Course Descriptions: Business Administration

MGT500: Research Methods
Students explore various research techniques and then apply that knowledge to an analysis of existing research and to designing and implementing their own research projects. The course includes preparation of a literature review, qualitative and quantitative approaches, triangulation methods, research designs, threats to internal and external validity, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and ethical considerations. Note: This course must be taken in the first year of graduate studies. Available online.

MGT501: Management and Organizational Theory
Students will explore classic management and organizational theories as they apply to contemporary organizations, including, for example, healthcare, law enforcement, manufacturing, educational institutions, public sector, private sector, for-­profit and not-­for-­profit entities. Integration of the individual into the organization, an examination of the human factor in organizational dynamics and the processes of team building and evaluating organizational and managerial effec­tiveness will be considered. Available online.
 
MGT503: Business Law
This course concentrates on the legal aspects of business organizations. The law controlling agency, partnerships and corporations is examined. Emphasis is on the rights, duties and liabilities of principal, agent, partner, shareholder, officer and director. Students also are exposed to a survey of the law of contracts, personal property, bailments, bankruptcy, commercial paper and secured transactions. Students will use case studies as a basis for understanding how legal requirements are applied in a variety of business settings. Available online.

MGT509: Human Resources Management
This course will assist students in understanding the effective use of human resources to achieve organizational goals within the constraints imposed by ethical considerations and legal obligations. The processes used to determine human resource requirements, recruitment, selection, development, utilization and accommodation of human resources in contemporary organizations will be explored. Available online.

MGT510: Operations Management
This course introduces tools and techniques necessary to assure effective and efficient operations in both service and manufacturing settings. Managerial decision making, forecasting, queuing and inventory control are enhanced by use of techniques such as total quality management (TQM), statistical process control (SPC), supply-chain management, and quantitative evaluation of capacity, location, layout and resource planning. Prerequisite: Quantitative Analysis, Calculus and/or Statistics or equivalent or permission of the instructor. Available online.

MGT518: Managerial Economics
This course focuses on the use of economics in managerial and strategic decision making. The course will provide a review of how economic tools, techniques and indicators can be used for solving organizational problems. The practical application of economics will be discussed utilizing a myriad of examples from a variety of organizations within both the public and private sectors. Prerequisite: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics or equivalent or permission of the instructor. Available online.

MGT530: Marketing Management
Students survey the role of marketing in business and in society. They explore consumer behavior, market segments, product positioning, new product development and policy, pricing, distributing, advertising and sales management. Case studies will be utilized to enhance critical thinking and analytical decision­-making. Available online.

MGT534: Global Quality Management: ISO9001
This course will provide an overview of the field of quality management with a focus on implementation and maintenance of an internationally recognized standard for a quality management system. Students will learn practical application of quality management techniques by focusing on a project relevant to the student’s work or career interests.

MGT536: Global Environmental Management: ISO14001
Major corporations throughout the world are requiring suppliers to meet the proactive ISO14001 Environmental Management System standards. This course will explore the role of a voluntary standard with a goal of pollution prevention and continual improvement in meeting environmental objectives. Students will learn practical application of the ISO14001 standard by building an ISO14001 compliant environmental management system to an organization of the student’s choice.

MGT538: Global Business
This course presents the backgrounds, patterns and practical operations of global, multinational businesses. Topics include transnational corporations, global trade, global financial flows and international human resources management. The interactions between business policies and the host country’s sociopolitical and economic environment are investigated. Use of case studies and business simulation models provide practical application of theories to enhance learning. Available online.

MGT540: Social and Ethical Issues: A Global Perspective
With the explosion of worldwide communications, the globalization of the economy, and the increase of international conflicts, this course takes a global perspective on major ethical issues impacting our daily lives as members of a world community. From business to world politics, students will examine enduring ethical concepts. Case studies will be used to explore contemporary applications to such concerns as armed conflict, overpopulation, global degradation, homeland security, education and literacy. This course will encourage students to seek solutions to improve the world in which we live. Available online.

MGT555: Organizational Development
This course provides an overview of the field of organizational behavior with a focus on organizational culture, group behavior, interpersonal influence and organizational design, change and innovation. This course is centered on effective change management within organizations. Students will have the opportunity to improve skills in areas such as process consultation, managing change, team building and measuring organizational effectiveness. Available online.

MGT560: Labor Relations
Students study collective bargaining as an ongoing dynamic process and develop a process model of collaborative bargaining. Special attention is given to resolution of negotiation impasses, unfair labor practices and employee grievances. Unique features of public and private sector bargaining are highlighted. Prerequisite: MGT509 Human Resources Management or permission of instructor. Available online.

MGT561: Financial Management
Students become acquainted with the tools and instruments that allow financial managers to successfully manage current operations and predict long term needs. Emphasis is placed on current industry practices with investigations of the investment, financing, and evaluation decisions necessary for organizations to meet their fiduciary responsibilities. The course is designed to show the application of finance theory to current management issues.  Prerequisite: Accounting I & II or equivalent or permission of instructor. Available online.

MGT562: Managerial Accounting
Students explore and analyze real ­world issues in financial planning and analysis with emphasis on preparation of business plans and financial forecasts. Students use accounting software to record, summarize, report and analyze financial information. Prerequisite: Accounting I & II or equivalent or permission of instructor. Available online.

MGT567: Creative Problem-Solving
This course provides students with both the theoretical and practical applications of creatively solving problems in a wide range of organizational settings including, for example, healthcare, law enforcement, manufacturing, educational institutions, public sector, private sector, for­-profit and not-for-profit entities. Students will work collaboratively and cooperatively to learn the connections between innovation, creativity, visualization, memory, thinking, overcoming mental barriers, problem definition, idea generation, idea evaluation, solution implementation and improved communication.

MGT575: Strategic Management and Business Policy
This capstone course enables students to concentrate on the determination and implementation of organizational strategy. The student takes the point of view of an administrative leader who must integrate organizational activities such as human resources management, public relations, operations, marketing, finance, production, disaster planning and critical incident management. Major topics are the determination of organizational strategy and the relationship between the personal values of senior administrators. This capstone course should be taken as one of the last two courses in the degree program. Available online.

MGT581: Special Topics
Theoretical, procedural and study abroad opportunities of interest to business studies students are offered periodically. Details of these courses, when offered, will be announced on the Salve Regina University Web site and in printed schedule booklets.

MGT591 Independent Study (1-3 credits)    
A focused study on a subject outside the graduate catalogue.  An Independent study provides opportunity for original and in-depth research on a specific topic or regional issue of the candidate’s interest and professional focus.  It is an important part of the curriculum and should be used to supplement existing coursework.  A student selects a topic of research from a single field of learning or one which is interdisciplinary and prepares a research paper to be submitted at the end of the semester (minimum of 20 pages). The quality of the research paper should be a publication-ready document.  A list of preliminary reading and/or assignments and a means of assessment/evaluation are clearly defined in advance of the study.  Prerequisite:  A minimum GPA of 3.2 is required  (see guidelines and appropriate forms located on University web-site, Registrar link).

MGT598: Internship (3 credits)
Individual work experience or project in an organization (normally off-campus) under the supervision of a practicing professional and structured by a Salve Regina University faculty member.  Although the specific nature of the internship varies with the student’s academic interest, there should be a close relationship between the program of study and the non-academic setting.  The internship is a supervised learning experience for academic credit typically consisting of a minimum of 240 hours (80/credit) of on-the-job experience occurring within a semester.  The number of hours may be reduced if the internship involves significantly more writing as required by the faculty (see guidelines and appropriate forms located on University web-site, Registrar link). Note: This is a recommended course for students in 5-year program.

ISS501: Structured Systems Analysis
This course examines the structured systems development life cycle and rapid prototyping alternatives that may be applied to applications development process. Topics in this course include information systems planning in support of the organization's objectives, determination of requirements, an introduction to software project management, modern structured analysis, and preliminary design. Additional topics include: event-driven design, object-oriented methodologies, conversion of legacy systems to a distributed environment, and application maintenance. Appropriate case tools, project management and development software will be used to support these activities. Available online.