Adult & Graduate
Course Descriptions
The following are all of the graduate courses in business. For a full list of course requirements with descriptions, download our complete catalog.
Download the Complete 2010-11 AGS Academic Catalog
BUS 510 Ethical Leadership in Dynamic Organizations/2
This course investigates current theories and research on leadership, including leading
change in organizations. Emphasis is placed on development of leadership skills and
qualities such as ethical leadership, vision, courage, communication and relationship
building. Strategies for change including using crises, promoting vision, developing
empowerment and building consensus will be discussed. The course includes completion
of the Strengthsfinder© personal assessment to enable students to become effective
organization leaders
BUS 520 Management & Organizational Behavior/3
A discussion of individual and group behavior in organizations, focusing on human
problems of adjustment, communication and performance. Topics include staffing and
motivation, interpersonal relations, conflict resolution, group and team behavior and the
integrative role of management in organizations.
BUS 530 Managerial Accounting & Finance/3
This course emphasizes the use of accounting data for planning and control decision-
making in an uncertain environment. Covers concepts of cost analysis, capital markets &
structure, return on investment, operations and capital budgeting.
BUS 540 Managerial Economics/2
Practical applications of micro and macroeconomic theory will be used to support sound
business decisions. Topics include monetary & banking systems, economic business
cycles, imact of inflation and interest rate changes, government policy, determining
consumer behavior, product prices, market structures, minimizing organizational costs
and maximizing profits.
BUS 605 Business Communication – Written/2
A study of the techniques in writing clear, concise, convincing, and correct business
reports. Preparation of memoranda, informational, analytical, periodical, conference,
convention, and other common business reports. Additionally, the course will include an
introduction to the Internet, web page construction and design, and the use of email as a
communication tool. Includes study of different writing styles and formats.
BUS 606 Business Communication – Oral/2
A study of organizational communications and leadership, presentation, and public
speaking techniques, uses of technology in presentations, group dynamics, and
interpersonal communications.
BUS 611 Management Information Systems/2
A study of the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of a management
information system in the business environment. Topics of decision support systems
include distributed data processing, organizational structure, user involvement, types of
decision support, data base concepts, and a discussion of costs and benefits associated
with management information systems.
BUS 621 Research Methods/Statistics/2
A study of business statistics, data analysis, and research design and methods.
Techniques include analysis of variance, correlation, regression, analysis of covariance,
and their application to business problems.
BUS 610 Seminar In Financial Management/2
A study that emphasizes the finance function of a firm from the viewpoint of the internal
financial manager. The course emphasizes the conceptual and quantitative tools used to
accomplish financial analysis. It takes a look at financial planning and control
management of working capital and long term assets, and how that determines cost of
capital.
BUS 623 Seminar In Economics/2
A study which is an extension of microeconomic analysis to enterprises in the private and
public sectors of the economy. Major emphasis is placed on the application of statistics
and economic theory to decision making by the firm.
BUS 624 Seminar In Business Law/2
A case method study of the topics which impact an accountant in public and private
practice. Topics include accountants’ legal liability, legal research, contact law, sales,
commercial paper, securities regulation, bankruptcy, and secured transactions.
BUS 625 Legal & Ethical Business Environment/3
This course is a study of the topics in legal environments which impact professionals in
organizational settings. An examination of the legal and ethical environment of the firm,
including contracts, commercial law, consumer law, business regulation,
labor/management relations, litigation and procedure and reasonable accommodation for
employees.
BUS 629 Seminar In Marketing/2
A study of decision-making activities of marketing executives in product planning,
market analysis and consumer selection, promotion, sales force management, pricing, and
distribution channels. Emphasis is placed on the growing fields of international
marketing, new quantitative tools, and behavioral science contributions.
BUS 537 Corporate/Partnership/Estate/Trust Taxation/2
A study of income tax laws as applied to partnerships, estates and trusts, corporations,
excess profits tax, federal estate tax, and federal gift taxes. Also a study of regulations
pertaining to installment and deferred payment sales, assessments, collections, and refund
of income tax.
BUS 637 Corporate Income Tax/3
A study of income tax laws as applied to partnerships, estates and trusts, corporations,
excess profits tax, federal estate tax, and federal gift taxes. Also a study of regulations
pertaining to installment and deferred payment sales, assessments, collections, and refund
of income tax.
BUS 550 Governmental And Not-For-Profit Accounting/2
A study of fund accounting as applied to municipal governmental units. Topics include
accounting for bond funds, special revenue funds, sinking funds, working capital funds,
utility funds, and trust and agency funds. Additionally, accounting for hospitals, colleges
and universities, and other not-for-profit agencies is studied.
BUS 552 Principles in Auditing/2
A study of basic theory and underlying principles of auditing financial statement for the
purpose of rendering an opinion on the fairness of the representations made therein. The
purposes, types, procedures, and scope of auditing are presented. The concepts studied
are applied to a practical audit case.
BUS 555 Advanced Accounting Theory/2
A study of some complex business and accounting issues. Topics receiving coverage in
this course include partnership accounting, international operations, consolidated
financial reporting, estates and trust, and bankruptcy accounting.
BUS 609 Information Systems for Business Decision Making/3
This course is a review of computer-based information systems from an information
resource management perspective. Topics include systems development, design and
implementation, security, privacy and ethical issues. Systems discussed include
accounting/transaction processing, e-commerce systems, management information
systems, decision-support, and specialized systems such as artificial intelligence and
virtual reality. Information systems will be studied as effective tools for business
decision-making and problem-solving methodologies using real-life cases to apply
graphic and quantitative tools for decision analysis. Emphasis is on effective articulation
of the problem definition and communication of reasoning and conclusions.
BUS 612 Accounting Information Systems/2
A study of the development, implementation, and operation of advanced accounting
information systems. Emphasis is placed on current and emerging issues relating to
accounting, controls, and information technology.
BUS 613 Accounting Information Systems/3
A study of the development, implementation, and operation of advanced accounting
information systems. Emphasis is placed on current and emerging issues relating to
accounting, controls, and information technology.
BUS 626 Advanced Managerial Accounting/2
A study which provides an application of accounting information to managerial profit
planning and control of business firms. It emphasizes the budgeting process as central to
planning and control. Conceptual foundations and their practical applications are stressed.
The importance of the human factor and the need of adaptability receive focus through
solution of case problems.
BUS 630 Marketing Strategies & Management/3
This course discusses methods for optimal marketing of products and services. It
emphasizes the role of marketing managers and the facilitation of a marketing orientation
throughout the organization. Topics include product planning, promotion, distribution,
consumer behavior, market theory and problem solving.
BUS 640 Quality in Operations & Service Management/3
Best practices of systems used by management to plan, organize, implement and
continuously improve operations in both service and manufacturing organizations. Some
topics covered include process analysis, resource allocation, quality control, queuing,
managing capacity and inventory, supply chain management, and lean manufacturing.
BUS 650 Governmental & Non-For-Profit Taxation/3
A study of fund accounting as applied to municipal governmental units. Topics include
accounting for bond funds, special revenue funds, sinking funds, working capital funds,
utility funds, and trust and agency funds. Additionally, accounting for hospitals, colleges
and universities, and other not-for-profit agencies is studied.
BUS 652 Advanced Auditing/2
A study of issues of current interest in the auditing literature. As a minimum, the
following topics will be covered: philosophical foundations of auditing, criticisms of the
auditing profession, statistical sampling as an audit tool, and EDP auditing.
BUS 655 Accounting Theory II/2
An integrative study of detailed interpretation, analysis, and application of AICPA and FASB
pronouncements essential in the preparation of required and supplemental financial
statements. Contemporary controversial accounting issues—such as ethical, behavioral, and
judgmental dilemmas faced by individual accountants and the accounting profession—will be
examined through case studies and original student research presentations.
BUS 660 Advanced Strategic Management/3
Students will use skills and knowledge acquired in the MBA program to develop strategic
plans. Case studies and simulation exercises are used to support decision-making processes.
BUS 660 Advanced Strategic Management/3
Students will use skills and knowledge acquired in the MBA program to develop strategic
plans. Case studies and simulation exercises are used to support decision-making processes.
BUS 698 Accounting Practicum/1-8
Work experience in accounting. Individual students who are qualified obtain credit for
working in either a CPA firm or private industry in the field of accounting. The practicum is
supervised by a faculty coordinator and an employer coordinator. Reports, work
evaluations, and a formal paper and presentation are required as a part of this experience.
BUS 699 Accounting Research Methods/3
This course uses the case method to examine and analyze the application of generally
accepted accounting principles, generally accepted auditing standards and the Internal
Revenue Code to problems of measurement and presentation in financial statements,
audit reports and income tax returns. The course will focus on the use of professional
standards, related accounting publications, the internal revenue code, and federal tax
cases in solving and resolving issues in the cases.
BUS 680 Business Strategy/2
A study of approaches for defining, analyzing, and resolving complex strategic problems
facing the profit and not-for-profit organization.
BUS 690 Business Ethics/2
A study of ethical topics in business. This is an issues-oriented course which uses the case method and class discussion to explore concerns facing business persons today.
