Melton Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation 5811 USA Drive South, MCOB Room 123 Mobile, AL 36688 Ph: (251) 460-6730mcei@c178.net
Entrepreneurship Minor
Required Courses
Course
Course ID
Instructor
Availability
Creativity and Innovation
MGT 345 - Creativity and Innovation (3 Credits)
This course provides a broad framework for understanding the nature of entrepreneurship
in multiple organizational settings. The course introduces students to the innovation
and idea generation process and helps students determine the most desirable educational
path for them to achieve their career goals. Sophomore standing.
MGT 355 - Leg & Fin Aspects of Entrepren (3 Credits)
This course provides an overview of the legal and financial issues most frequently
encountered by entrepreneurs and others involved in start-ups and small closely held,
or family businesses. The course covers various aspects of financing and entrepreneurial
venture. Mojor topics attracting seed and growth capital from sources such as venture
capital, investment banking, government, and commercial banks; creating, protecting
and leveraging intellectual property. Among the issues discussed are valuing a company,
going public, selling out, acquisitions, bankruptcy, different legal forms or organizations,
partnerships, and taxes.
How new businesses are organized and planned. Objectives are 1) understanding the
knowledge, skills and abilities required of entrepreneurs, 2) creating and developing
opportunities for new ventures, and 3) planning resources to convert those opportunities
into businesses. Students work in teams to develop a business plan for a new venture
they have chosen.
The course provides a broad theoretical perspective and practical framework for understanding
social entrepreneurs and the social ventures they create ranging from local social
organizations to large international social ventures leading global change. The course
introduces students to the possibilities of social entrepreneurship and an introduction
to the entire social venture creation process and life cycle. This course is a service-learning
based and all students will participate in term-based community-based projects with
local non-profit organizations. Extensive work outside of the normal classroom hours
is required for this course.
MGT 300 - Management Theory and Practice (3 Credits)
Theories of organizational structures, practices, and behavior, and the effective
management of organizations. Emphasis on developing patterns and strategies of organizational
management in a dynamic environment as affected by the interaction of material and
human resources using the technique of applied social and management sciences.
Study of the institutions involved in creating transactions necessary to satisfy the
needs of households, businesses and government and international customers. Topics
include marketing planning, market segmentation, societal and ethical obligations,
strategies for product, promotion and channel decisions.
This course is designed for students who are interested in learning about the opportunities
and threats that abound in the modern world of franchising. Students will study existing
franchising from both a historical and theoretical context. The logic of this course
is that franchising is one of the development models that minimize risk for the "small
business" focused student. Some franchising oriented people may want to start a franchise
and grow it rapidly. This option is often a first step into business ownership for
inexperienced owners. We discuss the applicability, opportunities, challenges, and
implementation of the franchising model for expanding existing businesses. The format
consists of case study and lecture discussion sequenced with extensive background
readings, occasional guest lecturers, and a term case-based project culminating in
a transactional plan.
MGT 356 - Strategic Issues in Family Bus (3 Credits)
This course examines a new discipline that has developed in the last ten years and
focuses on the unique aspects of family businesses. Organizational behavior, law,
finance, operations, and basic small business concepts are being integrated into this
course. Students will have an opportunity to consult with and develop transition plans
for a family firm in a live field project.
Examination of the interactive processes and transactions involved in satisfying the
needs of consumers, businesses, and government. Involves the study of marketing planning,
consumer research, segmentation, and implementation of marketing strategies.
Pre-requisite: (MKT 320 Minimum Grade of D or BMS 371 Minimum Grade of D or MKT 371
Minimum Grade of D).
MKT 381 - Sales Mgt & Personal Selling (3 Credits)
Study of the principles and practices of sales management in planning, organizing,
directing, and controlling, the sales organization in both domestic and international
markets. Included in the course are skills developed through presentation, discussion,
and role playing. Special emphasis is directed to recruiting, selecting, training,
evaluating, compensating, and supervising sales personnel and sales organizations.
Pre-requisite: MKT 320 Minimum Grade of D or MKT 371 Minimum Grade of D or BMS 371
Minimum Grade of D.
MGT 462 - Negotiatn/Disp Resolutn in Bus (3 Credits)
This course provides theoretical background and practical applications in business
negotiation, conflict management, and alternative dispute resolution. Areas covered
include positional and interest-based bargaining, business and employment arbitration,
organizational conflict management strategies, mediation, and effective communications
for negotiators and ADR participants.
Pre-requisite: (MGT 300 Minimum Grade of D or BMS 322 Minimum Grade of D or MGT 322
Minimum Grade of D).
Designed to provide senior students an opportunity to study selected topics of particular
interest. A student may count no more than six hours of Special Topics in the concentration.
The University of South Alabama reserves the right to make changes in course offerings,
curricula, academic policies, tuition and fee schedules and other rules and regulations
affecting students in order to correct errors, omissions, inconsistencies or changes
required by regulatory, accrediting and/or other governing bodies as necessary. Date
of effectiveness and interpretation of said rules, regulations and policies are within
the sole discretion of the University. These changes will apply to students who are
enrolled at the time of the change, as well as those who will become enrolled in the
future.
The University of South Alabama is an EO/AA employer and does not discriminate on
the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender
identity and gender expression, religion, age, genetic information, disability, protected
veteran status or any other applicable legally protected basis.
