First-Year Seminars: Business and Entrepreneurship
To be successful, it takes a commitment to hard work, strong leadership skills, and the ability to blaze your own path. For centuries, those who have found the right balance of knowledge, skill, and ability have risen to the top and changed the world in which we live. Sometimes we call them entrepreneurs. Sometimes we just call them successful. Whatever term you use, the path to achieving your goals runs through the heart of these first-year seminars.
FS-BUSA 1300-001 "Business Thoughtware: Planning, Ethics, Sustainability and Agility"
Larry Chonko, Department of Marketing
Perhaps you’ve watched Donald Trump’s The Apprentice and thought to yourself, “I could do that so much better than any of these people.” Well here’s your chance to prove it by building and presenting your own business plan to a group of professionals. This course is designed to provide an understanding of how business really works, with special emphasis on the practical application of leadership skills, building ethical and sustainable businesses, and understanding the components of business success. In the end, you and your teammates will compete for scholarship money and the chance to determine which fateful catchphrase you’d be hearing from The Donald, “You’re hired!” or “You’re fired!”
Who should take this course? Whether you’re a business major or just interested in owning your own business one day, this course may be for you. Student interested in entrepreneurship, management, leadership, teamwork, psychology, marketing, or those with a competitive streak will find something of value here.
FS-HIST 1300-001 "Drinking in World History: Beer, Coffee, and Cola in the Rise of the Global Economy"
John Garrigus, Department of History
Do you drink Coke? Are you a fan of Starbucks Coffee? Ever think about where these giant companies came from? Probably not, but maybe you should. Drinks and consumption habits have had a profound impact on our world throughout history. In this course, we’ll investigate the discovery, manufacture, and marketing that have helped to build some of America’s greatest companies and the influence that these commonplace beverages have had on the lives and diets of people from around the world. So the next time you reach for a cold one or crack open a soda, you’ll never look at things the same way again.
Who should take this course? Students interested in business, marketing, advertising, history, public health, public policy, law, politics, environmental issues, or history.
FS-MANA 1300-001 "Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: From Stressed First-Year Student to Successful Student"
James Campbell Quick, Goolsby Leadership Academy and Department of Management
Have you ever felt stressed out? Dumb question, huh? At some point, all of us have had to deal with stress. Stress is great in emergencies and during peak performance events, like sports. But too often, stress is misunderstood and mismanaged, causing people to suffer, become sick, and perform poorly. Mastering the mind-body stress response can dramatically improve health, performance and well-being. In this course, we’ll explore the definitions and causes of stress and protective measures to prevent stress and increase your chances for success.
Who should take this course? Any student coming to college will be dealing with stress, so this class might be a good chance to gain a strategic advantage over others in your courses. Additionally, students interested in business, psychology, physiology, medicine, nursing, athletic training, working out, alternative medicine.