The Business, Organizations, and Management program offers a dynamic interpretation of business, management, and organizations by utilizing a critical management perspective to better understand their relationship with contemporary society. Students gain not only a solid grounding in the core principles of business, but do so within a framework that extends beyond traditional pedagogical views for studying and teaching business.
The Business, Organizations, and Management curriculum offers a dynamic interpretation of business, management, and organizations by utilizing a critical management perspective to better understand their relationship with contemporary society. Although the fundamentals of business and management are still relevant, the ever-changing environment of business, globalization, and the impact on society requires a more fluid and analytical understanding. The Department of Management encourages students to use the skills and knowledge they will gain to analyze contemporary issues in a critical manner that is unfettered by traditional frameworks. Workers, communities, and social justice are given equal consideration with profit and shareholder returns.
Students who major in Business, Organizations, and Management will take microeconomics, accounting, organizational behavior, statistics, research methods, marketing, and ethics. Business, Organizations, and Management majors will also have the opportunity to explore the critical analysis of corporate finance, marketing, business law, entrepreneurship, small business management, and business policy and strategy. In addition, they can choose to critically study the complex relationships among individuals, policies, and structures within business and organizations through courses on organization theory, systems thinking, decision making, as well as topics related to the future of work, organizational culture, human resource management, leadership, employee motivation, and well-being.
First Year Advising and Registration recommendations
Business, Organizations, and Management major
Prospective majors in Business, Organizations, and Management will need to take Econ 103 and MGT 155 in their first year. The earliest a student may take MGT 155 is the spring semester of their first year because of the Econ 103 prerequisite. Students considering Business, Organizations, and Management as a major must complete Econ 103, MGT 155, MGT 235, and MGT 270 by the end of their sophomore year. MGT 235 is restricted to first- and second-year students.
Business minor
Prospective minors in Business should take Economics 103 in their first year.
The major is anchored in the social sciences, and reaffirms the central role of the liberal arts in studies of business, organizations, and management. Critical thinking, rigorous inquiry, and the acquisition of knowledge are central to the BOM major. The curriculum stresses intellectual boldness, creative problem solving, entrepreneurial thinking, and the practice of socially responsible management. It is an ideal major for anyone aspiring to a management or leadership position in business, government, the nonprofit sector, or any other organizational environment. You'll receive a solid grounding in core principles of business, and grow within a framework that extends beyond traditional pedagogical views for studying and teaching business. Students will rely on a critical managerial perspective for understanding and analyzing the evolving relationships of businesses with local, national, and global constituencies.
Business, Organizations, and Management (BOM) — Major Requirements
Requirement
Details / Courses
Total Required
Twelve courses and a Critical Action-Learning (CAL) experience.
Six Core Courses
ECON 103 — Principles of Microeconomics
MGT 155 — Accounting for Management Decisions
MGT 235 — Statistical Methods (minimum grade of C required to remain in BOM major; course cannot be repeated)
MGT 270 — Organization Behavior
MGT 301 — Research Methods
MGT 395 — Organizational Ethics or MGT 396 — Social Justice, Ethics, and Business
(Refer to the full Registrar list for the complete elective set and any topic-specific offerings.)
Capstone Experience
MGT 400, MGT 405, or MGT 410 — to be completed in the senior year.
Critical Action-Learning (CAL)
An applied experience outside the classroom completed before the senior year (e.g., global study, registered internship, service/immersion project). Students must complete an 8–10 page reflection paper with their Management Faculty Advisor upon conclusion.
Critical Action Learning Experience
Students in the Business, Organizations, and Management major should complete an applied, substantive experience outside the classroom before beginning their senior year, referred to as a Critical Action Learning (CAL) Experience. This can be accomplished through global study programs with the Center for Global studies, a registered internship with the Center for Career Engagement, and immersion projects with the Center for Public Service. Once the experience is completed, students are responsible for writing an 8-10 page reflection paper about the experience that is contemplative, introspective, and incorporates theories and empirical literature from the field of Critical Management Studies (CMS). Students will work with their Management Faculty Advisor to complete a reflection paper upon conclusion of the CAL experience.
For students relying on internships to meet the CAL experience requirement, please see details for registering the internship and documenting the experience. Once the CAL experience and reflection paper are successfully completed, the student will receive a satisfactory grade for the internship (if applicable) and “credit” towards the BOM major.
Please note that neither the CAL assignment, nor the internship credit count towards one of the 32 course credits required for graduation.
Please contact the department CAL and Internship Coordinator, Professor Duane Bernard for further inquiries.
Business Minor
The business minor-which includes courses in finance, marketing, accounting, organizational behavior, and economics, plus one elective-is designed to give students in any major a solid grounding in the core principles of business.
The six-course business minor offers the opportunity to integrate fundamentals of business literacy into any major field of study. The minor is intended to give basic skills and knowledge to operate an organization, whether that organization is economic, social, or political in nature.
The department also offers a Pre-Business Advising program, offered to all students regardless of major or whether they plan to complete the business minor. The program is for any student who has questions about business study or careers, including those considering graduate school in business or related fields.
Business Minor — Requirements
Requirement
Details / Courses
Total Required
Six courses
Five Core Courses
ECON 103 — Principles of Microeconomics
MGT 155 — Accounting for Management Decisions
MGT 270 — Organizational Behavior
MGT or ECON 267 — Finance
MGT 361 — Marketing Management
Pre-requisite: ECON 103 and an approved statistics course.
Acceptable statistics courses include: MGT 235, ECON 241, POL 215, PSYCH 205, SOC 299, HS 232, BIO 260, or MATH 107.
(MATH 107 may be used if you're in a major that does not require statistically based methods.)
Elective Course
Choose one elective from the list below (may be taken while abroad if approved):
Students may not declare the Business minor until they have completed ECON 103 and MGT 155.
Courses
This list is a sampling of the kinds of courses offered through the Management department curriculum. Not all courses shown here will be offered every semester. For a complete list of currently available courses, students may log into their account on Student Center.
Integration of financial and managerial accounting topics, emphasizing what accounting information is, why it is important, and how it is used. Topics such as understanding, interpreting and analyzing financial statements, coupled with cost behavior, decision making and budgeting, will form a solid accounting foundation for future managers. Prerequisite: ECON 103.
The introduction of quantitative thinking in organization and management studies which develops students’ capacity to understand the use of statistics at the level of college mathematics. Topics include measurement, statistical methods, logic and decision making, and quantitative aids.
Examination of the tourism industry through a sociological lens. The course educates students on the delicate balance between business profit-maximization and social responsibility. The course uses interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks but filter them through a sociological lens to understand the industry. The course takes current tourism marketing and market segmentation approaches and examines explicit and implicit biases in business models and strategies and how they reflect, maintain, or even promote systematic societal inequalities and stereotypes. Prerequisite: Soc 101, 102, 103 or permission from instructor. SOC 242 and MGT 242 are cross-listed.
Regulation of financial markets and institutions. The course examines risk-taking by financial market participants and attempts by government to regulate in the interests of financial stability. Special attention to the 2007 world financial crisis, the Dodd-Frank regulatory reform act of 2010, and current regulatory reform proposals. Taught from the perspectives of public policy, economics, and business management. Prerequisite: ECON 103, and 104 or ECON/BUS 267. Cross-listed as PP 265, ECON 265, and BUS 360.
Emphasis is on financial planning, investment analysis, asset management, and sources and costs of capital. Prerequisites: Econ 103 or 104, and ECON 241 or an equivalent statistics course.
Theory of behavioral sciences applied to the organization, with emphasis on the interaction of the individual and the organization. Topics range from individual attitudes and behavior to organizational culture.
Conceptual and empirical understanding of the structure of organizations and the managerial principles that affect productivity and organizational effectiveness. The ambiguity and complexity of human organizations will be examined by systematizing and interrelating basic concepts of organization theory from both managerialist and critical perspectives. An open systems approach recognizes the dynamic interaction of organizations with their environments.
Introduction to scientific methods as they apply to research (whether public or internal research) in management and organizations, as well as ethical considerations throughout the process. Emphasis will be placed on the various analytic procedures most appropriate for different types of research and populations, including qualitative and quantitative analyses, advanced measurement, and sampling strategies. Prerequisite: MGT 235 with a C or better
Feedback systems, causal loop diagrams, systems archetypes, and systems dynamic modeling for complex social and organizational issues. Emphasis is placed on the basic differences between mechanistic problem solving and systemic thinking, as well as how systems thinking and modeling can be used to clarify complex issues and provide actionable leverage points for change. Prerequisite: MGT 235 and MGT 275
Rational decision making, bounded rationality, heuristics, game theory, and dynamic decision making for social systems. The successful functioning of any social system is dependent on the quality of the decisions being made throughout the system. This course will enrich students’ understanding of both prescriptive and descriptive decision making techniques and strategies. Prerequisite: MGT 235 and MGT 275
In the competitive business world, the managers face high risks and uncertainties. To mitigate the risks and uncertainties, corporations use financial modeling to estimate company’s cost and revenue, based on the business decisions they are contemplating. It is important for the Finance major students to get an understanding and practical application of the financial models and forecasting techniques. It would help them to learn techniques to mitigate the risks. The objective of the course is to introduce students to the tools and techniques used in financial analysis, modeling and forecasting. The students would learn to practically apply theories, concepts and tools using Excel, which would help them in decision making. Students will learn to develop financial models and use the predicted models to see whether such models can be used to the real-world problems. Prerequisite: MGT/ECON 267
An introduction to the models and theories of operations management used in manufacturing and service industries. The course focuses on analyzing and evaluating current process management issues currently challenging industry. Introduces quantitative and qualitative techniques for improving both manufacturing and service firms’ operations in terms of quality, cost and customer response. Prerequisite: MGT 235 or a declared business minor that has completed the statistics requirement.
A conceptual and empirical examination of the study of organizational culture. The course will focus on the major theories used to understand and assess organizational culture with an emphasis on how culture influences change and decision making within an organizational context. Both quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to analyze cultural influences. Prerequisite: MGT 270, and Junior or Senior status
Social, political, and economic perspectives used to explore the dynamic relationship between organizations and society from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Special emphasis will be placed on the evolution of the purpose of corporations from the 17th century to the present. Prerequisite: MGT 275 or permission of the instructor.
The concept of negotiation and conflict management with a focus on strategic aspects of negotiations such as interests, goals, positions, rights, and power. A basic premise of the course is that, while you will need analytical skills to discover optimal solutions to problems, you will also need a broad array of negotiation skills to implement these solutions and make sure that they are truly effective. Your long-term effectiveness—both in your professional and personal life—is likely to depend on your negotiating abilities. This course will give you the opportunity to develop these skills experientially and to understand the analytical frameworks that underlie negotiations. Prerequisites: MGT 270
A review of white collar crime from Enron, Worldcom and Adelphia; to Medicaid fraud by local doctors. Students engage in a case study-based look at the costs of corporate crime, from the legal structure set up to protect society from fraud, the concept of fiduciary duties, and the current regulatory systems that govern corporate America. Students prepare and present a project based on individual instances of white-collar crime, discussing not only the causes and costs of the crime, but also proposing solutions to prevent further similar crimes from occurring, or from occurring undetected. The solutions must address all of the management concerns of implementing or complying with the new law(s), as well as a cost-benefit analysis of the new law(s) versus the status quo. The goal is for the project to be of a quality to be submitted to the Senator and/or Representative of the student.
This course opens up managerial frameworks of labor relations in terms of complying with different labor laws. It introduces students to employee relations frameworks, which ensures integration of legal compliances with governance of human resources. Awareness of labor laws can help HRM professionals to avoid costly lawsuits and help them to resolve many employment related issues amicably. As the global economy witnesses technological disruptions and political upheavals, labor relations acquires increasing importance to negotiate employment contracts on fair terms to enable productivity and security. Prerequisite: MGT 270
Study of the dynamic nature of contemporary marketing: the marketing concept, consumer buying behavior, marketing research, the promotional mix, and international marketing. Incorporates case studies, current problems, and ethics of marketing. Prerequisite: MGT 235; approved statistics course for BUS minor
Legal environment of business and how law affects managerial decision-making; introduction to law of torts, business crimes, contracts, sales, product liability, consumer protection, bankruptcy, leases, formation of corporations and partnerships, employer-employee rights, environmental regulation, intellectual property, Uniform Commercial Code; examination of court systems, legal process; discussion of international business law, governmental regulation of business, constitutional issues relevant to business; use of case study method where appropriate. Prerequisite: Sophomore, Junior or Senior status only.
Topics could include theoretical and applied concepts in recruitment, selection, performance appraisal, labor relations, compensation, training, and productivity improvement. Focus is also on relevant issues of the decade, such as privacy, cultural diversity, workplace discrimination, and legal issues. Project work within organizations anticipated. Prerequisite: MGT 270.
This course provides an introduction to marketing research methods and techniques, as well as their applications and role in marketing decision making. It covers key topics in research design, including qualitative research, survey research, and causal research, and introduces marketing analytics and data analysis methods and their use in generating consumer insights. Prerequisite: MGT 301 and MGT 361
The examination of the work-family interface. The course will focus on how work and family interactions are defined in bi-directional ways, and illustrate how the work-family interface is of concern for organizations. Students will be able to identify the impact of the work domain onto family as well as the impact of the family domain onto the work domain, addressing issues surrounding the presence, lack thereof, and implementation of family-friendly policies, supervisor support for work-life balance, and family-supportive organizational culture. Prerequisite: MGT 270 or special permission may be granted to Psychology majors on a case by case basis.
Investment practices, risks of investment, and selection of appropriate investment media for individuals, firms, and institutions. Theories and techniques for maximizing investment portfolio performance are studied. Emphasis is on analysis and selection of securities, portfolio management, and operation of securities markets. Prerequisite: ECON 267 or MGT 267.
The investigation of theories of motivation as they apply to workplace situations. Classic theories are critically reviewed, including needs-based and processed-based theories of work motivation, as well as theories of goal setting and the role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Other issues might include the application of such theories to performance management, the distinction between control and facilitation, learning and mastery goals, the role of pay as a motivator, and the role of self- and group-efficacy. Prerequisite: MGT 270 or special permission may be granted to Psychology majors on a case by case basis.
An introduction to real estate finance in the US. The course covers residential and commercial real estate, presenting an analytical framework for decision-making. Focus will be on financial analyses necessary for making informed decisions with regard to real assets by owners, developers, tenants, or lenders. The course provides a strong foundation for personal and professional financial decision-making for real assets. Prerequisite- ECON/MGT 267.
ECON 371 and MGT 371 are cross-listed.
This course provides students with a comprehensive explanation of the federal tax structure, an understanding of the tax consequences of business transactions, and training in the application of tax principles to inform management decision-making. More specifically, the student should be able to: (1) calculate corporation gross income, allowable deductions, tax liability, gain/loss/basis on property transactions, (2) develop the ability to prepare federal income tax returns for corporations, (3) develop a mindset of tax planning based on the specific business operations. Prerequisite: MGT 155
Study and critical analysis of principles and procedures for establishing, developing, and managing a small business. Relevant differences between large and small business management are examined. There is a focus on sustainability.
Examination of problems and opportunities confronting business enterprises that operate across national borders, with emphasis on adaptation to different cultural, legal, political, and economic environments. Prerequisite: MGT 270 preferred.
A conceptual and empirical understanding of leadership theory. The goal is to both simplify and complicate the picture of leadership—to simplify by systematizing and interrelating some basic leadership concepts and to complicate by unpacking the ongoing debates, controversies, and unknowns within the leadership literatures. Topics of these deliberations include the leadership construct, arguments for and against innate leadership abilities, gender issues, and the role of followership in the leadership equation. Prerequisite: MGT 270 or permission of the instructor.
Exploration of the relationship between law and ethics, of ethical factors and restraints, recognition of ethical dilemmas affecting managerial decision-making, and policy in private and public sector organizations. The course content will focus on a variety of ethical issues, such as those relevant to the environment, consumer protection, discrimination in the workplace, conflict of interest, global economy, social responsibility of organizations, and professionalism; emphasis on case study method. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior status or permission of the instructor.
Exploration of the relationship between law, policy, business, and justice and of ethical factors and restraints, recognition of the complex relationship between economic development and social justice, and policy in the private and public-sector organizations. Examination covers a variety of social justice issues, such as those relevant to the environment, consumer protection, discrimination, and economic inequality. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior status
Upper level elective course concerned with the role of senior executives in business enterprises. Course focuses on problems of strategy formulation, organization design, and organization renewal. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior status