Accounting
ACCT 211, ACCOUNTING CONCEPTS I
Introduction to the preparation and use of financial statements for business entities, focusing on the uses and limitations of accounting information for external reporting, and emphasizing accounting as a provider of financial information. Not required for business minors. Prereq: BUSA 160 and a college-level math course. Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer I.
ACCT 212: ACCOUNTING CONCEPTS II
Examination of accounting as an information provider with emphasis on the use of information for managerial decision-making. Includes an introduction to cost behavior, budgeting, responsibility accounting cost control, and product costing. Prereq: ACCT 211. Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer 2
ACCT 310 Income Tax I
Study of concepts of taxation applied in a client-oriented setting with a planning emphasis. Includes income, exclusions, deductions, credits, tax research, and policy. Prereq: ACCT 212. Offered: Spring.
ACCT 311 Financial Accounting and Reporting I
Study of financial accounting and reporting practices. Particular emphasis on theoretical foundations, concepts, and principles underlying financial statements with emphasis on assets and current liabilities. Prereq: ACCT 212. Offered: Fall.
ACCT 312 Financial Accounting and Reporting II
Study of concepts and principles underlying financial statements with emphasis on long-term liabilities and stockholders' equity. Prereq: ACCT 311. Offered: Spring.
ACCT 313 Cost Accounting
Study of the concepts, analyses, and techniques needed to effectively use accounting data for management planning and control decisions. Topics include product costing, cost-volume-profit analysis, budgeting, cost estimation, responsibility accounting, differential analysis, and cost allocation. Prereq: ACCT 212. Offered: Spring.
ACCT410 Income Tax II (3)
Study of tax aspects of operating a corporation, partnership, estate, trust, or limited-liability entity. Client service-oriented course that includes review of exempt organizations, international organizations, international and multi-state topics, and development of tax planning and communication skills. Prereq: ACCT 310. Offered: Fall.
ACCT 415 Governmental & Not-for-Profit Accounting
Introduction to governmental and non-profit accounting and auditing, including accounting methods used at hospitals, universities, and other not-for-profit entities. Prereq: ACCT 212. Offered: Spring.
ACCT 420 Auditing I
Introduction to the independent-auditing process. Includes review of accepted and commonly used auditing standards and procedures, with emphasis on the professional, ethical, and legal obligations of auditors. Prereq: ACCT 312 and ACCT 470. Offered: Fall.
ACCT 470 Accounting Information Systems
Study of how accounting information is recorded, summarized, and reported in both manual and computerized systems. Emphasis on internal control features necessary to produce accurate and reliable accounting data. Includes description of methods used to develop accounting systems and auditor involvement in the process. Prereq: ACCT 212. Offered: Fall.
ACCT 496 Accounting Internship
Academic credit may be awarded for students who complete accounting internships with local firms or businesses. Students should see the director of the accounting program for eligibility parameters. Grading is pass/fail. Prereq: Permission from the Office of Internship, School of Business.
Economics
ECON 201 Principles of Macroeconomics
Study of macroeconomics, providing a theoretical framework from which aggregate economic events such as inflation, unemployment, and economic growth are explained. The framework is used for analysis of current and potential problems of society. This course provides an organizing structure for understanding how the world economy works, providing the student with some ability to predict future economic events. Prereq: A college-level math course. Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer.
ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics
Study of microeconomics, providing a theoretical framework from which the operations of and interrelationships between individual markets are explained. The market system allows for effective coordination of economic decisions of consumers and business firms. This course provides the organizing structure for understanding the operations of the business firm and the markets that it serves. Prereqs: MATH 150, and ECON 201. Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer.
ECON 301 Intermediate Macroeconomics
Examination of forces that determine growth, income, and employment in economic systems, with special reference to the United States and other industrialized countries. Understand the causes of unemployment and inflation and the role of government in maintaining stable prices and sustained growth. Prereqs: BUSA 130, ECON 201, and ECON 202. Offered: Fall and Spring
ECON 302 Intermediate Microeconomics
Focus on the optimizing behavior of individuals and firms as they interact in markets. Topics will include the consumer theory, the theory of the firm, risk and uncertainty, models of perfect and imperfect competition, asymmetric information, as well as advanced modeling of externalities and public goods. Prereqs: BUSA 130 and ECON 202. Offered: Fall.
ECON 397 International Studies in Economics
Cross-disciplinary introduction to the scope, causes, and consequences of poverty. Examination of the various measures of poverty as well as basic economic theory, explaining differences in income, wealth, and economic growth among regions. Emphasis on understanding poverty issues from a Biblical perspective. Course relies heavily on site visits to observe a wide variety of anti-poverty projects, including faith-based organizations and international nonprofit agencies. International travel required. Offered: Jan Term.
ECON 401 Money and Banking
Examination of determinants of the money supply; overview of the nation's financial system and the activities of non-banking institutions; in-depth discussion of commercial banking; and study of the structure and functions of the Federal Reserve System. Includes monetary theory and the mechanisms connecting the money supply with economic activities, as well as the weaknesses of monetary policy. Discussions cover the relations and effects of the world's banking systems, including the International Monetary Fund. Prereqs: ECON 201, 202, and 301. Offered: On rotation.
ECON 410 Game Theory (4)
Elementary examination of the theory of games and strategic behavior with an emphasis on applications. Topics discussed include strategic-form games, extensive-form games, and games of asymmetric and incomplete information. Various equilibrium concepts also discussed. The course will apply game theoretic concepts to strategic behavior in the social sciences, particularly economics and political science, with applications ranging from cartel behavior to international diplomacy. Co-listed as POLS 410. Prereq: BUSA 130 or POLS 301. Offered: Fall, on rotation.
ECON 415 Industrial Organization
Emphasis on firm behavior in imperfectly competitive markets. Specifically examines the accumulation and use of market power by firms, strategic interaction among competitors, and the role of government in competition policy. Prereqs: BUSA 130 and ECON 302. Offered: On rotation.
ECON 420 International Economics
Analysis of the theoretical principles underlying international trade, investment, and the international monetary system. Includes effects on domestic and foreign economics of commercial, monetary, and fiscal policies. Prereqs: ECON 201 and 202. Offered: On rotation.
ECON 425 Econometrics
Introduces students to regression methods for analyzing data in economics and related areas. Emphasizes both the theoretical and practical aspects of statistical analysis and focuses on techniques for estimating econometric models of various kinds and interpreting the estimates from such models. The objective is for the student to learn how to conductand how to critiqueempirical studies in economics and related fields. Prereq: BUSA 332. Offered: On rotation.
ECON 430 Law and Economics
Introduction to the use of microeconomic concepts as a means to understand law and the American legal system. Emphasis on the economic analysis of the common lawthat is, property, contract, tort, and criminal law. Prereq: ECON 302. Offered: Spring, on rotation.
ECON 493W Business Internship: Economics
Individualized, experiential learning program structured through a variety of business organizations. This course is project-oriented, merging theory learned in the classroom with the workplace environment. Includes several seminars, resentations, and counseling at Samford in conjunction with on-site learning taking place at the business organization. Exposes students to the world of economics and the career planning process. Grading is pass/fail. Prereq: ECON 201, 202; permission from Office of Internship, School of Business, and economics faculty. Offered: Fall and Spring.
Business
Busa 100 The World of Business
Examination of current issues that businesses face as they operate in a global environment. Includes simulation, readings, cases, and teamwork to provide an understanding of major business functions and how they interrelate in actual practice. Designed for first-year students considering management or accounting as a major. Offered: Spring.
Busa 130 Quantitative Methods I
Study of calculus, including an appreciation of its usefulness in solving managerial, business, economic, and social science problems. Focus is on the use of calculus, not its development as a mathematical discipline; as such, this course provides an introduction to differential and integral calculus with emphasis on managerial and business applications. Prereq: MATH 150 with a C- or above, or equivalent. Offered: Fall and Spring.
Busa 160 Computer Competency Assessment
Self-study course in relevant microcomputer software that provides a foundation in basic computing skills required for business students. This course must be completed by the end of the first academic year at Samford. Grading is pass/fail. Offered: Fall, Spring, Jan Term, and Summer 1.
BUSA 231 Quantitative Methods II
Exploration of applications to managerial decision-making, claim validation, and research through scanning the environment, collecting data, designing and conducting analyses, and presenting and generalizing conclusions. Students engage in active learning to convert data into information through the use of probability, descriptive and inferential statistical procedures, simple modeling, and forecasting. Prereqs: BUSA 130 and BUSA 160. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 252 Legal Environment of Business
Study of the fundamental areas of law that impact business and the government's role in the development of those laws. Through cases and lectures, the interrelationship of these two dominant institutions of our society are analyzed. Specific areas addressed include the regulation of employment, the law of contracts, torts, administrative agencies, international law, and Article 2 (sales) of the Uniform Commercial Code. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 303 Principles of Management
Study of the individual-, group-, and organizational-level phenomena and processes that affect the functioning and outcomes of organizations in which we live and work. Key topics include diversity, perception and attribution, motivation, decision-making, teams and groups, leadership, communication, culture power and negotiation, organizational structure and design, and international dimensions of organizational behavior. Prereqs: Completion of pre-business curriculum. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 305 History of Management Thought
Examination of the historical foundations of management thought, including the individuals who shaped the early development and study of management as a movement, vocation, and field of study. Connects early management thought and thinkers to current day management practices.
BUSA 308 Web Design for Business Use
Study of activities involved in starting a company that would be based on the World Wide Web. Activities include: 1) assessment of potential business opportunities, 2) development of preliminary business plan, 3) design of technology process, and 4) hands-on implementation of technology procedures. Students design and develop websites utilizing software applications. Class time includes both classroom and computer lab settings. Offered: Jan Term.
BUSA 311 Marketing Management
Study of business activities planned and implemented to facilitate the exchange of goods and services in a contemporary marketing environment. Examines the product, price, promotion, and channel decisions faced by domestic and international business firms. Prereqs:ACCT 212, BUSA 231, and ECON 201. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 321 Financial Management
Examination of the theory and practice of financial management, with an emphasis on corporate applications. Topics include: financial environment, time value of money, risk-return relationships, multinational financial management, features and valuation of corporate securities, cost of capital, and capital budgeting. Prereqs: ACCT 212, BUSA 231, and ECON 201. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 322 Personal Finance
Examination of issues of personal finance. How much and what type of insurance coverage is needed has become increasingly complex for various reasons: financial institutions are subject to fewer regulations and now offer consumers more options; homebuyers face an array of alternative mortgages; car buyers can lease or purchase; corporations are altering retirement plans. This course addresses the needs of students in making informed decisions that will affect their financial future. Offered: Jan Term.
BUSA 332 Quantitative Methods III
Development of analytical thinking and data deduction skills. Includes analysis of variance and experimental design, nonparametric inference, advanced modeling and forecasting, statistical process control, and decision analysis as problem-solving tools with managerial and research applications. Prereqs: ACCT 212, BUSA231, and ECON 201. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 342 Operations Management
Examination of the central core of operations activities in manufacturing, utilities, and consumer service organizations. Focus on topics such as product and process development, capacity planning, inventory control, production scheduling, and quality. Emphasis on integration of strategic long-term and analytical short-term decisions and integration of operation functions within a firm. Includes use of quantitative models, spreadsheet models, and computers to provide framework and support for the development of management decisions. Prereqs: ACCT 212, BUSA 231, and ECON 201. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 360 Information Systems and Technology
Study of the relevance and contribution of information systems to the growth and success of businesses. Focus on technical concepts relating to fundamental hardware, software, and communications concepts associated with the management of computer technologies. Includes ethical considerations encountered in making information system decisions. Prereqs: ACCT 212, BUSA 231, and ECON 201. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 391 Financial Implications of International Business
Purpose of course is two-fold: 1) In the area of subject matter knowledge, course is designed to supplement and broaden students' knowledge of international financial management practices, both through their own readings and research, and through direct contacts with key financial managers in the United Kingdom. 2) In the area of global awareness, students will acquire a greater understanding of the impact of cultural, political, and regulatory similarities and differences that affect the business environment of firms operating in the United States compared to those operating in Europe generally, and in the United Kingdom in particular. Offered: Jan Term, in London.
BUSA 400 Managerial Values
Study of ethical perspectives and values in management decision-making. Through cases, readings, and field experiences, students explore the nature of ethical dilemmas faced by managers in making decisions and in exercising their responsibilities to society, their respective stakeholders, and themselves. Emphasis on students becoming aware of their own value systems, taking accountability for their own professional development, and recognizing their personal and professional responsibilities as managers. Prereqs: BUSA 303 and senior status. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 401 Organizational Behavior Concepts
Expansion of BUSA 303 (Principles of Management) by focusing on concepts behind individual, group, and organizational action. Emphasis on analytical writing and issues related to key phenomena such as perception and attribution, motivation, communication, and organizational culture. Prereq: BUSA 303 or PSYC 304.
BUSA 404 Human Resource Management
Examination of the contributions made by human resource management (HRM) to organizational effectiveness. Focus on the history, current developments, and future trends in HRM while analyzing how HRM policies and practices can create a competitive advantage. Prereq: BUSA 303.
BUSA 405 Leadership
Examination of leadership and the influencing of others to accomplish something the leader deems important. Leadership theories, applications, and examples are reviewed, but the primary purpose is to experience leadership. As a present or future leader, much of one's effectiveness is measured by the ability to speak and write with clarity and conviction. A true leader learns to communicate well. This course allows the opportunity to practice communicating by leading a portion of a class session and making significant contributions. Prereq: BUSA 303.
BUSA 409 Management of Innovation
Examination of the role of innovativeness in managerial processes, product design, and process design. The shrinking global environment is forcing a shift in emphasis from management of stability and control to leadership directed toward speed of product or service delivery, empowerment, flexibility, and continuous improvement. Any existing organization, whether a business, a church, a labor union, or a hospital is faced with the task of promoting and managing organizational innovation. Prereq: BUSA 303.
BUSA 414 Marketing Research
Practical, hands-on approach to marketing research. Emphasis on gaining a fundamental understanding of both qualitative and quantitative research, including the application of different research techniques and methods of analysis. Students apply knowledge gained though various exercises, cases, and groupbased research projects. Prereq: BUSA 311.
BUSA 415 Marketing Communications
Overview of principles, practices, context, and structure of persuasive marketingcommunications. Special emphasis on ethics, global, social, environmental, technological, and diversity issues. Extensive written and oral communication is expected of students. Prereq: BUSA 311.
BUSA 416 Consumer Behavior
Examination of concepts, principles, and theories from social sciences to the study of the factors that influence the acquisition, consumption, and disposition of products, services, and ideas. Knowledge of consumer behavior principles is important for a variety of reasons: 1) to develop products that fulfill the needs and wants of consumers, 2) to make good decisions by understanding how consumers are likely to respond to the actions of the firm, and 3) to understand our own buying patterns as consumers. Prereq: BUSA 311.
BUSA 418 Sales Management
Examination of two of the most important aspects of an organization's marketing effort: the sales force and its management. Students learn how a sales force is conceived, designed, motivated, compensated, grown, nurtured, and managed for maximum contribution to the strategic objectives of the organization. Includes readings and cases with class discussion; viewing and role-playing from video tapes of sales management situations; and a paper based on personal experiences from sales calls with a salesperson, shadowing a sales manager, and personal evaluation of sales career opportunities. Prereq: BUSA 311.
BUSA 419 Services Marketing
In-depth exploration of services marketing. Highlights distinctions and identifies unique problems in marketing intangible products and services, and explores strategies and other measures designed to increase effectiveness. Services marketing poses special challenges for managers due to the differences between goods and services, and service organizations require a distinct approach to marketing strategy. Prereq: BUSA 311.
BUSA 421 International Marketing
Global approach to the study of current marketing management issues faced by both goods and service-producing industries. Focus on understanding the myriad of economic, social, and cultural differences among countries today. Course addresses the economic and political implications of international trade, foreign investment, and ethical issues faced by companies operating globally. Prereq: BUSA 311.
BUSA 422 Fnancial Statement Analysis
Emphasis on the fundamental techniques of financial statement analysis. Building upon a review of accounting and investment concepts, course covers the analysis and interpretation of financial accounting information including the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows. Examination of accounting information used in investment and credit decisions, including valuation and debt ratings. Prereqs: ACCT 211, ACCT 212, and BUSA 321. Offered: Jan Term.
BUSA 424 Investments
Review of techniques, vehicles, and strategies for implementing investment goals in a portfolio context and in light of risk-return trade-off. Emphasis on gaining a fundamental understanding of the various capital markets as well as investment vehicles, such as stocks, bonds, options, and futures. Designed for students interested in careers in financial advising and investment management. Prereq: BUSA 321.
BUSA 426 Topics in Finance
Study of specific finance topics of current interest, providing additional depth of knowledge in areas such as financial statement analysis and international financial issues. Topics subject to change; see class schedule for course title. Prereq: BUSA 321.
BUSA 427 Contemporary Issues/Risk Management
Study of risk management issues through guest presentations by executives from a variety of firms in the field. Includes review of current industry publications and articles, as well as financial materials for analysis. As the discipline of risk management becomes more complex, students need to appreciate the complexity and understand the importance of this area. Course should be of interest to those wanting a broad exposure to the influence of risk in business decision-making. Prereq: BUSA 321.
BUSA 429 Business Finance II
Case-based course in which students apply skills and concepts acquired in the core finance course (Financial Management) to actual business situations. Prereq: BUSA 321.
BUSA 444 Total Quality Management (TQM)
Study of the pervading philosophy of Total Quality Management (TQM) and its implications for global competition on one scale and for organizational effectiveness on another. Basic tenets of TQM are addressed. General approaches of the quality gurus provide a framework for evaluating the industry-specific designs that are emerging. Includes exploration of the impact on organizational structure and behavior, and the study of specific TQM-related methodologies for continuous improvement and process reengineering. Prereq: BUSA 342.
BUSA 454W Business Law
Study of business and law that began in Legal Environment of Business (BUSA 252). Specific areas addressed are agency, partnerships, corporations, real and personal property, bailments, leases, secured transactions, commercial paper, trusts, and descendant's estates. This course is required for the accounting major, the CPA exam, and is a prerequisite for the MAcc program. Prereq: BUSA 252. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 479 Business Independent Study
Individualized academic work for qualified students under faculty direction. Opportunity to study a specialized topic not covered in regularly scheduled courses. Prereqs: Samford GPA of at least 2.25 and permission from the Office of the Dean, School of Business.
BUSA 481W Business Strategy
Capstone course for business majors, integrating knowledge acquired from earlier courses and experiential learning. Uses case studies to discuss issues facing top management and to propose action plans. Focus on global, strategic decisionmaking for large, medium, and small businesses in a variety of industries, with emphasis on the development of analytical, written, and oral communications skills. Should be taken during the last semester before graduation. Prereqs: Senior status and completion of all 300-level business or accounting courses. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 482 Business Simulation
Laboratory course utilizing an enterprise simulation. Teams play the role of managers and engage in an experience that integrates all of the functional areas of business. Special emphasis given to application of the strategic management process. Prereq: Enrollment in BUSA 481W. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 484 International Management
Study of current issues facing international businesses, incorporating an understanding of the economic, cultural, and legal structural differences among countries and regions. Includes discussion of the economic and political implications of international trade, foreign investment, and ethical issues faced by companies operating globally. Prereq: ECON 201.
BUSA 485W Entrepreneurship
Examination of new attitudes, knowledge, and skills about entrepreneurs and their activities. Critical course objective is the development of an entrepreneurial perspective, helping students to understand and evaluate diverse entrepreneurial situations while providing practice responding to those situations. Secondary course objective includes preparation of a first-cut business plan for a new business, such as one the student or a family member or friend hopes to launch. Prereq: ACCT 211.
BUSA 491W Business Internship: Marketing
BUSA 492W Business Internship: Finance
Individualized, experiential learning program structured through a variety of business organizations. This course is project-oriented, merging theory learned in the classroom with the workplace environment. Includes several seminars, presentations, and counseling at Samford in conjunction with on-site learning taking place at the business organization. Exposes students to the world of finance and the career planning process. Grading is pass/fail. Prereq: BUSA 321; permission from Office of Internship, School of Business, and finance faculty. Offered: Fall and Spring.
BUSA 495 London Business Internship
Individualized, experiential learning program structured through a variety of business organizations. Study is oriented toward cultural exploration, as well as application of business principles to the workplace environment. Grading is pass/fail. Prereq: Permission from Office of Internship, School of Business.
BUSA 496W-497W Business Internship I and II
Individualized, experiential learning program structured through a variety of business organizations. Every attempt is made to match the student's objectives with the internship experience. Study is project-oriented, merging theory learned in the classroom with the workplace environment. Exposes the student to the world of business and the career-planning process. Grading is pass/fail. Prereq: Permission from the Office of Internship, School of Business.
BUSA 498 and 499 Business Research Project I and II
Experiential study activity for small groups of selected students. Groups, under the supervision of a faculty member, are placed in a professional work environment in a business enterprise for the purpose of accomplishing a specially designed project. Prereq: Permission from Office of the Dean, School of Business.