Business Administration

First-Year Seminars constitute a common and academically significant experience in a student’s first year at Converse University. All incoming first- year students are required to take a 3-credit hour FYS in the fall semester, choosing from a variety of discipline specific topics. Each FYS carries the corresponding departmental prefix, but with the common course number (except for designated honors sections). Each FYS course is designed to have no more than 18 students, and counts in some designated category of the General Education Program. Strong writing and speaking components are required elements of the course.

This course will give students hand-on experience in applying Excel spreadsheets to real- world situations and problems. Topics discussed include but are not limited to the following: writing basic formulas: using the statistical, financial, and other formulas in the Excel package; using the regression and the correlation analysis tools of Excel; creating and formatting tables, charts and graphs to express quantitative data in a visual format; writing Macros to fit business situations.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an introduction to the major opportunities and challenges facing social entrepreneurs and their ventures. Major local and global social issues like environmental issues, education, poverty, human rights, and healthcare will be discussed. Current efforts to address and “solve” these “problems” and think critically and creatively to generate new ideas, such as . microfinance, philanthropy, venture philanthropy & impact investing, measuring social impact and social return on investment calculations, corporate social responsibility, and integrated bottom lines, will be examined.

This course will help students develop the communications strategies they need to be successful in the workplace. The course develops writing, oral and collaborative skills through hands- on practice. Students will review grammar and mechanics, analyze and write common business documents such as emails, reports and proposals, letters, memoranda, and resumes, and complete an oral presentation and practice interview.

Same as SOC 245.

The topics in this course will vary depending on available staff and interest of the students. It is intended to expose students to some theoretical and research based study in the field of business.

Same as ECN 300. Meets Quantitative GEP requirement.

This course is an introduction to the field of sports management and examines the various functions, areas and issues involved in managing sports related businesses and activities. These include an overview of management of personnel, events and facilities, marketing, sponsorship, communications, leadership, budgeting, fundraising, ethics, and sport law.  Career planning related to the sports field will also be discussed. 

The objective of this course is to acquaint students with the job of the manager as well as the techniques of planning, organizing, motivating, leading, communicating, staffing, controlling and evaluating. The course also explores the evolution of management theory from the early classical theories to management by objectives. 

This course is an overview of the functions, processes, and challenges involved in Human Resource Management (HRM). The course will cover language, concepts, and models used to describe and understand HRM, and explore how HRM practices and strategies develop in response to changes in workforce norms, demographics, legal environment and the competitive environment.

This course is an overview of basic compensation and benefits systems. Topics include a study of the employment environment and its impact on   compensation programs, including job evaluation methods and salary determinations. Benefit programs and governmental policy implications will be considered.

This course introduces the student to basic marketing concepts and applications and provides an overview of marketing. Topics include the role of marketing within the firm, marketing research, consumer behavior, product development, pricing, channels and distribution and promotional strategy.

The emphasis in this course will be on understanding the psychological, social, and socioeconomic factors affecting consumer purchase, use and disposition of products and services. Topics covered include consumer motivation, learning, psychographics, decision making processes and the influence of culture and groups.

The emphasis in this course will be on the role of integrated marketing communications (IMC) in the marketing plan of an organization. Topics covered include advertising, public relations, sales promotions, interactive marketing and direct marketing, as well as the process of developing an IMC program, and various factors that influence this process.

This course will be an overview of professional selling with an emphasis on the sales process. The emphasis will be on understanding and applying the tools salespeople use to identity prospects, analyze their needs, offer solutions, respond to objections, close the sale and build the relationship. Sales management and how the sales function fits into the overall marketing function and the organization will also be covered.

This course is an introduction to the field of sports marketing. Both the marketing of sports products and teams, and the use of sports as a marketing tool, for other products and brands are covered. Topics include sponsorship, endorsement, licensing and venue naming rights, the marketing of professional, amateur and participation-oriented sports, the marketing of a broad array of sports-related products such as sporting goods and apparel, and emerging issues in the field.

The course examines the basic concepts of economics, supply and demand, and applies these concepts in a sports environment, seeking to determine how sports teams derive revenues and how the teams convert those revenues into profits for the owners. Other topics include the value of new franchises, the value of expansion of teams, the location of teams in different markets, and competitive balance. Issues of player salaries and labor relations, the role of government, and the economics of college athletics will be discussed. Cross listed with ECN 349.

This introductory course is an examination of the American legal system, judicial procedures, and the laws governing contracts, torts and the UCC, including secured transactions, negotiable instruments and sales.

This course examines the laws governing business associations and related subjects such as bailments, agency, partnerships, corporations, and regulation of business, trusts and estates.

This course examines the legislation and regulation related to management and record keeping in the personnel area of for- profit and not-for-profit organizations. Legislation dealing with labor unions will also be discussed.

Same as ECN 399.

The topics will vary depending on available staff and interest of the students.

This course is intended to develop an appreciation of diversity in the workplace and strategic benefits and challenges in recruiting and managing a diverse and inclusive workforce for companies, and how managers can best unleash the full potential of a diverse workforce. Course foci include discussion of aspects of diversity and diversity-related laws, policies, and initiatives as they apply to the workplace from both domestic (U.S.) and international perspectives.

This course involves the student in the systematic and objective process of generating information to aid in decision-making. This process includes problem formulation, research design, data collection, data analysis and communication (both written and oral) of research results.

This course focuses on the opportunities, problems and logistics involved in formulating strategies for marketing across national borders. Topics include the economic, sociocultural, political/legal and competitive environments and their impact on marketing strategy.

The course will require students to apply skills and knowledge acquired in the previous courses to provide oral and written solutions to real business situations. GEP Non-European/non-Anglophone. The course will focus on the application of previous learning in the analysis of case studies. Students will be responsible for analyzing, writing and orally presenting analysis of various real business case studies.

This independent course of advanced study under faculty guidance and instruction examines a topic not covered in any other course. May be repeated for credit.

The student will be engaged in an internship in a business or governmental agency that relates to the student’s career choice. A portfolio of the internship is required. Pass/fail grading.