Topics in this course include the behavior of individual households and firms, supply and demand analysis, and the various structures of a market economy. Students successfully completing this course will be able to identify and explain the major economic forces faced by a single firm in a capitalistic setting.

This course is designed for the general student as well as for the student considering further study in business administration, accounting or economics. This course develops basic economic theory to explain unemployment, inflation and economic growth and considers the role of governmental economic stabilization policy. Students successfully completing this course will be able to identify and explain the major economic forces faced by groups of firms in a capitalistic setting.

Introduction to reporting financial information regarding the operating, investing and financing activities of business enterprises to present and potential investors, creditors, and others. Prerequisites: BA 100

Managerial accounting is concerned with the development and use of accounting information as it applies to the decision‐making process. Attention is given to cost behavior, cost analysis, and budget development. Successful completion of this course will enable students to prepare and explain detailed financial reports as required by management. Prerequisites: BA 100, ACTG 210

A survey of the structure and functions of the American business system is provided, together with an overview of business organization, accounting, finance, and principles of management, economics, marketing, personnel and the interdependence of business, the community and government. Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to describe and explain the basic internal functional areas of a business, and their relationship to outside stakeholders. This course is not open as an elective for sophomores or upper division business majors.

A study of the basic principles, concepts, theories and analytical tools in management. Topics include introduction to management, planning and decision-making, organizing for stability and change, leading and controlling. Consideration will be given to both theoretical and practical aspects of management. Students completing this course successfully will be able to describe both the theoretical background and practical applications of popular management principles and strategies. Prerequisites: BA 100

A study of the problems involved in making marketing decisions for the consumer and organizational markets. Study includes the price of the product, the promotion of the product, and the channels of distribution for the product. Successful completion of the course will enable the student to make sound product, price, distribution, and promotion decisions for a specific product or service offering. Prerequisites: BA 100; ECN 101 or ECN 102.

A study of traditional business law topics – contracts, sales, torts, agency, business organizations and other basic topics. Successful completion of this course will enable students to understand and use business law principles to guide sound business decisions. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; BA 100 or consent of instructor.

Introduces the student to the goals and objectives of financial management within the corporate setting. Students will become familiar with functions of the various financial areas, the development and use of information by the financial manager, and the various analytical tools and techniques used. Successful completion of this course will enable students to make sound, risk-sensitive financial decisions for their business. Emphasis will be placed upon financial decision making. Prerequisites: BA 100; ACTG 210; MATH 171.

A study of the uses of the computer in the functional areas of business administration. Major emphasis will be directed to analysis, design and implementation of Management Information Systems. Successfully completing this course will be able to critically analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of business information systems. Prerequisites: Junior standing; BA 100; ACTG 210; ACTG 211.

This course will provide students with an opportunity to understand, analyze, and evaluate the fundamentals, major concepts, and theories of business negotiation. In this course, students will be able to prepare for negotiating in any business situation or environment, learn various strategies on how to resolve potentially destructive disputes, learn to adapt in a dynamic negotiation environment and how to establish trust and form alliances, understand the role of culture on negotiation, and how to detect and deal with ethical dilemmas in business negotiation.

This intermediate course is designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of business and how it relates to society as a whole. The agribusiness major topics include the corporation in society, the business and the social environment, business and the ethical environment, business and government in a global society, the corporation and the natural environment, business and technological change, and business and the media. A systems-thinking approach is central to the course, wherein business, government, and society are so closely intertwined that an action that affects one will inevitably affect the others. The corporation’s responsibilities to primary and secondary stakeholders, both economic and ethical, are studied in light of various social issues.

This course focuses on the competitive strategy of the firm by examining issues central to the firm’s long and short-term competitive position. The course develops a set of analytical frameworks that enable students to explain performance differences among firms and that, in turn, provide a structure for making strategic decisions to enhance the firm’s future competitive positions. This course functions as the capstone course for the Business Administration major. Prerequisites: Senior Standing and the completion of all other business core requirements.

The agribusiness major introduces courses for students involved in production agriculture, advising crop producers, working for a business /organization/agency that supplies inputs for crop production, or markets farm products. Students will be able to make sound decisions related to basic soil physics, chemical and biological characteristics, irrigation and drainage, soil and plant nutrient analysis and interpretation, fertilizers and other nutrient sources, soil pH and
liming, pest identification, biology and management, and crop growth stages and requirements. The course will involve a lab component for students to learn soil testing and other related areas. Special emphasis will be placed on corn and soybean production.

Precision agriculture systems are designed to increase production efficiency, productivity profitability while minimizing unintended impacts on wildlife and the environment. An agribusiness major will learn the concepts and applications of precision agriculture and become familiar with current hardware, equipment, and software to assist them in their practical use. Hands-on applications will include site-specific management for planning, tillage, planting, herbicide and fertilizer applications, harvesting, and postharvest. An overview of current technology and its use including autonomous vehicles, GPS, soil and crop proximal sensors, imagery and mapping, variable rate control systems, and yield monitors for corn and soybean production will be emphasized.

This course is designed primarily to familiarize students with the concepts necessary for successful strategic planning, implementation, and control of an agribusiness. Topics will include types of organizational forms, business acquisition, valuation and management tools required for planning, organizing, controlling and directing a business. Successful students will have gained practical decision-making experience utilizing capital budgeting, human resource management principles, interpreting financial statements and the development of a business planning.

The primary objective of this course is to provide the students with the tools to understand and solve basic financial problems faced by individuals and businesses today. Time value of money is an essential overarching concept in this class. The course will emphasize practical applications and problem-solving techniques. The topics covered include basic financial statement analysis, time value of money, valuation of financial assets, investment frameworks, capital budgeting techniques, financial intermediaries and public policy affecting agricultural credit markets.

This course provides a broad overview of agricultural markets, food markets, consumption, marketing functions and institutions. Because agricultural markets are often fluid and changes can occur rapidly, students will also study current events and examine their effects on agricultural markets. Additionally, this course will emphasize the effects of local, national, and international events on agricultural markets in Iowa and the surrounding states. Emphasis will be placed on students understanding the basis and gaining hands-on experience utilizing futures markets and the practice of hedging as a risk management tool as employed by corn and soybean producers.

Entrepreneurial Agriculture is intended to provide students with the ingredients of sustainable agriculture and the food industry that are essential to engaging in or setting up of profitable and sustainable ventures in Iowa and the surrounding areas. Programs to be explored such as vertical and urban farming, biofuels, environmentally sound practices and plant based proteins. Real life field experiences are emphasized, and students will be engaged in the practical development of their own virtual enterprise with simulated  business and marketing plans. Students will present project plans and feasibility studies to the class. At the end of the class, students should be able to develop a potentially bankable and viable small/medium scale enterprise capable of creating jobs and enhancing community development.

Math

Science

WS 300 Global Issues

WS 320 Leadership and Service