International Business Degrees Online

Segment One – General Education Requirements
30 Credit Hours – Each course is 6 credit hours
The general education requirements provide a broad foundation in the basic academic disciplines and offer students the opportunity to
explore the breadth of the liberal arts and sciences. The following courses offered by Madison University meet the general education
requirements for undergraduate students:
Course Number Course Title
BIOL – EEC101 Biology
ENGL – EEC 101 English Composition I
HIS – EEC 101 Introduction to American History
MATH – EEC 101 Basic Principle of Mathematics
MATH – EEC 102 Introduction to Business Mathematics
Segment Two – Concentration Requirements
30 Credit Hours – Each course is 6 credit hours
BMGT 30101 Business Management
An introduction to basic concepts of management, analytical techniques and organization theory. A functional approach to management,
including cases and managerial excellence.
Textbook: Management Fundamentals: Concepts, Applications, Skill Development
ISBN#: 0-324-01337-X
BMKT 30101 Principles of Marketing
A broad perspective of marketing designed to offer the student a basic understanding of what marketing is and how it works, with an
approach to marketing management.
Textbook: Marketing: Principles & Perspectives, 3rd edition
ISBN#: 0-072-46128-4
CSCI 30101 Computer Literacy
This course includes topics of discussion for word processing, spreadsheets, database management and computer architecture.
Textbook: Computers in Your Future, 5th edition
ISBN#: 0-13-035468-6
ACCT 30101 Principles of Accounting I
This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts and practical procedures of accounting. Also, the uses of accounting information
and financial data for managerial decision making.
Textbook: Accounting: The Basis for Business Decisions, 12th edition
ISBN#: 0-07-239688-1
ECON 30101 Principles of Economics
An introductory course that serves to acquaint the student with micro and macro economics, concepts and their applications, supply and
demand functions of price, unemployment, inflation, and fiscal policy.
Textbook: Economics, 15th edition
ISBN#: 0-07-234036-3

Course Descriptions

Foundation Courses: Managerial Skills

Graduate Research and Writing
The course assists students in successfully completing the extensive research and writing assignments required in a Master’s program, including writing a thesis of high academic standards, with relevance to the student’s career goals. Topics include primary (empirical) and secondary research techniques, source documentation, bibliographic entries, selecting, interpreting and organizing information, formatting, and editing. It provides students experience in using databases, electronic journal collections and the Internet for research. The student also learns how to work effectively with her/his mentor and the Thesis Committee for a major master’s project which is a credit to the student, to the institution, and a contribution to scholarship.

Creativity Training
The course focuses on stimulating creative, effective work in management. Students learn to foster effective, innovative work in the people they lead; and preserve their own creativity in the face of environmental constraints. Students will learn to recognize, analyze, and support the elements, value, and primary determinants of creative behavior in organizations. They will learn specific techniques for assessing and fostering productive creativity in themselves and those they lead. The course will use cases illustrating creativity issues in diverse managerial decision problems. In addition to cases, the course will employ research summaries, notes, videos, guests, individual and group exercises.

Executive Communication
This course emphasizes the importance of presentation and communication skills for effective management and leadership. It is designed to prepare business leaders for the communication challenges of the workplace and enables students to develop and demonstrate effective, business-oriented, verbal communication skills. In an interactive environment, speaking abilities are assessed and enhanced. Students develop confidence in giving formal oral presentations and using audio-visuals and presentation technology. Students also learn how to deal with the media. Video-taped student presentations in a simulated business environment followed by instructor and peer feedback are an essential component of the course. Special emphasis is placed on the requirements of non-native English speaking students.

Statistics and Quantitative Methods for Management
This course familiarizes students with quantitative methods used in managerial decision making. After a review of essential mathematical concepts, the course focuses on statistical methods. Topics covered include: least squares estimation, residuals and outliers, tests and confidence intervals, correlation and autocorrelation, co linearity, and randomization. Students will carry out a variety of data analysis projects. Statistical software (SPSS) will be used for most of the needed calculations. Emphasis is placed on the critical evaluation of the results of statistical analysis. A research project placing emphasis on practical application or empirical research forms part of the academic requirements for this course.

Intercultural Communication and Management
This course familiarizes students with the various dimensions of the cultural environment of business and politics, and sharpens their interpersonal skills as intercultural managers and communicators. Areas of study are the anthropological framework of culture, the psychological factors underlying the intercultural encounter, international negotiations as well as the culture shock and reentry shock experienced by expatriate managers and their families. An emphasis is placed on practical applications of intercultural communication theories in a business context. In order to facilitate intercultural learning, a variety of intercultural simulations and case studies are used. Both an individual and a group project form part of the academic requirements for this course.

Core Courses: Functional Areas of Management

Financial and Managerial Accounting
This course familiarizes students with key concepts of both financial and managerial accounting. In the first part of the course students will learn the basic structure of the accounting system, followed by an intensive study of the body of generally accepted accounting principles concerned with the recognition and matching of revenues and expenses to determine financial accounting net income and the related issues of asset measurement and valuation in external reporting. Specific areas of coverage include an analysis of the balance sheet and income statement, together with the theory of valuation and presentation of the accounts used in these statements. The second part of the course emphasizes the use of accounting information for internal planning and control purposes. This orientation contrasts with financial accounting where the focus is on accounting disclosures for external parties.

Management in the Information Age
The student learns the latest trends and developments in technology for communication and networking and how to capitalize on these advanced technologies to effectively design, implement and manage global networks. Topics include Computer Networks, Digital Telecommunications, Advanced Local Area Computer Networks, Internetworking, Multimedia Technologies and Wireless/Mobile Communications. Moreover, this course helps facilitate the student’s understanding of emerging Information Technologies and their implications for all types of organizational participants. Topics include Foundations of PC hardware and software; Communication and networking; Decision Support Systems (DSS) and System Design.

The Financial Environment I
This course introduces the key concepts in the field of finance and the environment in which they are applied. Students learn how to gauge the financial health of companies and to measure and understand financial return in relation to risk. The course also surveys the uses and characteristics of different financial instruments and the function and operation of global financial markets.

Marketing Management
This course introduces the fundamental concepts and processes essential for marketing goods and services in today’s competitive environment. These include researching, segmenting and targeting markets and developing a marketing mix: the combination of product, pricing, distribution and promotion strategies needed to sell a product efficiently and successfully. Issues and variables covered include consumer behavior, the marketing environment, marketing research, product planning, personal selling and international marketing. The development of a marketing plan for an existing business or a new business venture is required.

Human Resources Management
In this course the student analyzes the role of knowledge, the notion of knowledge society and its consequences for business. It develops a clear appreciation for the human capital as a main resource of success in managing an organization. The student also learns about the human resources processes, systems and programs which are most critical to the future of the corporation. Topics include: human resources planning; recruitment and selection; development and training; management of groups and work teams; compensation; knowledge society, and corporate culture. A special emphasis is placed on the international dimensions of human resources management.

Leadership and Organizational Behavior
This course introduces students to issues related to the management of organizations and the role of the manager-leader. In the course, theories and perspectives related to five major topics will be examined and discuss: (1) the environments that managers must consider as they perform their jobs; (2) the key roles of managers in organizations; (3) the factors that comprise an organization’s architecture and its various forms; (4) managing people within organizations; and (5) the role of the leader for organizational success. Students are encouraged to understand as well as experience leadership and organizational behavior issues through the use of experiential exercises, self assessment tests and role plays.

Strategic Management: Management Game
The course is based on an overview of a basic understanding of strategic concepts. Since the student is exposed to major trends, variables, and factors that have an impact on global competitive advantage, the course analyzes global industries and their integration in world markets using a planning framework focused on global presence, global positioning and global configuration of resources. Moreover, the course assesses industry globalization drivers and global strategy levers. Finally, the course provides knowledge on the critical organizational linkages for implementing a worldwide business strategy. A key feature of the course is the use of an extensive computer simulation such as Markstrat or Global View, in which students, working in teams, gain first-hand experience in putting strategies to work.

Elective Courses – Areas of Concentration: Descriptions of these courses are listed in the full program brochure.

Our Business Analysis Minor Allows You To
Learn how to guide your business decisions with quantitative analysis
Gain skills in interpreting business statistical information
Enhance your major in another field with the ability to gauge the health of your business
Business Analysis Minor (21 credits)

In today’s complex business environment, more and more managers use quantitative techniques and analysis to increase their decision process effectiveness. The business analysis minor develops skills in quantitative management, which uses operations research, statistics, operations management, accounting, economics and information aids to support managerial decision-making. The main objective of this minor is to help students understand the importance of quantitative analysis in business and to give them a good training in the more frequently used methods.

BUS 100. ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES I: FINANCIAL
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisite: None
The objective of this course is to provide the financial accounting principles within which a company functions. Topics include measuring income, establishing financial position, and reporting the results of the accounting cycle.

BUS 101. ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES II: MANAGERIAL
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisite: BUS 100
The focus of this course is on planning and controlling business operations. The course includes data analysis, budgets, product costing and pricing, and quantitative decision-making.

BUS 120. THE ENVIRONMENT OF MODERN BUSINESS
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisite: None
A survey course to introduce the student to the various components and issues relating to modern business. Topics to be covered include: management, operations, human behavior in business settings, human resources, marketing, financial management and planning both personal and enterprise, and business ethical issues. The focus of the course will be the introduction to the student of the business faculty and the different aspects of business practices today, the interaction between global business, people, and the governments, and the issues facing enterprises large and small. Business career opportunities will also be addressed during each part of the course.

BUS 165. BUSINESS DECISION ANALYSIS
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisite: None
The success of business executives and managers depends on their decision-making abilities and sound knowledge they incorporate in their decision-making process. The Business Decision Analysis course covers concepts and quantitative tools as aids in managerial decision making. Students will learn to utilize algebraic techniques and computer technology to solve business decision problems. They will be introduced to the concepts of probability and time value of money, their importance to business and how to incorporate them in business problems and solving them. A wide range of business applications will be covered, including many from transportation, logistics, the maritime industry, and international business.

BUS 185. STUDY ABROAD ELECTIVE

BUS 190. CRUISE PORT ANALYSIS
CLASS HOURS: 1, CREDIT: 1
Prerequisite: None
Co-requisite: Cruise
Students conduct studies of ports to be visited during cruise. They plan and arrange for site visits, factory or transport enterprise visits, seminars, and other activities to be conducted while in port, and/or during voyages.

BUS 200. INTRODUCTION TO MARKETING
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisite: ECO 100
This course introduces the student to the marketing function in a business environment. The various marketing components of product, price, promotion, and place are examined in the con-text of the competitive business arena. Case studies and the analysis of marketing plans are discussed.

BUS 205. BUSINESS STATISTICS
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisite: MTH 205
This foundation course discusses statistical methods that management would find useful in solving common business problems. The course discusses such topics as decision-making in the face of uncertainty, probability and expectation, estimation, tests of hypothesis, regression analysis, and analysis of variance.

BUS 220. BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisites: None
Focuses on the three main communication skills required by a decision-maker: written, oral, and presentational. Besides communication skills, the course also has a critical thinking component that builds analytical skills and includes library and Internet research.
Formerly BUS 320

BUS 300. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisite: ECO 100
This course introduces the student to the effects of multi-national operations on business strategy and decision making by exploring the economic, political, financial, legal, and social nature of the international environment. The formulation, selection, and implementation of multi-national strategies are examined in the context of the global business environment.

BUS 301. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS II—COUNTRY RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND GLOBAL
MARKETING
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisites: BUS 120, BUS 200, BUS 300
Students explore, in detail, some major issues of doing business globally, such as environment, supply chain competition, regulation, security, exchange rates and international finance, and legal and cultural issues. Focus will be principally maritime and transport related. Students learn through case studies and research and analysis of specific country information from major international organizations.

BUS 302. PRINCIPLES OF RESEARCH DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION & ANALYSIS
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisite: BUS 205, or an equivalent at least sophomore level statistics course from transfer credits or another Cal Maritime department.
Corequisite: BUS 302L
The purpose of this course is to give students a working appreciation of both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. The classroom presentations will focus on theory and examples; the lab will give students an opportunity to put theory into practice by designing, implementing and analyzing a business research project. Student teams conduct work on the projects. Within the teams there will be a cross-functional approach so that each student will be involved at one time or another in assignments that involve all major aspects of the research project. In addition to the usual evaluation by the professor, peer evaluations will round out the students’ project experiences.

BUS 302L. PRINCIPLES OF RESEARCH DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION & ANALYSIS LAB
LAB HOURS: 2, CREDIT: 1
Prerequisite: Same as for BUS 302.
Corequisite: BUS 302

BUS 305. MONEY AND BANKING
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisites: BUS 205, BUS 310, ECO 100, ECO 101
This course examines the structure of our banking system at the federal, state, and local levels. The impact of the monetary and fiscal policy on this system, market behavior and the participants, and the organization and function of the money markets are addressed.

BUS 310. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisites: BUS 101, BUS 205, MTH 205
Introduction to management and formation of capital; the finance function and its environment; techniques of financial analysis; planning and control; management of working capital; capital budgeting; cost of capital; money and capital market analysis; management of capital structure.

BUS 385. STUDY ABROAD ELECTIVE

BUS 390. INDEPENDENT STUDY

BUS 395. SPECIAL TOPICS

BUS 400. BUSINESS AND SOCIETY
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisite: ECO 101
Analysis of the American business system in terms of socioeconomic and political constraints imposed upon business organizations by external environments. Special reference to ethical issues in business, corporate social responsibility, and profit maximization.

BUS 405. BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AND GROUP DYNAMICS
CLASS HOURS: 3, CREDIT: 3
Prerequisites: BUS 220, CEP 300, EGL 300, Senior Class Standing
Behavioral and psychological aspects of leadership in the business environment are the focus of this course. Behavioral concepts include practical training in how to follow, development of skills in leadership, communication, team membership, and management of personal stress. Psychological concepts include attitude development, corporate culture values, and personality assessment. In addition, students perform a detailed leadership analysis of their co-op (or other work experience, with instructor’s approval), resulting in a professional paper, and an oral presentation in class.