Business

The Business program at College of Saint Mary blends a classic curriculum with innovative courses and experiences. The Business degree provides a foundation of liberal arts and traditional business subjects, but also offers instruction in newer topics such as analytics and leadership.

Business students choose an Area of Emphasis, which includes two courses in a field that interests them; options include marketing, human resources, business analytics, or creating your own emphasis.

Students also complete one semester-long job shadow and two internships, and they create a plan for a real business in the capstone course.

The Business program was developed with feedback from the region’s top employers. Graduates are prepared to enter the business world and/or continue their education in a graduate program. They develop critical thinking, research, and strategic communication skills, and they analyze complex business scenarios.

An Associate of Science degree in Business is also offered. This option is designed for those students who want a short-term program, enabling them to enter business management positions, to advance in their current career path, or to provide a seamless transition into the Bachelor of Science in Business.

Non-business students may pursue a minor in Business, which, by providing knowledge of the business aspect of their profession, complements any other major.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

BUS 101: Introduction to Business

Business affects everyone, no matter your future career. Students are introduced to business from a multitude of perspectives, including the free enterprise system, ethical decision making, and the role of business in society. This course also provides an overview of careers in business, using a number of guest speakers. It is suitable for students in any major.

BUS 150: Personal Finance

Personal finance is the study of managing your money and achieving your goals. Students will examine how to set goals and make the best financial choices. Major topics are budgeting, saving for the future, loans and credit cards, insurance, and taxes. This is a survey course suitable for students in any major. (Also listed as ECO 150)

BUS 212: Employment Law

This course will provide students with an overview of the legal aspects under Federal and state law of employment discrimination, including Title VII, the Equal Pay Act, disability statutes, and sexual harassment. This course will also address employment issues found in worker's compensation law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, OSHA, family leave acts, and the legal issues involved in interviewing, hiring, discipline, and firing.

BUS 226: Personnel Supervision

Study of the principles of authority and responsibility, delegation and communication; organization charts, job descriptions, policies and procedures; employee motivation, discipline and performance evaluation.

BUS 230: Principles of Electronic Commerce

Online commerce is everywhere today, reshaping many aspects of our lives. This course provides an overview of E-commerce as it impacts business functions such as accounting, economics, finance, management and marketing as well as addressing security and safety Course may be useful for anyone interested in the Internet. (Also listed as BIS 230)

BUS 317: Business Analytics

This course is an introduction of the use of data driven, analytical, and computing approaches for effective business decision making. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of business analytics, the role of analytics in business performance, and the tools that can be used to perform analytics in different business functions. The course will provide a foundation for students to develop skills in these areas and enhance their knowledge and marketability.

BUS 321: Financial Management

A study of the principles governing the financial operations of business, the tools of financial analysis, the methods of financing an organization, capital budgeting, mergers, reorganizations, and bankruptcy. The role of accounting information in the financial management process is emphasized.

BUS 322: Investments

The purpose of this course is to enable the student to gain an understanding of various financial investments from an individual and, to a lesser degree, an institutional viewpoint. Techniques of analysis of stocks, bonds, and other investments will be studied. The student will also develop an appreciation of the importance of different financial models and markets of the American free enterprise system.

BUS 325: Organizational Behavior

This course provides an understanding of human behavior at work, within the organizational environment. It includes topics such as group dynamics, effective communications, potential impact of organizational structure on communications and processes, and change management. (Also listed as PSY 325 and SOC 325)

BUS 327: Human Resources Management

Human resources has a major impact on the success of businesses and employees. The course examines theory and practices relating to the management of people and the applications of behavioral science. This includes designing jobs, recruiting and hiring the best people, and providing incentives.

BUS 328: Management & Leadership

The course prepares students for leadership roles in their future careers. It provides both theoretical and practical skills necessary to be effective in a variety of professions. We consider leadership theories, delve into research on leadership, and help students to determine the kind of leader they want to become.

BUS 329: Business Communication

Communication is essential for all professionals. Business Communication teaches students to communicate their ideas through writing, presenting, and interpersonal discussions. Students are introduced to current professional communication technologies and techniques, and to longstanding principles for communicating effectively. Students will create several written assignments, give a variety of presentations, and develop interpersonal communication skills.

BUS 330: Project Management

This course will provide the student with an understanding of methods and practices in the field of project management. Project and program management is one of the fastest growing professions in today's business world. This course will study the functions involved in project and program management and allow the student to develop a full understanding of every aspect needed to become a competent project management professional. Students will use project management software for an assigned project during the semester. (Also listed as BIS 330)

BUS 331: Money and Banking

A study of the basic principles of money, banking, and finance as they are related to business and the financial system. Course examines the nation's money supply and the impact of monetary policies on the performance of the economy. (Also listed as ECO 331)

BUS 334: Principles of Marketing

Marketing involves the creation, pricing, distribution, and promotion of products. Course is a study of modern methods of marketing goods and services. Concepts include buying and selling behavior, creating a marketing plan, social media, advertising, and personal selling.

BUS 335: Consumer Behavior

Why do we buy? The course studies the anthropological, psychological, and social aspects of consumers as they make decisions about shopping and purchasing. Course is suitable for students in any major; the only requirement is being curious about people.

BUS 336: Social Media and Advertising

Social media networks have changed our lives and have become the dominant method of marketing. The course examines the major social networks and how they are used to promote products and interact with consumers. We study planning, creating, and evaluating social media marketing, along with privacy concerns and regulations.

BUS 338: Public Relations

Course provides an introduction to the field of public relations and is suitable for students in any major. Topics include the communications process; media relations; community relations, and crisis communication, Students will learn about images, messages, electronic and written communication, and the impact of social media.

BUS 339: Sales and Social Networking

Selling is part of everyone's job. This course studies the techniques of sales, examining ethical considerations, forming relationships, and the psychology of why people buy. Topics include prospecting, presenting, negotiating, and using social networking to find customers. Course may be helpful for students in any major who are curious about how selling happens.

BUS 340: Employee Training and Development

Students are introduced to the methods of assessing employee training needs, designing curriculum and training materials, techniques for delivering training in an appropriate fashion and evaluating results of training efforts in terms of subsequent contributions to an organization.

BUS 345: Employee Relations

The goal of this course is to help develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed in a productive work environment. The course will also include the study of unionization and collective bargaining in the public and private sectors, the mediation and arbitration process, and current issues in labor relations.

BUS 348: Risk Management

An introduction and analysis of various aspects of risk management, where risk is encountered in individual life, as well as in business. Risks from operations, investment, credit, liquidity, and capital are discussed. A significant focus is on risk reduction and transfer mechanisms, including insurance and how it is applied in the individual, public, and private organizational environments.

BUS 397: Partnership Internship

The internship is an actual work experience in a business organization, using business management techniques. The intern is provided the opportunity to incorporate classroom learning with practical experience at the work site. The Partnership Internship must be completed with an affiliated company for at least 2 credits hours.

Requirements for permission:

  1. Enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in business program;
  2. Enrollment in the junior year course work, or permission of the Business program director;
  3. GPA of 3.0 in business major and specialization coursework and a cumulative GPA of 2.5;
  4. Completion and submission of application one semester before the desired start date of the internship.

Application Process:

  1. As specified in the business program Internship Handbook
  2. Current resume;
  3. Written statement of the applicant's qualifications, goals and objectives for the internship program;
  4. Interview with the business program director and advisor.

BUS 410: International Business

This course will study the world of international business and gain insight on global thinking. It will focus on seven main concepts; globalization, cultural differences, global politics, international trade and investment, international management and strategic management.

BUS 417: Advanced Business Analytics

This course is a continuation of the Business Analytics course. It focuses on the sophisticated use of analytics in organizations as they perform strategy identification, effective decision making and successful execution of strategies. The students will learn how to apply technologies such as Microsoft Excel application to solve complex business problems.

BUS 423: Entrepreneurship

An entrepreneur is someone who has an idea and starts something new. Students will learn about the role and importance of entrepreneurship in the global economy, the resources available to entrepreneurs, the process of creating a business, and factors in the success of those ventures. If you have dreamed about starting a business, the course will help you to see opportunities and get started. Open to students in any major.

BUS 450: Retirement Planning

For students interested in financial planning, this course is designed to provide preparation on financial issues of retirement: income planning, Social Security, Medicare, long-term care insurance, distributions from retirement plans, guardianships, conservatorships, durable powers of attorney and living trusts. The implications of employee benefits related to retirement will also be covered.

BUS 452: Estate Planning

This course provides finance students with a comprehensive review of estate planning topics such as estate and gift taxes, various issues related to trust planning and administration, property ownership issues, life insurance, private annuities, postmortem tax planning and charitable giving.

BUS 453: Marketing Analytics

A study of the fundamental techniques of marketing research, including questionnaire construction, determination of market potentials, sampling, statistical interpretation of results, and presenting those results to management.

BUS 454: Operations Management

This course focuses on modern methods for making operational decisions, including facility design and location, inventory, procurement, just-in-time, project planning, and quality management.

BUS 455: Financial Strategy Simulation

Decisions in the finance department affect every level of an organization. This comprehensive simulation course provides students the opportunity to analyze the impact of various financial decisions.

BUS 460: HR Strategy

A key element of an organization's success is its human capital. This course will cover the role HR management plays in establishing business policies and in fulfilling competitive strategies. Students will develop a strategic HR plan as one outcome of the course.

BUS 492: Directed Readings

An individual study course designed to allow a student to pursue special interests within the field of business.

BUS 493: Career Exploration (Job Shadowing)

This course provides a student with real-world experience through our business partnerships. The student is expected to go through career exploration by being matched with a person currently pursuing a career in which the student has an interest. The career exploration class is planned and coordinated by the student's academic advisor and the supervisor of the partnering organization.

Requirements for permission:

  1. Enrollment in the bachelor of science in business program;
  2. Enrollment in the senior year course work, or permission of the Business program director;
  3. GPA of 3.0 in business major and specialization coursework and a cumulative GPA of 2.5;
  4. Completion and submission of application one semester before the desired start date of the internship.

Application process:

  1. As specified in the business program Internship Handbook
  2. Current resume;
  3. Written statement of the applicant's qualifications, goals and objectives for the internship program;
  4. Interview with the business program director and advisor.

BUS 496: Business Policies Seminar

A study of business problems from a top management perspective. Actual business situations are studied via the case study method. Students are involved in preparation of an industry study that is related to cases being studied.

BUS 497: Internship II

The internship is an actual work experience in a business organization, giving students an opportunity to incorporate classroom learning with practical experience.

Requirements for permission:

  1. Enrollment in the bachelor of science in business program;
  2. Enrollment in the last year of course work, or permission of the Business program director;
  3. GPA of 3.0 in business major and specialization coursework and a cumulative GPA of 2.5;
  4. Completion and submission of application one semester before the desired start date of the internship.

Application process:

  1. As specified in the business program Internship Handbook
  2. Current resume;
  3. Written statement of the applicant's qualifications, goals and objectives for the internship program;
  4. Interview with the business program director and advisor.