Bachelor of Science in Management

ACCT 472. Accounting (4 units)

This course defines the nature and purpose of accounting and includes measurement of income, underlying assumptions, flow of funds, and analysis of performance. Also studied are basic internal information needs of modern organizations for planning and control; characteristics of alternative cost systems and factors in their design, marginal analysis, responsibility accounting, and interpretation; and use of accounting, financial, and other data for management decisions. Particular emphasis is placed on applying the tools of accounting, cost control systems, and budgeting.

PGBS 480. Critical Thinking and Managerial Problem Solving (2 units)

This course will be taught from a critical thinking perspective that emphasizes a disciplined process of conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating the information presented in a business problem. Intellectual values such as clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, soundness of evidence, depth, breadth, and fairness are emphasized as suitable criteria for decision analysis and implementation. Elements of critical thinking include purpose, problem, assumptions, concepts, empirical grounding, reasoning leading to conclusions, implications and consequences, alternative viewpoints, and frame of reference.

PGBS 484. Contemporary Business Issues I (2 units)

These courses will cover pertinent contemporary issues from which the student selects one to satisfy the requirements of Contemporary Business Issues I and selects a different course from the issues offered to satisfy the requirements for Global Business Intensive. This requirement is fulfilled by completing two sections of BSM 484 or BSM 485 or by completing sections of BSM 59X Advanced Topics. Topics may not be repeated. Examples of topics include environmental law, leadership, creative problem solving, managing customer satisfaction, human relationships, and global enterprise management. Advanced topic courses in accounting, economics, finance, and law may be taken for Contemporary Business Issues credit when available. Contemporary Business Issues credits also may be earned by attending the Study Abroad program. Prerequisite(s): Prerequisites may be required for some of the courses. Course descriptions will be made available through the BSM Program Office.

BSCS 468. Organizational Behavior (4 units)

An important cornerstone of the BSM program is a residential workshop which is a component of the BSCI 468 course. The workshop takes place in the first trimester scheduled over a weekend in the greater Los Angeles area. Designed to promote a cohesive learning environment and establish a strong foundation for interpersonal communication, personal ethics and values, and team development, the workshop includes overnight stay at the hotel. Students are responsible for covering the lodging and some meal expenses associated with the workshop.

LEGL 470. Legal Environment of Business (4 units)

The study of the legal environment of business includes analysis of the development and function of common and mercantile law with attention to domestic and global concerns as they influence the political, regulatory, and judicial process. Emphasis is given to the legal rights, duties, and ethical responsibilities of business, while addressing basic issues such as, but not limited to, business organization and operation, agency, real and personal property, product and service liability, contracts, sales, bailments, insurance, and financial instruments.

PGBS 482. Business Ethics (2 units)

This course explores ethical decision making in a society with changing values and an increasing international interdependence. It stresses the development and application of moral and ethical concepts to practical cases and ethical dilemmas management faces. It develops an awareness of the ethical, social, and environmental implications and consequences of managerial decisions involved in managing a firm's relationship with society, its marketplace, and employees. Special attention is given to the question: To what extent should corporations exercise social responsibility?

DESC 461. Python for Business Analytics (2 units)

Python is a standard tool for the analysis and visualization of business data, in large part due to its scalability and ease of use. This course introduces students with no coding experience to the syntax and versatility of using Python to apply mathematical and statistical methods to contemporary business problems. Several python environments are introduced with an emphasis on showing how this interpretive programming environment compliments spreadsheet-modeling tools. Prerequisite: DESC 471 Statistical Methods for Business.

DESC 471. Statistical Methods for Business (4 units)

This course provides the student with the understanding and skills necessary to conduct business research programs and projects. Specific areas covered include descriptive and inferential statistics (data organization, measures of central tendency and dispersion, hypothesis testing, and both parametric and nonparametric statistical testing) and research design (questionnaire design, sampling methods, concepts and measures of reliability and validity, and data collection and interpretation). During the course, the student is expected to propose, design, and execute a business management research project.

DESC 475. Production and Operations Management (4 units)

This course provides an evolving survey of effective operations management concepts and techniques in manufacturing and service industries. Designed to position operations in a strategic perspective, concepts include quality management, process and product selection, facility and job design, and planning. Analytical techniques used to evaluate opportunities based on cost, quality, time, and flexibility include forecasting, capacity analysis, inventory control, statistical process control, aggregate planning, scheduling, and project management. This course focuses on the application of these concepts rather than the theoretical proofs of specific techniques. Prerequisite: BSM 471 Statistical Methods and Research Design.

ECNM 469. Managerial Economics (4 units)

This course analyzes the economics of the enterprise (its production, revenues, costs, and profits in relation to the business environment); examines industrial organization in terms of market structure, conduct, and performance as it relates to competition and anti-competitive practices; and considers the similarities and differences of resource allocation in the private versus the public sectors.

ECNM 477. National Economic Markets (4 units)

The focus of this course is on the analysis of national income, interest rates, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation, and business cycles. It relates money, capital, financial futures markets and the marginal efficiency of investment to business decisions. The emphasis is on providing an understanding of the macroeconomic environment in which business firms operate. Prerequisite: BSM 469 Managerial Economics.

ECNM 478. International Business (4 units)

This course provides an overview of the essential elements of international business. To conduct business globally, managers need to know what makes international business different from domestic business. Areas of focus include the major theories explaining international business transactions, the social and cultural effects of doing business in a different country, and general operating concerns. The course will be presented from the real-world manager's perspective. Prerequisite: BSM 477 National Economic Markets.

FINC 474. Managerial Finance (4 units)

This course examines the financial function of the firm, including raising capital, allocating capital, and deciding on the capital structure of the firm. The course also examines the firm's working capital decisions and financial markets. Prerequisite: BSM 472 Accounting.

ISTM 462. Modern Database Principles and Applications (2 units)

Solving business problems using high quality data is essential to enterprises making evidence-based decisions. Students will be introduced to concepts and techniques used to manage and manipulate structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data. Relational database concepts and Structured Query Language (SQL) will be emphasized and introductions to unstructured data and frameworks for handling Big Data will be included in the course. The course will place particular emphasis on digital ethics. Prerequisite: ISTM 476 Information Systems for Business and Management.  

ISTM 463. Data Visualization and Advanced Spreadsheet Methods (2 units)

This course will introduce students to data visualization using visualization software to communicate data insights in a meaningful way. This course will also expose students to advanced modeling techniques and capabilities in spreadsheets, including simulation, sensitivity analysis, VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) , among others.  Students will finish the class with applied knowledge in these areas that can be brought to the workplace immediately. Prerequisite: DESC 471 Statistical Methods for Business.

ISTM 476. Information Systems for Business and Management (4 units)

This course provides an understanding of information systems and their use in achieving strategic advantage in business practice. This class explores the technology itself, focusing on the primary business application of the technology, what problems it can address, and the organizational importance of these systems for remaining competitive in a global economy. Students will become familiar with the wide range of business processes that must be managed effectively for success. The class demonstrates the many types of information systems supporting business processes and the specific ways they can improve responsiveness and productivity. Specific attention is paid to the pitfalls of information systems in both application and implementation. In addition, students will be required to apply information systems to decision making in critical areas during this course.

MKTG 473. Marketing Management (4 units)

Major marketing methods, institutions, and practices are surveyed in this course. It includes analysis of market structure, environment, demand characteristics, and market strategy; product research and development; and distribution alternatives, promotional programs, and pricing decisions.

OTMT 483. Managing Diversity in Organizations (2 units)

This seminar exposes students to the personal and organizational implications of increasing workforce diversity. The seminar aims to explore the complex dynamics of ethnic, racial, and gender diversity in organizations as seen from the vantage point of social science and organizational studies. It also examines the managerial implications of increasing cultural diversity in organizations, and the orientations to diversity adopted by organizations, the correlates of these approaches, and the possibilities for organizational change. Throughout the exploration of these issues, the emphasis is on developing greater understanding of issues, problems, and opportunities posed by greater cultural diversity within the U.S. workforce.

OTMT 481. Managing Organizations (2 units)

This course emphasizes the planning (strategic management processes), decision making, organizing, and control functions of organization managers. Explored in depth are 1) the evolution of the field of management theory and practice; 2) the impact of organizational environments on the internal functioning of the firm; 3) processes of strategic management, in particular, the key task of determining the organization's purpose and the consequent processes entailed in planning for goal accomplishment; 4) the factors that influence the choice of an organization's overall structural arrangements; and 5) the several forms of control systems and processes that serve as feedback on progress toward goal attainment and as the basis for corrective action. The course extends the coverage of the functions and principles of management addressed earlier in the curriculum.

STGY 479. Business Strategy (4 units)

This capstone course effectively introduces students to the responsibilities of the top management of an enterprise. Integrating most of what has been covered in the entire program, the course helps students conduct strategic analyses and make strategic decisions and puts special emphasis on their ability to defend the recommendations they make. The course may use a variety of experiential methods, including case studies, a strategic project on a real company, and competitive strategy simulations, to help students improve their decision-making skills. Prerequisites: BSM 473 Marketing Management and BSM 474 Managerial Finance. This course must be taken during the last trimester.

PGBS 485. Global Business Intensive (1-4 units)

 Hosted by partner schools abroad, Global Business Intensive focuses on critical aspects of doing business in the global economy. The course consists of lectures by distinguished faculty members of the partner schools and recognized experts from companies and research centers on a variety of contemporary business issues. The course involves a series of seminars covering such topics as international economics, culture, marketing, finance, and political and legal context. Some programs also include field visits to internationally recognized companies or organizations in the region for a hands-on look at business opportunities and management strategies. Also included is a study tour of important historical sites. The tour provides an important backdrop of culture and history that flavors the nation's experience.

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