Course Descriptions

Course rotation is subject to change. Please refer to the current Academic Bulletin for the most updated list of course descriptions for this major.

BA 101 Introduction to Business
3 Semester Credit Hours

An introduction to business and management concepts. The course will cover different types of legal business entities; how to plan and organize a business; how to manage and operate a business; basic revenue models; and other basic concepts related to successful business administration such as financial, operational, and human resource functions. Offered ever Fall and Spring.

BA 261 Principles of Marketing
3 Semester Credit Hours
A study of the fundamentals of marketing which includes identification of the market, design of the product or service, communication and promotion, pricing and distribution. The relationship of marketing and society will be examined. Offered every Spring.

BA 303 Ecommerce
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course will explore business uses of the tools and technologies needed for Electronic Commerce. Topics include business concepts, opportunities, challenges, and strategies that surround the emergence of electronic commerce. Problems related to the impact of electronic commerce such as social issues, risk, security, authentication, encryption, privacy, and methodologies will be discussed. Prerequisite: BA 357.

BA 305 Project Management
3 Semester Credit Hours

Practical approach to business problem solving through the actual implementation of a software product. Includes study of project management tools and techniques necessary to plan, staff, organize, direct, and control the development of computer-based information systems. Offered irregularly.

BA 325 Business Law
3 Semester Credit Hours

The principles and rules of law which comprise the legal framework of business: contracts, agency, commercial paper, personal property and sale of goods. Prerequisites: BA 101. Offered every Fall.

BA 326 Advanced Business Law
3 Semester Credit Hours

The principles and rules of law which comprise the legal framework of business: partnerships, corporations, insurance, security devices, bankruptcy, trusts and estates and government regulations. Prerequisite: BA 325. Offered irregularly.

BA 327 Employment Law
3 Semester Credit Hours

Analysis of legislation designed to protect working and living standards of American workers and its implementation by government agencies. Students study major labor-related issues such as antidiscrimination, family and medical leave, wage and hour, occupational health and safety, workers compensation, drug and alcohol testing, health insurance, employment practices liability, unemployment insurance, social security, and retirement by examining statutory law, case law, executive orders, and/ or related regulations or standards. Prerequisites: BA 101, BA 325 and BA 354. Offered irregularly.

BA 330 Compensation and Benefits
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of (1) how compensation and reward systems contribute to the success of organizational strategy and (2) how legal, economic, social, technological, and other internal/external factors impact the design and implementation of such systems. Exercises provide hands-on experience with major compensation and rewards practices. Prerequisite: BA 354. Offered irregularly.

BA 331 Training and Development
3 Semester Credit Hours
This interactive, theoretically anchored, and applied course is aimed at understanding the processes and practices of developing human business talent. It covers how organizations train and develop their employees, performance management as an evaluative and developmental tool, and the strategic development of talent framed within the context of talent leadership. Prerequisites: BA 354 and PSY 307. Offered irregularly.

BA 332 Staffing and Career Development
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course focuses on the effective management of the flow of talent into and through organizations, including career management. It covers human resource planning, recruiting and selection, career development and career transitions. Topics will include self-assessments, professional skill-development, career ladders, labor market/occupational trends, and creating work-life balance. Students will be required to attend several Career Development events throughout the course of the semester. Prerequisites: BA 354, PSY 307 and PSY 312 or PSY 304. Offered irregularly.

BA 341 Principles of Financial Management
3 Semester Credit Hours

An introductory course in the study of Finance’s role in successful organizational strategy. Students examine topics such as financial markets and institutions; financial analysis, planning, forecasting, and management; financial assets, rates of return, and valuation; time value of money; capital budgeting; capital structure and leverage; dividend policy; derivatives and risk management; forex market; mergers and acquisitions. Prerequisites: ACCT 212. Offered every Fall.

BA 345 Business and Professional Writing
3 Semester Credit Hours

Students learn and practice styles of business writing that contribute to a successful organizational strategy. Students plan, draft, revise and fine-tune routine, positive, negative, and persuasive business documents. Examples include correspondence, reports, policies and procedures, agendas, talking points, presentations, questionnaires, cover letters, and resumes. Students may also enhance their presentation, negotiation, meeting, and interpersonal communication skills. Prerequisites: BA 101, ENGL 100 and ENGL 102. Offered every Spring.

BA 353 Operations Management
3 Semester Credit Hours

An introductory course in the study of Operation’s role in successful organizational strategy. Students learn analytical methods used in production industry operations concerning topics such as forecasting, planning, inventory, supply chain, quality, scheduling, reliability, and maintainability. Students may also study service industry operations. Offered every other Fall.

BA 354 Human Resource Management
3 Semester Credit Hours

An introductory course in the study of Human Resource’s role in successful organizational strategy. Students explore topics such as major employment laws, regulatory compliance, workforce planning and development, labor relations, compensation and benefits, and risk management. Prerequisite: BA 101. Offered every Fall.

BA 355 Organizational Behavior
3 Semester Credit Hours

Human interaction with the work environment. The manager’s role in change, motivation, organization and conflict. Historical as well as current theories of behavior within organizations. Prerequisites: BA 101. Offered online only.

BA 356 Industrial Relations
3 Semester Credit Hours

The study of significant labor laws, major court decisions in labor cases and the intent and effect of above on organizing, collective bargaining and contract administration. Prerequisite: BA 354. Offered irregularly.

BA 357 Management Information Systems
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course covers the information system development life cycle. Use of data flow diagrams and structure charts, database, design, and program development. Prerequisite: BA 101. Offered Fall or Spring semester.

BA 359 Managerial Statistics
3 Semester Credit Hours

Presentation of the role of sampling and statistical control procedures in managerial decision making under conditions of risk and uncertainty. Fundamental probability distributions and their use in classical and Bayesian inference. Prerequisites: MATH 101 or MATH 103 or MATH 121. Offered every semester. Cross-listed with ECON 359

BA 360 International Business
3 Semester Credit Hours

A study of international trade. The course will cover the topics of the history of the international business, policies of free and controlled trade, foreign exchange, and current issues. Offered every Fall.

BA 362 Consumer Behavior
3 Semester Credit Hours

Consumer Behavior is an advanced marketing course designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of consumer behavior, with emphasis on the consumer in the marketplace, consumers as individuals, consumers as decision makers, and consumers as influenced by culture and subculture. A critical examination of consumer behavior theories and research will be undertaken. Further emphasis will be placed on understanding the application of consumer behavior concepts in a competitive, dynamic, and global business environment. Offered every Fall.

BA 363 Salesmanship
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course aims to accomplish four main objectives: [1] To delineate the areas in which sales executives make decisions; [2] To analyze and evaluate sales management decision making criteria and processes; [3] To engage students in a presentation designed to relate the text materials to sales management situations; [4] In addition to the above, students will be introduced to an overview of basic principles of selling. Prerequisites: BA 261 and IDS 202. Offered irregularly.

BA 395 Internship
1-3 Semester Credit Hours

Designed to provide actual on-the-job learning experiences in which a student works with a single sponsoring organization in either the public or private sector under the supervision of a faculty member. A student may be eligible for an internship with apposition he or she currently holds. Students may earn up to 6 credit hours of internship. Prerequisites: Junior standing, completed 30 hours in business administration and make formal application to the program director. Offered every semester.

BA 400 Contemporary Topics in Business Administration
3 Semester Credit Hours

The topics vary, are free-standing, and require no pre-requisites. Example topics include (1) spreadsheet modeling and decision analysis for modern-day business problems; (2) enterprise risk management and insurance for modern-day business risks; and (3) current topics, issues, and events impacting business. Offered every other Fall semester.

BA 406 Business Strategy and Value Creation
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course introduces students to value creation and the crafting/execution of successful organizational strategy. Students build upon and apply material from previous coursework through experiential learning (i.e., simulation), case studies, exercises, and discussions. Prerequisites: BA 101, BA 341, BA 261, ACCT 211/212 and ECON 231/232. Offered every Spring.

BA 410 Independent Study
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to gain or enhance business knowledge and to explore an area of interest related to business research or the delivery and/or administration of business. Students interested in pursuing an independent study must be at least a junior and have completed the introductory courses in accounting, economics, management, statistics, and marketing. Prerequisite: Commitment of a full-time Wesleyan instructor, as well as permission from the Professional Studies Division chair in charge of Business.

BA 445 Managerial Finance
3 Semester Credit Hours

Financial management problems of business firms are studied through case materials and reading. Emphasis is placed on analysis of annual financial reports, capital budgeting and valuation of situations. Presents concepts of comptrollership, its staff relation and impact on organizational structure. Prerequisite: BA 341. Offered on an irregular basis.

BA 455 Organizational Leadership
3 Semester Credit Hours

The course explores the subject of leadership with a balance between academic understanding and practical organizational application. In addition, to acknowledge and understand the difference that leadership and effective management can make. Offered on an irregular basis.

BA 459 Business Ethics and Sustainability
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course helps prepare students for ethical dilemmas they’ll face after graduation. Students explore ethical theories and issues impacting (1) individuals in the workplace and 2) contemporary business strategy, value creation, and overall, sustainability of the triple bottom line (social, environmental, and financial). Students develop leadership, critical thought, and decision making skills through activities such as research, case studies, debates, role plays, exercises, discussions, and presentations. The course is intended for business and related majors but also serves as an excellent elective for any major emphasizing accountability and ethical behavior. Prerequisite: senior standing. Offered every Spring.

BA 462 Marketing Management
3 Semester Credit Hours

A study of the management of marketing activities and of the analysis and solution of marketing research. Prerequisite: BA 261. Offered every Fall.

BA 463 Marketing Research
3 Semester Credit Hours

The course develops skills in marketing research techniques and creating survey instruments necessary for collecting data in order to make quality marketing decisions. Prerequisites: BA 261. Offered every Spring.

BA 465 Advanced Topics in Marketing
3 Semester Credit Hours

A study of the behavior and decision-making of consumers in the marketplace. Theories and research from social science are used to develop our understanding of the consumer. Application of this understanding to the formulation of marketing strategy is emphasized. Prerequisites: BA 261 and BA/ECON 359. Offered irregularly.