Rockhurst University | Learning, Leadership and Service in the Jesuit Tradition

We are continuously developing and adding to our extensive list of elective choices to meet the demand of today’s rapidly changing business, industry, and non-profit sectors. This page will be updated as new elective options are added.

• Advanced Accounting, AC 6050 (3 credit hours)
• Corporate and Partnership Taxation, AC 6600 (3 credit hours)
• Individual Taxation, AC 6650 (3 credit hours)
• Auditing, AC 6750 (3 credit hours)
• Fraud Examination, AC 6800S (2 credit hours) 
• Contemporary Issues in Finance and Accounting, ACFN 6350S (2 credit hours)
• Business in the EU, BUS 6092S (2 credit hours)
• Project Planning and Practice, BUS 6321S (2 credit hours)
• Small Business and Entrepreneurship, BUS 6350S (2 credit hours)
• Cross Cultural Management, BUS 6540S (2 credit hours)
• International Economics and Trade, EC 6600S (2 credit hours)
• Macroeconomics  for Managers, EC6400S (2 credit hours)
• Financial Markets and Institutions, FN 6300S (2 credit hours)
• Financial Planning, FN 6560S (2 credit hours)
• Investments, FN 6600 (3 credit hours)
• Health Policy, HC 6150S (2 credit hours)
• Mensch Management, MG 6001S (2 credit hours) 
• Developing Leadership in Organizations, MG 6275S (2 credit hours)
• Organizational Change, MG 6680S (2 credit hours)
• International Marketing, MK 6510S (2 credit hours)
• Corporate Marketing and Social Media, MK 6475S (2 credit hours)

Course Descriptions

AC 6050. Advanced Accounting (3 credit hours) Course explores advanced topics in financial accounting and reporting, including business combinations and consolidations, accounting for routine operations of state and local government entities and other non-business entities, partnership and personal financial statements, and foreign currency translation and transactions. Prerequisite: AC 3000.

AC 6600. Corporate and Partnership Taxation (3 credit hours) Course studies major taxes and taxation issues as they pertain to corporations, partnerships and sole proprietorships. Emphasis is given to concepts, practice, research and communication of tax issues. Prerequisite: AC 3000.

AC 6650. Individual Taxation (3 credit hours) Course analyzes federal and state taxation issues as they pertain to individuals. Emphasis is given to concepts, practice, research and communication of tax issues. Prerequisite: AC 3000.

AC 6750. Auditing (3 credit hours) Course explores the examination of financial statements by independent public accountants. Topics include auditing standards, planning the audit, evidence gathering, the work paper preparation and review process, and types of audit reports. The graduate-level course requires independent, accelerated additional work appropriate for the graduate level. Prerequisite: AC 3500 or MIS 3100 or equivalent.

AC 6800S. Fraud Examination (2 credit hours) covers the principles and methodology of fraud detection, investigation, and deterrence.  The course includes such topics as fraud against organizations, consumer fraud, financial statement fraud, interview techniques, investigation techniques, and data-driven fraud detection.  Prerequisite:  AC3000 or equivalent.

ACFN 6350S. Contemporary Issues in Finance and Accounting (2 credit hours)  This course will examine the modern practices and methods used in accounting and finance.  Topics would include cash and working capital management, key financial metrics, making a business case, capital acquisition, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, risk assessment and management, and new valuation models and financial products.  The Wall Street Journal is required for this course.  Prerequisite: AC6000 and FN6100 or equivalent.

BUS 6092S. Business in the EU (2 credit hours)  This course explores the cultural and business practices in other countries and requires international travel.  Through travel and participation in business and cultural activities with lectures by government officials, business managers, and university faculty, students study the similarities and differences across specific countries and cultures. Students will study the business and cultural aspects of countries visited and the effect these factors have on international business markets. Other topics covered include market entry; cultural, legal, and environmental factors; economics and financial risk; international structure and strategy; and corporate governance models. The destination for this year’s trip is Barcelona, Spain.

BUS 6321S. Project Planning and Practice (2 credit hours) The focus of the course will be preparing students for the PMP certification exam.  The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), with considerable time committed to discussing and performing activities designed to help one prepare for the PMP or CAPM certification process.

BUS 6350S. Small Business and Entrepreneurship (2 credit hours)  This course focuses on the unique issues facing the small business owner and operator, extensive coverage of critical business functions that the small business owner and operator is likely to face.  The course emphasizes 1) how to locate and assess a potential business opportunity; 2) how to craft a strategy and plan for developing the opportunity into a business; 3) the stages of building the business; and 4) the personnel, professional and personal issues of the small business owner and operator.

BUS 6540S. Cross Cultural Management  (2 credit hours)  Global managers are cross-cultural managers, and need intercultural business skills to manage workplace diversity. They face different challenges than ever before and need to know how to communicate, delegate, mentor and present ideas in culturally appropriate ways. They need to understand how to manage across cultures.

EC 6600S. International Economics and Trade (2 credit hours) This course should familiarize the student with the global marketplace and the international economic linkages among countries.  The course will primarily be a lecture format, but there will be occasional periods when discussion on different topics will be scheduled.  It is hope that students will be comfortable asking questions when there is additional interest in a topic, some need for clarification, etc. The course will examine the increasing important role of international trade and globalization.  It will examine the economic arguments for trade and globalization, the international economic position of the United States of America by studying its Balance of Payments, free trade, exchange rates, determination of exchange rates, and other factors upon which international economics has an impact.

EC6400S. Macroeconomics  for Managers (2 credit hours) To be competitive in today’s business environment, managers must understand how economic forces affect their business and the factors that must be considered when making business decisions. This course deals with national economic activity from a manager's perspective and with how government policies affect economic performance. The course offers practical explanation of the short-term linkages that impact the performance of the overall economy.

FN 6300S. Financial Markets and Institutions (2 credit hours) An overview of financial markets, derivatives markets and the institutional environment in which these markets operate. Instruments traded in these markets (bonds, stocks, currencies, derivatives, etc.) and the principles underlying price determination of these instruments is covered. The course also covers asset liability management (ALM) and risk management by financial institutions.

FN 6560S. Financial Planning (2 credit hours) The overall theme is one of strategic control of corporate assets and liabilities. The topics covered in this course are: (a) Translation of strategic planning into long-term financial planning  (b) corporate financing and cost of capital (b) short-term financial planning, forecasting, shareholder communications (c) risk management (d) the analysis of international activities.

FN 6600. Investments (3 credit hours) Course explores how securities markets work, and how individual investors employ systematic methodologies to accomplish investment objectives.  Topics include environmental analysis, evaluation of equities, analysis of fixed income securities, fundamental and technical analysis of the stock market and capital market theory.  Prerequisite: FN6100 or equivalent (ACFN6001).

HC 6150S. Health Policy (2 credit hours) Course surveys the major components and organizational interrelationships of the United States health care system. Students examine the various healthcare organizations (HCOs), personnel issues, delivery systems, policy, and payment mechanisms. The course introduces students to the public policy and business practice issues associated with access, cost and quality.

MG 6001S. Mensch Management (2 credit hours) The fundamental premise of this course is that a leader in the Jesuit tradition “manages like a mensch.”  Mensch is Yiddish for a gentle, proper person of integrity, honor and humility.  He or she is perceived by others to be decent, morally upright, and polite. One need not be a mensch to be successful in business. Contemptible human beings can and do run high performance organizations. But so, too, do men and women possessing the values and characteristics of a mensch. This three-hour course explores how one can remain true to principles and personal values and still achieve professional success. Mensch Management does this by focusing on how a mensch acts and interacts with other people to achieve results. Being a mensch in business does not mean always telling people what they want to hear, or making others comfortable and happy in their work. It does mean facing difficult issues and uncomfortable situations honestly, candidly, and with evident respect for the dignity of others.

MG 6275S. Developing Leadership in Organizations (2 credit hours) This course explores how individuals develop as leaders, and how organizations can support that development. Leadership development programs are reviewed, as are organizational strategies to support individual development. Issues relevant to leadership development are explored, including culture and gender. Using their new understanding, students will develop a leadership development strategy for a specific organization.

MG 6680S. Organizational Change (2 credit hours) Change management within modern organizations, whether public, private or not-for-profit, is a complex process with many moving parts. The larger an organization becomes the greater the complexity. This course focuses on the fundamental assessments, tools, processes and interventions used to identify, agree upon, and enact a successful change initiative. Using an integrated learning model, students will explore and apply these principles on both written and live case studies. Specifically, the following will be addressed: multiple models of the change process (techno-structural, human systems, balanced metrics), tools of organizational analysis, methods for overcoming stakeholder resistance, and techniques for ensuring buy-in and support from people at all levels of the organization.

MK 6510S. International Marketing (2 credit hours) This course addresses the global issues that impact concepts relevant to companies engaging the international marketplace. It introduces the student to the cultural, economic, geographic, political and legal issues that affect the where, when and how to enter foreign markets. The course uses contemporary materials to expand beyond the text and bring real life problems and solutions into the classroom for student discussion.

MK 6475S. Corporate Marketing and Social Media (2 credit hours) This strategic marketing course is designed to review current Social media and E-Commerce practices. Specific emphasis will focus on “how to” effectively communicate online in building meaningful market relationships to specific target market segments i.e. Business to Business and Business to consumer. Website functionality, e-sales techniques, Search Engine Optimization and a review of applications using LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs, podcasts, YouTube, mobile apps and Facebook will be completed. (Note: all e-commerce and social media tactics reviewed will blend and/or partner with traditional media tactics to create an integrated, comprehensive marketing plan.)