Business Administration

Undergraduate Programs

Description

The Business Administration program prepares graduates for leadership and administration in business settings. This online program builds upon the knowledge, skills and abilities in management, marketing, business communications, finance, project management, ethics, information technology, and business law.

This program aligns with the Minnesota State Business Administration Transfer Pathway.

Majors

 Program Locations Major / Total Credits
Business Administration BBA BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Online
 58 / 120

Certificates

 Program Locations Major / Total Credits
Integrated Business Experience CERT
  • Mankato
 15 / 15

Minors

 Program Locations Total Credits
Bus Ad General Minor
  • Mankato
 21

Policies & Faculty

Policies

Contact Information

150 Morris Hall

(507) 389-1827
https://cob.mnsu.edu/academics/business-administration/bachelor-of-business-administration/

Faculty

Chair
  • Kathleen Dale, Ph.D., MBA
Faculty

100 Level

Credits: 3

Focuses on the basic business functions of Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing in global context.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05

200 Level

Credits: 3

This course provides a basic understanding of marketing concepts with emphasis on the pricing, promotion, and distribution of need satisfying products and services in domestic and international markets. The format of the course consists of lectures, case discussions, application exercises, projects, exams, and in-class group assignments.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course examines basic management concepts and principles, their historical development, and their application to modern organizations. Topics covered include planning, organizing, decision making, leadership, control, and organizational change. In addition, the course includes an introduction to business ethics and social responsibility, human resource management, organizational design and organizational behavior.

Prerequisites: none

300 Level

Credits: 3

This course is designed to introduce students to the Management Information Systems and its application in organizations. The course will present to the students the information systems role to support the various managerial activities, and to help the students identify and evaluate various options in Management Information Systems.

Prerequisites: ISYS 101 or CIS 101

Credits: 3

The course is designed to provide basic human motivation theories, and develop persuasive communications strategies and applications necessary in the field of professional selling. The course takes a hands-on approach to professional selling techniques with the use of sales presentations, sales manuals, and exams.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 3

Students will learn about consumer decision styles, perceptions, group influences, family decision-making, lifestyles, shopping behaviors and domestic and international trends related to marketing strategies. The framework consists of individual or group projects, usually requiring some personal interviewing, exams, and reports.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

The intention of the course is to explore in depth the concepts involved in new product development, the management of products through the product life cycle, and the development of pricing policies and strategies. The course involves a lecture/discussion format with occasional group activities, projects and exams.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 3

Integrated Marketing Communications provide an understanding of the elements of the marketing communications mix; advertising, public relations, personal selling, sales promotion and corporate sponsorship through traditional and digital media.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 3

In this course, students will examine the role of research in decision making and the basics of scientific research, including the preparation of research proposals, design of data collection instruments, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210, STAT 154 or ECON 207

Credits: 3

This course is designed to develop a students personal creativity and help a student identify the process of organizational innovation. The course is comprised of a combination of short lecture, in-class discussion of readings and videos, writing assignments, an elevator pitch and group activities.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course examines the effective management of the human resources of organizations. Topics include analyzing jobs and writing job descriptions; recruiting and hiring of applicants; complying with employment law; managing promotions, quits, and layoffs; employee training and development; evaluating job performance; determining compensation; and managing human resources in a unionized environment.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

A study of how supply chain management impacts all processes of the firm and its many trading partners. The supply chain management foundation elements of purchasing, operations, logistics, and integration are examined to show how a firm can improve its competitive position by employing these important foundation elements.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 3

This course focuses primarily on pre-startup venture activities starting with the idea generation phase. Students will learn to use customer feedback to develop innovative solutions leading to new business model concepts. This course will utilize the latest venture development tools and techniques that assist entrepreneurs in creating value for a diverse group of customers. Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to engage with business professionals and entrepreneurs. All students are welcome and encouraged to enroll.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course engages students in the study of the operations management function in manufacturing and service organizations. Students learn how to apply the basic analytical models to operation decisions involving topics such as scheduling, production technology, inventory management, quality assurance, just-in-time production, and others.

Prerequisites: ECON 207

Credits: 3

This course examines basic business concepts and principles and their application to modern and future agriculture industries. Agribusiness topics covered include commodities, supply chain, finance, sales, accounting, law, engineering, food safety, healthcare, data analysis, and technology. Professionals in the agriculture industry will be brought into class to explain how business knowledge and skills are essential to various sectors; including but not limited to: livestock, poultry, corn/soybeans, bio-fuels, engineering, and natural resources. Students will have an opportunity to broaden their thinking, understanding, and professional potential as related to the agriculture industry while interacting with industry professionals.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Concepts, theories, and empirical research on organizational behavior are studied. Models and tools for diagnosing situations, individual behavior, group behavior, intergroup conflicts, supervisory problems and organizational change are analyzed.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1

This course addresses business professionalism issues such as: work ethic, time management, civility, diplomacy, and planning career changes.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 0

Curricular Practical Training: Co-Operative Experience is a zero-credit full-time practical training experience for one summer and an adjacent fall or spring term. Special rules apply to preserve full-time student status. Please contact an advisor in your program for complete information.

Prerequisites: Permission of the Chairperson of the department; co-op contract; other prerequisites may also apply.

Credits: 0

Curricular Practical Training: Co-Operative Experience is a zero-credit full-time practical training experience for one summer and an adjacent fall or spring term. Special rules apply to preserve full-time student status. Please contact an advisor in your program for complete information.

Prerequisites: Permission of the Chairperson of the department; co-op contract; other prerequisites may also apply.

400 Level

Credits: 3

The course focuses on business problem-solving and technology connections to business practices. Students will be equipped with the tools to design, build, and deploy applications that could serve as building blocks that logically synthesize business functional areas. This newfound ability to apply business logic will equip students with the necessary skills to design and construct business applications that fulfill the needs of both businesses and their clientele. Furthermore, students will acquire a deeper understanding of management, finance, marketing, and accounting constructs, which will prove valuable in a broad range of careers. This is a course that builds real-world applicable business critical thinking skills while teaching the students the skill of business application creation.

Prerequisites: MGMT 300

Credits: 3

A broad examination of the techniques employed in business-to-business marketing. Topics include organizational buying, buyer-seller relationships and industrial marketing mix development.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 3

The study of marketing at the retail level, including the organization, operations, methods, policies, and problems of retail establishments in satisfying consumers.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 3

This course is an examination of the role of digital technology, such as the Internet and social media platforms, in contemporary marketing strategy and its impact on business decision making and consumer behavior.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 3

This course involves studying the role of the general sales manager, the functions of sales management within overall marketing strategy, and the development of analytical decision skills necessary to plan, manage, and control the sales force.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 3

Students will apply advanced professional selling concepts to multiple sales environments. Students will have opportunities to improve upon their communication, analytical/ problem solving skills and selling techniques through role-plays, case studies, technology tools and interactions with sales professionals.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210, MRKT 312

Credits: 3

This course takes a managerial approach to analyzing marketing decision making in multinational market situations.

Prerequisites: IBUS 380, MRKT 210

Credits: 3

Students learn how to hire the best talent available using sound professional methods. Students design and present legally defensible recruiting and screening techniques for jobs they have analyzed.

Prerequisites: MGMT 340

Credits: 3

The focus of this course is operating an effective, efficient, legal and responsible system for compensating one's employees. Includes the workings of labor markets, analyzing jobs, finding the market value for jobs, designing a pay structure, appraising performance, setting individual pay, determining benefits, occupations requiring special pay programs.

Prerequisites: MGMT 340

Credits: 3

This course focuses on startup and post-startup venture activities. Students who have achieved proof of concept with a venture idea will find this course helpful. Students will learn to evolve a business model concept into a sustainable, scalable venture in a variety of business sectors. Topics discussed include business operations, analysis, entrepreneurial finance, growth, and exit strategies. Students will also learn to present their venture ideas to interested stakeholders. The course will allow students to have the opportunity to engage with business professionals and entrepreneurs.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Students design and deliver training by assessing client needs, defining learning outcomes, choosing effective methods, training, and evaluating results.

Prerequisites: MGMT 340

Credits: 3

Special topics as requested by students.

Prerequisites: MGMT 230

Credits: 3

This course covers essential topics in modern quality management within manufacturing and service organizations from a managerial perspective, including quality planning, culture, customer focus, leadership, vendor relations, the use of statistical quality control tools and software as well as behavioral issues in the improvement of process and product/service quality. Prereq: ECON 207 or equivalent

Prerequisites: ECON 207 or equivalent

Credits: 1

This course focuses on connecting students to real-world entrepreneurs so that students can analyze current entrepreneurial issues.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course is designed to prepare students to design and develop personal computer based information systems for management control and decision making using end-user software including spreadsheets and data base management systems. Students will design and develop several information systems as group projects.

Prerequisites: MGMT 230, MGMT 300

Credits: 3

This course examines how organizations capitalize on social media and takes advantage of the consumer-to-consumer interactions in order to support their marketing efforts. Students will get hands-on experience creating comprehensive social media strategies for active brands.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 3

Students will develop skills needed to initiate, plan, execute, control and close projects. The course will cover theories, techniques, group activities, and use of computer tools like Microsoft Project for managing projects.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course covers ERP software in general and how it helps integrate information used by an organization's many different functions and departments into a unified computing system. How to use an ERP system to improve the business functions of an organization by streamlining its operations will also be covered. Students will learn how to document business processes using different tools including EPC charts. In addition, the course also covers managerial issues associated with an ERP project and how to manage those issues.

Prerequisites: MGMT 300

Credits: 3

Topics covered are specialized topics not covered in other courses and will be announced.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 3

MGMT 481 is an integrative course for COB majors. Its emphasis is on understanding the role of a general manager, which should include an operations and international component.

Prerequisites: FINA 362, MRKT 210, MGMT 230, MGMT 346

Credits: 3

Students learn how to apply moral principles to analyze ethical dilemmas in business. Students also learn how to argue for or against government regulation of business. Topics covered include bribery, anti-competitive business practices, pollution, product safety, marketing ethics, employee rights, sexual harassment, discrimination and affirmative action, conflicts of interest, and insider trading.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

The course provides a foundation for leadership development by offering theoretical background, practical information, and an opportunity for self-assessment that permits students to begin or continue the development of their leadership talent. The underlying theme upon which the course is based is that the ability to lead begins with reflection and self-awareness.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This capstone course examines how the strategic management of the human resources of an organization can enhance organizational success. The course investigates how to achieve strategic congruence between an organizations strategy and HR management. Topics covered include the interrelationships among the HR disciplines, ethics, sustainability, social responsibility, the role of the HR professional, managing workforce changes, achieving competitive advantage through HR, HR performance metrics, and organizational effectiveness.

Prerequisites: MGMT 340

Credits: 3

Professionalism is a key factor for career success. Skills such as critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making are all essential to projecting a professional image. Key competencies contribute to desirable workplace behavior. Active-listening, communicating clearly, working well in teams, taking initiative, are examples to projecting a professional image.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course should be the last marketing class taken, since it involves comprehensive marketing strategy development, integrating all dimensions of the marketing offering, and utilizing marketing information systems for top-level control and decision making.

Prerequisites: MRKT 316, MRKT 317, and MRKT 318. MRKT 210 or MRKT 310. MRKT 339 or MRKT 341

Credits: 3

The student will demonstrate and apply knowledge for this capstone course (MGMT 492) and overall BBA program into the real-world project experience. Business skills and professional development will be challenged for the student to integrate relevant knowledge through the project-based learning experience. The final written and oral presentation of the project results will demonstrate the problem-solving and critical thinking context beyond the classroom.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Study tours are led by Minnesota State University, Mankato faculty and provide students with opportunities to visit companies and attend lectures by renowed experts from key sectors of economy, government, and business.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

The curriculum focuses on Fair Trade, sustainability, and international business principles. Students will spend 9 days in Belize and learn about diverse populations, engage in a service learning project, and visit businesses who produce goods that are Fair Trade certified.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Gold

Credits: 4

Supervised experience in agribusiness or food related organizations, industry, state, or federal institutions.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Individual, supervised work experience in a sales organization. Takenfor grade only. Approval by Internship Coordinator.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210, MRKT 312

Credits: 3

Supervised experience in business, industry, state or federal institutions. P/N only.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-9

Individual, supervised experience in a business firm or government agency. Taken for P/N only.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 3

Supervised experience in business, industry, state or federal institutions. Grade only.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Individual, supervised experience in a business firm or government agency. Taken for grade only.

Prerequisites: MRKT 210

Credits: 1-4

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Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Individual study of special topics.

Prerequisites: Consent