COM, COP, ECO, ENG, and ENT Course Descriptions
COM 240 Speech and Presentation Techniques 4 cr.
This course introduces oral presentation and public speaking. Students learn about the principles of effective public speaking and have the chance to practice public speaking. Communication skills are practiced through variety of assignments. Some of the speeches delivered during this course include impromptu, elevator, sequence/demonstration, informational and expository. By the end of this course, students will develop confidence by learning how to formulate their thoughts quickly, and how to research and deliver a well-organized, engaging speech.
COM 265 Reading Comprehension in the Electronic Age (ENG 160 or equivalent) 4 cr.
In this course students read, review, and analyze thought-provoking essays, reports, and articles from a variety of sources including the text, Web sites, and electronic databases. Based on these readings and discussions, students apply rhetorical strategies and enhance reading comprehension, critical thinking, and researching. All of the assignments and activities are designed to emphasize and support these four elements. Some of the writing strategies covered includes illustration, comparison and contrast, narration and description, process analysis, and cause and effect analysis. Students will develop and enhance their skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, research and APA documentation, and application of rhetorical strategies in written work.
COM 300 Communication Technology Fundamentals (upper division status) 2 cr.
Students explore various Web and software tools required for completion of the degree program. This course focuses solely on mastering the applications used in the major courses that follow. Students learn application tools for creating their electronic portfolios, virtual collaboration, social networking, and individual publishing. Microsoft applications will be reviewed: Excel (formulas, charts, pivot tables), PowerPoint (multi-media, Web presentations), and Office integration (interactive Web pages, linking applications).
COM 320 Impact of Technology on Workplace Communication (COM 300 and completion of core courses) 4 cr.
What is the current state of global workplace communications? How are legal and ethical issues influencing communications policies and practices in business? This course examines these issues and modern theories of global technology. New concepts and research in interpersonal, group, organizational, and public communication as they apply to the virtual work environment are introduced. Students will review and analyze theories and research findings, and assess the impact of technology on communication patterns. Web 2.0 tools for workplace communication and collaboration (blogs, wikis, podcasts, audio/video conferencing) will be introduced. Social communication tools will be identified. Students will have an opportunity to examine the practical applications of these concepts and tools.
COM 340 Presenting and Persuading in the Virtual Environment (COM 320) 4 cr.
Producing compelling, persuasive communication, while addressing the increasingly interactive nature of digital media, is an essential skill in today’s global environment. Analyzing audience characteristics, examining elements of message construction (both verbal and visual), and the relative differences between traditional and digital media are all studied and applied. Students will improve their abilities to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and learn to evaluate and develop their own methods of persuasion using both digital and traditional media. Students present impromptu, informative, training, and persuasive speeches.
COM 350 Research and Communication Methods in Business (upper division status) 6 cr.
Students in this course learn effective methods for the development, presentation, and use of research in business decision making. Course elements include problem definition, literature review, research design, questionnaire construction, sample selection, interviewing methods, and data analysis. Course requirements include an individual and a group research project in one of the functional areas of business. Teams apply research methods and tools to diagnose issues and develop recommendations. This course teaches methods for effective teamwork, integrated business knowledge, and strategic thinking. A review of the writing process and the American Psychological Association’s (APA) guidelines for properly formatting and citing research papers is included.
COM 360 Instructional Design, Assessment, and Training (COM 320) 4 cr.
Principles of instructional design, assessment, and evaluation are essential components for creating successful courses and workshops, and for developing training materials. Learning theories, the instructional design process, and tactics for identifying the need for instruction will be explored; audience, task, and content analyses will be investigated. Writing and classifying learning objectives will be mastered. Instruments for evaluating the ability of a course to meet learning outcomes and student expectations will be identified, studied, and assessed.
COM 400 Advanced Business Communication Methods (completion of core courses) 4 cr.
This course re-introduces students to a variety of concepts: interpersonal communication, group communication, cross-cultural communication, and communicating across time and distance. At the conclusion of this course, students will be more effective at workplace communications – both internally and externally. A very important aspect of COM 400 is learning about business and communication practices in other countries. The course is designed to strengthen interpersonal communication skills in professional correspondence and to apply effective meeting skills in face-to-face group interactions. Finally, small group decision-making techniques are explained and practiced.
COM 415 Communicating in Diverse Settings (COM 320) 4 cr.
Interpersonal, small group, and cross-cultural communication are critical elements for maintaining a successful business. This course examines these facets of communication and the influence of the Internet on business communication practices. Internal and external workplace communications will be investigated. Leadership and team-building skills will be explored and practiced. Students will analyze the purpose of conflict, learn methods for working with difficult people, and will understand communication as a significant factor in the development, management, and resolution of conflict at the interpersonal, small group, organizational, and societal levels.
COP 001-006 Cooperative Education 1-6 cr.
Cooperative Education placements allow a student to learn from an experiential setting through a work placement and receive elective credits that can apply toward degree requirements. Hours worked and credits received vary. A learning contract is established with the guidance of a faculty member to identify expected learning outcomes and other academic requirements. Cooperative Education program information is available from the Director of Career Services.
National and international economic policies have powerful and direct effects on business operations. Business fluctuations, inflation, unemployment, monetary and fiscal policies, and international trade are discussed in the course.
ECO 260 Microeconomics (ECO 250) 4 cr.
Focusing on the firm as the basic unit of the economy, this course explores supply/demand and market forces, cost and profit, and the different industry types within which firms operate.
ECO 270 American Economic History 4 cr.
This course is designed to help students learn economics from a historical perspective. The course will survey the economic development of the United States from colonial times until modern day. Main topics include the colonial economies, American Revolution, US constitution, westward expansion, industrial revolution, slavery, Civil War, rise of big business, anti-trust regulation, banking panics, Federal Reserve Act, and role of government in modern day economy.
ECO 320 Economics of Business (ECO 250) 4 cr.
This course provides a managerial viewpoint of macro- and microeconomic concepts that shape business environments. Macroeconomic topics include national accounts and income determination; monetary and fiscal policy; Federal Reserve System; and employment, inflation, and growth. Microeconomic topics include market structure, price theory, and supply and demand. The emphasis in this course is the business manager’s viewpoint, building an understanding of the relationship of economic theory to management practice and decision making.
ENG 150 Grammar and Communications Skills 4 cr.
Development of writing and grammar skills is addressed, emphasizing practice in punctuation, parts of speech, syntax, usage, and sentence construction. The writing process is introduced. Students will increase their vocabulary and spelling skills. Students will work on improving writing clarity, using supporting details and sentence variety, and understanding and applying the basic conventions of syntax and mechanics. Students will understand how audience and purpose influence a writer’s choices, and will be able to employ the basic processes of writing.
ENG 160 Business Composition (ENG 150 or equivalent) 4 cr.
Students will acquire writing skills necessary to prepare for advanced business courses. Students start at a fundamental level, beginning with an introduction to writing, moving on to writing strategies, and concluding with methods of development. This course presents writing as a means of exploring, developing, confirming, and communicating ideas. Students will apply the basic principles of language structure and become more familiar with APA documentation.
ENG 170 Business Writing I 4 cr.
This course covers writing letters, proposals, application letters, memos, technical reports, and intercultural messages. The techniques involve writing business correspondence, proposals, summaries, and reports. Special attention is given to the role of electronic communication, specifically the changes in writing business correspondence since the increased dependence on the Internet. Electronic correspondence is reviewed with an emphasis on style, tone, and content. Proper use of APA Style formatting and documentation is emphasized and reviewed.
ENG 175 Technical Writing 4 cr.
Writing styles needed in technically oriented professional jobs are taught. The business writing process is reviewed. Cause and effect, request for proposal (RFP), and other technical documents are explained and created. Students will learn to write about technical subjects in a way that non-specialists can understand. The business/technical writing process and correct use of APA style and formatting are emphasized.
ENG 260 Business Writing II (ENG 170) 4 cr.
Students receive practice in a variety of writing assignments relevant to their program area. Assignments include letter writing for a variety of situations (e.g., routine claim and adjustment letters, persuasive requests, sales letters), memos written in response to situations students are likely to encounter on the job, résumés fitted to the student's particular background (work and educational experience), and other writing forms. Proper use of APA Style formatting and documentation is emphasized.
ENG 315 Writing with Clarity and Command (COM 320) 4 cr.
Students will learn techniques for writing effective narrative, reflective, analytical, and research essays, including using specific details to engage and persuade readers, methods of organization that enable readers to follow a line of thinking, and strategies for editing sentences for clarity and conciseness. Students will learn to make complex information understandable to a variety of audiences using different techniques. Projects include writing a process or mechanism description, a proposal/recommendation report, and a detailed instruction for performing a task or operation. A grammar, punctuation, and usage review is incorporated into the course.
ENT 185 Entrepreneurship and the Small Business (MGT 150) 4 cr.
This course is a practical study of the processes and essential skills required in small and start-up businesses. Emphasis will be placed on the opportunities and problems faced by entrepreneurs in meeting competition, purchasing, selling, staffing and financing an independent business. This course will prepare students for developing a business plan.
ENT 400 Entrepreneurship (completion of core courses) 4 cr.
Students will study the importance of entrepreneurship in the U.S. economy. They will also learn the steps for establishing a successful business start-up and for securing the necessary funding. To remain competitive, the start-up must operate more efficiently, while satisfying a constantly rising expectation of quality and service. This class explores strategic issues as the foundation for the survival and prosperity of the start-up business.
ENT 405 Creativity and Innovation (ENT 400) 4 cr.
Creativity, innovation, and risk taking are essential to the success of the entrepreneur. This class will aid students in unlocking their inner potential and focus on “thinking outside the box”. Students will also learn strategies for dealing with rejection and negativity.
ENT 410 Marketing the New Business (ENT 405) 4 cr.
The class centers on designing an effective marketing plan for the start-up business. Students will isolate and create a written plan for a specific product, price, place, and promotion - the 4 Ps - for their businesses. This course introduces the elements of marketing research: problem definition, survey design, and statistical analysis to aid decision making. Examination of buyer behavior, motivation, and market potential estimating techniques will also be studied.
ENT 430 New Business Finance (ACC 401, FIN 400) 4 cr.
Financing the start-up business is a significant challenge. Students will receive foundation information regarding important concepts, issues, and tools needed to effectively finance and fiscally manage a business organization. Emphasis will be placed on establishing realistic start-up costs, financial planning and control, and cash flow analysis.