this course, students will learn how to create and manage a non-profit organization. Management topics addressed include fundraising, planning, and designing theory of change, planning (implementation and evaluation plans), reporting, and staff management. Typically offered: Autumn.
BUS 3680  Social Enterprise  (3 Credits)  
Examines "blended value" businesses designed to achieve both financial return and social benefit. Incorporates lectures, case studies, guest speakers, and preparation of a social enterprise business plan to study commercial ventures operated by nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Emphasizes the unique rewards and cultural, human resource, legal, and financial challenges of earned-income ventures within mission-based organizations. Grades for this course will be submitted after participation in spring quarter’s Social Venture Plan Competition.
BUS 3682  Social Venture Planning  (2 Credits)  
A social venture provides a social service that is funded by a revenue-generating "engine". In this course, students will develop a business plan for a social venture that either enhances the revenue-generating capabilities of a social service agency, connects a social venture with a for-profit company's revenue stream, or creates a social venture start-up. Students will learn the components of a successful venture plan including market research, developing an operations strategy, creating financials and pitching their idea to potential donors and investors. Students completing this course will submit their plan to the Annual Social Venture Plan Competition during Spring Quarter.
BUS 3690  Inclusive Financial Services  (5 Credits)  
Examines microfinance as a tool to alleviate global poverty. Topics include lending methodologies, products, cultural and regulatory environments, financial analysis, and performance improvement of microfinance institutions, along with limitations and controversies surrounding the practice. Grounded in Christian theological understandings of economic development and human well-being.
BUS 3700  Quantitative Methods for Decision Making  (5 Credits)  
Uses computers for solving quantitative management decision problems. Topics typically included: applications of calculus, regression, logistics, risk analysis, linear programming, forecasting methods and advanced Excel.
BUS 3828  International Business  (5 Credits)  
Covers the major forms of international business including problems of licensing, production, marketing, import, and export; emphasizes relationships between theory and practice regarding management, government policy, and international problems.
BUS 3830  International Business Seminar  (1-5 Credit)  
Recommended Prerequisites: BUS 2000, BUS 3828. This course will be taught by an SPU faculty member at a location outside the United States for students who are part of the School of Business, Government and Economics Study Abroad program. The course will cover current topics in international business; the specific topics will vary from year to year.
BUS 3950  Special Topics in Spirituality and Business  (1-5 Credit)  
This seminar-style course provides in-depth study of an issue related to Christian faith and business. The same topic cannot be taken for credit more than once. May take more than one offering per quarter with SAS registration.
BUS 4274  Problems in Corporate Finance  (5 Credits)  
Gives an in-depth treatment of the more critical aspects of financial decision making introduced in BUS 3250, utilizing lectures and case studies. Topics typically include mergers and acquisitions, forecasting and cash budgeting, valuation techniques, and capital structure issues.
BUS 4275  The Practice of Finance  (5 Credits)  
Applies tools and concepts in all phases of finance to real situations through projects and case studies using Microsoft Excel.
BUS 4330  Sustainable Innovation  (5 Credits)  
In this course students will integrate and apply theories, knowledge and skills acquired in the sustainable minor courses to address a “wicked” problem. The course will emphasize systems thinking and development of a sustainability mindset. Students will recommend actions that address a wicked problem as well as address equity issues. Actions should recognize the interrelation between many of the sustainable development goals and thus be multi-solving in nature. Students will also explore the role of multi-stakeholder partnerships (business, government, and civil society) in addressing the issues. Typically offered: Spring.
BUS 4543  Marketing Management  (5 Credits)  
Deals in depth with the planning, executing, and controlling of marketing strategies and tactics. Uses a computer simulation and a case format.
BUS 4622  Information and Database Systems  (5 Credits)  
Database concepts and management issues are explored from information modeling to the implementation and application of a database. Topics include information modeling, database design and manipulation, query languages, integrity, reliability, distributed database, database management, design, and implementation of a database application. Typically offered: Alternate Years.
BUS 4625  The Organization's Presence on the Net  (5 Credits)  
This course provides a framework for an organization to evaluate, create, and implement a successful net presence through the use of e-commerce tools. Information technology advances drive dramatic changes in every area of economic and personal life. Opportunities and challenges abound: fluid organizational structures; globalization; service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; networked communities; and supplier-producer-customer partnerships. Typically offered: Alternate Years.
BUS 4631  Entrepreneurship  (5 Credits)  
BUS 2000 is a recommended prerequisite for this course. This course provides students with the skills to plan and start their own business, social enterprise, or product/service within an existing company. Topics will include market planning, production, management, financial and risk analysis. Students will develop a business plan.
BUS 4644  Operations Management  (5 Credits)  
Analyzes theory and application of the systems approach to production management. Provides a focus on the decision-making process, the design and control of manpower, materials, and machines in several production/service environments.
BUS 4650  Data Analytics and Visualization  (5 Credits)  
Examines the principles and practices of data mining and information visualization including data analytics from a business perspective. Data mining is the computational process of discovering patterns in large data sets. Information visualization is the process of visually representing those patterns. Students will utilize tools and techniques to analyze large data sets in order to make sound business decisions. Data Analytics minors may take this course by receiving permission from the SBGE Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs.
BUS 4660  Managing Systems  (5 Credits)  
This management course is a problem-focused look at organizational systems. Building upon a systems-theory model we will explore the macro-level issues and dynamics of whole organizations. Topics will include organization structure, technology, culture, context, power and politics, effectiveness, innovation, learning, and change. This is an applications-oriented course, in which our analysis of companies will be informed by theory and grounded in practice.
BUS 4661  Special Topics in Management  (1-5 Credit)  
Students analyze current issues in improving the effectiveness of organizations.
BUS 4690  Strategic Management  (5 Credits)  
Explores strategy formulation and implementation processes and the measurement of performance designed to aid organizations to achieve the purpose and objectives of both small and large businesses.
BUS 4700  Creating a Company  (2 Credits)  
Learn how to take your dream of starting a small business or social venture and put it into action. Students bring a business idea to the class, and develop skills to identify appropriate opportunities, choose and set up the right form of organization, develop a brand and marketing strategy, build sustainable operating processes, and identify sources of funding. This course is designed for senior students who have specifically indicated a desire to start a small business or social venture.
BUS 4899  Business Ethics  (5 Credits)  
This senior-level capstone course explores various ethical theories and their application to the practice of business. Gives particular emphasis to Christian ethics and focuses on individual ethical decision making.
BUS 4900  Independent Study in Business  (1-5 Credit)  
The student proposes a topic of current interest in business to a professor in the School of Business and Economics. The student meets with the professor to discuss a bibliography and rough drafts before turning in the final draft of a paper. A 5-credit independent study requires a total of 30 pages of written work. In general, the number of pages of written work must be six times the number of credits, or there must be equivalent work in exams or other requirements.
BUS 4930  Business and Economics Practicum  (1-3 Credit)  
Selected students are assigned instructional support responsibilities.
BUS 4940  Internship  (1-5 Credit)  
Only available on study abroad programs. Provides opportunities for students to apply principles of business, faith, service and leadership in an organizational context. The internship must have a minimum time commitment of 100 hours during the quarter and be related to students' Business Administration major. A learning contract must be completed and approved by an SBE faculty member prior to the internship experience.
BUS 4942  Early Career Professional Development  (1 Credit)  
An integrative course designed to provide students with opportunities to synthesize, demonstrate, and enhance knowledge, skills, and abilities developed during their internship or work experience in preparation for their career journey. Permission to enroll in the course is contingent on internship or work experience approval. To seek approval, students must complete the Internship or Work Approval Form found on Handshake. Students must have completed or made significant progress toward completing 80 hours of approved internship or work experience prior to the start of the course, which must be within one calendar year of the approved internship or work experience. Typically offered: Autumn, Winter, Spring.
BUS 4945  Advanced Internship  (1-5 Credit)  
Provides students with the opportunity to specialize their applied learning to discipline specific issues and questions through individualized guidance with a faculty sponsor in their concentration, first hand experience in their internship sites, academic research, and face-to-face interviews with professionals. May be applied to a business administrative elective.