The primary objective of this course is to provide a foundational overview of business, including the themes of the history of business, business and society, and innovation. The course will enable students to gage interest in business and prepare students for business-related education, jobs, and careers. THIS COURSE IS A PREREQUISITE FOR THE MCINTIRE SCHOOL OF COMMERCE.

COMM 2000 is a one-credit CR/NC course for students considering a major in Commerce. The course provides an interactive learning environment, which simulates upper level commerce classes while also providing students with content and skills necessary for success in today's global business environment. A variety of presenters deliver weekly interactive and instructional sessions using case analysis, group work, and projects.

The initial focus is on how economic events are measured, classified and recorded, then students explore accounting issues for key business operating areas. Financial statements are studied to understand their content and uses. Course is delivered in an online format with no scheduled class meetings; students engage with all course content online. Faculty and teaching assistant support is provided via face-to-face and online interactions.

A continuation of COMM 2010 that examines accounting's problem-solving contributions to management. Emphasizes planning, control, performance measurement, cost behavior, ethics, and information for special decisions. Prerequisite: COMM 2010.

The purpose of this course is to develop your understanding of the keys to effective leadership across various contexts. The course will facilitate your learning by relating course content to real world situations and will include a number of guest speakers. Topics include leadership skills, values based leadership, building credibility, leader-follower relationships, managing groups, leading change, and the dark side of leadership.

This course provides the fundamental concepts in finance that are required for further finance courses in the real estate minor. It introduces students to foundational concepts and attendant empirical analytical techniques in finance, including valuation, capital structure, and theories of the firm. Drawing on cases and examples from real estate and other asset classes, the course exposes students to the diversity of markets in which individuals and firms interact. This is the pre-requisite course for application to the Real Estate Minor.

An introduction to personal finance, focusing on financial decision-making and financial wellbeing. Students will develop the knowledge and skills to analyze common financial situations and develop a financial plan. Topics include short-, intermediate-, and long-term planning; budgeting; taxes; credit; debt; insurance; stocks, bonds, and mutual funds; diversification; 401(k)s, IRAs, and HSAs. Prerequisite: Non-Commerce students, 4th Year.

Provides an overview of corporate & global strategy, introducing frameworks for valuing companies, assessing the impact of strategic initiatives on firm value, & understanding corporate communication strategies & techniques. Topics include corporate governance, diversification, mergers & acquisitions, alliances, international market entries, DCF & relative valuation methods, corporate reputation management, investor & media relations.

This course provides an overview of key quantitative and qualitative tools necessary for making effective individual- and team-based decisions. It includes a variety of topics that each emphasize three themes central to managerial decision making: (1) Data Management and Data Visualization, (2) Quantitative Analysis, and (3) Perception and Judgment. .

Continuation of COMM 3110, with emphasis on accounting for the equities of a firm's investors and creditors. Continues to focus on financial accounting issues including financial instruments, asset impairment and long-term debt. Prerequisite: COMM 3110.

This course will provide knowledge of product management in combination with project management skills, both of which are necessary for the management of the digital product innovation process end-to-end. Course consists of seminars on roles of the product & project manager, managing innovation, selecting projects, stakeholder mgmt, team mgmt, schedule & time mgmt, risk mgmt, & on leading changes. Workshops on digital innovation, agile & waterfall methods.

Provides an introduction to the management of database systems and how business intelligence can be used for competitive advantage. The course uses an applied, problem-based approach to teach students the fundamentals of relational systems including data models, database architectures, database manipulations (e.g., SQL), and BI tools. Prerequisite: Undergraduate Commerce or Instructor Permission

Explores product, service, business model, and process innovation in existing companies with a focus on preparing students to participate in, lead, and advise innovation teams to increase the likelihood of a desired corporate outcome. Course format includes case studies, projects, and the most recent academic thinking on topics like organizational design, ethics in innovation, resources allocation, culture development, & "managing clever people."

The basic objective of this course is to develop a general understanding of research methodology as a prerequisite to the intelligent use of research results in marketing management. Thus, the course is designed to provide an introductory background that enables the student to evaluate the potential value of proposed research and to assess the relevance, reliability, and validity of existing research. This research-evaluation ability requires knowledge of the language and techniques of marketing research, including research designs, data collection instruments, sample designs, and varieties of data analysis. Prerequisite: Second-semester, third-year Commerce standing or permission of instructor.

Introduces the American legal system, emphasizing contracts, torts, agency, corporations, and partnerships. May be taken prior to enrollment in the McIntire School.

Further introduces the American legal system, emphasizing debtor-creditor law, bankruptcy, product liability, and sale of goods, property, and commercial paper. Prerequisite: COMM 3410.

A rigorous introduction to the full field of finance. Students should gain an appreciation of the role of financial markets and institutions in our economy as well as an introduction to the responsibilities, concerns, and methods of analysis employed by corporate financial managers. We focus on the two fundamental aspects of financial decision-making: time value and risk (modern portfolio theory, the capital asset pricing model, and alternatives). The concepts of time value and risk are used to value the two basic financial assets, bonds and stocks, as well as real assets, investment projects, and companies. In addition, the course introduces derivative securities (options, futures) and discusses their application in a wide variety of settings (real options, contingent claims valuation of equity). The course also covers the theory and practice of capital structure decisions (Modigliani and Miller, taxes, bankruptcy costs, asymmetric information, agency) and dividend decisions. The course will include a thorough discussion of market efficiency and an introduction to the field of behavioral finance. A unifying theme of the course is how no-arbitrage conditions and the law of one price can be used to value most financial assets. The emphasis in this course (both in and out of class) will be on problem solving. Prerequisite: COMM 3010, 3020, and 3030.

Includes the planning, processes (gathering evidence) & judgments required to render an opinion on an entity's internal controls and financial statements. Deals with evidence theory, risk identification & professional judgment. Audit methodology is examined through a study of auditing standards & the concepts & procedures developed to implement those standards. Other topics include data analytics, auditor independence,materiality & audit reports.

This course aims to provide students with a practical, managerial perspective on Artificial Intelligence. It covers key factors for the successful development, deployment, and management of generative AI, machine learning, and algorithmic approaches to automated decision-making. Students will better understand the societal impacts of AI and approaches to balance AI risks and benefits in organizations.

This course covers the fundamentals of data wrangling, exploration, and visualization for business decision making. In this course, we will learn techniques that will allow us to clearly, efficiently, and effectively communicate information and analyses through visual representations.

Comm 4230 covers practical uses of information technology in financial settings. You will learn by doing: you will develop technologies that manage an online portfolio of stock and options, and will design and code financial strategies to compete in the yearly McIntire Hedge Tournament. Through these activities you will gain a hands-on understanding of SQL, advanced Excel, and VBA/macros. More at http://webs.comm.virginia.edu/Grazioli/Comm4230.

Tech's Role in Business and Society. Students will focus on current topics in the fast-growing technology industry including tech business models, Silicon Valley and global industry culture, and public policy. Sessions are discussion-driven, include engagement with executives, and emphasize how future leaders in the tech industry can be a catalyst for change.

We will study the role of open source innovation through case studies anddiscussions that examine the potential of open source innovations to address long-standing societal problems, increase resilience to climate change impact, and foster new economic models. Students will leverage open source in team projects and work closely with identified organizations to gain experience in the application of open source innovation.

This is a research oriented class that examines how firms can leverage customer analytics to successfully create, manage, and grow brands. The class provides marketing managers and operational business leaders with the analytical tools to develop and operationally execute brand strategies that enhance customer engagement and loyalty.Prerequisite: 4th Year Commerce

This course examines how firms can integrate social media into their digital marketing strategy. We will focus on understanding the current social media landscape, building social media mktg strategies, & measuring their effectiveness using appropriate metrics. Students will conduct social media mktg projects to understand how to leverage social interactions that take place between companies and customers to create and/or enhance value.

This course exposes students to the best practics of an Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) campaign and has them create their own campaign for the National Student Advertising Competition's (NSAC) national client. Students are also exposed to the strategic media planning process which is an important part of any IMC plan.

This course focuses on the techniques and database used by media agencies to develop a media plan in a rapidly changing and increasingly digital media landscape. The course also builds upon and utilizes the software skills learned in Comm 4373.

This course focuses on how consumers meet needs through the evaluation, acquisition, and use of goods and services. Covers major influences on the consumption process, including psychological, situational, and socio-cultural factors. Specific topics include perception, attitudes, values, consumer decision-making, and customer satisfaction, among others. The marketing implications of understanding the consumer are emphasized, but social factors are also considered. Prerequisite: Fourth-year Commerce standing or instructor permission.

Topics in business analytics leverages the vast data resources available today to identify trends and patterns critical to enhancing business performance. This course introduces students to contemporary business analytics methods, including predictive and descriptive analytics techniques, and demonstrates how to apply analytics to real-world business decisions.

Courses taught in the Management area.Prerequisite: 4th Year Commerce

Global Commerce courses that count in the Management concentration.

This course seeks to develop students' ability to respond to complex leadership challenges in multiple contexts. Through experiential learning, students will be better prepared to influence the strategic direction of their organizations. Topics include understanding the role organizational leaders, managing firm culture, guiding firm change, utilizing power and influence, balancing stakeholder expectations, and managing organizational threats.

This course provides students with frameworks and skills to successfullyimplement successful strategies (e.g., set goals, create initiatives, measure performance, allocate resources). Students will explore common challenges that derail strategy and learn how to design systems and structures that support the organization¿s objectives. The second half of the semester will feature seminars and guest speakers addressing advanced topics in Strategic Management.

The course utilizes several active learning activities when considering classical rhetorical elements, audience analysis, speech organization, and strategies for improvement in the structure and delivery of extemporaneous and impromptu speeches. Students work with conceptual methods, observe exemplary models of good speech making, explore personal communication apprehension, and hone individual rhetorical style.

COMM 4643 increases students' comfort with public speaking. In a safe environment students work to cultivate individual speaking styles by engaging in daily public speaking. Students deliver a wide variety of speeches, engage in activities designed to refine speaking styles, receive weekly feedback, and review their own recorded speeches. The most successful students participate fully, have a sense of fun, and help each other to improve.

Your effectiveness as a leader depends on your ability to influence and persuade others. From the ancient art of rhetoric to cutting-edge social science, this course asks you to implement time-tested communication techniques to persuade colleagues at every level, even when you lack formal authority. With power comes responsibility, and so you also will consider the ethics of persuasion and how to influence interpersonal and team dynamics positively.

This course is designed to provide a broad overview of management consulting and other related advisory services professions and help students develop skills that are broadly applicable in these professions as well as in other fields (business, politics, not-for-profits, etc). Students will gain experience in key skills including problem identification and structuring, data collection, problem solving, client presentations and client management.

Explores the entrepreneurship process as well as basic concepts and analytical tools that facilitate new-venture success with a focus on a start-up's ability to make money and its ability to generate attractive financial and personal returns for the entrepreneur compared to alternative career options. Examines various considerations for generating, screening, and evaluating new venture ideas, creating and presenting compelling business plans, acquiring early-stage funding and other required resources, as well as measuring value. Prerequisite: Fourth-year Commerce standing or instructor permission.

In the capstone course, approximately five teams comprising five students each attempt to commercialize business concepts (of their design and with faculty approval) through the "pre-money" stage of development. The course culminates in a New Venture Competition, the winners of which, as judged by Entrepreneurship Track professors and program donors, will receive modest seed money to continue exploration of their business concept. Prerequisites: Open only to students in the Entrepreneurship Track.

Explores the strong influence of culture on business practices and cultivates skills for developing and implementing strategies in multicultural environments. Topics include culture and its implications, interpersonal effectiveness, organizational systems, political and economic environments, and corporate social responsibility. Prerequisite: Fourth-year Commerce standing or instructor permission.

Provides an understanding of contemporary cash and derivative equity securities and markets. Both investment theory and its practical applications are considered. The primary perspective for most discussions is that of an institutional investor, although applications to personal finance are included. Both U.S. and international equity and fixed-income markets are discussed. Topics include asset allocation, portfolio theory, market efficiency, models of asset pricing, program trading, and equity options and financial futures. Prerequisite: Fourth-year Commerce standing or instructor permission.

This course familiarizes students with the restructuring of financially distressed firms and distressed investing. We analyze credit documents, model credit risk, and survey restructuring methods. Throughout, we consider credit and distressed debt as asset classes and develop techniques and models for investing in credit and distressed instruments.

This course covers the valuation and use of derivative and fixed income securities in corporate finance and investment management. The securities covered include calls, puts, exotic options, forwards, futures, swaps, floating rate notes, credit derivatives, and other structured products.

This course focuses on two questions. How do global macroeconomic conditions drive returns across asset classes? How do global investors use this information to build better portfolios? Topics will include issues in measuring economic data, the role of models in investing, portfolio analytics and allocation methods, factor-based investing, global growth, inflation and monetary policy, credit cycles, foreign exchange economics, and other timely topics in asset management.

This course will provide an overview of the entire "private equity cycle" running from fund formation through investment exit. Both theoretical and practical issues will receive attention with the balance tipping toward the latter. Students are to be prepared to discuss a case or other reading assignments during the first half of most class meetings. The second half of our meetings will most often include speakers with expertise in the subject. Pre-requisite: Fourth-year Commerce standing.

Develops an anlytical framework by which individuals and institutions can make real estate investment and financing decisions. Emphasizes theory, concept building, financial modeling, and practical real estate applications. Uses the case method to illustrate implementation of an analytical framework. Prerequisites: Fourth-year Commerce standing or instructor permission.

This course addresses advanced, decision related issues within a value based theory of real estate investment and finance. It facilitates development of advanced insight into the analytical techniques and theoretical perspectives most relevant to such decisions. The course exposes students to industry related software programs including Argus and Crystal Ball for analyzing real estate related investment and finance decisions.

This course provides instruction in the foundations of sustainable commerce, that is, business activities designed for a finite and equitable planet. The course begins with a review of our pressing sustainability challenges, then describes how the fundamental business disciplines (strategy, accounting, marketing, operations, finance and management) are innovating, operating and facilitating commercial solutions to these issues.

This interdisciplinary course explores four critical areas at the intersection of business and sustainability: 1) Climate Finance, 2) Conservation Finance, 3) Circular Economy and 4) ESG Investing. In addition to acquiring an understanding of these key sustainability challenges, participants will gain skill in applying analytical tools and techniques to the evaluation of sustainable investment opportunities.

Aristotle maintained that the goal of life is to achieve well-being through wisdom. In this course we seek new understanding and tools as to how wisdom and sell-being apply to professional and personal situations. Emphasis is on marketing management and leadership. the course proceeds by way of readings, discussions, and exercises in addition to a culminating individual project for growth in career and/or personal life-planning.

The GCS thesis program takes place over 3 semesters. Registration for COMM 4839 does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission to the program is determined by a faculty advisor's willingness to take on the student's project. During the 1st semester students will focus on developing their research idea with their advisor. They are expected to meet with their advisor regularly. Students must make sufficient progress to remain in the program.

Students will meet regularly with their advisor during the semester as they work to complete the independent research program developed in Comm 4840. Students will submit a preliminary thesis document for review prior to the end of the semester and will present the final thesis before the McIntire student community and faculty at the end of the semester.

Capitalizing on the leadership knowledge, skills, and abilities that students have fostered through courses in the Leadership Minor, students will complete an applied leadership project that focuses on providing solutions to a real problem facing a sponsor organization. In addition to the project, students will engage with leaders in the Charlottesville community to learn about the challenges leaders face in different contexts.

Cross Cultural Experience

Independent study under the supervision of a Commerce instructor. A project directly related to business must be submitted to, and approved by, the supervising instructor prior to the Commerce School add date. Students may take COMM 4993 only once. Prerequisite: Fourth-year Commerce standing.

This course is designed to strengthen your ability to correctly interpret financial statements & their accompanying disclosures. Throughout the semester we will discuss the key disclosure rules in the United States, the communication methods available to managers, managers' incentives & ability to exert discretion over reported earnings, & the interplay between a company's corporate strategy and its financial reporting policies and practices.Prerequisite: 4th Year Commerce

This course will introduce you to financial reporting, budgeting, and auditing in not-for-profit entities; government-wide and fund financial statements for state and local governments; and generally accepted government auditing standards. This course will help prepare you to take the portion of the CPA exam related to government and not-for-profit issues and will provide a foundation for auditing, working with, and/or serving on GNP boards.

This course introduces students to sustainability reporting and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, attempting to give a more expansive view of organizations' financial, social, and environmental performance. We will critically evaluate current sustainability metrics, attempt to quantify and compare firms' sustainability efforts, and discuss the challenges behind adopting rigorous, universal sustainability standards.

Tax rules are pervasive in their effect on the decisions of businesses. This course uses the economics-based framework of "all parties, all taxes, all costs" to consider how both tax and non-tax factors affect business activities. Specific decision settings examined include mergers and acquisitions, compensation, and multi-jurisdictional tax planning. How firms report these tax effects in their financial statements will also be covered.

This course provides the opportunity to offer new topics in the subject of Commerce.