XII. Course Descriptions

Marketing and Consumer Studies

Department of Marketing and Consumer Studies

For courses without semester designations, please check with the department. Advance schedules are available in the department.

MCS*1000 Introductory Marketing S,F,W (3-0) [0.50]
This course covers the marketing of both products and services. Students will be introduced to the theoretical concepts through lectures and class discussions and have the opportunity to apply these concepts through case analysis and discussion. (Also offered through distance education format.).
Equate(s): COST*1000
Restriction(s): This is a Priority Access Course and some restrictions may apply during some time periods. Please contact the department for more information. This course may not be taken for credit subsequent to receiving credit in AGEC*4370 or HTM*3080.
MCS*1820 Real Estate and Housing F (3-0) [0.50]
This survey course acquaints students with the theories, practices and principles of real estate and housing. Topics include how real estate assets and markets differ from other assets, government involvement in the housing and real estate sectors, non-market housing in Canada, financing real estate, and development.
Equate(s): COST*1820
Restriction(s): COST*1800 This is a Priority Access Course and some restrictions may apply during some time periods. Please contact the department for more information.
MCS*2000 Business in a Changing World F (3-0) [0.50]
This course provides marketing students with an overview of business by reviewing and discussing key issues (such as business ethics and globalization), key business functions (such as finance, human resources, operations management and marketing), and the components of a business plan. Weekly lectures are supplemented by discussions of business cases and hand-in assignments designed to introduce students to basic business skills (such as business math and decision-making).
Prerequisite(s): 2.50 credits
Restriction(s): Registration in the B.Comm. Marketing Management major.
MCS*2020 Information Management S,F,W (3-0) [0.50]
Introduces the concepts and principles of information acquisition, manipulation and management as relevant to organizational decision-making. Provides experience in the evaluation of information technology applications used in organizations. (Also offered through distance education format.)
Prerequisite(s): 5.00 credits
Equate(s): COST*2020
Restriction(s): This is a Priority Access Course and some restrictions may apply during some time periods. Please contact the department for more information. Not available to students registered in B.Comp program or CIS majors and minors.
MCS*2100 Personal Financial Management S (3-0) [0.50]
An introductory course designed to meet the professional needs of those in teaching, counselling and community service, as well as personal goals in financial management. (Offered through Distance Education only.)
Prerequisite(s): 5.00 credits
Equate(s): COST*2100
MCS*2600 Fundamentals of Consumer Behaviour F,W (3-0) [0.50]
Organizations survive and achieve their goals by satisfying the needs and wants of consumers as well as or better than their competitors. This course examines consumer behaviours, the economic, social, cultural and psychological factors related to consumer behaviours, the evolution and change in behaviours and relationships, and the ways in which consumers respond to stimuli employed in the marketing of products, services and ideas.
Prerequisite(s): (1 of MCS*1000, HAFA*1000, HTM*1000), (1 of PSYC*1100, PSYC*1200, SOC*1100)
Equate(s): COST*2600
Restriction(s): This is a Priority Access Course and some restrictions may apply during some time periods. Please contact the department for more information.
MCS*2820 Real Estate Finance W (3-0) [0.50]
This course examines the financing of both residential and commercial investment real estate. A mathematical approach is used to examine the impact of various lender and borrower decisions about loan terms (amortization periods, pre-payment options, etc.). The evolution of the Canadian housing finance system is contrasted with that in the United States. New methods of financing real estate other than traditional mortgages are discussed.
Prerequisite(s): 5.00 credits
Equate(s): COST*2820
Restriction(s): This is a Priority Access Course and some restrictions may apply during some time periods. Please contact the department for more information.
MCS*2850 Service Learning in Housing F (3-0) [0.50]
This course provides an introduction to ethics and social capital as they apply to the housing and real estate industries. Students will be required to participate in a 10-15 hour service learning exercise where they volunteer for a frontline housing agency/provider. They will then share their experiences with their classmates during the final week of classes.
Prerequisite(s): 4.00 credits
Equate(s): COST*2850
Restriction(s): MCS*2810, This is a Priority Access Course and some restrictions may apply during some time periods. Please contact the department for more information.
MCS*3000 Advanced Marketing F (3-0) [0.50]
This course provides students with an opportunity to extend their knowledge of the marketing principles and strategies they learned in MCS*1000 to develop a marketing plan and to explore sales as a career.
Prerequisite(s): MCS*1000
Restriction(s): Not available to B.Comm. students registered in MKMN, MKMN:C, AGBU, AGBU:C majors.
MCS*3010 Quality Management F,W (3-0) [0.50]
Lectures will include general concepts and expectations of quality assurance from consumer, government, managerial and technological points of view and discuss the relationship of national and international groups concerned with quality assurance. Seminars apply concepts to selected products and services.
Prerequisite(s): 10.00 credits including 0.50 credits in statistics
Equate(s): COST*3010
Restriction(s): This is a Priority Access Course and some restrictions may apply during some time periods. Please contact the department for more information.
MCS*3030 Research Methods S,F,W (3-0) [0.50]
This course examines the concepts, principles and practices for consumer, market and product development research processes. Topics include research problem definition, research objectives, research design, measurement, sampling methods, execution and research management, analysis and interpretation, and report writing. (Also offered through distance education format.)
Prerequisite(s): STAT*2060 or STAT*2090
Equate(s): COST*3030
Restriction(s): Registration in the B.Comm. Marketing Management Major, regular or co-op, Housing and Real Estate Management Major, regular and co-op, or the B.A. Marketing Management Minor.
MCS*3040 Business and Consumer Law S,F,W (3-0) [0.50]
This course introduces students to statutory and common law concerning business and consumer transactions. An overview of the laws of contracts and torts forms the basis of business and producer/consumer relationships. Discussion topics include sale of goods and consumer protection legislation; debtor-creditor relations; competition law; intellectual property rights and manufacturers' product liability. (Also offered through distance education format.)
Prerequisite(s): 5.00 credits
Equate(s): COST*3040
Restriction(s): This is a Priority Access Course and some restrictions may apply during some time periods. Please contact the department for more information.
MCS*3500 Market Analysis and Planning F,W (3-0) [0.50]
This course teaches students decision making theory and the methods of analysis that support decision making in the marketing discipline. Topics include customer, competitor and market analysis and methods such as forecasting and decision modeling.
Prerequisite(s): 9.00 credits including MATH*1000, ECON*1050, STAT*2060
Equate(s): MCS*3610
Restriction(s): Registration in the B.Comm. Marketing Management major.
MCS*3600 Consumer Information Processes F,W (3-0) [0.50]
This course provides an in-depth treatment of information processing research and theories as they relate to consumer judgement and choice. Components of theory addressed include: attention and perception, motivation, processing capacity, encoding and memory storage, retrieval and decision processes. Applications to marketplace policy and strategy are discussed.
Prerequisite(s): MCS*2600, MCS*3030
Equate(s): COST*3600
MCS*3620 Marketing Communications F,W (3-0) [0.50]
Concepts of communication management as practiced by organizations in all economic sectors. Communication management principles are applied to the design and evaluation of communication programs.
Prerequisite(s): 10.00 credits including MCS*1000, MCS*2600
Equate(s): COST*3620
Restriction(s): Registration in the B.Comm. Program. This is a Priority Access Course and some restrictions may apply during some time periods. Please contact the department for more information.
MCS*3810 Real Estate Market Analysis F (3-0) [0.50]
In this course students examine the processes used to analyze supply and demand in the real estate market. The course focuses on using research methodologies to define the scope of analysis; identify data needs; collect information from various sources, including on-line resources; and interpret the results. Applications to different property types are discussed. Current market trends are also examined. As well, the course deals with marketing real estate: listing procedures, advertising, negotiating. (First offering is Fall 2008.)
Prerequisite(s): MCS*1820, STAT*2060
Equate(s): COST*3810
MCS*3820 Real Estate Development W (3-0) [0.50]
This course introduces the student to the real estate development process, providing an overview from the project idea to the cursory feasibility stage. The steps in development planning that will be investigated are analysis, design, and evaluation. Topics include evaluating development potential, land acquisition, site planning, economic feasibility studies, approval processes, construction, project management, and marketing phases. The construction of both single family housing and larger buildings is examined. (First offering is Winter 2009.)
Prerequisite(s): MCS*1820
Equate(s): COST*3820
Restriction(s): MCS*4860 This is a Priority Access Course and some restrictions may apply during some time periods. Please contact the department for more information.
MCS*3870 Topics in Housing U (3-0) [0.50]
Lecture-discussion or seminar on a selected topic or area of specialization related to housing to be conducted by faculty with special interests or expertise in the area. Students should confirm with the department prior to course selection what topic(s), if any, will be offered during specific semesters.
Prerequisite(s): Will be indicated by the department when the course is offered.
Equate(s): COST*3870
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
MCS*3880 Topics in Housing U (3-0) [0.50]
Lecture-discussion or seminar on a selected topic or area of specialization related to housing to be conducted by faculty with special interests or expertise in the area. Students should confirm with the department prior to course selection what topic(s), if any, will be offered during specific semesters.
Prerequisite(s): Will be indicated by the department when the course is offered.
Equate(s): COST*3880
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
MCS*3890 Property Management W (3-0) [0.50]
Financial theory is used to examine the diversification benefits of including real estate with financial assets in an investment portfolio. Diversification strategies within a real estate portfolio are also covered. The marketing and leasing of real estate space culminates in a leasing negotiation exercise between pairs of students. Differing property management issues faced by managers of residential, office, retail, industrial and mixed use properties are covered.
Prerequisite(s): (COST*1800 or MCS*1820), and (1 of MCS*2820, ECON*3560, HTM*3070)
Equate(s): COST*3890
MCS*4020 Research in Consumer Studies U (3-0) [0.50]
An independent investigation of a pertinent topic in consumer studies. Registration requires departmental approval.
Prerequisite(s): MCS*3030
Equate(s): COST*4020
MCS*4040 Management in Product Development F,W (3-0) [0.50]
Major course components include: new product strategy formulation, the role of technical and market research, the analysis of opportunities, management of development processes, product launches, government and regulatory controls.
Prerequisite(s): Registration in the B.Comm. program (Marketing Management major) and 12.50 credits including MCS*2600.
Equate(s): COST*4040
MCS*4050 The Evolution of Capitalism: A Canadian Perspective F,W (3-0) [0.50]
A Canadian perspective on capitalism as an evolving process of creative destruction; implications for Canadian culture and the allocation of economic, political, and social power; effects on education, the capacity of governments to govern, and societal notions of what constitutes the public good.
Prerequisite(s): 12.50 credits including MCS*2600, ECON*1050, ECON*1100
Equate(s): COST*4050
MCS*4100 Entrepreneurship F (3-0) [0.50]
This course examines the role and effect of small business in Canada, and, in doing so, helps marketing students appreciate the challenges involved in having full responsibility for a business and/or for creatively moving a business forward. The course focuses on the analysis of entrepreneurial skills and, through the development of the business plan, the steps involved in starting a new venture or increasing the size of a business. (First offering - Fall 2010)
Prerequisite(s): 14.00 credits including MCS*3500 and a cumulative GPA of 70%.
Restriction(s): Registration in the B.Comm. program (Marketing Management major).
MCS*4300 Marketing and Society W (3-0) [0.50]
This course focuses on how the dissemination of marketing knowledge can influence society through the decisions made by public policy makers, corporate decision makers and non-profit marketers. It also covers how the marketing decisions made and actions taken by corporate, non-profit and public sector decision makers can affect society. As the theme of 'reciprocal influence' is developed, both direct and indirect influences of marketing knowledge and marketing decisions are pursued. (First offering -- Winter 2011)
Prerequisite(s): 14.00 credits including MCS*1000 and MCS*2600
Restriction(s): Registration in the B.Comm. program (Marketing Management Major).
MCS*4370 Marketing Strategy F,W (3-0) [0.50]
This course focuses on the decision-making role of the marketing manager who is responsible for formulating the strategic marketing plan. The theory of selecting market target(s) for the firm's product and/or services and the development of the marketing mix (product, price, promotion, distribution) with the aid of market research and computerized information systems is covered.
Prerequisite(s): 10.00 credits
Equate(s): AGEC*4370, COST*4370
Restriction(s): Registration in the B.Comm. program (Marketing Management Major).
MCS*4400 Pricing Management F,W (3-0) [0.50]
The objective of this course is to provide a useful conceptual framework as well as analytical techniques that can be applied in managing pricing functions. Topics to be covered include pricing strategies, tactical issues related to pricing, pricing methods, treatment of costs for pricing, consideration of competition, legal limitations and role of price in customer buying decisions for both consumer and industrial goods and services.
Prerequisite(s): 9.00 credits including ECON*2310
Restriction(s): MCS*3100 and registration in the B.Comm. program (Marketing Management Major).
MCS*4600 International Marketing F,W (3-0) [0.50]
The study of marketing in a global context with specific emphasis on the strategic implications of marketing in different country cultures. Included are the global marketing environment and the competitive challenges and opportunities confronting today's international marketers, the cultural environment of global marketing, the assessment of global market opportunities and the development of global marketing strategies.
Prerequisite(s): MCS*1000, MCS*2600, MCS*3030
Equate(s): COST*4600
Restriction(s): Registration in the B.Comm program (Marketing Management major).
MCS*4810 Real Estate and Housing Project W (3-0) [0.50]
This course is a capstone course meant to bring together concepts from all other Real Estate and Housing courses. It deals with the development, redevelopment and renewal of housing and real estate services. Students will complete a project that addresses an issue in the real estate or housing sector, applying knowledge of development, market analysis, affordability, financing and government regulation.
Prerequisite(s): 15.00 credits
Equate(s): COST*4810
Restriction(s): Registration in the B. Comm program (Real Estate and Housing major) or permission of the instructor.
MCS*4820 Real Estate Appraisal F (3-0) [0.50]
This course deals with the basic principles involved in valuing real estate. The market comparison, cost and income approaches of appraisal are covered. The major emphasis in the course is on using discounted cash flow projections to value income-producing real estate. The term project involves the use of a spreadsheet program to estimate property value for a property chosen by the student. While valuation of single family homes is covered, the main emphasis is on investment real estate.
Prerequisite(s): (CIS*1000 or MCS*2020), (I of MCS*2820, ECON*3560, HTM*3070)
Equate(s): COST*4820
MCS*4840 Housing and Real Estate Law F (3-0) [0.50]
This course lays out the legal principles which guide the expanding and changing body of law dealing with housing and real estate development and forms of occupancy; statutory and regulatory matters are explored.
Prerequisite(s): 9.00 credits including MCS*1000, (COST*1800 or MCS*1820), MCS*2820
Equate(s): COST*4840
MCS*4850 Housing Policies F (3-0) [0.50]
Examines both substantive and jurisdictional policy and program development at the federal, provincial and local levels. The policy making process will be reviewed as well as policy and program evaluation techniques. The emphasis is on Canada although comparisons with other countries will be discussed. (Last Offering is Fall 2007.)
Prerequisite(s): 10.00 credits including COST*1800, MCS*2820
Equate(s): COST*4850
MCS*4860 Housing Industry Structure and Process W (3-0) [0.50]
The development and construction sectors of the housing industry will be examined from both the structural and process perspectives in order to develop an understanding of how the industry adapts and how organizations operate. The course will focus on Canadian residential housing industry organizations and related agencies. (Last Offering is Winter 2008)
Prerequisite(s): 10.00 credits including COST*1800, MCS*2820
Equate(s): COST*4860
MCS*4910 Topics in Consumer Studies U (3-0) [0.50]
Lecture-discussion or seminar on a selected topic in consumer studies to be conducted by faculty with expertise in the area. Students should check with the department to determine what topic, if any, will be offered during a semester.
Prerequisite(s): Will be indicated by the department when the course is offered.
Equate(s): COST*4910
Restriction(s): Instructor consent required.
MCS*4950 Consumer Studies Practicum U (3-0) [0.50]
The practicum provides supervised experience in applying the concepts and principles of consumer studies to contemporary issues in areas such as consumer finance, consumer policy, housing, product standards and quality assurance.
Prerequisite(s): 15.00 credits
Equate(s): COST*4950
Restriction(s): Instructor and Department Chair consent required.
University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1

Canada
519-824-4120