Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/674746
18 UConn School of Business tal economy," said Robin Coulter, professor and department head. e department offers a digital marketing and analytics (DM&A) concentration and minor at the Storrs campus and a DM&A major at the Stamford campus; courses include digital marketing strategy, marketing and digital analytics, and integrat- ed marketing communications in the digital age. Participating in internships, marketing-related student groups and networking events helps expose students to the industry, Coulter said. Exciting opportunities exist in business-to-busi- ness sales, market research, digital analytics, brand management, pricing and new product and service innovation. OPERATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (OPIM) e operations and information management (OPIM) depart- ment, ranked among the best nationally for research in informa- tion systems, combines the concepts of operations research with information systems topics. is hybrid focus is representative of the kind of innovation the School of Business exhibits. "Our specialized master's degree in business analytics project management program has quickly generated a strong reputa- tion," said Ram Gopal, professor and department head. "Our goal is to continue to climb in research and program rankings, and be recognized as one of the top programs in the world." In partnership with the School of Engineering, the depart- ment also offers a joint undergraduate degree in management and engineering for manufacturing. Looking forward, the department will continue tackling the challenge of big data and analytics. e exponential increase in the quantity and the quality of available information from many types of complex systems has created new challenges and oppor- tunities for storing and handling massive data, developing tools for analysis, visualization and interpretation, and processes for creating rich interactive environments for users. SPECIALTIES BUSINESS LAW Business law has undergone a metamorphosis over the years, getting more intertwined with ethics as time has progressed. "What is considered ethical today often evolves into a legal requirement in the future," said Robert Bird, associate professor. e business law curriculum is quick to identify these trends, he said, citing the example of corporate compliance regulations. "Firms are increasingly concerned about compliance… the business law group is meeting that need by offering a joint certifi- cate in compliance, in partnership with the UConn Law School," Bird said. e new economy, he said — with companies like Uber and Lyft raising questions of employment and ethics — makes this knowledge even more relevant for today's business leaders. HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT e School of Business has been involved with healthcare and insurance studies since 1976, and is one of only two state universities in New England to offer a healthcare management program. e program's healthcare management and insurance studies are built on a solid foundation of a large, research-based university, with smaller class sizes to promote student engage- ment. "e fall of 2016 will represent the 40th anniversary of the healthcare management program," said Rex Santerre, professor and program director. During that time, he said, many changes, including the Affordable Care Act, have altered some of the ed- ucational content in the curriculum, but not the way the courses are taught. "We put the 'LIFE' into healthcare management by exposing students to various concepts and principles from law, insurance, finance and economics," he said. In addition to an undergraduate major in healthcare manage- ment, a minor in healthcare management and insurance studies to non-business majors, the School also offers a graduate level concentration in healthcare management as well as certificate programs in healthcare finance and insurance, healthcare analyt- ics, long-term care, and health information technology. REAL ESTATE e Center for Real Estate and Urban Economic Studies, created in 1965, has been recognized among the best in the nation for more than a decade. e program's roots began with professors Bill Kinnard, C.F. Sirmans, John Clapp and a few others, whose influence shaped student careers and service to the state of Connecticut. UConn's central location provides the ideal opportunity for students to learn the business. "We visit Boston, New York City and Hartford to see real estate and to talk with investors," said John Glascock, professor and center director. "Last year, we placed 54 students in jobs from Boston to New York City." Today, real estate students graduate with jobs at prestigious com- mercial companies, including JP Morgan, TIAA-CREF, Cigna and United Bank. Longstanding success of the Center is also bolstered by many industry partnerships and engagements, such as a recent $1.4 million pledge from Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers. e gift is designed to ensure UConn students continue to receive a real- istic, hands-on approach to real estate—an experience that Cor- nerstone deems essential for the program's graduates. Real estate intern meeting, 1974. School of Business, 1981. Secretarial studies students, 1959.