AS/BS in Business - Knowledge Doc

• Wants to manage and lead others; move into leadership positions at their workplace 
• Wants to be a more effective communicator
• Intellectually curious; creative
• Self-driven; self-motivated
• Strives to understand the “bigger picture” in organizations

There are no special/remedial admission requirements for this program

One of the biggest draws to the business management program is its applicability to a broad range of career fields and industries. Every industry needs managers and leaders - this program gives them the skills/competencies to move into these positions.

• Management, director, supervisory roles in all career fields and industries

Why should they choose this program vs a similar one at a different college? Why is ours different?

• Program teaches unique strengths-based management approaches with support from The Cooperrider Center for Appreciative Inquiry
• Program has a strong emphasis on the impact and use of data and technology in management and leadership
• Unique final capstone experience that allows students to craft their own final project. Many students use this opportunity to improve their current position at work, create new professional opportunities for themselves, start businesses, or use the skills they’ve gained from the program to pursue a personal or professional goal or dream.

Stringent hiring practices and quality assurance standards ensure students are taught by top professionals in the field. We hire professors who are leaders in their respective fields who also want to teach and give back to others.

Are there any unique or special courses that may be worth highlighting to students? Something unique about the capstone? 

• MGMT 110: Management for an Evolving World

Students start out in Week 1 conducting a (one-of-a-kind) Self-Awareness Audit where they identify their unmet personal and professional needs, inner dialogue, outward expressions, and how these expressions and dialogues impact others. This assignment is the first of many that prepare students for a rapidly changing and evolving management environment and support the narrative that knowing yourself is the first crucial step in managing others.

• MGMT 180: Business Analytics & Data Visualization

Students learn how to transform data into business insights to allow for better decision-making. Over the course of MGMT 180 students work on analyzing data and creating visuals in a number of different areas related to business, from human resources, to finance, to operations. 

• MGMT 220: Business Information Systems & Security

Students build an information system structure from a real business, and explore multiple aspects of an information system (IS) that may be perfected, modified, removed, or added. It’s a comprehensive project that often leads to real-world improvements being made in the student’s workplace.

• MGMT 305: Creativity & Conceptual Development

Creativity is one of the leading “future proofing skills” that today’s manager can take advantage of. Building on competencies developed in MGMT 110 and 210, students in MCOM 305 develop behaviors that can increase the likelihood of creative ideas/actions and apply those behaviors to management scenarios.

• MGMT 355: Conflict Engagement

One of the most popular courses in the program, Conflict Engagement is the fourth course in a series of five that focus intently on enhancing self-development and management skills (MGMT 110, 210, 350, 425). The Week 6 assignment is titled: The Difficult Conversation. This highly structured assignment asks students to prepare for an actual difficult conversation with another person they’re in conflict with. It walks students through a series of preparatory steps, has them create a script for the conversation, and reflect on the outcomes of the conversation. Universally, students love this course and often mention it on their end of program reflection in the capstone course.

• MGMT 425: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making in Business

The final course in a series of five that focus intently on enhancing self development and management skills (MGMT 110, 210, 350, 425), MGMT 425 is a highly integrated course which utilizes most of the business disciplines taught in the business program. More than anything, the course challenges students to think critically and deeply about business problems. For example, the Week 2 assignment is titled Problem Statement & Alternatives. Students have to go through a formalized process of creating a problem statement based on a real-world business problem, fully develop three alternative solutions to the problem, use critical thinking and analysis skills, and identify their values which underlie their decisions. 

MGMT 460: Strategic Management

Strategy is the theme of this 400-level course - what it is, how to engage in strategic thinking, working in groups to strategize, and developing strategy. For the course-long project, students must analyze a publicly traded company - playing the role of a new hire that is charged with analyzing the corporation's strategic plan. By the end of the exercise, students must determine if the company is a suitable acquisition or merger candidate or, if neither, develop a plan to strengthen their strategic plan altogether.