Foundations of Business Management
This course explores the dynamic organizational environment in which businesses operate and provides students with an overview of functional areas such as human resources, marketing, public relations, financial management, operations management, and purchasing and supply management. Students develop an understanding of the theory underlying key management principles such as planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Students are introduced to and use the case study method to critically examine business management in practice.
Marketing Management
Marketing involves understanding the marketing mix and making decisions about product, distribution, promotion, and price. This course introduces students to the basic concepts, analyses and activities that comprise marketing management including the study of the marketing environment framework, target market, market segmentation, marketing ethics, and the marketing mix. Students analyze cases dealing with marketing successes and failures to acquire the fundamentals of marketing management.
Writing Communication Skills
This course provides students with a theoretical and practical application of communication principles related to the production of written messages in the business world. The principles studied and applied in this course come from cases involving the writing of business letters, reports, and memoranda. Emphasis is given to producing effective messages which project the brand, achieve desired outcomes and generate positive working relationships.
Accounting I
The course is an introduction to the basic theories and principles of accounting: the accounting cycle, the recording and reporting of accounting data, adjusting entries, closing entries, subsidiary ledgers and financial statements. Accounting for assets is covered in detail. The course also explores the use of the computer as it relates to the preparation of accounting information.
Elementary Calculus
This course builds skills and proficiency in the understanding and application of areas of calculus that are relevant to students of managerial and business sciences. Students revisit the theory and practice of limits, continue with derivatives and explore applications and integration, including more than one variable, differential equations, series and optimization.
MicroEconomics
This course deals with the key principles of microeconomics that have critical, far-ranging applications in industry and other businesses, in government and in our everyday life. Students reflect on theories and insights into and an analytical understanding of many choices made by individuals, organizations, governments and other stakeholders. Some powerful, analytical tools and concepts are presented and explored as students learn to assess and analyze the world from the perspective of an economist.
IT Software for Business
Computer literacy, which is the ability to use computers in order to perform a variety of tasks, is fundamental to the learning process. Computer skills are an essential part of college learning and employment for the majority of individuals. This course helps students understand the working of computer hardware and software, and network systems. It focuses on the Microsoft Office suite of programs and the use of the internet. Special emphasis is given to MS Excel, as it is an essential tool for other subjects taught during the degree course.
Environmental Sustainability
Environmental Sustainability means meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. This course focuses on understanding the relationship between local, global, social and ecological issues and the responsibility of the different groups and stakeholders in sustainability. Students examine the objectives and best sustainability practices of leading nonprofit and for-profit organizations. In addition, the course looks at “green” initiatives in business throughout the world. Topics include carbon and water markets; green buildings, design, and specifications and sustainable management systems.
Seminars / Industrial Visits
Seminars / Industrial Visits
Ethics in Business
This course is an introduction to ethical theory and its application to issues arising in business life. Students use case studies to identify ethical issues in business, to analyze them using moral principles and make recommendations to resolve the issues. The course also prepares students for the social responsibility challenges and opportunities they will face throughout their careers.
Oral Communication Skills
The fundamental skills of communicating within the workplace and on behalf of an organization in front of others are the basis upon which students develop the skills necessary to be effective business executives. These skills include listening, interviewing, speech evaluation and design, and developing poise and confidence. Students learn to analyze how, when and in which format to send messages and will develop critical analysis in order to enhance and become effective in oral communication skills.
Accounting II
Key accounting concepts and financial analysis techniques are applied as students gain an in-depth understanding of concepts such as stockholders’ equity, retained earnings, and cash flow. The course also examines different tools and measures used in financial statement analysis as well as the basic concepts of budgeting and cost accounting systems used in management accounting.
MacroEconomics
Macroeconomics studies the larger picture and, as such, some of the most important issues of our time and that affect every facet of our daily lives - income, inflation, unemployment, interest rates, GDP and the business cycle. Students also investigate the role of economics in relation to government policy, international trade and the international monetary system.
Business Law
This course introduces students to the main legal issues that entrepreneurs, organizations and business managers face when running an operation. Students learn about key concepts in business law through situational analysis. The differences between statutory law and common or case law are discussed. Topics such as setting up a company, trust or partnership, contracts, mercantile, tax, civil, agency and commercial law are covered. The relationship between ethics and the law is a common thread running through the course.
Mathematics of Finance
This course enables students to perform all the analyses required in day-to-day transactions involving value (time and/or money). In this way students learn to make business investment decisions in an objective manner. The course explores mathematical concepts and procedures required in financial management and analysis.
Applied Management Statistics
This course provides students with hands on practice in the techniques related to the collection and use of statistical data and their evaluation and application in managerial situations. Subjects covered include means, distribution, dispersion and sampling. Keys to statistical inference are highlighted and the importance of random sampling is investigated.
Advertising, Media & Branding
This course introduces students to the key concepts and practices that underpin successful advertising and brand communications. Students learn how to select appropriate media for these communications and also develop an understanding of trends, visual thinking, advertising brief development, marketing principles, brand communications, media relations and client/agency relationships.
Strategic Marketing
Strategic marketing is the process of creating satisfied customers through integrating all the business functions and through the continuous search for a sustainable competitive advantage. Students discuss the place of the marketing plan in the overall business plan. The course views the concept of strategic marketing from the customer and brand perspective and examines the concept of marketing strategy: targeting, achieving a sustainable competitive advantage and brand positioning. (prerequisite BCO 112)
Business Finance I
This course introduces students to core financial areas and issues that provide a basis to prepare for more specific learning in other courses. Students are introduced to financial instruments and techniques used in financial decision-making. Concepts such as asset valuation, financial health, planning for future financial investments, risk and return are explored through real life examples. (prerequisite BCO 126)
Human Resource Management
Effective human resource management is a key strategic function in successful organizations. The course examines theories and explores the dynamic relationship between strategy, people, technology, and the processes that drive organizations. Key topic areas include: profiling, recruitment and development of staff, employment laws, motivation, job satisfaction, performance management, fair compensation and other ethical issues.
Production Management
This course covers production and operations management, focusing on productivity analysis that contributes to improving business orientations and creating a competitive edge. Inventory control systems, the planning of materials requirements and manufacturing resources and quality controls are key issues examined and discussed in this course.
Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation
This course explores the complexities of starting and developing a small new business. Students examine the management skills necessary to succeed as an independent business owner and how to assess personal strengths and weaknesses in order to form effective working teams. The course uses cases to explore key topics such as opportunity analysis, feasibility studies and start-up finance, as well as comparing entrepreneurial management with professional management.
Management Information Systems
This course looks at the foundations, technology and applications of Management Information Systems (MIS) in today’s competitive business environment. Students identify the major management challenges to building and using information systems. Practical cases are used to examine, analyze and compare different systems to serve the information needs of organizations and to support the decision-making processes.
E-Business
E-Business is an interdisciplinary topic encompassing both business and technology. The course is an introduction to this rapidly changing mode of doing business. It examines commonly used and emerging technologies as well as discussing the organizational impacts and management implications of moving into e-business. A number of specific applications are reviewed through case studies.
Global Economics
All economies, regardless of their size, depend to some extent on other economies and are affected by events outside their borders. In this course students examine the forces, process and actors that shape economic globalization. Topics include the effectiveness of trade organizations such as the WTO; the theory of comparative advantage; modern trade theory; intra-industry trade and the impact of protectionism tools such as tariffs on global trade. The course also examines the impact of international trade on labor and the environment; the balance of payments; exchange rates and the exchange rate systems; open economy macroeconomics; past international financial crises; NAFTA, and the impact of the European Union on the global economy. (prerequisite BCO 115 & BCO 124)
Business Finance II
This course explores and assesses financial issues affecting markets, companies and management. Students are invited to examine and reflect on current and past cases to strengthen learning. Topics include measuring efficiency, valuation of debt, financial analysis and planning and working capital. (prerequisite BCO 212)
Social Media Marketing
In the rapidly evolving 21st century, in the world of search engine marketing and viral marketing, social media plays a leading role. This course explores social media marketing tools, techniques and strategies and examines the best ways to use them to build valuable, lasting relationships with customers and other stakeholders. Students learn how to exploit social media to interact and engage with real and potential stakeholders and to improve online campaign performance. The course also examines how to integrate social media with other components of a marketing or communications campaign.
Financial Markets
Financial institutions support people in their productive ventures and help them manage the economic risks they take on. It is important to understand the workings of these institutions if we are to predict their actions today and their evolution in the near future. This course strives to offer understanding of the strengths and imperfections of tools and institutions such as banking, insurance, securities, futures, bonds and other derivatives markets, in the recent past, now and in the near future.
Consumer Behavior
Understanding consumers enables marketers to more effectively meet the needs of buyers in the market. This course investigates the processes that individuals, groups and organizations use to select, secure, use, and dispose of products, services and experiences. It also covers the process of generating ideas to satisfy needs and the impacts that these processes have on the consumer and society. This course introduces students to the influence that consumer behavior has on marketing activities and vice versa. Students develop an understanding of the way people interact with products or services and their marketing environment as well as an appreciation of the social, cultural and marketing factors that influence the selection and usage of products and services.
Sales & Purchasing Management
In this course students learn how to apply their knowledge of sales and purchasing concepts to solve business problems. Effective management of salespeople and purchasing functions is critical to business success because of the pressure on cost optimization and resource efficiency. The course focuses on Business to Business (B2B) relationships and all activities - case discussions and the application of theory to real-life situations - demand active participation and ideas exchange. (prerequisite BCO 112)
Global Business
This course introduces students to the world of international business and management and examines contextual factors, administrative mechanisms, organizational processes, cultural influences, government, and business structures in our global economy. Students explore the challenges facing modern corporations when organizing cross-border activities that span multiple stages of the value chain. Topics include trade relations and missions, international finance, legal and labor agreements, information needs, production systems, marketing and promotion. (prerequisite BCO 111 & BCO 112)
Financial Statement Analysis
In this course students learn how to evaluate company performance and value based on financial information. Students interpret the income statement and the balance sheet and they learn how to apply ratio analysis, as well as preparing financial projections from the balance sheets and income statements. (prerequisite BCO 212 & BCO 222)
Negotiation
The need for negotiation skills arises wherever joint decision-making is required and the aim of effective negotiation is to create optimum value in the deal making process. This course helps students build their negotiating skills, and develop an analytical understanding of negotiations and the management of conflicts so that they can become more effective problem solvers. Through role plays, simulations and observation students examine, critically evaluate and apply negotiation techniques and also learn to identify tricks and distracters used by counterparts.
Small Business Management
The course explores the complexities of managing and developing a small business and gives students practical information concerning the SME sector. This involves exploring the practical implications of self-employment and family run businesses. Topics include areas of marketing, finance and labor management specific to SMEs. (prerequisite BCO 215)
Corporate Finance
The course addresses three main issues in corporate finance: how a corporation should invest its funds, how it should finance its investments, and to what extent it should distribute some of its assets to its owners. Students look at practical examples of how this balance is achieved in order to maximize the value of the organization. (prerequisite BCO 212 & BCO 222)
Industrial Marketing
The course introduces the key elements of business-to-business marketing and analyzes the differences between industrial and consumer markets. Topics include business buyer behavior, steps in business buying decisions, B2B marketing strategies, the role of events and B2B marketing campaigns. (prerequisite BCO 112)
Strategic Management
This course examines how firms gain and maintain a competitive advantage. It explores the corporate environment and looks at the challenges entrepreneurs and senior management face when transmitting the vision and mission so that these permeate all departments and functional areas. The course takes a general management point of view of an organization and analyzes decisions and strategies in light of the total business. Students relate strategy to the future development of the organization and discuss how to implement strategic plans. (prerequisite BCO 111 & BCO 112)
Budgeting & Control
In this course students learn how to create company budgets in line with business policy and, from a management perspective, to understand their purpose, the advantages and disadvantages of budgetary control, and the concept of responsibility centers. The need for detailed information is highlighted and students become familiar with the main concepts, tools and techniques for budgeting and for analyzing budgeting variances. (prerequisite BCO 114, BCO 123, BCO 212 & BCO 222)
Organizational Communication
This course concentrates on the fundamental skills of communicating effectively and optimizing synergies in the workplace. Students explore, understand, improve and develop their ability to judge and apply effective strategies, such as two-way communication, events and other socialization tools, in the area of organizational communication. Students also learn to analyze how, when and in which format to send messages and develop critical analysis in order to enhance their communication and add value to an organization.
Cases in Marketing
This course brings together the skills and knowledge that students will have acquired in the area of marketing. Students thoroughly analyze cases illustrating a variety of situations in which a wide range of companies find themselves, discuss the issues and search for and create solutions. Students identify market opportunities and learn to define strategies compatible with the organization’s marketing plan. This course helps students to understand the strategic and integral role of the marketing department in a business. (prerequisite BCO 112 & BCO 211)
Fundamentals of Public Relations
This course introduces students to the field of public relations and the way that organizations communicate with society. The principles of public relations are then applied to practical situations detailing the procedures for planning and implementing public relations campaigns. Theoretical concepts are illustrated using cases taken from the corporate, governmental and non-profit sectors.
Interpersonal Communication
Effective interpersonal communication is essential to build and maintain productive personal, social, intellectual and work relationships. This course develops and applies approaches to effective interpersonal communication with topics which include self-concept, perception, language, listening, conversation, self-disclosure, friendship, and conflict management. Students practice communication skills that develop and maintain relationships occurring in work, social, and non-public settings.
Seminars/Industrial Visits
Public Relations Research
This course studies the research tools available to support public relations objectives focusing on selecting and applying appropriate tools in each situation. Students learn how to design and conduct preliminary research as well as how to select and apply different data collection techniques. Once the results of the survey research have been analyzed, the findings are communicated in a final report.
Event & Conference Management
This course is an introduction to the events industry in a broad business context with the aim of developing an understanding of the key areas involved in planning and managing events. A variety of different types of events are covered, but with a special emphasis on conference organization and management.
Public Relations Campaigns
This course focuses on the theories, ideas and concepts that are integral to the development of a successful public relations campaign, from the planning phase to the desired end result. Business cases are used and critically examined to highlight successes and failures encountered by organizations. Students are encouraged to think strategically and creatively about a range of issues and objectives that can arise in an organization. Concepts are applied by developing proactive and reactive communication plans and campaigns to address different situations.
Seminar/Industrial Visits/Thesis Seminar
International Public Relations
This course addresses public relations issues on an international scale. It examines the way organizations communicate on the world stage, and also the way nations need to communicate and develop an appropriate image. By studying public relations practices around the world, students accelerate their understanding of international business and develop their ability to operate in the world’s major markets.
Intercultural Communication
This course combines theory, cases studies and exercises to provide students with a foundation for understanding, managing and interacting effectively in multicultural situations. Values, beliefs, expectations, customs and attitudes of various cultural groups are studied and techniques and strategies are discussed to facilitate communication in the global environment.
Persuasion & Lobbying
This course analyzes the theory and practice of persuasive aspects of communication and examines the effect that the range of media available may have on the delivery of the message. The choice of media is critical when dealing with persuasive messages and may also influence which techniques of persuasion are applied and how the message is structured. Practical oral and written examples will be used to illustrate how persuasion can be both ethical and effective.
Seminar/Industrial Visits/Thesis Seminar
Cases in Public Relations
This course focuses on practical and real business situations encountered by organizations within the field of public relations. It is important to study how different situations can be handled in our pluralistic society in a way that will contribute to mutual understanding among groups and institutions. Specific objectives include handling crisis situations and achieving institutional goals.
Social, Company & State Protocol
Protocol is of vital importance in today’s business and social life as it lays down a framework of mutual respect covering different cultures and practices. The course discusses the main rules governing a wide range of activities, from business meetings and diplomatic receptions to charitable events. Attention is paid not only to face-to-face encounters, but also to written communications, telephone, e-mail and social media protocol. Rules may differ from country to country and it is important to understand their relationship with the underlying business culture.
Mass Media Ethics & Legislation
This course provides the student with a clear and concise overview of the law governing mass communication. It is largely based on court decisions and the mass media has not escaped the flood of litigation. Broadcasters, cable and satellite television providers, newspapers, magazines, wire services, internet providers and advertising agencies frequently find themselves fighting legal battles. Moreover, working journalists and other mass communicators run foul of the law regularly, facing lawsuits and even jail sentences. To get an understanding of how mass media law works, students are encouraged to examine different cases critically. This course provides the basis for more in-depth, specialist areas of study covered in subsequent courses.
Innovative Electronic Communications
The world of communications technology can appear confusing and difficult to understand to the non-technical user. This course aims to clarify some of the confusion by providing clear definitions and by dispelling misconceptions. The history of these new technologies is examined focusing on the way they have developed over time to reach a high level of impact on current business culture and on strategies for the future. Their influence stretches wider to take in not just business applications by also the social architecture which provides new tools for predicting future trends and for effective innovative communication.
Media Planning
A wide range of media is available to organizations in today’s world. With so many options it is often difficult to attract a substantial audience to any one particular medium. Along with the diverse choice of media, we find that the audience is also increasingly diverse. New media, such as the Internet and its many applications, have changed the landscape, which continues to evolve. Students study the options available and use real case studies to determine which media to choose for which purposes and how to plan media requirements.
Thesis Seminar
Final Case: Marketing
Final Case: Communication & Public Relations
Thesis
International Protocol
Students will acquire knowledge, develop their skills and abilities in the area of international protocol and etiquette – its main rules, requirements, and norms. The course will start with the origin and overview of the international protocol and will discuss its major topics: protocol attire, meeting and greeting others, introductions, receptions, table manners, etc. Students will develop their competences in the area of global business etiquette.
Political Science
The objective of the course is to introduce students to the substance of political science, its structure, history of the discipline and its place among social sciences. The following concepts and themes will be analyzed: political power and its origins, distribution of power in society, relations between government and civil society, types of political systems and regimes. All major concepts of political science will be presented in the context of competing theoretical and ideological frameworks.
Civil Law
The course offers an overview of civil law, in particular contract law, and basic knowledge about law in general. Theoretical knowledge is combined with the know-how of solving a case. In addition, the differences between Anglo-Saxon case law and continental Latin law will be pointed out.
Economic History of Europe
The course focuses on the economic development of Europe in the last 300 years and its impact on the current economic developments. Main political and sociologic aspects are discussed as well as longterm strategies and current developments. Thereby, theoretical knowledge is presented as well as major historical events.
Microeconomics Extended
The course provides an understanding of the market functioning mechanism and an advanced study of microeconomics models: consumer behavior, market supply and demand, profit maximizing and cost minimizing, competitive supply and competitive markets.
Quantitative Analysis in Economics
In solving a problem, managers usually have to consider and to employ (to various degrees) both qualitative and quantitative methods. Skills, experience and managerial judgment cannot be replaced by formal decision making techniques - and the vice versa. Quantitative analysis is the scienti!c approach to managerial decision making. The heart and sense of quantitative analysis is the relevant processing of available data converting it into information that is useful –sometimes indispensable- to people making decisions. The course is devoted to the mastering of various quantitative techniques that are applicable in business. Here we shall learn what technique –and how- should be applied to the solution of a speci!c business problem.
Statistics
Topics include basic statistical principles; graphic presentation; descriptive measures of central tendency, dispersion, and location; inferential statistics and hypothesis testing; analysis and inference of linear correlation coef!cient and slope of regression line. Students will apply statistical concepts to real world situations. Current technology will be utilized in examining statistical information. A laptop with MS Excel Analysis tool pack is required.