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General Management Concentration
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Credits:
18
Concentration Description
The undergraduate concentration in General Management is for students who want a good basic understanding of management, to complement their major in another area. The course work provides a practical framework for understanding contemporary management theory and practice.
The concentration is accepted in any Cambridge College bachelor’s degree, as open electives.
Program Outcomes:
Students will gain:
- Basic understanding of American businesses and the context in which they operate
- Understanding of organizations and skills for managing them
- Introductory understanding of human resources
- Marketing/sales concepts and tools for for-profit and nonprofit organizations
- In-depth understanding of ethical, social and political dimensions of managing organizations and businesses
Careers and Further Study:
Graduates can be highly valuable individual contributors, outstanding team members, and managers in organizations and businesses related to their major area of study. They will have the foundational management tools to begin building their own businesses or organizations.
Curriculum
Required: BSM 200
Choose five of the six other courses listed below to complete your concentration.
Introduction to Business
BSM 200 • 3 credit(s)
Students learn how American business operates. The course begins with a study of business in its broader perspective, looking at the context within which American business fits, and the investment markets which provide the capital needed to grow. The external factors influencing business development and the role business plays in the world economy are examined. The course then focuses on the internal organization and the operations of American business, highlighting major issues associated with managing functional areas of a business, such as marketing, production, technology, and supply chain management. In the later part of the course, financial management, both personal and business, and financial institutions are studied.
Economics for Managers
BSM 300 • 3 credit(s)
This course provides an overview of economics and establishes a foundation and vocabulary for future courses. It gives an applied, practical introduction to macroeconomics and microeconomics. At the macro-economic level the course helps the learner understand how the American economy functions, and what impact changes in the economy may have on the individual and the organization, as well as the impact of the global economy. At the microeconomic level the course examines how individuals and firms make economic decisions. This knowledge becomes the basis of understanding key concepts of supply, demand and pricing, as well as average and marginal costs and breakeven analysis.
Organizational Theory & Behavior
BSM 445 • 3 credit(s)
This course examines the factors which influence individual, group and firm behavior in the work place. Topics include communication, motivation, group dynamics, leadership, power, and organizational design and development. Theories and frameworks, case discussions and skill-building exercises are used to understand and apply each topic. Class sessions and assignments help participants acquire the skills that managers need to improve organizational relationships and performance.
Operations Management
BSM 320 • 3 credit(s)
This course covers the essentials of the operating systems of manufacturing and service organizations that convert materials and other resources into finished goods and services. Topics covered include key performance metrics, process mapping and analysis, product and process design, new product introduction, supply chain management, plant location and capacity planning, total quality and effective resource management. The goal is to understand the concept of total product life cycle management, and the effect of strategy in the operations role, as well as tactical issues such as inventory control, quality assurance and operations scheduling. The course also discusses recent developments such as computer-integrated manufacturing, flexible-manufacturing systems, and just in time inventory. It considers the interrelationship of operations decisions with marketing, finance and the overall strategy of the organization.
Marketing
BSM 205 • 3 credit(s)
In this course, students master the basic principles and practices of modern marketing. The course offers a broad overview of the nature and fundamentals of marketing activity. It provides an introduction to managing the marketing activities of an organization including marketing information systems and research, the marketing organizational system, and the marketing planning and control system. Topics include analysis of the global marketing environment of the firm, market research, customer and client analysis, target marketing and segmentation, product and service planning, pricing, communications, advertising, and sales promotion, distribution management, and the development of marketing and sales strategies and plans. The use of marketing concepts and tools by nonprofit organizations is discussed.
Financial Accounting
BSM 204 • 3 credit(s)
This course introduces the principles that govern financial accounting systems and the income statement and balance sheet that are the principal end products. Students learn how accounting information is used to evaluate the performance and financial status of private, non-profit and public organizations. The course emphasizes the use of accounting information by managers within the organization and by shareholders, lenders, and other outside parties. Basic accounting terms and concepts, and the language of financial management are presented as well as the essentials of the accounting process. The course also builds an awareness of the ethical, information and regulatory environment of accounting.
Human Resource Management
BSM 335 • 3 credit(s)
This introductory course surveys what current and aspiring general managers need to know about personnel and human resource management in business and nonprofit organizations. It is for students who are exploring career opportunities in personnel management rather than experienced personnel specialists. The course covers staff recruitment and selection, performance evaluation, compensation, and management training. It considers the impact of human resource policies on productivity, employee morale and turnover. It also covers the promotion of equal employment opportunity, with discussion of recent court decisions, government regulations, and technical advances that affect the personnel management function.
