Roadmap to success is the foundational course for the Business program. This course prepares learners for success in the degree program and promotes a journey towards lifelong learning. You’ll develop skills for communication, academic writing, self-discovery, career development and presentation skills.

This course is a hybrid competency-courses and introduces the learner to the competency-based model of Nexford courses in the BBA program.

The World of Business introduces the domain of business and key elements of the functional areas within the context that an organization operates. You’ll examine a variety of functional areas and types of business in order to understand their interconnectedness. Additional topics include the business cycle, global business practices, and impact on productivity.

Principles of Management focuses on how to create a personal and shared vision and communicate effectively with teams, as a leader, a manager and a team member. Topics include setting effective goals and expectations, understanding cultures and explaining the differences between management and leadership, team membership and leadership and the global workplace.

The Business Career Branding for Success course engages learners in developing and strengthening the business and personal components of one’s own career brand. The learner takes the role of a “CEO” and uses business tools to analyze competitive strengths and weaknesses, create a competency profile, document high-demand marketable and transferable skills, craft a resume and develop a lifelong learning and career development plan that will be revisited throughout the degree program.

This course is divided into two parts: Part 1 is to establish a competitive benchmark pre-assessment and initial lifelong learning and career development action plan, and Part 2 enables the learner to re-evaluate competitive strengths and weaknesses, finalize the lifelong learning and career development action plan, and create a personal brand and business plan for the individual career path.

As the speed of globalization increases, organizations need to be increasingly focused on an integrated global business and culture; this course focuses on international business and the interconnectedness of a global culture.

Learners examine how an organization operating in the global environment needs to understand and appreciate how to best leverage both global and local cultures for responsible and successful business practices. Topics from the perspective of a global firm are related to management, leadership, the economy, financial reporting and regulatory compliance.

Introduction to Business Law engages learners in understanding how laws, rules, regulations, and ethical standards pervade every area of business. This course provides an overview of U.S. law while considering that nearly all business concerns are global in nature in today’s ever-changing political and economic business environment. This course encourages learners to approach legal scenarios with an eye on international application.

Learners apply several key legal concepts to situations based on real-world legal conundrums and cases. Topics include, but are not limited to: contract law, business organization setup, employment law and intellectual property law. Learners thoroughly review and research legal concepts and apply knowledge to specific sets of legal issues found in the assigned professional scenarios.

Business and Culture in China examines the position of China within the global economy and how it is leapfrogging development in some areas. This course covers China’s history, civic culture, and public, private, and for-profit sectors, providing learners with the unique and complex components of China’s past, present, and potential on the world economic stage.

Through the lens of various stakeholders—those internal and external to business enterprises and those who engage in market-based and non-market-based transactions to influence business—learners acquire a practical literacy which prepares them to engage in business within and among Chinese employers, employees, and business partners. Learners gain an understanding of the specific drivers of economic growth and opportunity in China.

Managing Human Resources is the foundational course for the Human Resource Management Core. This course provides an in-depth survey of concepts, skills and practices in human resource management. Learners are introduced to innovative approaches in human capital management at the local, national, and global levels.

Compensation & Benefits examines the development and administration of compensation and benefit practices, as well as challenges faced in managing total rewards in the multigenerational, competitive global economy. Learners analyze the strategic components of pay structures and reward systems and its impact on the employees and the organization.

Staffing and Development encompasses the activities involved in building and maintaining a workforce that meets the needs of the organization. The course focuses on managing talent during recruitment, selection, retention and development. Learners develop a plan to identify individual and organizational needs within the appropriate regulatory framework.

Strategic People Operations prepares learners to apply the strategic management process from the Human Resource (HR) perspective. Learners examine how to manage talent effectively in the dynamic regulatory and competitive environment. The course emphasizes on integrating human resource management concepts related to the formulation and implementation of HR strategies and practices to support the overall global business strategy.

This course is designed to provide practical applications for leadership and management challenges and opportunities in the ever changing environment of global business. Learners examine leadership and management from both a personal and an organizational perspective and apply principles and techniques in order to adapt to the environment in both roles.

Organizational Relationships examines the interrelationships between business, government and society. Learners gain an understanding of how each of these entities contributes to the overall success of the organization, and if one of these areas is not in sync with the other two, the organization may not achieve its goals. Learners examine the interconnectedness of these three areas through topics of corporate social responsibility, business ethics, the regulatory climate, globalization, and the environment. A key focus of this course is connections between the developed and emerging markets. Learners examine how these markets rely on each other from multiple perspectives, including economics, culture, trade, human capital, etc.

Project Management highlights a key tool for any organization, which is the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously to positive results. This course examines from an organizational perspective the tasks associated with project management. The focus is on the four components of the project life-cycle in an international business setting: organizing, planning, monitoring and controlling. Learners identify and apply relevant project management tools and methods designed to execute projects in an effective manner that maximizes efficiency and minimizes cost.

This course provides a survey of three types of capability transformations that enable digital transformation: people, tool, and process. At the people capability level, digital transformation requires the organization to hire and retain customer-centric and service-oriented talent; this talent search demands more collaboration and knowledge sharing while breaking down the silos between business and technology. At the tool capability level, a horizontal digital enabling layer is required to be developed, covering big data analytics, artificial intelligence, robotics, IoT, wearables, augmented and artificial reality, and modular manufacturing. Vertical business applications require digitization by the horizontal digital enablers in vertical business applications such as supply chain management, customer experience, finance and administration, and more. At the process capability level, digital transformation requires the business processes to be automated via the horizontal digital enablers.

Marketing Fundamentals is the foundational course for the Marketing specialization and is an introduction to the role of marketing in advancing the success of a product, service, experience or organization. Learners explore the evolution of marketing to include a review of the key marketing principles relevant in today’s workplace, an overview of the evolution from the traditional to digital marketing platform, and the differentiation between marketing a product or service versus marketing an experience.

You’ll examine functions and trends that are critical to staying competitive in the marketplace. This course introduces the functions of an organization for creating, communicating, and delivering value to customers. Designed to meet customers' needs and organizational goals, these functions include marketing and behavioral science research, environmental monitoring, target market selection, product selection, promotion, distribution and pricing.

Digital Marketing Fundamentals provides an understanding of the digital marketing landscape, key trends impacting the industry, the changed customer journey, and the role each channel can play in that journey. The course also examines the advantages and subsequent challenges of this expanding marketing venue.

You’ll explore the tools that currently exist and the potential for future applications of the digital platform for marketing purposes. The course will further explore the digital platform as a tool for businesses in general in order to increase its levels of efficiency, effectiveness, and competitive position in the market space. You’ll also learn how to define and develop a digital strategy to help a business achieve its goals.

Content Marketing and Social Media emphasizes the importance of content and how different content types can be used to support brand and business goals. You’ll identify not only the content type, but the literal content as well, in conjunction with a focus on the most appropriate demographic(s) for various content. Additionally, you will learn to develop a content strategy and create engaging content for the right audience and channel.

Financial Management focuses on the foundations of finance concepts required to be capable of managing day to day financial operations and to solve complex financial matters. You’ll examine the elements of financial statements of an entity and impact of changes in one element on the other. Additionally, you’ll learn to plan and control cash flows and make decisions in the microeconomic and macroeconomic environment.

Corporate Finance and Investment Analysis focuses on financial skills and analytical methods for corporate finance managers and investment analysts. Topics include corporate financial analysis, acquisition and allocation of capital, and financial statement reporting, as well as an exposure to investing in major asset classes, measures of risk and return, and methods for valuing equity and debt.

Corporate Tax Strategies focuses on strategies for corporations to legally minimize their tax liabilities. Learners learn analyze financial transactions, calculate realized gains and losses, and determine whether to recognize gains and losses now or in the future.

Managerial Accounting and Cost Analysis focuses on the techniques managers use to identify and manage production costs for labor, material, and overhead. Learners engage multiple methods for budgeting and cost reporting, and calculate and interpret variances between budgets and actual results.

Auditing and Assurance Services focuses on how to plan and conduct an audit of a company’s financial statements and examines the importance of assurance services to users of financial statements. Learners apply techniques to identify and analyze evidence, identify fraud, and determine and publish an opinion report of the auditor’s findings.

Strategy and Organizational Planning examines how organizations set strategy and planning as key drivers of organizational success. In any domestic or international setting, the functions of strategy and planning are valuable resources in maintaining or expanding the competitive position. This course encourages learners to take a long-term view of the roles of strategy and planning whose concepts form the foundation for the practice of strategic management. Key topics covered include strategy analysis, strategic planning, and strategy implementation and evaluation. Both strategy and planning are boundaryless functions, thus allowing learners to examine these topics from the perspective of organizations operating in emerging markets.

Branding and Creative Direction examines the process of defining the vision and personality of an original brand or a re-brand, and how to develop guidelines to ensure the brand values are calibrated across all marketing and communication channels. Emphasis is placed on the communication and execution of the brand promise to attract and retain customers.

You’ll learn to master communication competencies and skills that can be used when interacting with stakeholders and team members to develop effective creative direction for brand creation and campaigns. Learners critically evaluate brand perceptions that have been defined by brand strategy and supported by marketing and communications.

Marketing Strategy and Planning provides learners with the opportunity to develop and master competencies required to execute marketing strategy. Learners perfect skills for planning and implementing a marketing strategy, including evaluating current brand positioning in the marketplace, identifying target audiences, setting objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs), and defining evaluation metrics to determine effectiveness. Key elements of strategic planning are examined, including pricing, brand positioning, and setting up the framework of a strategic marketing plan.

The Marketing Channels, Tactics, and Management course examines the contemporary range of marketing channels, common tactics unique to various channels, and how to plan an integrated approach to reach consumers at critical points. This course provides an overview of marketing channels with more focus on digital channels covered throughout the 360’ Marketing Certificate and Specialization. To deliver on the core components of any brand’s success, customers and stakeholders must feel assured that the brand exists, be clear on its offering, and see clear value in relation to themselves. Based on rapid changes in technology along with the way we distribute, consume and share media, understanding channel differentiators and designing an integrated marketing approach are essential for business goal attainment in today’s competitive landscape.

Digital Advertising and Search Engine Optimization provides an understanding of the different performance marketing channels and how they can help a business grow traffic quickly and sustainably. Learners set up campaigns and develop strategies to optimize for performance.

Our Digital Marketing Analytics course emphasizes the importance of data and analytics in today’s business environment. Learners taking this Digital Analytics course measure digital marketing activity performance, set up dashboards using tools such as Google Analytics, and report on the results of data analysis.

Introduction to Entrepreneurship introduces learners to the concept of entrepreneurship by exploring the “Lean Startup” movement to help frame what a startup is and how learners can approach new markets and businesses from a product perspective. Learners evaluate a business idea, assess its viability in a broader market, and create a simple prototype to test the idea with customers.

Product and Marketing Skills for Founders introduces learners to foundational product and marketing skills that are relevant to building and launching a tech startup. This course builds on concepts of “Lean Startup” to enable learners to refine their business ideas by gathering reliable customer feedback. Learners are introduced to fundamental concepts in product design.

Technical Skills for Non-Technical Founders examines the technical foundation of digital product development and design. Learners are exposed to the various technical components of a product and develop a framework for vetting technical business partners.

Founders, Financing, and Legal prepares learners for the business and legal realities of launching and growing a startup. Learners evaluate the importance of a cofounder, explore the process and need for pitching and raising investor funds, analyze the value of various legal structures, and examine how equity and compensation are unique to startups.

Advances in data collection, machine learning, and computational power have fueled institutional progress. The volume of available data has grown exponentially, and algorithms have continued to advance along with greater computational power and storage. As organizations become more inundated with data, having systems and processes in place to better understand and interpret data is highly important. This course focuses on how organizations can identify, evaluate and use data effectively. As consumers become increasingly savvy with their use of data, organizations need to change their responses. The use of data for all types of business from a large organization to a small retail shop will continue to become more sophisticated. This course provides an understanding of the data analysis process. Learners examine how technology has improved the ability to collect, analyze and interpret data, and they investigate data analysis tools and technologies to improve the decision making process.

Data Analysis and Visualization helps learners understand how organizations collect, mine, analyze, and interpret data, and how it is important for organizations to understand their stakeholders and customize their data accordingly. At all levels of the organization, especially at the senior level, data must meet the needs of various stakeholders. In this course learners gain an understanding of how to use data analysis and visualization tools and techniques. Learners also acquire the fundamental skills for data analysis and visualization by examining and applying various tools and techniques including MS-Excel, Tableau, and Python to develop dashboards. Learners examine data, apply analysis and visualization tools, and leverage advanced techniques to display outcomes and interpret the results for improved decision making.

Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics helps learners understand how in today’s global business markets organizations have the opportunity to reach a wider consumer base for their products, and as this consumer base expands, the need for a more sophisticated approach to data mining, analysis, and application is increasingly evident.

This Predictive Analytics course focuses on the use of predictive analytics and the use of machine learning to find patterns in data sets; the organizations that can better understand the data they collect along with being able to make predictive calculations from that data will gain competitive advantages in their respective markets. In this course learners examine the tools and techniques of predictive analytics and machine learning, including regression analysis, decision trees, and rule models. Learn predictive analytics, and gain a better understanding of how to predict outcomes from available data. Learners explore and examine data, apply predictive tools and techniques to predict outcomes from the data, and interpret the results for improved decision making during this predictive modelling course.

Statistics emphasizes the analysis of data collection and statistics through the use of current technology. This course introduces learners to statistical terms, distributions, displaying and interpreting of data collected (probability, validity and reliability), effect size, measures of central tendency (mean, median and mode) and determining statistical significance. Learners analyze hypothesis testing and apply statistical techniques.

Foundations of Robotics and IoT engages learners in understanding how the interconnectivity of devices via the Internet is harnessed to improve robotic manufacturing processes. This course provides an overview of IoT architecture. Within the context of IoT ecosystems, learners explore software product design with cyber models, application modeling, IoT value modeling, and hardware product design with sensors, embedded systems, and connected sensors. Topics also include an overview of the network fabric in IoT, operational technology (OT), information technology (IT) and fog networks, IoT product cloud, and IoT platforms. This course provides an overview of intelligent process automation (IPA) and five major technologies supporting robotic process automation (RPA): smart workflow, machine learning, advanced analytics, natural-Language generation, and cognitive agents.

Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics helps learners understand how in today’s global business markets organizations have the opportunity to reach a wider consumer base for their products, and as this consumer base expands, the need for a more sophisticated approach to data mining, analysis, and application is increasingly evident.

This Predictive Analytics course focuses on the use of predictive analytics and the use of machine learning to find patterns in data sets; the organizations that can better understand the data they collect along with being able to make predictive calculations from that data will gain competitive advantages in their respective markets. In this course learners examine the tools and techniques of predictive analytics and machine learning, including regression analysis, decision trees, and rule models. Learn predictive analytics, and gain a better understanding of how to predict outcomes from available data. Learners explore and examine data, apply predictive tools and techniques to predict outcomes from the data, and interpret the results for improved decision making during this predictive modelling course.

Introduction to AI highlights the goal of artificial intelligence, which is to create software that can perform reasoning tasks and solve problems in complex environments the way humans do. This course begins with an overview of the evolution of AI tracing its history from the work of Alan Turing to the current state of the art software. Learners examine a range of AI techniques and their applications in business contexts, including knowledge representation, both basic and heuristic search, probabilistic modeling with Bayesian networks, and natural language processing techniques. Class discussions and readings address the philosophical and ethical implications of developing and deploying AI systems in a range of contexts. In the culminating course project, learners identify a problem or task that AI could effectively address, select and evaluate specific AI techniques, and identify and evaluate potential ethical questions surrounding the solution.

Information is the lifeblood for organizations of all types. Therefore everyone needs to have a fundamental understanding of the interdisciplinary field of cybersecurity. This course provides this fundamental knowledge by taking the learner through the evolution of the discipline from information security to cybersecurity. Learners evaluate several important laws, which have significant impact on cybersecurity strategy.

Learners also investigate multiple cybersecurity technologies, processes, and procedures; they learn how to analyze threats, vulnerabilities, and risks in these environments, and develop appropriate mitigation strategies by applying a mission-focused and risk-optimized approach.

This survey course introduces learners to the three primary sources of threats (technology, policy, and people, both internal and external) and the three classes of tools: technology, policy, and people used to develop an organizational cybersecurity strategy. This course and exercises are designed to emphasize, encourage and enhance the critical thinking abilities of learners. Although the course is not designed to prepare learners for this test, the material covered in this course includes most of the knowledge tested in the CompTIA Security+ exam.

Learners will apply their learning by performing systematic case studies of actual organizations.