Accounting 540 - Managerial Accounting

This course provides a comprehensive, graduate level discussion of managerial accounting. Broadly, this course focuses on the use of accounting data in the decision-making process for managers. As such, learning which data are important in different managerial settings, appropriately deriving and interpreting such relevant data, and then formulating best case strategies form the core of study. More specifically, students learn to use the concepts of opportunity cost and organizational architecture as the framework for studying managerial accounting. 3 credits.

Accounting 640 - Financial Statement Analysis

This course investigates financial reporting from a user perspective in interpreting and analyzing financial reports for investments and other decision making. The course begins with a review of accounting systems and then emphasizes analysis of financial statements and the implications for various user groups. Emphasis will be on use of the reports to judge company performance, to assess creditworthiness, to predict future financial performance, and to analyze possible acquisitions and take-overs. Users of financial statements must be able to meaningfully interpret financial reports, construct measures of financial performance and analyze the reporting choices made by companies. Also, since company managers choose accounting techniques when making their reports, users must learn to undo the effects of these accounting choices. The purpose of this course is to give the foundation for such analysis. Prerequisite: ACCT 540. 3 credits.

Accounting 685 - Decision Making within the Legal and Ethical Environment

This course will explore the many facets of responsible decision making; how law and ethics applies to individuals and institutions in business; how creative business decisions are embedded in a social, legal, and moral context; and how law and ethics support and constrain business decisions. 3 credits.

Accounting 693 - Consulting Practicum

This course will involve an on-the-job learning experience designed to give students an opportunity to apply their technical and professional skills and to observe organizations in action. This practicum is designed to enhance the curricula of the College of Business and Economics and to offer a joint opportunity for business executives and faculty to enhance the education of future business leaders. Prerequisites: ACCT 540, ECON 509, FINA 550, MANG 564, MANG 575, MARK 588, and permission of Instructor. Continuous enrollment required until completion. 1-3 credits per consulting opportunity up to a maximum of 9 credits.

Accounting 695 - Special Topics in Accounting

This course investigates selected special topics in accounting. The topics may vary from semester to semester. It may be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. 1-3 credits.

Information Systems & Security 570 - Information Technology

This course focuses on the use and sharing of information through intranets and the Internet, the use of technology and its application in a retail setting, the utilization of industry and business software and the importance of information for inventory management, customer research, and communication. Case studies for applications illustrating information needs for large and small retailers. 3 credits.

Information Systems & Security 695 - Special Topics in ISYS

This course investigates selected special topics in Management Information Systems & Assurance. The topics may vary from semester to semester. It may be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. 1-3 credits.

Economics 501 - Economics and the Environment in the K-12 Classroom

This educator-oriented class is designed to cover the economic strands of the Virginia Standards of Learning using an environmental context. Students will learn basic economic theory and innovative, hands-on methods of delivering the content. Environmental themes include resource scarcity, common pool and tragedy of the commons, externalities, population growth, regulation, garbage and recycling, pollution, and endangered species. Children's literature is incorporated. Students are responsible for development of curriculum activities appropriate for the classroom. Students may not use this course to meet the economics requirements in the economics major (BS OR BA in Economics), in the business administration major (BSBA) or in the economics minor. The course is offered for licensure purposes only. 3 credits.

Economics 502 - Financial Literacy in the K-12 Classroom

This educator-oriented class is designed to cover the essential elements of financial literacy, including basic economics, financial planning, saving/investing, budgeting, use of credit, taxation, social security, and insurance. Hands-on activities will be included, so that teachers learn how to make these topics more interesting for students. Student may not use this course to meet the economics requirements in the economics major, the business administration major, or the economics minors. This course is offered for teacher licensure purposes only. 3 credits.

Economics 503 - Saving Our Rivers and Bays with Dollars and Sense

This educator-oriented class focuses on the importance of Virginia's water resources. Participants will explore both the scientific and economic reasons that Virginians should be concerned about the quality of these resources and the reasons that they are being degraded. They will understand how water resources are impacted by the common pool problem and the tragedy of the commons, and they will explore the role of property rights in setting the correct incentives for protection. Participants will also learn how to teach a classroom-friendly model for effective decision making with respect to environmental resources. A major focus of the class is the Chesapeake Bay and its importance in the Virginia economy. Hands-on classroom activities and children's literature selections will be a major element of this training. This class is intended for educator licensure and cannot be counted towards the Economics major, the Economics minor, the BS in Business Administration or the Master in Business Administration. 3 credits.

Economics 509 - Managerial Economics

The course will equip the student with the ability to properly frame any decisions faced (business or personal), and then arrive at the best solution given the information available. To do so requires two additional skills: 1) To accurately work with data to assess the economic environment, 2) The ability to think strategically. Topics include: profit maximization, demand analysis, elasticity, market power, regression analysis, game theory, and pricing strategies. 3 credits.

Economics 695 - Special Topics

This course investigates selected special topics in economics. The topics may vary from semester to semester. It may be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. 1-3 credits.

Finance 550 - Financial Management

This course describes the basic principles of corporate finance and provides practical tools for financial decision and valuation. The course starts with optimal project acceptance criteria consistent with the objective of maximizing the market value of the firm. It then moves on to techniques for estimating the cost of capital, which are subsequently applied to a range of valuation problems. The valuation principles include WACC, APV, multiples and real options. In the second half of the course we discuss capital structure and dividend decision, and how they affect firm value. We also study corporate governance, and end the course analyzing financial issues in mergers and acquisitions. 3 credits.

Finance 695 - Special Topics

This course investigates selected special topics in finance. The topics may vary from semester to semester. It may be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. 1-3 credits.

Finance 697 - Cases in Finance

This course investigates the considerations, analyses and decisions pertinent to investments, real estate, financial markets, and the financial management of a business firm. The course will make extensive use of cases. Prerequisites: ACCT 540, FINA 550, MANG 564 and MARK 588. 3 credits.

Management 500 - Introduction to Business

This is an introductory business course for students who have not enrolled in any formal business curricula.  In this course, students learn the basic principles, theory foundations, term definitions, and important fundamental concepts of various disciplines such as accounting, finance, economics, management, marketing, and business statistics.  This course does not count towards the 36 credit hours required for the MBA. 6 credits.

Management 564 - Leadership, Group Dynamics, and Team Building

This course introduces the multi-faceted role of an effective leader/manager. Human behavior at the individual, group and organization levels is examined as well as techniques for leading people in the organizational environment. Members establish a structured process to define and prioritize group goals and objectives upon which the mission statement is based. Topics include: various developmental areas of leadership, including communications, social responsibility, and personal development, the role of an effective leader, small group leadership, work motivation, conflict resolution, personality influences on work attitudes and behaviors. 3 credits.

Management 575 - Managing Data for Strategic Decision Making

This course introduces the techniques of quantitative and statistical analysis for management decision making.Major topics include decision analysis, statistical inference, regression, and linear programming. 3 credits.

Management 662 - Strategic Human Resources Management and Motivation

This course explores ways that line managers, employees, and human resource (HR) managers can effectively align their activities with the goals of the organization and the needs of employees. Course content focuses on the activities performed by an HR department, for example, recruitment and selection, compensation, and benefits. While these are the building blocks of the HR professional, they are also essential knowledge of effective operations managers. The course builds on the premise that strategic HR management begins by identifying the strategic objectives of the business and then determines how to meet the staffing needs of the organization. The course will also explore how basic organizational behavior concepts such as perception and attribution, as well as motivation theories apply to HR policies and procedures. Prerequisite: MANG 564. 3 credits.

Management 663 - Services Operations Management

This course addresses the planning, decision-making and implementation of effective managerial and operational procedures in the service sector, including managerial problem solving processes that involve staffing and retention of personnel, conflict resolution, shrinkage, financial analysis, and crisis management.  Prerequisite: MANG 575. 3 credits.

Management 687 - Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management

This course examines functions of opportunity development and business planning for success in entrepreneurial ventures.  Students will explore the planning, marketing, organizing, financing, and management of a new business venture that they might personally initiate, or that they may be involved with in the context of a new business being developed within the structure of an existing organization.  Students will write business plans during the course to test the feasibility of their business concept and to act as the blueprint for a potential start-up venture.  Prerequisites: MANG 564, 575 and MARK 588. 3 credits.

Management 693 - Consulting Practicum

This course will involve an on-the-job learning experience designed to give students an opportunity to apply their technical and professional skills and to observe organizations in action. This practicum is designed to enhance the curricula of the College of Business and Economics and to offer a joint opportunity for business executives and faculty to enhance the education of future business leaders. Prerequisites: ACCT 540, ISYS 570, FINA 550, MANG 694 and 575, MARK 588, and Permission of Instructor. Continuous enrollment required until completion. 1-3 credits per consulting opportunity up to a maximum of 9 credits.

Management 695 - Special Topics in Business

This course investigates selected special topics in management. The topics may vary from semester to semester. It may be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. 1-3 credits.

Management 697 - Strategic Management and Business Policy

This course integrates the various functional areas such as accounting, finance, management, marketing, and production for the purpose of strategic and policy level decision-making. Concepts and tools acquired from these functional areas provide the basis for approaching strategic problems from a holistic perspective. Prerequisite: ACCT 540, ISYS 570, ECON 509, FINA 550, MANG 564 and 575, MARK 588, and Permission of Instructor. 3 credits.

Marketing 588 - Strategic Marketing: Products and Services

This course presents an overview of marketing and the activities involved in the delivery of goods and services to the consumer. Topics include the identification of target markets, the development of a marketing mix, the special challenges of service delivery, the importance of retailing, and relationship marketing. 3 credits.

Marketing 681 - International Marketing and Retailing

This course includes the study and analysis of processes, practices and issues in an international, multinational, and/or global setting and the theoretical and applied analysis of marketing concepts with implications for products and services.  Students will consider current issues related to doing business within multicultural environments and focus on the social, cultural, economic, technological, and regulatory environment.  Of particular interest are marketing, retail, and management issues with an overview of theories, principles, and operational methods.  Prerequisite: MARK 588. 3 credits.

Marketing 683 - Consumer Behavior and Research

This course explores the nature of the consumer purchase decision process for goods and services. It emphasizes both descriptive and conceptual analysis of consumer behavior with a focus on theory and research essential to an understanding of individual choice behavior. It incorporates a critical analysis of buyer behavior theory. It makes intensive use of contributions from the social and behavioral science literatures. It examines individual and group behavior of consumers, as well as both marketing management and public policy decision making. Focus on managerial decision making utilizing marketing research techniques. Prerequisite: MARK 588. 3 credits.

Marketing 685 - Supply Chain Management and Purchasing

This course will study the elements and management of marketing channels. A marketing channel is viewed as an inter-organizational system involved with the task of making goods, services, and concepts available for consumption by enhancing their time, place, and possession utilities. The importance of the changing retail landscape will be thoroughly explored through the examination of environmental factors such as technology and competition. The focus is on how institutions can effectively and efficiently transmit things of value from points of conception, extraction, and/or production to points of consumption. Emphasis is placed on managerial decision making in the design, operation and management of channel systems. Business buying behavior and purchasing considerations will also be explored. Prerequisite: MARK 588. 3 credits.

Marketing 687 - Integrated Marketing Communications

This course focuses on planning and executing integrated marketing communication strategies that focus on building the brand, including essential principles and analytical tools used in advertising, public relations, sales promotion, selling, and direct marketing.  Prerequisite: MARK 588. 3 credits.

Marketing 693 - Consulting Practicum

This course will involve an on-the-job learning experience designed to give students an opportunity to apply their technical and professional skills and to observe organizations in action. This practicum is designed to enhance the curricula of the College of Business and Economics and to offer a joint opportunity for business executives and faculty to enhance the education of future business leaders. Prerequisites: ACCT 540, ISYS 570, ECON 509, FINA 550, MANG 564 and 575, MARK 588, and Permission of Instructor. Continuous enrollment required until completion. 1-3 credits per consulting opportunity up to a maximum of 9 credits.

Marketing 695 - Special Topics in Business

This course investigates selected special topics in retail management or marketing. The topics may vary from semester to semester. It may be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. 1-3 credits.

Marketing 697 - Strategic Retail Management

This course covers the development, organization, implementation, and control of retail strategies in the context of the retail mix of product, price, promotion, and distribution. Case studies are used to apply the concepts. Students will apply strategic decisions in the retail sector utilizing analytical decision-making skills. Course content includes the fundamentals of strategic decision-making, competitive strategies, industry structure, retail site selection, and performance measurement within the retail organization, retailing community and government programs. Prerequisites: MARK 588 and MANG 564. 3 credits.