2007-2008 Academic Catalog

Course descriptions

Business Administration

Admittance to 300- and 400-level School of Management courses will be granted only to students with upper-division standing. Others will be admitted only with the written permission of the appropriate department head. Students enrolling in School of Management courses are expected to have completed the necessary prerequisites for each course.

A $25 per semester student computing facility user fee will be assessed for any student taking one or more AIS, ACCT, BA and ECON courses except ECON 100X). This fee is in addition to any lab/materials fees.

BA 151 3 Credits
Introduction to Business (s)
Business organization, nature of major business functions such as management, finance, accounting, marketing, personnel administration. Opportunities and requirements for professional business careers. Also available via Independent Learning. (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 253 1-3 Credits
Internship in Business
Supervised work experience in an approved position related to the student's career interests or objectives. Number of credits depends on type of position and time worked. No student can count more than eight internship credits towards a degree. (Prerequisite: Approval of program or department head.) (0 + 1-3) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 254 3 Credits
Personal Investing
Emphasis on personal stock market investing. Includes other areas of investing. (Note: Intended for students and people from the community.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 307 3 Credits
Introductory Human Resources Management
Introduction to management principles and personnel practice in industry, analysis of labor-management problems, methods and administration of recruiting, selecting, training and compensating employees, and labor laws and their applications. Also available via Independent Learning. (Prerequisite: Upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 317W 3 Credits
Employment Law
Basic personnel and human resource management law, including labor law and current management practices in administering collective bargaining agreements. Emphasis on the major federal and Alaska state laws affecting personnel management. (Prerequisites: BA 307 or concurrent enrollment in BA 307; ENGL 111X; ENGL 211X or ENGL 213X, upper-division B.B.A. standing, or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 323X 3 Credits
Business Ethics
Grounding in ethical theories and basic issues of moral thought, with examples which highlight the pitfalls in practical ethics which future managers are likely to face, and the need to design organizations so as to promote ethical behavior. (Prerequisites: Upper-division B.B.A. standing, or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring, Summer As Demand Warrants

BA 325 3 Credits
Financial Management
Time value of money, bond and stock valuation, capital budgeting, risk-return trade-offs and option pricing. (Prerequisites: ECON 200, STAT 200X, MATH 262X, upper-division B.B.A. or M.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor. Recommended: ECON 227.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 330 4 Credits
The Legal Environment of Business
The judicial system, legal processes, administrative procedures, law of torts, contract and agency government regulation of business, business ethics, corporate social responsibility and the uniform commercial code. Also available via Independent Learning. (Prerequisite: Upper-division B.B.A. or MBA standing, or permission of the SOM advisor.) (4 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 343 3 Credits
Principles of Marketing
Management of a firm's marketing effort focusing on products, distribution, pricing and promotion to targeted consumers. Practices appropriate to domestic or international, small or large, goods or services and for-profit or nonprofit organizations included. Also available via Independent Learning. (Prerequisite: AIS 101 or equivalent; STAT 200X, upper-division B.B.A. or MBA standing or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 360 3 Credits
Operations Management
Operations management with an emphasis on systematic planning, design and operation of the processes that produce goods and deliver services that customers recognize to be of superior quality. Topics include operations strategy, process design, quality control, statistical process control, project scheduling, material requirements planning and just-in-time systems. (Prerequisites: AIS 101, STAT 200X, upper-division B.B.A. or MBA standing or the permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 390 3 Credits
Organizational Theory and Behavior
Understanding how and why organizations behave as they do, assessing whether the behavior is functional or dysfunctional, and learning to understand and change motivation, leadership, communications, group dynamics, conflict management, layout, technology, structure and policies to create high-functioning organizations. (Prerequisite: Upper-division B.B.A. or MBA standing or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 423W 3 Credits
Investment Analysis
Introduction to investment analysis. Presents an understanding of the investment environment and analytical tools in investing. Intended for undergraduate students. (Prerequisite: BA 325; ENGL 111X; ENGL 211X or ENGL 213X, upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Spring

BA 424 3 Credits
Real Estate and Alternative Investments
Develop skills required to value and finance residential and commercial real estate. Financing instruments, markets and taxation issues specific to real estate are covered in the first half; alternative investments such as REITs will be presented in the second half of the course. (Prerequisite: BA 325, upper-division B.B.A. standing or the permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Spring

BA 436 3 Credits
Consumer Behavior (s)
Effects of nationality, culture, social class, family, personality, symbolism and persuasion on consumptive behavior. Qualitative methodologies such as focus groups covered. (Prerequisites: ACCT 352; BA 325; BA 343; BA 360; upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor. Recommended: ENG 314.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 441 3 Credits
Promotion Management
Advertising, publicity, sales management, sales promotion, direct marketing and the interrelationships necessary for effective promotions in domestic or international, small or large, goods or services, and for-profit or nonprofit organizations. (Prerequisite: ACCT 352; BA 325; BA 343; BA 360; upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor. Recommended: ENG 314.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 445W 3 Credits
Marketing Research
Basic processes and tools of marketing research with emphasis on utilization of research findings as an integral part of the managerial decision-making process. Techniques of quantitative data-gathering and analysis to solve a marketing problem. Practices appropriate to domestic or international, small or large, goods or services, and for-profit or nonprofit organizations. (Prerequisites: ACCT 352; BA 325; BA 343; BA 360; ENGL 111X; ENGL 211X or ENGL 213X, upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor. Recommended ENG 314.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 447W, O 3 Credits
Compensation Management
Theory and practice of wage and salary, benefits and risk management. Planning, administration, auditing, adjusting and budgeting for compensation and risk. (Prerequisite: BA 307; COMM 131X or 141X; ENGL 111X; upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 452W 3 Credits
Internship in Emergency Management
A supervised practical work experience to enable students to apply their course work in a fire department or closely related field of emergency services. Admission dependent upon approved sponsorship arrangements. (Prerequisites: BEM degree major, upper division standing and permission of instructor. Recommended: Four semesters of bachelor core and business administration courses.) (0 + 6) Offered As Demand Warrants.

BA 453 1-3 Credits
Internship in Business Administration
A supervised practical work experience to enable students to apply their course work in a business environment. Admission dependent upon approved sponsorship arrangements. (Prerequisites: 3.0 GPA in all ACCT and BA courses, upper-division B.B.A. standing and permission of the SOM advisor.) Repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. (0 + variable) Offered As Demand Warrants

BA 454O 3 Credits
Student Investment Fund
Hands-on experience in portfolio management. Students will be making investment and diversification decisions affecting the $500, 000 Student Investment Fund. (Prerequisite: BA 325 or equivalent; COMM 131X or 141X; upper-division B.B.A. standing and permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 455 3 Credits
Portfolio Management
The second course involved with the hands-on management of the $500, 000 Student Investment Fund. Students will carry out the duties of officers of the fund and will be responsible for portfolio diversification and management decisions affecting the fund. (Prerequisite: BA 454, upper-division B.B.A. standing and permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 456W 3 Credits
Small Business Management
Operations and special problems of the small business with emphasis on both existing firms and new ventures. Starting new businesses, buying going concerns, acquiring and operating franchises, establishing lines of credit, management, legal matters, profit planning, pricing, inventory levels, record systems, tax regulations and employee supervision. (Prerequisites: ACCT 261, 262; ENGL 111X; ENGL 211X or ENGL 213X; upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 457 3 Credits
Training and Management Development
Theory and practice of employee training programs, needs assessments, learning theories, instructional design, training techniques and evaluation, management development and career development techniques and practices. (Prerequisites: BA 307, upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 460O 3 Credits
International Business
Relationships among nations with particular emphasis on the business, economic and sociocultural institutions that influence the performance of managers. Formulation of objectives, strategies and organizational structures within the context of international diversity. (Prerequisites: COMM 131X or 141X; all 300-level requirements completed, upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 461 3 Credits
International Finance
Development of analytical skills, logical thought processes and information literacy necessary to make and implement investment decisions in a global setting. (Prerequisite: BA 325, upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall

BA 462O 3 Credits
Corporate Strategy
An integrative approach to strategy formation and implementation to achieve organization goals. Students will be introduced to theoretical perspectives and associated methodologies directed toward resolving the unstructured problems and opportunities which confront general managers at the highest levels of an organization. (Prerequisites: COMM 131X or 141X; ACCT 352 or 342; BA 325, 343, 360 and 390; ECON 321 or 322; upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor. Exception: B.B.A. economics majors do not need ACCT 352 or 342.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring

BA 467 3 Credits
Current Topics in Management
Examines current management trends with regard to major theories and practices in the field. Topics of interest could include organizational development, performance appraisal, personnel selection and international human resources management. (Prerequisite: BA 307; BA 390; upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 490 3 Credits
Services Marketing
Marketing principles in the service sector with special emphasis on such service industries as financial, retailing and tourism. Includes practices appropriate to domestic or international, small or large, and for-profit organizations. (Prerequisite: ACCT 352; BA 325; BA 343; BA 360; upper-division B.B.A. standing or permission of the SOM advisor. Recommended: ENG 314.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 491 3 Credits
Current Topics in Marketing
Examines current marketing trends with regard to production, distribution, promotion, pricing and target markets. Focus on trends in Alaska, the U.S. and worldwide. (Prerequisite: ACCT 352; BA 325; BA 343; BA 360; upper-division B.B.A. standing of permission of the SOM advisor. Recommended: ENG 314.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 607 3 Credits
Human Resources Management
The study of the effective management of human resources in organizations to include employee planning and recruiting, selection and orientation, training and career development, performance evaluation, compensation, EEO, occupational safety and health, and labor relations. (Prerequisites: M.B.A. standing; M.S. Engineering Management standing; or M.S. Science Management standing.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring, As Demand Warrants

BA 617 3 Credits
Organizational Theory for Managers
Overview of the history, concepts, literature and applications in organizational theory. Emphasis on applications and cases applying organizational theory concepts to management. (Prerequisite: M.B.A. standing.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 620 3 Credits
Portfolio Theory and Asset Pricing
Examination of modern normative portfolio theory and asset pricing. Includes mathematics of portfolio analysis, single-period risk and return measures, and the process of optimal portfolio selection. (Prerequisites: M.B.A. standing.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring, As Demand Warrants

BA 630 3 Credits
Derivative Securities
Derivative securities including options strategies, binomial and Black-Scholes pricing models, commodity and interest-rate futures, hedging strategies using options and futures, and risk management. (Prerequisite: M.B.A. standing.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring, As Demand Warrants

BA 643 3 Credits
Marketing Management
A managerial approach to examining processes for identifying prospective opportunities, as well as review of marketing mix elements relating to planning, developing and implementing marketing plans. Topics include market segmentation, buyer behavior, product policy and strategy, pricing, promotion and sales force management, distribution channel policy, competitive behavior, market research and marketing ethics. (Prerequisite: M.B.A. standing; M.S. Engineering Management standing; or M.S. Science Management standing.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 675 3 Credits
Quantitative Methods for Managers
An in-depth treatment of quantitative research methods in an applied context. The usefulness of those techniques to the managerial decision-making process. Research skills are presented as a set of tools that enable managers to make better decisions. (Prerequisites: M.B.A. standing.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 680 3 Credits
Financial Markets and Strategy
Description of capital markets, development of the major financial theories that explain how to value financial instruments, and examination of how these theories can be used by corporations to evaluate real investments. How firms choose among the various instruments available to them for financing operations and how these instruments help firms manage risks. These corporate financial decisions are viewed as part of the overall corporate strategy of firms, affecting investment and operating strategies, product market strategies and the ways in which executives are compensated. (Prerequisite: M.B.A. standing.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 681 3 Credits
Fixed Income Securities and Markets
Fixed income securities and markets including treasury, agency, mortgage-backed and corporate securities, municipal bonds and derivatives. Introduces technical issues relating to duration, convexity and bond-portfolio management. (Prerequisite: M.B.A. standing.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring, As Demand Warrants

BA 682 3 Credits
Financial Statement Analysis
How to comprehend and critically evaluate financial statements. Building on topics introduced in a first-year course in financial accounting, analyze additional disclosures typically included in financial statements. These activities will be useful in tasks related to valuation, credit decisions, competitor assessment and bankruptcy predictions. (Prerequisite: M.B.A. standing.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring, As Demand Warrants

BA 683 3 Credits
Advanced Topics in Marketing
Current topics and issues in marketing management, such as political and services marketing, marketing communications, marketing in Alaska or other relevant subjects. May be taken twice for credit when topic changes. (Prerequisite: M.B.A. standing.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring, As Demand Warrants

BA 690 3 Credits
Corporate Strategy
An integrative approach to strategy formation and implementation (decision-making) to achieve organization goals. Students will be introduced to theoretical perspectives and associated methodologies directed toward resolving the unstructured problems and opportunities which confront general managers at the highest levels of an organization. (Prerequisites: M.B.A. standing; BA 690 is an advanced seminar taken during the student's last spring semester.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring

BA 691 3 Credits
Advanced Topics in Business
Developing managers' ability to excel in specialized areas of business such as entrepreneurship and risk management. May be taken twice for credit when topic changes. (Prerequisite: M.B.A. standing.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall or Spring, As Demand Warrants