Business Management Degree (MD13)  Degree


Campus Locations: Vidalia, Swainsboro

The Business Management Degree program is designed to prepare students for entry into management and supervisory occupations in a variety of businesses and industries. Learning opportunities will introduce, develop, and reinforce academic and occupational knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement in management. Graduates of the program receive a Business Management Degree with a specialization in General Management, Service Sector Management, or Human Resource Management.

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, many managers have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration or some specialized field. Many organizations fill their top executive positions by promoting from lower levels as job openings arise. Even workers without a college degree may find themselves rising through the ranks over years of advancement in a company. Overall, the management field is growing, but the opportunities in the industry are increasingly more competitive. The Business Management area offers degrees with specializations in General Management, Service Sector Management, and Human Resource Management, as well as diplomas with a General Specialization. These specialty areas combined with various general core courses determine the completion of the degree or diploma. Opportunities for continual educational growth may be pursued at the university level. Collegiate programs in the School of Business with a major in Management are available to those individuals wishing to obtain a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in this dynamic career field. A manager is one who supervises others, decides the daily priorities of the business or office, delegates projects, and coordinates teams to meet the goals of the organization. Managers must have persuasive and clear communication skills, analytical minds able to digest large amounts of data quickly, and the skill to evaluate complex relationships among numerous factors. Additionally, managers exhibit personal qualities such as leadership, flexibility, self-confidence, motivation, determination, and sound business judgment. Salaries will vary according to the industry in which one is employed. Managers in enginerring, marketing, natural science, and information systems earn higher median wages. Besides earning a straight salary, managers may receive additional compensation such as profit sharing, stock ownership, or performance-based bonuses. In some firms, bonuses can constitute one-third or more of annual pay.

The standard curriculum for the Business Management Degree program is designed for the semester system. Students may enter the Business Management Degree program each semester. All courses are offered online. The core classes can also be taken during the day or at night. The program generally takes five (5) to six (6) semesters to complete. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 63-64 credit hours.

Requirements

  • Submit a completed application;
  • Be at least 16 years of age;
  • Submit official high school/high school equivalent transcripts;
  • Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
  • Satisfy Placement Testing requirements.

Program Costs

Costs are estimates and are subject to change.

  • Tuition/Fees: $6,686
  • Books/Supplies: $500
Curriculum Outline (64 hours)
General Core (21 hours) 21
COLL 1040

(Prerequisite: None) This course is designed to provide tools to assist students to acquire skills necessary to achieve academic and professional success in their chosen occupational/technical program of study. Topics include: Computer Applications/Technology Skills, Getting off to a Good Start, Learning and Personality Styles, Time and Money Management, Study and Test Taking Skills, Stress Management and Wellness, Communication Skills, and Career Exploration.

3
Area I: Language Arts/Communication
ENGL 1101

(Prerequisite: Appropriate English Placement Test Score AND Appropriate Reading Placement Test Score) Explores the analysis of literature and articles about issues in the humanities and in society. Students practice various modes of writing, ranging from exposition to argumentation and persuasion. The course includes a review of standard grammatical and stylistic usage in proofreading and editing. An introduction to library resources lays the foundation for research. Topics include writing analysis and practice, revision, and research. Students write a research paper using library resources and using a formatting and documentation style appropriate to the purpose and audience.

3
Area II: Social/Behavioral Sciences 3
PSYC 1101

(Prerequisite: Appropriate Degree Level Writing (English) and Reading Placement Test Scores) Introduces the major fields of contemporary psychology. Emphasis is on critical thinking and fundamental principles of psychology as a science. Topics include research design, the organization and operation of the nervous system, sensation and perception, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, thinking and intelligence, lifespan development, personality, psychological disorders and treatment, stress and health, and social psychology.

3
Area III: Natural Sciences/Mathematics
MATH 1111

(Prerequisites: Appropriate algebra placement test score) Emphasizes techniques of problem solving using algebraic concepts. Topics include fundamental concepts of algebra, equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, and systems of equations; optional topics include sequences, series, and probability or analytic geometry.

3
Area IV: Humanities/Fine Arts
ENGL 2130

(Prerequisite: ENGL 1101) Emphasizes American literature as a reflection of culture and ideas. A survey of important works in American literature. Includes a variety of literary genres: short stories, poetry, drama, nonfiction, and novels. Topics include literature and culture, essential themes and ideas, literature and history, and research skills.

3
General Education Elective
Choose Two (6 hours)
ECON 1101

(Prerequisites: Regular Admission) Provides a description and analysis of economic operations in contemporary society. Emphasis is placed on developing an understanding of economic concepts and policies as they apply to everyday life. Topics include basic economic principles; economic forces and indicators; capital and labor; price, competition, and monopoly; money and banking; government expenditures, federal and local; fluctuations in production, employment, and income; and United States economy in perspective.

3
SPCH 1101

(Prerequisites: ENGL 1101- Institutional Requirement) Introduces the student to the fundamentals of oral communication. L Topics include selection and organization of materials, preparation and delivery of individual and group presentations, analysis of ideas presented by others, and professionalism.

3
SOCI 1101

(Prerequisite: Appropriate Degree Level Writing (English) and Reading Placement Scores) Explores the sociological analysis of society, its culture, and structure. Sociology is presented as a science with emphasis placed on its methodology and theoretical foundations. Topics include basic sociological concepts, socialization, social interaction and culture, social groups and institutions, deviance and social control, social stratification, social change, and marriage and family.

3
Occupational Courses (30-31 hours) 31
MGMT 1100

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Develops skills and behaviors necessary for successful supervision of people and job responsibilities. Emphasis will be placed on real life concepts, personal skill development, applied knowledge and managing human resources. Course content is intended to help managers and supervisors deal with a dramatically changing workplace being affected by technology changes, a more competitive and global marketplace, corporate restructuring and the changing nature of work and the workforce. Topics include: Understanding the manager's job and work environment, building an effective organizational culture, leading, directing, and the application of authority, planning, decision-making, and problem-solving, human resource management, administrative management, organizing, and controlling.

3
MGMT 1105

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Provides a general knowledge of the human relations aspects of the senior-subordinate workplace environment. Topics include: employee relations principles, problem solving and decision making, leadership techniques to develop employee morale, human values and attitudes, organizational communications, interpersonal communications, and employee conflict.

3
MGMT 1110

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Develops a working knowledge of the laws of employment necessary for managers. Topics include: Employment Law, the Courts, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Discrimination Law, Selecting Applicants Under the Law, OSHA and Safety, Affirmative Action, AT-Will Doctrine, Right to Privacy, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Worker's Compensation, Unemployment Compensation, and National Labor Relations Act.

3
MGMT 1115

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) This course familiarizes the student with the principles and techniques of sound leadership practices. Topics include: characteristics of effective leadership styles, history of leadership, leadership models, the relationship of power and leadership, team leadership, the role of leadership in affecting change.

3
MGMT 1120

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) This course is designed to provide the student with an overview of the functions of business in the market system. The student will gain an understanding of the numerical decisions that must be made by managers and owners of businesses. Topics include: the market system, the role of supply and demand, financial management, legal issues in business, employee relations, ethics, and marketing.

3
MGMT 1125

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Provides students with an overview of business ethics and ethical management practices with emphasis on the process of ethical decision-making and working through contemporary ethical dilemmas faced by business organizations, managers, and employees. The course is intended to demonstrate to the students how ethics can be integrated into strategic business decisions and can be applied to their own careers. The course uses a case study approach to encourage the student in developing analytical, problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making skills. Topics include: An overview of business ethics, moral development and moral reasoning, corporate codes of ethics and effective ethics programs, business and society, consumers and the environment, ethical issues in the workplace, business ethics in a global and multicultural environment, business ethics in cyberspace, and business ethics and the rule of law.

3
MGMT 2115

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) This course is designed as an overview of the Human Resource Management (HMR) function and the manager and supervisor's role in managing the career cycle from organizational entry to exit. It acquaints the student with the authority, responsibility, functions, and problems of the human resource manager, with an emphasis on developing familiarity with the real world applications required of employers and managers who increasingly are in partnership with HRM generalists and specialists in their organizations. Topics include: strategic human resource management, contemporary issues in HRM; ethics, diversity and globalization; the human resource/supervisor partnership; human resource planning and productivity; job description analysis, development, and design; recruiting, interviewing, and selecting employees; performance management and appraisal systems; employee training and development; disciplinary action and employee rights; employee compensation and benefits; labor relations and employment law; and technology applications in HRM.

3
MGMT 2125

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Develops an understanding of how fostering employer/employee relationships in the work setting improves work performance. Develops legal counseling and disciplinary techniques to use in various workplace situations. Topics include: the definitions of coaching, counseling, and discipline; importance of the coaching relationship; implementation of an effective counseling strategy; techniques of effective discipline; and performance evaluation techniques.

3
MGMT 2215

(Prerequisite: Program admission) (This course must be taken towards the end of the program. Students will take an exit exam in this course.) This course utilizes team methodologies to study the field of management. It encourages students to discuss their perception of management practices which have been studied during the management program. Topics include: current issues and problems in management and supervision and state-of-the-art management and leadership techniques. Students will be put into teams, will work on team projects to demonstrate their understanding of the competencies of this course, and will do peer evaluation.

3
Choose One (3-4 hours)
ACCT 1100

(Prerequisite: Program admission) Introduces the basic financial accounting concepts of the complete accounting cycle and provides the student with the necessary skills to maintain a set of books for a sole proprietorship. Topics include: accounting vocabulary and concepts, the accounting cycle for a personal service business, the accounting cycle for a merchandising business, inventory, cash control, and receivables. Laboratory work demonstrates theory presented in class.

4
MGMT 1135

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) The focus of this course is to acquire the skills and concepts necessary to use accounting information in managerial decision making. Course is designed for those who use, not necessarily prepare, accounting information. Those applications include the use of information for short and long term planning, operational control, investment decisions, cost and pricing products and services. An overview of financial accounting and basic concepts of finance provides an overview of financial statement analysis.

3
Choose One Of The Following Specializations (12 hours) 12
General Management Specialization (12 hours) 12
GUI 003Guided Elective (3 hours) 3
GUI 003Guided Elective (3 hours) 3
GUI 003Guided Elective (3 hours) 3
GUI 003Guided Elective (3 hours) 3
Human Resource Management Specialization (12 hours) 12
MGMT 1110

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Develops a working knowledge of the laws of employment necessary for managers. Topics include: Employment Law, the Courts, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Discrimination Law, Selecting Applicants Under the Law, OSHA and Safety, Affirmative Action, AT-Will Doctrine, Right to Privacy, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Worker's Compensation, Unemployment Compensation, and National Labor Relations Act.

3
XXX xxxElective (3 hours) 3
MGMT 2130

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Addresses the challenges of improving the performance and career potential of employees, while benefiting the student in their own preparation for success in the workplace. The focus is on both training and career and personal development. Shows the student how to recognize when training and development is needed and how to plan, design and deliver and effective program of training for employees. Opportunities are provided for the student to develop their own career plans, assess their work-related skills, and practice a variety of skills desired by employers. Topics include: developing a philosophy of training; having systems approach to training and development; the context of training; conducting a needs analysis; critical success factors for employees; learning principles; designing and implementing training plans; conducting and evaluating training; human resource development and careers; personal career development planning; and applications in interpersonal relationships and communication.

3
MGMT 2205

(Prerequisite: None) This course focuses on supervision in the service sector with special emphasis on team building, quality management, and developing a customer focus. The challenge of providing world-class customer service is addressed through sections on principles of service industry supervision, career development, problem solving, stress management, and conflict resolution. Topics include: principles of service industry supervision, team building, customer service operations, TQM in a service environment, business software applications, communication in the service sector, introduction to information systems, selling principles and sales management, retail management, and legal issues in the service sector.

3
Service Sector Management Specialization (12 Hours) 12
MGMT 2130

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Addresses the challenges of improving the performance and career potential of employees, while benefiting the student in their own preparation for success in the workplace. The focus is on both training and career and personal development. Shows the student how to recognize when training and development is needed and how to plan, design and deliver and effective program of training for employees. Opportunities are provided for the student to develop their own career plans, assess their work-related skills, and practice a variety of skills desired by employers. Topics include: developing a philosophy of training; having systems approach to training and development; the context of training; conducting a needs analysis; critical success factors for employees; learning principles; designing and implementing training plans; conducting and evaluating training; human resource development and careers; personal career development planning; and applications in interpersonal relationships and communication.

3
MGMT 2140

(Prerequisites: None) Develops a working knowledge of managing a retail business from a variety of perspectives with an emphasis on store management. The emphasis is on contemporary issues in retailing, particularly the process of supervising customer service and dealing with the changing demographics of retailing. An application focus on the use of information technologies, the internet, and electronic retailing is intended to give the student hands-on experience in retail management. Topics include: strategic retail management; store, non-store, and non-traditional retailing; retail human resource management; developing a customer-focused service strategy; managing customer service; retail operations and financial management; merchandise management; buying and inventory management; global, cataloging, and electronic retail management, information technology applications in retailing.

3
MGMT 2205

(Prerequisite: None) This course focuses on supervision in the service sector with special emphasis on team building, quality management, and developing a customer focus. The challenge of providing world-class customer service is addressed through sections on principles of service industry supervision, career development, problem solving, stress management, and conflict resolution. Topics include: principles of service industry supervision, team building, customer service operations, TQM in a service environment, business software applications, communication in the service sector, introduction to information systems, selling principles and sales management, retail management, and legal issues in the service sector.

3
GUI 003Guided Elective (3 hours) 3
Approved Electives: BUSN 1240, BUSN 1330, BUSN 1400, BUSN 1410, COMP 1000, BUSN 2190, MGMT 2130, MGMT 2140, MGMT 2205, MGMT 2410, MGMT 2150
Faculty
Advisor

Business Management Instructor
Vidalia Campus - Gillis Building, Office 807

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Programs of Study