Small Business and Entrepreneurship

• Required Courses – 9 credits
• 3
  BU 5500 Small Business: Problems and Strategy (SBI I)
  Student teams examine, research and present case findings and recommendations orally and in writing. Constant attention is given to those problems unique to small businesses. Students will go out into the field with the instructor as a team. Students will act as business consultants to a business in the area under the Small Business Institute Program at Plymouth State University.
• 3
  BU 5501 Small Business Analysis (SBI II)
  Required for a six-credit Small Business Institute project which includes primary and secondary research, complex financial analysis and a comprehensive plan including specific recommendations for improvements in business operations. Final report preparation of findings and recommendations to the small business client are requirements of this course.
• 3
  BU 5850 New Ventures and Entrepreneurship
  This course focuses on business start-ups, providing an intensive introduction to business planning from the defining of a primary vision through market size assessment and strategic operations planning, to the financing, staffing and implementation of the new venture. Course includes readings on entrepreneurship, case studies of both small and large examples of successful new ventures and student fieldwork. Software available to help business planning will be introduced for hands-on use. Students will each prepare a formal business plan for new ventures.

Plus choose one course from the following:

• 3
  BU 5110 Managing Organizational Behavior
  A review of theory and research findings in the field of organizational behavior, with emphasis on applications by practicing managers. Topics to be covered include perception, motivation, leadership, communication, group dynamics, conflict management and organization theory. Pedagogical techniques include case analysis, presentations, role plays and other experiential activities. Prerequisite: Behavioral Science competency.
• 3
  BU 5190 Accounting for Managers
  Budgetary accounting and cost accounting including profit planning and control systems, budget process, cost systems, and their managerial applications. Prerequisite: demonstration of competency in Financial Accounting.
• 3
  BU 5220 The Legal Environment of Business
  A basic understanding of legal problems is expanded, analytical ability is developed, and an awareness of the presence of legal problems that surround the businessperson is explored. Freedom of choice, taxation, stockholder status, acquisitions and divisions, antitrust, employment, administrative law, and bankruptcy are covered as time allows.
• 3
  BU 5700 Marketing Techniques
  The objective of this course is to help students develop a broad understanding of marketing techniques, strategies and tactics employed by the marketing manager. This course will cover the use of the 'marketing mix' elements as they pertain to the planning and implementation of the marketing plan. Prerequisite: Common Professional Component (CPC) competencies in Management and Marketing.

• Total for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Certificate – 12 credits

• Additional MBA Core Courses – 18 credits
• 3
  BU 5110 Managing Organizational Behavior (If not chosen above)
  A review of theory and research findings in the field of organizational behavior, with emphasis on applications by practicing managers. Topics to be covered include perception, motivation, leadership, communication, group dynamics, conflict management and organization theory. Pedagogical techniques include case analysis, presentations, role plays and other experiential activities. Prerequisite: Behavioral Science competency.
• 3
  BU 5120 Financial Analysis
  A complete corporate financial management course. Content covers the classic areas of valuation, capital structure and budgeting as well as more specialized financial topics. Online version incorporates online course materials and exercises. Prerequisite: BU 5190 or permission of the instructor.
• 3
  BU 5190 Accounting for Managers (If not chosen above)
  Budgetary accounting and cost accounting including profit planning and control systems, budget process, cost systems, and their managerial applications. Prerequisite: demonstration of competency in Financial Accounting.
• 3
  BU 5210 Economic Analysis
  Today's business climate demands managers who can make decisions involving the best use of an organization's scarce resources under conditions that change rapidly. This course demonstrates the power of problem-solving insights and uses a cross-functional approach. Topics to be covered include strategic pricing using game theory, forecasting techniques and demand estimation, cost analysis, linear programming and optimization under various market structures. Prerequisites: macroeconomics, microeconomics, and statistics competencies or permission of the instructor.
• 3
  BU 5220 The Legal Environment of Business (If not chosen above)
  A basic understanding of legal problems is expanded, analytical ability is developed, and an awareness of the presence of legal problems that surround the businessperson is explored. Freedom of choice, taxation, stockholder status, acquisitions and divisions, antitrust, employment, administrative law, and bankruptcy are covered as time allows.
• 3
  BU 5510 Operations Management
  Examination of the nature and structure of decision-making in the midst of uncertainty. Formal techniques for measurement of risks and rewards are applied to case studies based chiefly on production systems. Concludes with a survey of current techniques for operations analysis, planning and control.
• 3
  BU 5700 Marketing Techniques (If not chosen above)
  The objective of this course is to help students develop a broad understanding of marketing techniques, strategies and tactics employed by the marketing manager. This course will cover the use of the 'marketing mix' elements as they pertain to the planning and implementation of the marketing plan. Prerequisite: Common Professional Component (CPC) competencies in Management and Marketing.

• Total for MBA in General Management with a certificate in Small Business and Entrepreneurship – 30 credits minimum