Taking Care of Business Blog

A directed study is an individually designed course available by application only. To apply, a student requests a consultation with a faculty member. If the faculty member agrees to teach the directed study course, the student and faculty member collaborate to identify the course content, methods, outcomes, and evaluation measures. The results of this collaboration are codified on the directed study application form (available here). Zagweb registration is not available.

A directed study requires the student to work with little supervision. Each directed study is designed differently, but all involve regular check-ins with the faculty member regarding how the work is progressing.

Common reasons a student might choose to pursue a directed study include engaging in academic research, working on a special project, exploring a current issue outside the regular curriculum, and overcoming a schedule conflict with the regular curriculum.

Directed study courses are recommended to be taken in the summer session. Availability during fall and spring semesters is limited.

Directed study courses are available for variable credit under the following course numbers with the course title customizable:
ACCT 491 Directed Study 1-3 credits
BENT 498 Independent Study 1-4 credits
BFIN 491 Directed Study 1-3 credits
BMIS 491 Directed Study 1-3 credits
BUSN 491 Directed Study 1-3 credits
ECON 491 Directed Study 0-3 credits
ENTR 490 Independent Study 1-4 credits
MGMT 491 Directed Study 1-3 credits
MKTG 491 Directed Study 1-3 credits
OPER 491 Directed Study 1-3 credits

Students pursuing the Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentration take four classes as outlined below.

All business students with one concentration take a broadening course and either an international or experiential business course. Business students pursuing an Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentration may NOT take an experiential course to meet this requirement. Instead, students pursuing an Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentration should take a broadening course and an international course. This is because an experiential course is already a part of the concentration. Students pursuing an Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentration along with another concentration do not need to take a broadening course. They must take an international course. 

BENT 490 Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

BENT 491 Creating New Ventures

One of the following:
*BENT 492 Technology Entrepreneurship
*BENT 493 Social Entrepreneurship

One of the following:
*BUSN 470 Multidisciplinary Action Projects
*BUSN 491 Startup Accelerator
*BUSN 494 Small Business Consulting
*BENT 497 Internship
*BMIS 443 Technology for Web/Mobile-Based Business

The following business courses are available during the summer sessions. More information is available on Zagweb.

First Summer Session

Second Summer Session

Gonzaga’s School of Business offers one-credit weekend classes to all students each semester. These classes can often serve as general electives in a student’s pursuit of a degree. Registration is open to ALL MAJORS.

To register, please call the Registrar’s Office at (509) 313-6592.

BUSN 268 Personal Financial Planning
Introduction to the fundamental principles of comprehensive personal financial planning. Class will include an analysis and evaluation of financial strategies, current topics in wealth management, and career options for financial planning.
Instructor: Steve Larsen, President, Columbia Advisory Partners
Nov. 5-6
4-10 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday

BUSN 269 02 Applying Excel Skills to Real-life Business Scenarios
This course will cover the top practical Excel skills used every day in business, such as VLOOKUP, conditional formatting, pivot tables, subtotals/counts, concatenation, creating custom reports (+page setup for printing in professional format), merging data into Word/Outlook, searching for data in cells using formulas (IF/THEN concepts), merging data across workbooks, tailoring the look and feel, and general formula use and editing/customization. These hands-on lessons will include understanding the foundations of how Excel works so students can think about why/how formulas are written so they can easily re-use and make edits.
Instructor: Jenn Klein, assessment coordinator, Academic Technology Applications Support
Oct. 1-3
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
OR
Nov. 5-7
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

BUSN 270 Work Hacks
Few people start their careers in a leadership position. Many classes focus on how to lead or to manage, but fewer focus on working in organizations. This weekend intensive class will cover topics about working and surviving in an organization. Some of the topics that will be covered include: The joy of mistakes, Working with different age groups and levels of experience, Group projects, meetings and presentations, Office foraging for information, help and snacks, Gatekeepers and bureaucracy, Tips on when to listen and when to speak up, Taking and giving criticism, Understanding different work benefits, Working with people you don’t like, and Special projects, transfers and other opportunities
Instructor: John Lyons, senior resource policy analyst at Avista
Nov. 5-7
4 – 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and noon – 3 p.m. Sunday

BUSN 268 Valuation Analysis
In this class you will be part of an investment banking team analyzing a
publicly traded company using Comparative Analysis and Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. The class will focus on historical mergers and acquisitions allowing you to discern the “fair value” for your subject company. Each team in the class will submit a written report and conduct a presentation on their analysis.
Instructor: Colin Kelly, Portfolio Manager at Signia Capital Management
Nov. 12-13
4 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday.

BUSN 268 01 Equity and Storytelling
This course seeks to inform, engage, and improve individual and collective views of equity and equality through storytelling. Utilizing pop culture references such as Star Wars and Harry Potter, students will explore their own backstories and how those relate to present beliefs, reactions, and sense-making. From this lens, the class will explore reconstructing the ideas of equity and equality in approachable and relatable ways. Authentic leadership will be discussed as a way to understand how we can use our story to positively impact those around us and society at large.
Instructor: Stephanie Elie, leadership/business consultant, SE Consulting
Nov. 13-14
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

BUSN 267 Business Leadership
Business leaders influence followers to use their skills and abilities to help achieve an organization’s mission. This course provides a case study of the art and science of leadership.
Instructor: Brian Newberry, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho
Nov. 20-21
9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Sunday

BUSN 267 Nonprofit Mgmt in Holocaust Ed
This class will be taught via Zoom – instructors are in Seattle
This class will examine doing business as an educational non-profit organization. It will cover the indispensable relationship between product – in this case, educational resources —and development, including fundraising, grants, and marketing. By learning about the mission, resources and outreach of Seattle non-profit, the Holocaust Center for Humanity, students will analyze and help solve existing challenges. Such challenges include adaptation of existing programs and marketing and developing new resources.
Instructors: Paul V. Regelbrugge, professional development and curriculum coordinator, Holocaust Center for Humanity
Dec. 4-5
9 a.m.-  4:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-  4:30 p.m. Sunday
Modality is on-line

Intro to Cryptocurrency
Learn how digital currency is rapidly integrating with, and replacing, traditional finance. This class goes far beyond Bitcoin. Concepts covered include blockchain technology, digital wallets, decentralized finance, and crypto security. You will also learn how cryptocurrency could be allocated to a traditional portfolio.
• Blockchain
• Bitcoin and Ethereum
• Exchanges
• Investment funds
• Decentralized Finance
• Wallets
• Security
Instructor: Steve Larsen, President, Columbia Advisory Partners
Sept. 24-25
4-10 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday
Modality is on-line

BUSN 269 01 Economics of the Side Hustle
The goal of this course is to provide students an opportunity to explore their own small business idea, non-profit organization, or a hobby that you would like to turn into a small business venture. This class will cover the economics of the side hustle project by having you select and refine your own side hustle, determine the basic cost and financing of your business idea or organization, review different pricing strategies, and help determine a strategy to launch and maintain the project.
Instructor: John Lyons, senior resource policy analyst at Avista
Oct. 1-3
4 – 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and noon – 3 p.m. Sunday

BUSN 256 Sales
This course focuses on the practice of moving individuals to a different point of view. It examines the art and the science of prospering in the most competitive and potentially rewarding part of the business dynamic, moving individuals to buy a product.
Instructor: Bryan Blair, sports agent, Sports Consulting Northwest
Oct. 15-17
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

BUSN 267 Gender in the Workplace
This course will examine several issues of gender in the workplace including Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In movement and backlash, the intersection of race and gender, and transgender and gender non-conforming discrimination in the workplace. At the end of the course students will be able to confidently identify and discuss issues of gender in the workplace. Students also will create a strategy for navigating issues of gender in the workplace.
Instructor: Molly Pepper, Professor of Management
Oct. 1-3
4 – 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and noon – 3 p.m. Sunday

Please visit your advisor to be cleared to register, review your mid-term grades, and talk about your future. Tips from the Registrar are available here.

Frequently asked questions about registering for Fall 2021 courses include:

I want to get “signed in” to a closed section of a course. What should I do?
Answer: Download a Course Authorization form from this page and follow the instructions on the page for having it approved. (Hint: You can do this before your register and be pre-approved for when you do register.)

How do I declare my major/concentration or change my major/concentration?
Answer: Download a Declaration of Major from this page and follow the instructions on the page for having it approved.

I need a course that meets the experiential requirement for my business concentration. Which Fall 2021 classes will fulfill that requirement?

1. ACCT 471 Forensic Accounting Lab
2. BUSN 470 Multidisciplinary Act Projects
3. BUSN 491 Startup Accelerator
4. BUSN 494 Small Business Consulting
5. Internships (See requirements.)

More courses may be added to this list, please check back.

I need a course with the core designation Global Studies, Writing Enriched, and/or Social Justice. How do I find out which courses have those attributes?

Answer: Instructions on finding attributes are available here. In the SBA, the following Fall courses will have those attributes:

• Global Studies: MKTG 417 International Marketing; BFIN 327 International Finance; OPER 440 Global Supply Chain Management
• Writing Enriched: MGMT 350 Principles of Management, MGMT 400 Recruitment and Selection, and MKTG 315 Consumer Behavior
• Social Justice: BUSN 480 Senior Seminar Business Ethics

How do I know which classes I need to take?

Answer: Run a degree evaluation. Instructions for how to do so are available here.

How do I change advisors?

Answer: Download a Change of Advisor from this page and follow the instructions on the page for having it approved.

Can I count my internship for academic credit?

Answer: Juniors and Seniors can get up to three credits for internships but must meet the criteria. More information on how to register for an internship is available here.

I am a senior and plan to take business ethics. I thought I had to take BUSN 480 and BUSN 485, but I only see BUSN 480.

Answer: BUSN 480 (2 credits) and BUSN 485 (1 credit) have been combined into BUSN 480 (3 credits).

Can I take any section of BUSN 480 that I want or are sections restricted by concentrations?

Answer: BUSN 480 sections are no longer restricted by concentration. All sections are available to all concentrations.

I think I want to do an individualized concentration. How does that work?

Students may design an interdisciplinary concentration of courses related to their individual goals and interests. Use this link to learn more.

When is my registration window?

Answer: You can find this information under the Registration tab on ZAGWEB:
1. Log into ZAGWEB
2. Select “Student”
3. Select “Student Profile”
4. Ensure the term you are registering for is selected in the upper left corner
5. Select “Registration Notices” in the upper right corner
6. You will see your time ticket indicated at the bottom of the “Registration Notices” section

I plan to take classes at another university this summer. How can I make sure those classes will transfer back to Gonzaga?

Answer: Instructions are available here.

The Columbia Bank Business Equity Scholarship is looking for applicants. This scholarship is being given by the NAACP, Columbia Bank and the Urban Leagues of Portland, Seattle and Tacoma. The application is for residents of Spokane, Portland, Seattle or Tacoma and the deadline to submit is April 10. See attachments for more details.

The following weekend one-credit courses are still available as of Feb. 27. You can register by calling the Registrar’s office at 313-6592.

BUSN.262 Social Enterprise (Non-Profit Management III)
CRN: 25900
This class is the third in a three-class series on non-profit management. This class will focus on social enterprise. Students can take one, two, or all three
classes in the series.
Instructor: Jamie Borgan, program director at New Leaf Bakery Cafe
April 17-18
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

BUSN 269 Leadership in Global Business Environments
CRN: 26057
Organizations engaged in for-profit and non-profit work are expanding beyond national borders. Anyone working in regional, international, or global contexts requires the leadership ability and business acumen critical for success in expanded markets and/or operating environments. In this course, we will explore how leadership in complex and evolving global environments takes place to meet the bottom line while safeguarding the earth. Businesses are now seen as change agents invested in the well-being of the communities they operate in and society at large. Leadership in global business environments calls for individuals who can adapt easily to the fluid nature of complex operating environments that involve multiple players with diverse backgrounds, worldviews, socioeconomic, and political persuasions.
Instructor: Dr. Rosemary Muriungi, former deputy head of Human Resources, United Nations Development Program
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 18

BUSN 268 Valuation Analysis
CRN: 25992
In this class you will be part of an investment banking team analyzing a
publicly traded company using Comparative Analysis and Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. The class will focus on historical mergers and acquisitions allowing you to discern the “fair value” for your subject company. Each team in the class will submit a written report and conduct a presentation on their analysis.
Instructor: Colin Kelly, Portfolio Manager at Signia Capital Management
March 26-27
4 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Gonzaga’s New Venture Lab is a student-run organization that works with entrepreneurs to help develop new products and business ventures.

Students receive one credit for each 60 hours worked in the New Venture Lab. Course requirements include keeping a journal, completing assigned project tasks, and submitting a final report detailing learning outcomes. New Venture Lab is open to any major at the university.

There are two positions in the New Venture Lab for which students can apply:

Project manager: The project manager leads a team of four to five students.

Project team member: Team members work together with the project manager to create a scope they will complete throughout an eight-week program.

New Venture Lab team member and project manager positions open at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters. If you are interested in applying for a team member or project manager position, please complete the application on this page and provide a resume.

Please visit your advisor to be cleared to register, review your mid-term grades, and talk about your future. Tips from the Registrar are available here.

Frequently asked questions about registering for Fall 2020 courses include:

I want to get “signed in” to a closed section of a course. What should I do?
Answer: Download a Course Authorization form from this page and follow the instructions on the page for having it approved.

How do I declare my major/concentration or change my major/concentration?
Answer: Download a Declaration of Major from this page and follow the instructions on the page for having it approved.

I need a course that meets the experiential requirement for my business concentration. Which Spring 2021 classes will fulfill that requirement?

More courses may be added to this list, please check back.

I need a course with the core designation Global Studies, Writing Enriched, and/or Social Justice. How do I find out which courses have those attributes?

Answer: Instructions on finding attributes are available here. In the SBA, the following Spring courses will have those attributes:

How do I know which classes I need to take?

Answer: Run a degree evaluation. Instructions for how to do so are available here.

How do I change advisors?

Answer: Download a Change of Advisor from this page and follow the instructions on the page for having it approved.

Can I count my internship for academic credit?

Answer: Juniors and Seniors can get up to three credits for internships but must meet the criteria. More information on how to register for an internship is available here.

I am a senior and plan to take business ethics. I thought I had to take BUSN 480 and BUSN 485, but I only see BUSN 480.

Answer: BUSN 480 (2 credits) and BUSN 485 (1 credit) have been combined into BUSN 480 (3 credits).

Can I take any section of BUSN 480 that I want or are sections restricted by concentrations?

Answer: BUSN 480 sections are no longer restricted by concentration. All sections are available to all concentrations.

When is my registration window?

Answer: You can find this information under the Registration tab on ZAGWEB:
1. Log into ZAGWEB
2. Select “Student”
3. Select “Student Profile”
4. Ensure the term you are registering for is selected in the upper left corner
5. Select “Registration Notices” in the upper right corner
6. You will see your time ticket indicated at the bottom of the “Registration Notices” section

I plan to take classes at another university this summer. How can I make sure those classes will transfer back to Gonzaga?

Answer: Instructions are available here.

BUSN.262 Social Enterprise (Non-Profit Management III)
CRN: 25900
This class is the third in a three-class series on non-profit management. This class will focus on social enterprise. Students can take one, two, or all three classes in the series.
Instructor: Jamie Borgan, program director at New Leaf Bakery Cafe
April 17-18
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

BUSN 269 Leadership in Global Business Environments
CRN: 26057
Organizations engaged in for-profit and non-profit work are expanding beyond national borders. Anyone working in regional, international, or global contexts requires the leadership ability and business acumen critical for success in expanded markets and/or operating environments. In this course, we will explore how leadership in complex and evolving global environments takes place to meet the bottom line while safeguarding the earth. Businesses are now seen as change agents invested in the well-being of the communities they operate in and society at large. Leadership in global business environments calls for individuals who can adapt easily to the fluid nature of complex operating environments that involve multiple players with diverse backgrounds, worldviews, socioeconomic, and political persuasions.
Instructor: Dr. Rosemary Muriungi, former deputy head of Human Resources, United Nations Development Program
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 18

BUSN 270 Community Service & Leadership
CRN: 26056
This course will explore community leadership strategies and practice through the lens of place-based engagement and adaptive leadership. The course will introduce students to critical community engagement and leadership frameworks that inform Gonzaga’s commitment to place, spend time exploring our shared place of Northeast Spokane, and provide opportunities to learn from resident leaders who exemplify adaptive leadership in practice.
Instructors:
Molly Ayers, senior director, Center for Community Engagement
Anthony Medina, assistant director of Community Engaged Learning
March 20-21
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

BUSN 268 Valuation Analysis
CRN: 25992
In this class you will be part of an investment banking team analyzing a publicly traded company using Comparative Analysis and Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. The class will focus on historical mergers and acquisitions allowing you to discern the “fair value” for your subject company. Each team in the class will submit a written report and conduct a presentation on their analysis.
Instructor: Colin Kelly, Portfolio Manager at Signia Capital Management
March 26-27
4 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday.

BUSN 268 01 Equity and Storytelling
CRN: 25881
This course seeks to inform, engage, and improve individual and collective views of equity and equality through storytelling. Utilizing pop culture references such as Star Wars and Harry Potter, students will explore their own backstories and how those relate to present beliefs, reactions, and sense-making. From this lens, the class will explore reconstructing the ideas of equity and equality in approachable and relatable ways. Authentic leadership will be discussed as a way to understand how we can use our story to positively impact those around us and society at large.
Instructor: Stephanie Elie, leadership/business consultant, SE Consulting
March 27-28
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

BUSN 268 02 Personal Finance
CRN: 25901
Have you ever wondered how to manage your finances or to go about preparing a personal financial plan? Do you want to learn more about how to use credit cards responsibly? Do you worry about identity theft? Do you wish you knew more about insurance, investing, and fees and pitfalls to watch out for when applying for a mortgage? In this course, you will learn about personal financial management including preparing a personal financial budget, steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft, understanding the different certifications of financial planners (and how they are compensated), and gaining an understanding of the financial language used in describing various financial products such as investments, insurance, mortgages, and credit cards.
Instructor: Dr. Sara Kern, accounting professor
March 26-28
4-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sunday

BUSN 269 01 Economics of the Side Hustle
CRN: 25866
The goal of this course is to provide students an opportunity to explore their own small business idea, non-profit organization, or a hobby that you would like to turn into a small business venture. This class will cover the economics of the side hustle project by having you select and refine your own side hustle, determine the basic cost and financing of your business idea or organization, review different pricing strategies, and help determine a strategy to launch and maintain the project.
Instructor: John Lyons, senior resource policy analyst at Avista
Feb. 26-28
4 – 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and noon – 3 p.m. Sunday

BUSN 269 02 Applying Excel Skills to Real-life Business Scenarios
CRN: 25882
This course will cover the top practical Excel skills used every day in business, such as VLOOKUP, conditional formatting, pivot tables, subtotals/counts, concatenation, creating custom reports (+page setup for printing in professional format), merging data into Word/Outlook, searching for data in cells using formulas (IF/THEN concepts), merging data across workbooks, tailoring the look and feel, and general formula use and editing/customization. These hands-on lessons will include understanding the foundations of how Excel works so students can think about why/how formulas are written so they can easily re-use and make edits.
Instructor: Jenn Klein, assessment coordinator, Academic Technology Applications Support
Feb. 27-28
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

BUSN 270 Work Hacks
CRN: 25902
Few people start their careers in a leadership position. Many classes focus on how to lead or to manage, but fewer focus on working in organizations. This weekend intensive class will cover topics about working and surviving in an organization. Some of the topics that will be covered include:
The joy of mistakes,
Working with different age groups and levels of experience,
Group projects, meetings and presentations,
Office foraging for information, help and snacks,
Gatekeepers and bureaucracy,
Tips on when to listen and when to speak up,
Taking and giving criticism,
Understanding different work benefits,
Working with people you don’t like, and
Special projects, transfers and other opportunities
Instructor: John Lyons, senior resource policy analyst at Avista
April 9-11
4 – 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and noon – 3 p.m. Sunday

BUSN 256 Sales
CRN: 25903
This course focuses on the practice of moving individuals to a different point of view. It examines the art and the science of prospering in the most competitive and potentially rewarding part of the business dynamic, moving individuals to buy a product.
Instructor: Bryan Blair, sports agent, Sports Consulting Northwest
April 10-11
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

BUSN.260 Introduction to Non-Profits
CRN: 25899
This class is the first in a three-class series on non-profit management. Students can take one, two, or all three classes in the series. This class will provide an introduction to non-profits, covering legal structure, a few regulatory pieces, mission and visioning, basic strategic planning, and a survey of the local non-profit sector.
Instructor: Jamie Borgan, program director at New Leaf Bakery Cafe
March 20-21
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

BUSN 267 Business Leadership
CRN: 26058
Business leaders influence followers to use their skills and abilities to help achieve an organization’s mission. This course provides a case study of the art and science of leadership.
Instructor: Ken Anderson, Dean of the School of Business Administration
Feb. 19-20
4-10 p.m. Friday
9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday

BUSN 267 Building Resiliency
CRN: 25880
Building resiliency in difficult times requires flexibility, resourcefulness and the ability to be agile in the face of disruptive change. True resiliency requires an examination of our mindset in the moment, triggers of our emotional behaviors and how we can effectively move forward with confidence. In this course, you will learn to build resilience by developing a growth mindset through exploration of your self-awareness, self-management and an understanding of how to utilize your ability to persevere regardless of the circumstances of your current reality. Building resilience has become a vital tool in the challenges we face today and applies to our personal and professional excellence. We will examine the impact of true resilience at any organizational level and apply it to any industry as we experience the accelerated nature of change.
Instructor: Greg Husted, Organizational Development Manager, Kootenai Health
February 19-21
4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday