Business (BUSN1-UC)

This course introduces students to the principles of double-entry systems, control accounts, and subsidiary records. It places emphasis on worksheets and variations of systems as well as accounting procedures involved with partnership and corporation capital accounts. The end results of the accounting process, such as costs, financial relationships, financial analysis, taxes, and budgeting, are investigated.

This course is designed to expand students' understanding of accounting theory and practice. It includes practice in the preparation of financial statements and a framework for their interpretation and analysis.

Students are introduced to the principles and practice of corporate finance. Basic concepts are introduced with emphasis on working knowledge of organizational and financial structures, methods of financing, financial management, and planning. Investments and strategies, risk and growth, and money and banking are topics of study and discussion.

This course is designed to explore alternative approaches to management in the 21st century. The major goal of the course is to educate and engage students on the concept and practice of sustainable management, an emerging discipline that addresses management functions based on the growing evidence and perceived threats to the earth. Given unprecedented developments in global demographics, climate change, pollution and questionable resource use patterns, there is a compelling need to rethink some of the basic principles and traditional management practices in business and other organizations. After addressing the available data on these environmental challenges, students will proceed to examine the basic tenets of orthodox management approaches and practices and their impact on society, including assumptions underlying management decisions, resource use, and production. The course will explore alternative approaches to control or eliminate the deficiencies of current management practices in solving environmental problems. Specific topics to be addressed in the course include traditional principles of management, emerging principles of sustainable management, best practices in sustainability, new policies, institutions and markets created to support the concept and practice of sustainability, among others. Case studies from a variety of organizations and industries around the world will supplement the text in presenting the content of this course.

This course is designed to: (i) identify and critique the various theories and approaches to national development adopted by governments and developing agencies since World War II when a wave of decolonization began, and (ii) Examine alternative approaches to national development rooted in the principle of sustainability. After years of experimenting with various theories and approaches to national development, evidence of success in developing /emerging economies is partial and spotty. Rapid economic growth and transformation in East Asia and elsewhere in the developing world have not been easily replicated in countries in other parts of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the developing regions. In some instances poverty has actually increased. Even in more successful emerging economies, economic growth has come at a cost, in terms of environmental degradation, elevated levels of carbon emission, pollution, growing inequalities in wealth and income, among others. In this course, students will examine factors that compel the need for an alternative development approach. Drawing from concepts and cases on sustainability, the course will also examine new assumptions and evidence on the earth¿s capacity to support economic growth under conditions such as climate change, resource depletion, demographic trends, and rapid technological changes. Topics to be addressed include a contrast in traditional growth models versus approaches in sustainability, economic and financial crises that limit development, the resource ¿curse¿ in selected countries, new technologies and their impact on sustainability, resource use patterns and best practices in sustainability. After years of experimenting with various theories and approaches to national development, evidence of success in developing /emerging economies is partial and spotty. Rapid economic growth and transformation in East Asia and elsewhere in the developing world have not been easily replicated in countries in other parts of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the developing regions. In some instances poverty has actually increased. Even in more successful emerging economies, economic growth has come at a cost, in terms of environmental degradation, elevated levels of carbon emission, pollution, growing inequalities in wealth and income, among others.

This course focuses on the processes and problems of competent management. Methods of setting and maintaining high performance standards and high productivity are discussed, along with topics including management structure, planning, organization, staffing, strategy formulation, decision making, leadership, and social responsibility. This survey considers the general tasks associated with competent management and leadership, irrespective of occupational area, industry, or sector of the economy. Methods for establishing and maintaining motivating workplaces and high performance standards are considered.

The course introduces students to the legal and regulatory environment of business. Students examine the laws of contracts, property, sales, negotiable instruments, and the Uniform Commercial Code through conceptual study, case analysis, and legal research.

In this course marketing as a system of satisfying customer wants is considered from the theoretical as well as from the pragmatic viewpoint. Students study markets, products, and customer motivation, with emphasis on basic marketing research and marketing management. In addition, students analyze the various marketing functions and apply theories and techniques to problems and cases in the context of current marketing practice and market environment.