Master of Business Administration (MBA)

This course provides a high-level learning experience that involves the analysis of leadership skills, models and practices, organizational settings, team development, global markets, and cultural factors impacting leadership. Students will focus on ethical considerations impacting leaders within modern organizations nationally and internationally. Students will utilize communication technologies to demonstrate communication skills useful to leaders.

The Global Marketing course develops a comprehensive understanding of global competition. It focuses on the managerial application of marketing tools and methodology utilized in gaining global competitive advantage and creating socially responsible marketing strategies. It covers the analysis of various environmental forces in the global arena such as economic environment, political, legal, and regulatory climates, as well as trade, cultural and social environments. Emphasis is placed on tools and tactics used in the development of a successful global marketing plan including information systems, market research, segmentation, targeting and positioning, various global marketing strategies, and the four major components of a marketing plan: products and brand, price, channels of distribution, and promotion.

The Human Capital Management Using Applied Psychology course will challenge students to think strategically about a company’s human assets and the potential global competitiveness that can be gained. The course will offer a view of applied psychology and an understanding of how and why people think and act. The course will also include practical application of human capital management topics such as recruitment, performance management, managing careers, diverse work force, training and development and retention. Importance will be placed on how to deploy human capital in an organization. Finally, emphasis will be placed on contemporary issues such as a flexible work force and predictive analytics.

The Law and Ethics in the Business Environment course covers major areas of legal regulation, including anti-trust, consumer protection, employment and labor law, intellectual property law, environmental regulations, securities and contract laws. While studying the laws, students will be acquainted with ethical decision-making tools to enhance ethical thinking and problem solving in both domestic and international contemporary business settings. Emphasis is placed on active, experiential application of legal and ethical reasoning and analysis as applied in diverse cultural environments.

The Financial Business Overview course will provide a thorough overview of the financial statements from a user perspective rather than a preparer perspective. A global perspective will be presented using both Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Students will analyze statements using various techniques and interpret the financial statements to understand the performance of a business. The analysis will extend to include future decision making and strategic planning.

The Data and Decision Analytics course will provide students with the knowledge of how data influences decision making in modern organizations. Students will become familiar with a variety of business intelligence skills including data collection, data organization, analytical methods that lead to practical application. Students will explore data sets and how to use that data to make operational and strategic decisions. Prerequisite: BUS 592.

The Global Economics and Political Influence (featuring Steve Forbes) course introduces skills and perspective necessary to understand domestic and international macroeconomic events.  The course will provide an overview of macroeconomic topics including, unemployment, inflation, money supply, and the tools employed by the Federal Reserve System and the federal government to create and implement monetary and fiscal policies.  This course will also include international trade and the foreign exchange markets.  Finally, real life important policy debates such as government spending and taxes, social security, the role of government with contrasting views from Keynes and Hayek, and the importance of a sound money system will be critically explored. Prerequisite: BUS 592.

The Financial Statement Analysis course provides a detailed and comprehensive evaluation of the financial statements to aid in short-term and strategic long-term decision making. Accounting concepts will be studied from a manager’s perspective rather than a detailed accountant’s perspective to allow students to analyze and interpret financial results. Students will study both Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to gain an understanding of the basic accounting concepts and language. Financial ratios, horizontal, and vertical analysis will be calculated to interpret and understand financial statements. Students will have the opportunity to explore accounting concepts at the corporate level and apply several concepts at the personal finance level as well. Prerequisite: BUS 592.

The Financial Budgeting, Forecasting and Analysis course provides the concepts and tools to make sound comprehensive short-term and strategic long-term financial decisions. Topics include capital budgeting, long-term financing, capital allocation, and international financial management. Students will explore advanced corporate finance topics including valuation of securities and market efficiency. Emphasis will also be placed on contemporary global issues such as Bitcoin, microlending, crowdfunding, and green financing. Finally, the course will relate many of the corporate financial concepts to personal finances as there is an increased responsibility for individuals to manage their own wealth. Overall, the course will aid in developing a financial intuition to help students make better financial decisions in both career and life. Prerequisite: BUS 592.

The Project and Operations Management course includes critical project planning basics as well as methods to achieve efficiency in manufacturing and service industries in today’s marketplace. Students will explore the connections between various business activities and processes which impact production. Some of these areas include the organization’s ability to utilize project management methods, meet product specifications, adhere to contractual requirements, schedule deliverables, and effectively utilize available resources to attain profitability. Students will study the influences on operations outcomes, capacity management, process analysis, quantitative work measurement, and production control. Additionally, this course will enhance students’ understanding of project and operations management by investigating business tools for effective global operations management.

This course focuses on the application of strategic and managerial tools critical for success in today’s marketplace. In this course, students will be managing and leading a startup enterprise, via an on-line competitive business simulation entitled “Growing Your Business,” that will integrate prior work in a cross-functional framework that balances short- and long-term needs, as well as soft and hard skills. Students will have the opportunity to test their ability to create a Business Strategy and operationalize decision-making to achieve its success. Numerous aspects of management and leadership skills will be practically tested in a drive to create shareholder value by meeting - or exceeding - commitments. Our goal is to ensure students are properly prepared to meet not only the demands of their current job, but the growth in their career as well, and that they bring strategic, managerial, and critical thinking from a systems perspective to any business environment. This course is cumulative in nature, integrating knowledge and information attained during the entire MBA curriculum. Prerequisites: Successful completion of MBA program core courses.

This course focuses on the application of strategic and managerial tools critical for success in today’s marketplace. In this course, students will be managing and leading a startup enterprise, via an on-line competitive business simulation entitled “Growing Your Business,” that will integrate prior work in a cross-functional framework that balances short- and long-term needs, as well as soft and hard skills. Students will have the opportunity to test their ability to create a Business Strategy and operationalize decision-making to achieve its success. Numerous aspects of management and leadership skills will be practically tested in a drive to create shareholder value by meeting - or exceeding - commitments. Our goal is to ensure students are properly prepared to meet not only the demands of their current job, but the growth in their career as well, and that they bring strategic, managerial, and critical thinking from a systems perspective to any business environment. This course is cumulative in nature, integrating knowledge and information attained during the entire MBA curriculum. Prerequisites: Successful completion of MBA program core courses.