BUSINESS (BUS)
Course Descriptions
BUS 205 Cr. 3
The Legal and Ethical Environment of Business
This course introduces students to ethical theory and
decision-making models, as well as the legal framework in which
American business operates, the substantive legal rules that
govern American business domestically and internationally, and
the ethical and social responsibility implications of business
conduct within the legal environment. Governmental efforts to
regulate business activity by statute and administrative agency
rules and decisions are emphasized. Prerequisite: ECO 110 or ECO
120 and 30 credit hours. MBA foundation course
BUS 700 Cr. 1-3
Business Forum
Emphasis on the exploration of new
developments in business theory and practice. Topics will vary
from semester to semester. Prerequisite: admission to the MBA
program. Repeatable for credit — maximum 9.
BUS 710 Cr. 2
Statistical Analysis Foundations
This course is designed for students
entering the MBA program who have not had sufficient exposure to
the subject before. Students will learn the basic concepts,
principles and techniques of business statistics. They will be
able to implement the techniques on spreadsheets using specially
designed templates, and will develop a working knowledge of the
subject in order to solve statistical problems in business. The
techniques will cover such topics as descriptive statistics,
probability distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing and
simple regression. Prerequisite: College algebra, basic
competency in using MS Excel. Offered Sem. I. This course is an
internet MBA foundation course.
BUS 730 Cr. 3
Decision Framing and Decision Making in Complex Environments I
This course challenges students to integrate all of the
discipline-specific skills developed in the MBA foundation
courses within a dynamic decision-making context. The focus of
the course will be on the process of problem
framing/identification, analysis, and decision-making in complex
and uncertain environments. Students develop critical judgments
about the efficient and effective application of core knowledge
which requires applying the tools of analysis appropriately and
exacting useful insights and drawing managerially relevant
recommendations from the analysis. Prerequisite: successful
completion of the MBA foundation requirements.
Offered Sem. I.
BUS 731 Cr. 3
Decision Framing and Decision Making in Complex Environments II
This course further integrates the
discipline-specific skills developed in the MBA foundation
courses and Decision Framing (BUS 730). The course will focus on
the process of problem analysis and decision making in complex
and uncertain environments utilizing an interdisciplinary
approach by integrating critical knowledge and practices from
finance, marketing, operations and organizational behavior. The
course emphasizes the development of critical judgments,
implementation of analytical tools, extracting useful insights
and drawing managerially relevant recommendations from the
analysis. Prerequisite: successful completion of the MBA
foundation requirements and BUS 730. Offered Sem. II.
BUS 735 Cr. 4
Business Decision Making and Research Methodology
This course introduces a variety of
quantitative and qualitative methods that support business
decision-making and research. These methods range from
quantitative approaches like multivariate analysis, simulation
and linear programming to qualitative approaches that use
unstructured forms of data collection, both by interviewing and
observation. Students will achieve conceptual understanding of
the research methods covered in the course and acquire hands-on
experience in applying these methods to practical business
situations and business research while using computer-based
tools. Prerequisite: successful completion of the foundation
requirements. Offered Sem. I.
BUS 750 Cr. 3
Managing in an Environmental and Socially Conscious World
This course analyzes business
decisions in the context of environmental, human rights, and
social responsibility issues. The course provides an open,
balanced, and interdisciplinary approach that examines the
complex social, environmental, and human rights issues central
to the conscientious management of business organizations. The
course will examine these issues in business decision
situations, explore solutions from alternative paradigms of
corporate governance and incorporate them when formulating
organizational tactics and strategy. Prerequisite: BUS 730.
Offered Sem. II.
BUS 755 Cr. 3
Managing in a Changing Technological Environment
This course examines changes in the
technological environment in the modern business world. It
surveys contemporary information technologies such as the
Internet and their impacts on business practices in all
essential business function areas. The course introduces
effective models and techniques for managing technological
change. Prerequisite: BUS 730. Offered Sem. II.
BUS 760 Cr. 4
Managing in a Global Environment
This course develops the critical
skills and integrated knowledge necessary to function
effectively in today’s global environment. The course describes
how global agreements, changing technologies, global
institutions and evolving political patterns affect the conduct
of global business. This course develops the ability to frame
problems from multiple managerial perspectives — including
operational, economic, environmental, ethical, financial,
cultural, and technological frames of reference — and to apply
sophisticated decision making and coalition building processes
to arrive at integrated solutions in a diverse and changing
world. This course will typically employ a problem-based
approach to the subject area and will seek to integrate, in this
approach, such traditional functional disciplines as operations,
logistics, marketing, finance, accounting, information systems,
and management. Prerequisite: BUS 730. Offered Sem. I and Summer
Session. This course is offered as a campus course and as an
Internet course.
BUS 780 Cr. 1-6
Internship in Business Administration
This course is a practical learning
experience designed to apply the skills and competencies
acquired within the MBA program to challenging business problems
in both the profit and non-profit sectors. Prerequisite:
successful completion of the MBA core curriculum, and written
approval of the MBA program director. Repeatable for credit —
maximum 6.
BUS 790 Cr. 1
MBA Program Assessment
This course consists of a capstone
activity which gives students an opportunity to reflect on their
MBA experience as a whole-and thus, to have one, final, critical
learning experience. Participation in the concluding assessment
exercise provides useful feedback regarding the effectiveness of
the MBA program. This assessment will be multi-disciplinary and
multi-dimensional in its design and execution. Where possible,
it will involve participants from the broader UW-L academic and
business communities. Prerequisite: completion, or in the final
stages, of all other MBA program requirements. Last course
before graduation. Pass/Fail grading.
BUS 799 Cr. 1-6
Research: Master’s Thesis
This course consists of a directed
independent research study to be selected and executed under the
direction of a graduate faculty member. Prerequisite: successful
completion of the MBA core curriculum and written approval of
the MBA program director. Completion of a master’s thesis is
optional within the MBA program. Repeatable for credit — maximum
6.