Course Descriptions

BUSN101 Money, Wealth and Personal Finance (3 credits)

What is money? What is wealth? What is a business or a corporation? This course is an introduction to business and personal finance where students explore such topics as the nature of money, poverty, wealth, financial freedom and investments. Students learn to apply the basics of personal finance through budgeting their income and expenses, and understand issues related to debt, credit, insurance, taxes and retirement planning.

BUSN120 Business Communications (3 credits)

This course teaches how to write in a variety of work environments. The emphasis of the course is on audience analysis and the writing of concise, accessible communications based on reader needs. Students learn how to write clear procedures, a polished professional resume, and a well-documented research report or business plan. Computer-based research and the efficient composition of long documents is also covered.

BUSN140 Entrepreneurship I (3 credits)

This course introduces students to entrepreneurship - the process of designing, evaluating and creating new business. We explore how and why people create new businesses and how to utilize planning to increase the chance of success. Students develop a broad understanding of the legal rights and responsibilities of business owners and are introduced to the forms, licenses and permits necessary to start a business. Students complete a feasibility study as the first step in writing a business plan. Topics covered include: Legal Structures, Taxation, Intellectual Property, Copyright, Trademark, Contracts and Creating Employment. 

BUSN210 Introduction to Financial Accounting (3 credits)

This course is an introduction to the conceptual framework and functions of accounting that apply to all businesses. Students gain an understanding of assets, liabilities, and financial statements. Topics include journalizing, T-accounts, accrual and cash accounting, LIFO/FIFO and basic ratio analysis. Students/business owners develop an understanding of debt, equity, inventory, shipping and fraud, while increasing their financial literacy. (Prerequisite: BUSN101)

BUSN220 Marketing (3 credits)

From grocery stores to art galleries to stocks on Wall Street, all business is conducted in a dynamic marketplace. With a focus on small business, this course covers market research, segmentation, target audience, positioning, branding, marketing methods, buyer behavior and cultural conflicts in marketing. In this applied course, students create the marketing plan section of a business plan. (Prerequisite: BUSN101)

BUSN240 Entrepreneurship II (3 credits)

In this course, students write a business plan about the business concept of their choice. To write the plan, students will apply marketing, accounting, and budgeting skills learned in other business courses, and build on knowledge from the course pre-requisite, Entrepreneurship I. Students apply appropriate writing techniques and styles and use spreadsheets to create financial documents. (Prerequisite: BUSN140 and BUSN210)