UMUC

Graduate School of Management and Technology

Course Descriptions - UCSP (Special Topics)

UCSP 611 Introduction to Graduate Library Research Skills (0)

(Required within the first 6 credits of graduate study for all new graduate students and all inactive students who reapply for admission.) An overview of online library and information resources—material that is critical for 21st-century managers. An in-depth introduction to the library research process and to the tools necessary to succeed in graduate study is provided. Emphasis is on the efficient and effective use of a variety of electronic retrieval systems, including the online catalog of the University System of Maryland and affiliated institutions (USMAI), UMUC’s subscription databases and the Web. Discipline-specific research is conducted in order to gain experience in formulating viable research questions, selecting the most appropriate investigative methods and resources for research, locating relevant research materials, evaluating the scholarly value of sources and effectively citing sources.

UCSP 620 Financial Accounting (0)

(Recommended as preparation for MGMT 640 for students who lack a background in accounting and finance.) A basic study of financial accounting, encompassing basic financial concepts and their use in analyzing financial statements. The financial statements of actual companies are analyzed and the process by which accounting principles are developed is explored. Emphasis is on gaining an appreciation for how financial accounting information can be used to evaluate the economic performance of companies.

UCSP 621 Economics (0)

(Recommended as preparation for MGMT 640 for students who lack a background in economics.) An overview of both the microeconomic issues of supply and demand for individual companies and products and macroeconomic issues concerning inflation, unemployment and recession for the economy as a whole. Basic economic concepts such as opportunities cost, comparative advantage, economic efficiency and the time value of money are explored in the context of business, government and personal situations.

UCSP 630 Introduction to Research Methods (0)

(Recommended as preparation for MGMT 650 for students who lack a background in statistics.) A presentation of basic research techniques and methodologies used in organizational research and evaluation studies to make business decisions. Focus is on applying basic research techniques to assess the performance of individuals, work groups and organizations. Topics include principles of good data collection, presentation of data in tables and charts, summary and description of numerical data, basic probability and discrete estimation, the fundamentals of hypothesis testing and the use of existing research-based materials to solve business problems. Discussion emphasizes basic approaches and beginning skills necessary to evaluate research materials and their use in decision making.

UCSP 650 Praxis I® Preparation (0)

A review of the content covered in the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. Students identify strategies that they can use to prepare for the three Praxis I tests.