Business Administration
Assistant Professor: Peter Staples
The Business Administration major provides students with an understanding of complex business environments, administrative practices and processes, and the structure and role of organizations, through the entrepreneurial lens. It introduces students to the concepts and theories of management and decision-making while providing experience-based opportunities in which to apply these concepts. Students will focus their studies and select an emphasis in at least one of three areas: management, accounting, or finance. As students advance, they will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge by researching, writing, and presenting a business plan. Students will also have the opportunity to apply their learned skills to the management of a real fund, through an endowment-funded investment portfolio. The business administration major offers graduates the flexibility to choose between entry-level managerial positions, advanced study, and/or the launch of a new opportunity. In the Senior year, the program ends with a year-long Capstone Experience that includes Entrepreneurship, where student teams create a business plan. The teams then compete in a business plan competition in the second semester of the Capstone Experience.
NOTES
* Students may use ECO 101 and BUS 323 to satisfy core requirements.
* Students may elect ECO 215 a second and third time.
NOTE: To graduate with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from Lyon College, students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours comprised of our required Core curriculum (44-48 hours), the requirements of at least one major (credit hours vary per major), and a selection of our Liberal Arts electives. They must also earn at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average for all work taken at Lyon College and a 2.00 cumulative grade point average in their major, minor, and concentration.
Degrees
-
Business Administration Major (BS) -
Business Administration Minor -
Healthcare Administration Minor -
Marketing Minor -
Social Entrepreneurship Minor
Courses
BUS 208: Career Professionalism
Class Program
Preparation of students for career success. Students will evaluate appropriate career direction, create relevant goals, identify transferable skills and experience, and effectively market themselves in resumes, cover letters, portfolios, networking environments, and employment interviews.
BUS 210: Principles of Management
Class Program
A survey of effective management techniques for achieving organizational objectives in business, non- profit institutions, and government agencies with emphasis the four basic functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. The course introduces Social Entrepreneurship with a focus on the triple bottom line.
BUS 302: Governance, Business, and Society
Class Program
The course involves analyses of the intersection of government, business, law, and society. Policies, ethics, and the maintenance and regulation of competition at the local, national, and global levels are explored in relation to how organizations are governed – internally and externally.
Prerequisite Courses
BUS 303: Business Law
Class Program
A systematic analysis of the legal concepts applicable to business organizations, legal rights and remedies, secured transactions, commercial paper, property, and bankruptcy.
Prerequisites
Junior or senior status or permission of instructor.
BUS 306: Principles of Marketing
Class Program
A survey of activities involved in the marketing of products to consumer and industrial markets. Topics include pricing, product development, promotion, distribution, and environmental forces that affect marketing.
Prerequisite Courses
BUS 310: Consumer Behavior
Class Program
An introduction to consumer behavior as it affects an organization’s marketing strategy and policy decisions. The course offers various perspectives on marketing activities with emphasis on basic psychological, social, cultural, and situational influences.
Prerequisite Courses
BUS 311: Operations Management
Class Program
BUS 315: Organizational Behavior
Class Program
An introduction to the management of individuals and small groups in the work place. This course studies the basic theory of behavior within organizations, including topics such as the dynamics of small groups, informal structures within an organization, and the significance of the social environment.
Prerequisite Courses
BUS 320: Digital Marketing
Class Program
Students will learn how companies and brands promote and build their businesses through digital platforms – websites, email, content marketing, video, and online ads. The class will also focus on the digital analytics needed to assess effectiveness – SEO, keywords, and Google Analytics.
BUS 323: Statistical Applications to Business Decision Making
Class Program
Exploration of the background necessary to run a statistical project from data collection through to analysis and interpretation of results with emphasis on probability distributions, statistical inference, and regression analysis.
Prerequisites
MTH 101 or MTH 103
BUS 330: Business Process & Design Improvement
Class Program
This course introduces concepts and tools for analyzing and improving existing processes or designing new ones. The main focus is on Lean Six Sigma concepts but includes other tools and concepts. The course also introduces the strategic application of quality management concepts and quality systems with an emphasis on value creation. Upon completion of the course, the student should understand and be able to apply the ASQ Six Sigma Yellow Belt Body of Knowledge.
Prerequisites
Or permission of instructor.
BUS 350: Digital Marketing
Class Program
Students will learn how companies and brands promote and build their businesses through digital platforms – websites, email, content marketing, video, and online ads. The class will also focus on the digital analytics needed to assess effectiveness – SEO, keywords, and Google Analytics.
Prerequisite Courses
BUS 360: Business to Business Marketing
Class Program
The Business to Business (B2B) Marketing course will explore the principles and practices of marketing in a business-to-business context. The course will cover organizations' strategies and tactics to market their products and services to other businesses, including customer relationship management, segmentation, targeting, and more.
Prerequisite Courses
BUS 375: Human Resource Management
Class Program
Study of the process of managing human resources to achieve organizational objectives. Students will build a foundation for the process of personnel selection, development, and maintenance, as well as consider the activities of unions and other employee organizations.
BUS 382: Special Topics in Business Administration
Study of selected topics in business administration. Prerequisites will vary.
BUS 399: Business Administration International Studies Course: Variable Topics
Class Program
Study of varying topics in business administration. Includes a two-week Nichols trip. Prerequisites will vary.
BUS 402: Marketing Research and Analysis
Class Program
BUS 405: New Product Development
Class Program
The New Product Development (NPD) course will explore how new products are brought to market – from concept development to commercialization. In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of product management and modern project management used to bring new products to market.
Prerequisite Courses
BUS 410: Organization Theory
Class Program
Holistic study of the organization, focusing on the major determinants of organizational effectiveness.
Prerequisite Courses
BUS 415: Social Entrepreneurship
Class Program
Social Entrepreneurship is Part one of the capstone experience required for completion of the Business Administration Major and Social Entrepreneurship Minor. An examination of the activities involved in the planning, establishing, and launching a social business enterprise. Students will explore the various start-up options for businesses and non-profits, then prepare a business plan for the proposed enterprise.
Prerequisites
Senior status in the Business Major or Social Entrepreneurship Minor.
BUS 420: Business Capstone
Class Program
Part Two of the Business Capstone Experience. Students will complete the business plans started in BUS 415, prepare for and compete in the Arkansas Business Plan Competition. Additional topics include, project implementation, career development, and career planning.
Prerequisite Courses
BUS 425: Advanced Theories in Marketing
Class Program
The Advanced Marketing Theories course will explore advanced marketing concepts, theories, strategies, and innovative new trends successfully used by marketers today. Students will learn advanced marketing strategies and techniques using research projects and case studies.
BUS 430: International Business
Class Program
An overview of international business activities with emphasis on gaining an international perspective of cultural dynamics, business practices, political and legal environments, and global market strategies.
Prerequisite Courses
BUS 435: Special Topics in Social Entrepreneurship
Special topics or projects in social entrepreneurship include participation in social business competitions as directed by the instructor. May be repeated for up to 4 credits if topics or projects are different.
Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisites
And permission of the instructor.
BUS 445: Field Study in Small Business Management
Practical experience exposing students to real business situations. Students will serve as consultants to small business owners in the region and prepare a case report at the end of the semester containing their findings and recommendations.
Prerequisites
Permission of instructor.
BUS 450: Internship in Business Administration
Class Program
Students will gain field experience through direct, supervised work in a selected, approved company. The internship will involve a minimum of 140 contact hours over the course of a semester, and interns will provide periodic reports to the faculty supervisor. Course can be taken two times for credit.
Prerequisites
Declared Business or Economics major in senior year with cumulative GPA minimum of 2.75
BUS 455: Senior Thesis
Class Program
Students will conduct independent research on a selected subject in the area of business administration. Faculty members will guide students through the research process to accomplish agreed upon objectives, and students will submit a research paper and make an oral presentation at the end of the semester. Prerequisite:
Prerequisites
Declared Business major in senior year.
BUS 458: Internship in Social Entrepreneurship/CSR
Students will gain field experience through direct, supervised work in a selected, approved company. The internship will involve a minimum of 140 contact hours over the course of a semester, and interns will provide periodic reports to the faculty supervisor. The internship will primarily focus on Social Entrepreneurship or CSR (corporate social responsibility) topics and projects.
Prerequisites
Permission of the instructor
BUS 470: Topics in Business Administration
Concentrated study of selected advanced topics in Management, Operations, Marketing, Human Resources, and Accounting. Prerequisites will vary.
BUS 480: Business Strategy
Class Program
Examination of the problems involved in the formulation and execution of business policies and maintenance and development of an effective organization. Includes the use of case studies as a basis for discussion.
Prerequisites
Declared major in final spring semester.
ECO 340: Sustainable Economic Development
Class Program
An introduction to key concepts in economic development with a focus on social and environmental sustainability. Topics are presented mainly from a regional economics perspective. The role of social entrepreneurship in creating social capital and economic development is also examined.
Prerequisite Courses
HAM 100: Health Systems in the United States
Class Program
This course is an introduction to the US healthcare system and the practice of healthcare management. Students will learn how the healthcare industry functions and explore the roles and impacts of its various parts. Students will also have the opportunity to compare and contrast the US healthcare system with those of other nations.
HAM 200: Healthcare Finance
Class Program
This course covers how to apply concepts of finance and accounting to healthcare. Students will learn how to track and evaluate the financial status of a healthcare organization. Additionally, students will learn how healthcare systems finance growth, and other projects. By the end of this course, students will be able to analyze issues and trends in healthcare finance and use financial information to support healthcare decision-making.
HAM 300: Health Law & Ethics
Class Program
This course is an overview of healthcare law in the United States. It covers the ethical and legal issues that healthcare providers and administrators are confronted within the modern workforce. By the end of this course, students will understand how the legal environment shapes the medical profession and how to analyze and respond to a range of ethical and legal issues
Prerequisite Courses
HAM 305: Health Data & Analytics
Class Program
This course helps students understand the process of analyzing patient and other healthcare data to drive change and achieve greater efficiencies in healthcare systems. Students will acquire the programming and scripting skills (no prior experience needed) they need to analyze and explore data sets. By the end of this course, students will be able to perform statistical analyses of healthcare data and turn it into actionable information to improve healthcare systems.
Prerequisite Courses
HAM 310: Healthcare Service Operations
Class Program
This course is an introduction to healthcare operations. Students will learn about operations and systems management within the context of healthcare systems, how hospital supply chains work, and how to analyze operational processes to improve efficiencies. By the end of this course, students will know how to evaluate and optimize hospital processes.
HAM 450: Healthcare Strategy Capstone
Class Program
This course is the culmination of the work students conduct in the Healthcare Administration Minor. Students will learn to apply strategic thinking to healthcare management and complete a major project in which they propose a systemic change to a hospital or hospital system. By the end of this course, student will have honed and improved your relevant skills and created a portfolio project to show future prospective employers.