Blue Bar
Undergraduate Core Courses

Every business school undergraduate student must build their foundational knowledge with a core set of courses. These classes form the building blocks for their entire business education at the Maine Business School. Each major also has its own set of required courses to complete the Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSBA) degree.

Core courses for all BSBA students

ACC = Accounting
BIS = Business Information Systems
FIN = Finance
MGT = Management
MKT = Marketing

ACC 201 – Principles of Financial Accounting

This is an introduction to the organization, presentation, and use of financial accounting information. Students will understand the elements of the accounting system: assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, expenses, and dividends.

ACC 202 – Principles of Managerial Accounting

This course is an introduction to the use and preparation of accounting information for management decision-making and analysis. It includes techniques that can be used by all businesses in evaluating, planning, and controlling operations.

BIS 235 – Information Systems and Technology for Business

The focus of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and tools in essential technologies, including databases, computer networks, cloud computing, enterprise software, e-business systems, and cyber security.

FIN 350 – Business Finance

An introduction to the principles of finance, including time value of money, security valuation, capital budgeting, and measurement of risk. Includes an emphasis on financial decision-making in the corporate environment.

MGT 101 – Introduction to Business

This course covers the basic functional areas of business, including finance, management, marketing, management information systems, and accounting.

MGT 220 – The Legal Environment of Business

Focus on an examination of fundamental legal concepts and their application to the business community. Selected legal cases will be critically analyzed and discussed.

MGT 325 – Principles of Management and Organization

Provides an analysis of the internal organizational structure and the process of management in business enterprises both domestic and international.

MGT 337 – Production and Operations Management

This course addresses the organizational role of Operations Management as a primary business function. Students are challenged to apply critical thinking skills as well as apply quantitative modes such as: forecasting, scheduling, capacity planning, location analysis, project management, inventory control, and statistical process control to generate plausible solutions to operations management problems.

MGT 343 – Introduction to International Business

This course examines international business in the current era of globalization. The course emphasizes the role of cultural differences, government, laws, regulations, ethics and corporate social responsibility for the decision-making process of international business.

MGT 449 – Strategic Management

This course is the capstone course for the undergraduate business major. It requires that the student draw together the knowledge gained in all core business coursework in the analysis of contemporary challenges facing business organizations. Proficiency is shown via written and oral communications in individual and team based activities through in-depth analysis of increasingly complex business and not for profit organizational problems. This necessarily involves decision making and an understanding of ethical principles and approaches.

MKT 270 – Marketing

An introduction to the concepts, analyses, and activities that comprise marketing strategy and tactics, and provides practice in assessing and solving strategic and tactical problems in marketing. The course is a foundation for advanced courses in marketing.

 

Core courses for Accounting majors

The knowledge of accounting principles and their applications are fundamental to a career in business. Accounting data is essential for planning and decision making for all businesses and organizations. The practicing accountant is involved in supervising the preparation, interpretation, and reporting of economic data for management operations and the general public.

ACC 301 – Intermediate Accounting I

An examination of the conceptual framework underlying financial accounting, as well as an in-depth look at accounting for assets and the statement of cash flows.

ACC 302 – Intermediate Accounting II

A continuation of ACC 301, this course focuses on the recognition, measurement, and presentation of accounting information related to (among others) investment, general liabilities and contingencies, income taxes, lease obligations, pension liabilities, and equity.

ACC 305 – Cost Accounting

This course teaches concepts of cost and overhead allocation, cost systems, budgeting, cost behavior, and Cost-Volume-Profit analysis including an introduction to regression using Excel.

ACC 310 – Auditing

This course examines the public accounting profession, auditing standards, and professional ethics. It introduces a variety of auditing procedures and the steps that are taken by CPA firms in conducting audits. It also discusses different potential problems that are faced by the auditors in the real audit assignments. The course provides an opportunity for students to study auditing concepts and theory at an advanced level by examining a number of real issues.

ACC 312 – Federal Income Taxation

In this course, students study federal income tax laws as they affect individuals and businesses. The course teaches students to understand income tax principles such as gross income, exclusions, deductions, credits, capital gains and losses, property transactions, and other investment and business issues.

 

Core courses for Finance majors 

Our finance major focuses on the technical and analytical skills required for data driven decision-making. Through the study of finance, students learn how businesses operate and how they make decisions based upon financial markets. The Gerard S. Cassidy ’80 Capital Markets Training Laboratory at the Maine Business School features nine Bloomberg terminals that provide access to real-time and historical price information and analysis on equities, fixed income securities, derivative contracts, and foreign exchange.

FIN 351 – Valuation and Corporate Investment Decisions

This is a course in advanced corporate finance with a focus on project and enterprise valuation. Students explore advanced issues in capital budgeting and explore in depth the financing decisions of the corporation, which include raising capital both privately and publicly.

FIN 352 – Financial Institutions

Students will analyze the operations and economic roles of financial institutions, including commercial, savings, and investment banks. Particular attention is paid to the changing nature of this industry, regulation, and deregulation and management of risk.

FIN 353 – Investment Strategy

This course examines the construction and management of investment portfolios.

FIN 454 – Financial Derivatives

Students examine the practices of futures, options, and swaps markets, particularly the economic function of these markets and their application in banking, portfolio management, international finance, and individual investment programs.

 

Core courses for Management majors 

Management majors navigate the complexities of corporate, international, and small business management, and hone administrative and organizational principles, such as leadership, organizational change, strategic analysis, production system analysis and human resources. A degree in management helps to develop the skills needed to resolve challenges in the operation of a business. Learn how to navigate and implement the best strategy. Students learn to work independently as well as part of a team to prepare them for the workforce of the 21st century.

MGT 326 – Organizational Behavior

This course examines the behavior of individuals, groups, and organizations. Students will learn to apply a managerial perspective that considers organizational effectiveness, careers, and job satisfaction. Topics include diversity, motivation, organizational communication, team processes and structure, leadership, organizational design, culture, and change.

MGT 327 – Business and Society

This course focuses on the role of business in our society and the interactions it has with various segments of the society. Specific areas examined include the legal environment; social responsibility of business, political, and social forces; and ethical dilemmas that can occur.

MGT 330 – Human Resource Management

The course examines the role of human resource management (HRM) in the context of the overall business strategy. Specifically, the course covers HRM activities including planning, recruitment, selection, training, performance management, compensation, benefits, and their alignment with a business strategy. It also considers internal and external factors that impact management of talent in a context of ongoing globalization, workplace diversity and legal compliance.

 

Core courses for Marketing majors

Marketing is integral as the interface between a business or organization and its customers. Marketing students study the planning, implementation, and control of programs designed to satisfy customers’ needs while achieving organizational goals. Students develop skills such as teamwork, professional presentation, effective communication, and leadership. Because of MBS’s extensive ties to the business community, marketing majors often have the ability to test out their skills by working directly with businesses who need marketing assistance.

MKT 371 – Services Marketing

This course offers an in-depth examination of the marketing of services and the role of services in supporting the marketing of tangible products. The course will identify and examine the distinct issues which are encountered in the marketing of services and will explore appropriate strategies for implementing services marketing programs, primarily in services organizations (i.e. healthcare, tourism, banking, education, etc.).

MKT 378 – Marketing Research

This course considers marketing research as a tool for marketing decision making. It has an emphasis on problem formulation, research design, research methodology, sampling, data analysis, and interpretation.

MKT 382 – Consumer Behavior

This course presents a comprehensive framework for understanding why and how people consume. It investigates the pre-purchase, purchase, and post-purchase stages of the consumption process. It draws on the social sciences to understand the psychological, situational, technological, social, and cultural factors influencing the consumption process. Specific topics include perception, motivation, attitudes, values, self-concept, personality, lifestyle, consumer decision-making process, shopping and buying, group influences, consumption subcultures, and global consumer culture.

MKT 480 – Managerial Marketing

Students learn about the integration of marketing as an organization activity with other activities of the business firm. This course explores problems encountered by top marketing executives in modern business.