Economics & Business Administration

Introduces the basic financial concepts and tools needed to run a business "by the numbers," focusing on using financial reports to analyze business activity, monitor financial performance, and budget for upcoming plans. Credit may not be received for both BUS-200 and BUS-201.

Accounting for partnerships, time-value of money applications, cash flows, budgeting, cost determination, responsibility accounting, and decision-driven financial information.

Skills-and-theory based class that helps students apply critical thinking to make a difference in their community and the world by developing projects that impact the lives of others. Students are given a chance to develop leadership, organizational, communication and teamwork skills, while also enhancing project management and creative skills. Work includes a minimum of three hours outside the class and one hour inside each week. Course may be repeated for a total of 3 credits.

An introduction to corporate finance. It introduces how companies invest in real assets, raise funds to pay for investments, and how investments affect the value of firms. It provides an overview of capital markets, the role of financial institutions in the economy and how securities are traded and valued by investors. The course introduces ways to think analytically about financial issues that firms and individuals will likely encounter.

Preventative health maintenance, facility management and basic sound business practices. Topics on horse selection, sanitation, routine veterinary practices, nutrition and supplements, equipment recognition and selection, facilities design, hoof care and furriery, exercise physiology, liability issues and insurance selection. Lecture and laboratory times required.

General overview of the principles of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling human and other resources for the achievement of an organization's goals. Examines the impact and role of communication, motivation, group dynamics, and organization culture, conflict and change as the context for current management practices. Uses written and oral reports to develop student writing and speaking skills.

Examines the importance of fostering entrepreneurship as the key to economic, social, and intellectual development in a myriad of cultural settings and economic/political systems around the globe. This course will include a field study approach with visits to embassies and the World Bank on a one week trip to Washington, D.C. FILA general education: experiential learning.

Explores the principles and practices of how goods, services, and ideas are developed and distributed in order to satisfy individual and organization needs, wants and objectives. Emphasis is placed on the micro-marketing perspectives including product, price, promotion and place.

Explores the scope of marketing research and its role in effective decision making. Students investigate, assess and conduct various types of quantitative and qualitative research, from surveys to focus groups.

Introduction to information system theory and application with special emphasis on information systems design in the functional areas of management, marketing, accounting, and operations management. Credit may not be received for both BUS-330 and CIS-250.

Introduces essential quantitative techniques and their use in business decision-making, including decision analysis, forecasting, linear programming, project scheduling, inventory cost minimization, and queuing analysis. Emphasis on the practical application of these techniques to production and operations management and other business problems.

Examines supply chain management processes as they apply to both service and manufacturing organizations, with special consideration given to identifying ways in which the strategic use of supply chain management can create competitive advantages for firms. Topics covered include logistics, inventory management, sales and operations planning, sourcing and purchasing processes, materials planning, TQM, JIT, lean processes, and technology-enhanced supply chain processes. Requires travel throughout the Shenandoah Valley to participate in plant tours and other field experiences. Additional cost associated with travel.

The U.S. legal and regulatory environment, including the sources of law; the resolution of disputes; the Uniform Commercial Code; the laws of torts, contracts, agency, partnerships, corporations, employment, and equal opportunity; and laws regulating competition.

This course is a dynamic learning and business development experience focused on the professional development of young entrepreneurs. Students will develop their own creative ideas, and use the rigorous lean startup protocol to design a specific business model to launch and scale (theoretically for class purposes only, or in the real world). Emphasis is placed on the lean startup and customer development principles (e.g. innovative business models, scientific approach, hypothesis testing, rapid iteration, minimum viable product, problem-solution fit, customer discovery process and agile development).

Explores cultural differences in business practices. Combines international travel and experiential learning with classroom discussion and reflection to enrich students' educational experience. The travel portion of the course provides opportunities for direct communication with business leaders in the selected location, facility tours, and attending business lectures at local universities. Travel destinations include Europe, South America, Japan and China. On campus, students actively reflect on cross-cultural similarities and differences in the conduct of business, cross-cultural business issues, and ways to become more sensitive to the complexities, relationships, and dialogues among different cultures. May be taken more than once provided a different location is selected each time. FILA general education: experiential learning.

A two-course examination of financial accounting issues. BUS-371 focuses on accounting theory, FASB's conceptual framework, GAAP & IFRS presentations for financial statements.

A two-course examination of financial accounting issues. BUS-372 examines time-value of money applications, liabilities, leases, pensions and post-retirement obligations, stockholders' equity, earnings per share, accounting changes, correcting accounting errors, and comprehensive statements of cash flows.

Integrates information technology and software in transactions control procedures and financial reporting cycles. Provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to function within the cutting edge of accounting information systems. Offered alternate years.

Provides an introduction to the federal income tax system, course emphasis is placed on providing foundational knowledge of individual and business taxation. Offered alternate years.

Introduction to the federal tax structure, emphasizing accounting for personal income taxes, including preparation of individual income tax returns. Highlights working with tax law, determining personal and dependency exemptions, gross income, deductions, losses, depreciation, and tax credits. Offered alternate years.

Emphasizes accounting for preparing corporate, partnership, gift, estate, and trust returns. Focuses on corporate operating rules, organization, capital structure, distributions, S Corporation limitations, exempt entities, and tax administration and practice. Offered alternate years.

Preparation and utilization of financial information for internal management purposes with emphasis placed on cost behavior, cost determination, and the development of information for planning and control purposes. Offered alternate years.

Providing a comprehensive examination, students are introduced to financial planning and working with clients to establish goals and assess risk tolerance.

General principles of risk management and insurance planning are examined for individual and family clients. Students are introduced to risk management and insurance planning processes and exploration of insurance lines of coverage to analyze needs and select appropriate policies.

Exploration of the securities market, sources of information, investment risk and returns are examined for portfolio construction and analysis. Students will evaluate asset classes for investment objectives to determine suitability for clients.

Coverage for taxation at individual and business levels, focusing on investments, insurance, annuities, and retirement planning. Students will examine likely tax consequences of financial activities and select tactics and strategies to reduce overall tax consequences.

Emphasizing retirement needs analysis and key factors for retirement plan selection, students will assess and compare retirement plans and provide recommendations for a given situation.

Introducing federal gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes to plan for minimization of tax for transfer of wealth purposes. Students will explore income-shifting options, and the harmonizing of tax and non-tax aspects of estate planning.

Serving as the minor capstone course, students will demonstrate how to apply their knowledge in the development of a comprehensive financial plan according to CFP Board's Financial Planning Practice Standards and client objectives.

Accounting for partnerships, business combinations, state and local governments, private not-for-profit organizations and other selected topics. Offered alternate years.

Focuses on problem solving for managerial accounting issues. Prepares for the role accountants have in planning and control of the organization, develops proficiencies in analysis techniques for decision making and effective ways to communicate results. Offered alternate years.

Theory and practice of auditing: the techniques, standards, legal environment, and ethics of the public accounting profession. Emphasis is placed on the study of internal controls, and compliance and substantive tests of functional cycles within the firm, audit reports, accounting and review services, and other attestation services.

Designed to develop student interaction and business skills with strategies relating to the personal selling side of marketing. Emphasis is placed on business-to-business and consumer selling strategies, as these skills are also applicable to retail selling and may be beneficial in enhancing skills necessary for selling ideas within the business, workplace, community at large or society in general. FILA general education: writing intensive.

A study of purchasing patterns and habits of consumers (individual and business) from both societal and psychological sides; increases student understanding of how businesses develop marketing plans to appeal to recognized consumer needs, wants and characteristics. Emphasis is placed on observations in the retail environment including cultural, societal and personal preferences. FILA general education: writing intensive.

A study of the wide varieties of non-personal ways an organization communicates with customers and other stakeholder groups. Primary emphasis is placed on traditional paid media. Internet and social media options are also reviewed, along with alternative advertising vehicles such as brochures, direct mail and point-of-sale contacts. Course content includes a review of the planning, design and production processes, as well as sample communications as an essential part of the learning process. FILA general education: writing intensive.

Personnel administration from a managerial perspective, including recruitment, training and development, performance appraisal, compensation and motivation, employee/management relations, and various legal and regulatory issues.

Emphasizes general principles of entrepreneurship and small business management for students interested in developing their own business. Provides practical experience through service learning, written and oral reports. FILA general education: experiential learning. Additional costs associated with travel.

Introduction to security selection and portfolio management in global financial markets, including the theoretical and practical aspects of asset allocation and stock and bond valuation. Offered alternate years.

Capstone course for the finance emphasis focusing on strategic issues such as capital budgeting, the cost of capital, capital structure, dividend policy, and debt and equity financing. Case studies are used to develop analytical skills and enhance student understanding of the practical application of financial theory. Offered alternate years.

A senior seminar for the marketing, organization management and international emphases designed to help students integrate knowledge from general education, major and emphasis courses with current professional issues. Focus placed on issues such as international marketing, employee relations and other cross-cultural concerns; effects of cross-country financial, legal political, media and transportation variations; interpersonal vs. virtual work environments; e-commerce; professional ethics; adapting and strengthening corporate culture in dynamic environments; and integrating functional and geographic business strategies.

A seminar-style capstone course for Business Administration majors that integrates the functional areas of business (accounting, finance, management, and marketing) through analysis, forecasting, and developing solutions to complex business scenarios. The course uses a combination of readings, discussion, case studies, and a team-based computer simulation to focus on managing strategically and responsibly. FILA general education: experiential learning.

Provides an opportunity for a student to gain field experience in an area related to the student's program of study or career goals. The learning objectives for internships include connecting academic knowledge and problem-solving processes to experiences and problems in professional settings. Supervision of an intern is provided by an appropriate faculty member and by a site supervisor of the agency or business in which the student is an intern. A student who wishes to engage in an internship must consult with the appropriate faculty member at least eight weeks in advance of the start of the term in which the internship is to be completed. A description of the internship, signed by the student and the faculty sponsor, must be filed with the director of internships by the first day of the semester prior to the start of the internship. Approval of each application for an internship is made by the director of internships based upon approved policies and guidelines. Internships are graded on an S or U basis. Students must complete 120 hours of internship-related work as well as weekly journal entries and a final reflective paper completed in accordance with approved requirements. A student may enroll in an internship program for 3 credits per semester, and internship credit may be earned in subsequent semesters subject to the limitations that no more than two internships may be pursued in any one agency or business and a maximum of 9 credits in internships may be applied toward graduation. FILA general education: experiential learning.

Introduces scarcity, opportunity cost, and supply and demand analysis, with special emphasis on aggregate economic growth, unemployment, inflation, and fiscal and monetary policies. FILA general education: social sciences.

Analysis of individual choice and market behavior, with special emphasis on price and output relationships and the economics of the firm. FILA general education: social sciences.

Focuses on the financial system, determinants of interest rates, structure and regulation of the banking system, the Federal Reserve System, and monetary policy and its impact on aggregate economic activity and inflation.

Discussion of contemporary economic issues from conservative, liberal, and radical perspectives. Topics include both macroeconomic and microeconomic issues. Offered alternate years.

Traces the growth and development of the U.S. economy and economic institutions from the Colonial era to the present with special emphasis on key institutions and events, such as slavery, industrialization, the rise of big business and the Great Depression. FILA general education: global dynamics.

Analysis of labor market supply and demand, wages and salaries, collective bargaining, discrimination, and macroeconomic implications of labor market issues. Offered alternate years.

Examines the economic causes and consequences of environmental problems and evaluates market-based and nonmarket solutions for them, with special emphasis on pollution, overpopulation, resource depletion and sustainability. Offered alternate years.

Discussion of the role of government and market forces in promoting economic efficiency, focusing on antitrust policy, economic regulation, and socio-economic engineering.

Analyzes economic growth, business cycles, and the impact of economic institutions and policies on aggregate economic performance and living standards.

Theoretical and applied development of consumer choice, firm behavior, price and income determination, market behavior, and government policy.

Traces the evolution of economic thought from ancient times to the present with special emphasis on Adam Smith, the classical school, socialism, Marx, marginalism, the neoclassical school, Keynes and Friedman. FILA general education: philosophy or religion. Offered alternate years.

Theory of international economic interrelationships, including trade, finance, and monetary policies and institutions. FILA general education: global dynamics.

Capstone course for majors in Economics. Investigates selected economic issues, policies, and problems, and introduces regression methods used to test economic hypotheses. Students conduct quantitative research, collect data, formulate and test hypotheses, and present their results.

Provides an opportunity for a student to gain field experience in an area related to the student's program of study or career goals. The learning objectives for internships include connecting academic knowledge and problem-solving processes to experiences and problems in professional settings. Supervision of an intern is provided by an appropriate faculty member and by a site supervisor of the agency or business in which the student is an intern. A student who wishes to engage in an internship must consult with the appropriate faculty member at least eight weeks in advance of the start of the term in which the internship is to be completed. A description of the internship, signed by the student and the faculty sponsor, must be filed with the director of internships by the first day of the semester prior to the start of the internship. Approval of each application for an internship is made by the director of internships based upon approved policies and guidelines. Internships are graded on an S or U basis. Students must complete 120 hours of internship-related work as well as weekly journal entries and a final reflective paper completed in accordance with approved requirements. A student may enroll in an internship program for 3 credits per semester, and internship credit may be earned in subsequent semesters subject to the limitations that no more than two internships may be pursued in any one agency or business and a maximum of 9 credits in internships may be applied toward graduation. FILA general education: experiential learning.