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Master of Business Administration

Course List

Curriculum Requirements

The Master of Business Administration Program requires the satisfactory completion of 4 Prerequisite courses and 36 semester credit hours distributed as follows:

  • Prerequisites: 4 Courses
  • Core Courses: 24 Credits
  • Elective Courses: 12 Credits (Must choose one of the ten concentrations)

All courses are 3 semester credits in length.

PREREQUISITES

Students are required to complete the following four prerequisite courses either at the undergraduate or graduate level. Students must complete these courses or transfer in their equivalent prior to beginning the core requirements of the MBA Program. The student will be notified during the admission process if one or more of these courses are needed.

ECO201 Macroeconomics

This course provides a study of economic analysis of the factors at work in the marketplace. Emphasis is placed on the study of macroeconomics. The study of the determination of income, output, employment, and prices in the economy are also examined.

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ECO202 Microeconomics

This course places an emphasis on the study of microeconomics. A descriptive and analytical study of the market economy, it includes market structures, pricing, and distribution of wealth and income.

ACC201 Principles of Accounting

This course provides an introduction to financial accounting principles. Topics include basic accounting procedures, measurement of income and expense, working capital, and investments.

FIN401 Financial Management

This course provides the basic skill sets to conduct fundamental financial analysis including break-even analysis, net present value calculations, and internal rates of return as well as the use of basic financial ratios in managerial decision making. Students are also introduced to sensitivity analysis and how to adjust their analysis based on risk factors in the decision.

MGT340 Solutions-Focused Decision Making

This course explores the use of a variety of decision tools, from basic descriptive data to formal statistical modeling to common assessment practices, to inform and improve the management decision process at every level of the organization. The importance of finding and using available and appropriate data as the basis of decision making is emphasized.

CORE COURSES (24 CREDITS)

There are 24 credit hours in core courses needed for the Master of Business Administration Program.

B6021 Managerial Accounting

Managerial accounting helps direct the financial activities of managers within the organization and has a strong emphasis on the future direction of the organization. This course examines the role of managerial accounting as it impacts organizational decision making. It also reviews the analytical methodologies and performance measurements that are an integral part of the system of financial control within a business. Emphasis is placed on the critical thinking and decision making ability of corporate managers.

B6022 Financial Management

This course studies the conceptual framework for analyzing financial decisions based on contemporary principles of financial theory. The focus is on the development of corporate financial policy with emphasis on capital structure, cost of capital, and dividend policy. Students will examine discounting cash flow techniques, capital budgeting, and managing risk in investment decisions.

B6023 Strategic and Operational Planning

Students learn how to develop the skills and concepts needed to ensure the ongoing contribution of a firm's operations to its competitive position. Typically this requires the firm to achieve, at a minimum cost, quality and economic parity, responsiveness and adaptability to customer needs and desires, rapid time to market, process technology, and sufficient and responsive capacity. Topics encompass all elements of coherent operation systems, process analysis, cross-functional and cross-firm integration, product development, and technology and operations strategy.

B6024 Information Management

This course addresses managing information resources and providing support services for users from a general management perspective. Information resources include internally and externally developed information (past, present, and future), local and global communications networks and associated hardware and software technology; personnel and users; and operational and management systems. Support services include training and support for users and operational practices and security for electronic commerce. Best practices for the entire information technology management team are examined.

B6025 Management Decision Models

This course offers students the opportunity to learn and apply specific methods, techniques, and topics related to statistics and quantitative analyses. Students design analyses around professional problems in their organizations or an organization in which they choose to enhance efficiency or effectiveness. Successful managers and decision makers are able to understand and effectively use the tremendous amount of information available to them. This course provides practical applications and a critical thinking perspective for business managers.

B6026 Marketing Planning and Strategy

Organizations do not always have a clear understanding of marketing, the components of developing a marketing strategy, and the elements of planning and implementing a marketing plan. This course emphasizes the identification, analysis, and selection of target markets; development and management of product/service lines; pricing; demand analysis and forecasting; distribution systems; and advertising and promotions. Major forces impacting marketing strategy, such as electronic marketing, one-to-one marketing, consumer trends, competition, and regulating forces, are examined. Students diagnose marketing problems, identify opportunities at operational and strategic levels, and develop a marketing plan for their organization or an organization they choose to enhance.

B6027 Perspectives in Change Leadership

This course focuses on the essence of leadership and management, including the behaviors, attitudes, and perspectives that distinguish leaders. Effective strategies for developing managers and leaders in the context of modern organizations are emphasized. Leadership dilemmas and issues are analyzed (e.g., ethics, decision making, motivation, conflict management, managing change, diversity, healthy utilization of power and authority). A multidisciplinary approach will be used to explore new demands and relevant strategies for effective leadership. Individuals will be helped to identify their leadership style.

B6028 Solutions to Organizational Challenges

This is a Capstone Course that "puts it all together" through a program application project. Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours before taking this course. The course is intended to help students frame unstructured business problems. Students must identify the central issues and determine the most appropriate tools and concepts from the core curriculum to apply in order to gain insight into these issues. This approach helps develop a cross-functional approach to business issues. Students are engaged in a project with an outside organization of their own choosing and receive extensive feedback as they carry out the project. Their project is presented to a faculty panel acting as decision makers for the organization.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

  • Satisfactory completion of all requirements in the program of study
  • Satisfactory completion of foundation courses, if necessary
  • A minimum grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) and a grade of "B-" or better in all required courses
  • Completion of these requirements within five years of matriculation into the program
  • A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Students are required to take four courses (12 credit hours) in the area of their concentration.

CUSTOMIZED PROFESSIONAL CONCENTRATION

Students selecting this concentration work with a faculty advisor to develop a learning contract tailored to individual and specific needs. Students are required to take four courses (12 credit hours) to complete the Customized Professional Concentration requirements. The Customized Professional Concentration must be approved by the campus dean or program chair.

FINANCE (12 CREDITS)

Students are Required to Take the Following to Fulfill Finance Concentration Requirements

B6201 Investment/Portfolio Management

This course explores theory and techniques that are basic for the control of investment risks and optimization of investment returns. This course analyzes contemporary theories such as the Random Walk, Market Efficiency, Portfolio Theory, Security Analysis and techniques of security selection and availability to the institutional portfolio manager. Topics include analysis of securities and security market operations, theories of market behavior, and application in selection of personal and corporate investment strategies. Students focus on the role of the modern portfolio manager in achieving diversification along with reviewing and evaluating client investment goals.

B6206 Global Finance

This course explores managing international business and global competition with an understanding of international financial instruments, markets, and institutions. Topics include foreign exchange risk, determination of exchange rates and interest rates, management of foreign exchange risk with forwards, options, and swaps; exchange rate forecasting; the review of currency speculative attacks; and dynamics of the balance of payments with focus on understanding international capital flows, country debt, and exchange rate fluctuations.

B6520 Financial Decision Making

Financial decision making is explored with focus on special topics through case studies such as lease versus buy, Venture Capital and other private equity investing, real estate finance, matching corporate strategy with organizational financing, and tax planning.

B6622 Capital Markets

This course teaches students how to finance an organization by focusing on financial aspects in terms of original and growth capital. Topics include pro-forma development and review, business valuation modes, financing startups, going public, selling out, cash flow analysis and raising capital from private investors, venture capitalists, vendors, insurance companies, and banks.

MARKETING (12 CREDITS)

Students are Required to Take the Following to Fulfill Marketing Concentration Requirements

B6303 Marketing Research for Decision Making

This course focuses on the importance of marketing research for making sound marketing strategy decisions. The course details the stages of the marketing research process including: the purpose of the research, designing the plan for the research, performing the research, and preparing the research report. The course identifies marketing information systems and highlights the marketing decision support system.

B6311 Marketing Behavior and Decision Making

This course focuses on the consumer and business-to-business decision-making processes of which can be extensive, limited, or routine. Consumers proceed through multiple stages to reach a purchasing decision, usually personal and often impulsive, when they purchase from businesses. Topics include need recognition, alternative search, alternative evaluation, purchase decision, and postpurchase evaluation. The course highlights how the process is influenced by social, marketing, and situational factors. In parallel, business-to-business (B2B) marketing behaviors and decisions are different in their purchasing issues: purchasing decisions, providing a problem-solving solution, long-term profitable relationships; product development, branding, communications channels, promotions, and pricing/discounts/quantities.

B6320 Integrated Marketing Communications

This course focuses on the marketing communications tools, techniques, and media used in the business world. Creating the right customer focus requires a coordination and integration of multiple elements: promotion, advertising, sales promotion, personal selling, public relations, licensing, sponsorships, and customer services. The goal of the course is to present an integrated marketing strategy through the unification of all communications tools providing a comprehensive message to targeted customers.

B6604 International Marketing

This course is uniquely designed to introduce students to the conceptual and technical issues of marketing research and design based upon behavior research methodologies. Major topics are: behavioral research designs; variances in domestic and global market research data gathering techniques; filling the domestic and/or global product-market knowledge gap based upon company strategies; and analytical techniques applied to marketing data.

MANAGEMENT (12 CREDITS)

Students are Required to Take the Following to Fulfill Management Concentration Requirements

B6003 Ethics in Business

This course introduces the manager to common ethical issues faced in business settings, including for-profit-only issues, community concerns, impacts on the environment, an examination of stakeholder concerns, and treatment of employees.

B6110 Supply Chain Optimization and Outsourcing

Supply chain management encompasses development of integrated strategies in managing overall costs, attaining profit goals, and satisfying customers. Building on the implementation of enterprise software and new applications, leaders are better able to plan sales revenue, schedule production, set optimal inventory levels, plan distribution/warehousing and global logistics, source goods and services strategically, and finance operations through better working capital management. Recognition is also given to important interrelationships among sales management, logistics, production, marketing, and financial management. This course also focuses on outsourcing as a corporate strategy to reduce costs, improve cycle time and customer service and improve the overall performance of the supply chain. The human resource implications and challenges inherent in implementing outsourcing will be addressed and the pros and cons of this strategy debated in class. Requirements of the course will include case analyses.

B6120 Communications Strategies for Managers

This course focuses on the development of effective communication strategies and their applications in various organizational contexts and with different stakeholder groups. Topics covered include defining the organizational communications culture and styles, audience assessment, overcoming communications barriers, communications etiquette, and ethical dimensions of communications. Techniques covered include preparation of memos and business reports, business correspondence using email and hard-copy formats, preparing and delivering oral reports, and facilitating discussions.

B6125 Leadership and Organizational Behavior

This course includes an exploration of the diverse determinants and organizational consequences of both individual and group behavior within formal organizations. Emphasis is on theories, concepts, and empirical findings from behavioral theory that will help leaders understand and motivate members and teams of an organization. Featured in this course are case studies of actual business situations.

HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION (12 CREDITS)

Students are required to take the following to fulfill Healthcare Administration

B6501 Finance and Accounting in Healthcare Organizations

This course provides accounting methods and traditional financial management concepts of risk, value, return, cost of capital and cash flow for both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Topics include: analysis of cost reports, payment capitation, corporate structure and taxation implications, governmental requirements, utilization management, case mix/payer mix, severity of illness assignment, basic tools of capital budgeting, risk analysis tactical alternative and forecasting, and an examination of how ethics in healthcare finance has affected the healthcare marketplace. Challenges include balancing cost effectiveness with patient care.

B6010 Healthcare Organizations: Changing Dynamics and Emerging Trends

This course maps the dynamic environment in healthcare focusing on the interplay among organizations, the impact of the changes and trends on business models within healthcare, and the implications of changes in healthcare policy on the future of the healthcare delivery system in the U.S. The course will touch on healthcare economics, effective business models, and emerging organizational challenges facing healthcare organizations today.

Students choose two of the following to fulfill Healthcare Administration Concentration Requirements

HM6030 Business Operations and Economic Principles

This course covers an introduction to the business enterprise, current business practices applied to managed care, review of economic systems and basic economic principles, evolution of health- and managed-care markets, cost/effectiveness analysis, medical care markets, economics of contract formation, economics of corporate decision making, merger analysis, and insurance costs.

HM6040 Healthcare Organizations and Administration

This course provides an understanding of the organization and delivery of health services, drawing on theory from the social science and business disciplines. Topics include organization of healthcare delivery, organizational theory, integration/continuum of care perspectives, organizational models, adoption of innovations, provider relationships and network structures, and impact on efficacy.

HM6050 Healthcare Policy and Analysis

This course provides understanding and skills in the development of policy analysis, recent legislative developments, federal health reform, state health plans, the regulatory processes, political forces in health policy, methods for influencing policy, and PAC.

HM6060 Health Law and Ethics

This course offers a review of recent developments in healthcare liability, negligence theory, formation of contracts, law of agency, labor law, documentation procedures, evaluation of evidence in litigation, theory of the case, settlement of claims, values clarification, current ethical issues in the practice of healthcare administration, and lobbying practices in the healthcare industry.

HM6070 Health Outcomes and Behaviors

This course considers outcomes, healthcare assessment in integrated delivery systems, risk adjustment methods, performance analysis design, development of health status indicators, evaluation techniques, results reporting, medical decision making, professional practice patterns and behaviors, professional behaviors, organizational structure analysis, and medical culture issues.

HM6080 Health Planning and Marketing

This course focuses on multirange planning strategies in the integrated healthcare industry. Topics covered include historical perspectives of planning, market demographic analysis, strategic decision making, and comparative analysis of planning models. These principles are applied to the specialized theories and methods of marketing and promoting in healthcare. Topics covered include strategic planning and marketing, market research, marketing of health programs, competitor analysis, healthcare advertising, provider referrals, and consumer behaviors.

HM6100 Leadership in Organizations

This course offering focuses on elements and qualities of proactive leadership, including effective behaviors, communication strategies, time management, problem and dispute resolution, employee empowerment, leadership professional development, and leadership for continuous improvement initiatives.

HM6110 Management and Organizational Behavior

This course focuses on the understanding and development of management skills for continued effectiveness. Topics include applied organization theory, organization design, applications of management theory, conceptual models, inter-organizational networks/coalitions, quality management strategies, change management and innovation, human resource policies, training management and communication skills, conflict management, dispute resolution techniques, and a review of behavioral science research that relates to organizational behavior.

HM6120 Management Information Systems

This course presents information systems design, management, and maintenance applied to various healthcare settings, system architecture analysis and design, software evaluation and testing, system life cycle, replacement planning and electronic data interchange, and reviews current software application.

HM6130 Principles of Negotiation and Risk Management

This course covers the principles, practices, and strategies of negotiation and risk management within the context of contemporary healthcare administration, including facilities, services, personnel, real estate, and materials acquisitions, legal implications, labor management and collective bargaining, and insurance principles and practices.

HM6160 Health Service Management: A Summative Review

This course requires the writing of a capstone project that integrates research related to concepts, methodologies, policies, and regulations as it applies to the role of a health services manager.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS (12 CREDITS)

Students are Required to Take the Following to Fulfill International Business Concentration Requirements

B6206 Global Finance

This course explores managing international business and global competition with an understanding of international financial instruments, markets, and institutions. Topics include foreign exchange risk, determination of exchange rates and interest rates, management of foreign exchange risk with forwards, options, and swaps; exchange rate forecasting; the review of currency speculative attacks; and dynamics of the balance of payments with focus on understanding international capital flows, country debt, and exchange rate fluctuations.

B6601 International Business Practice

This graduate course examines the nature and complexities of international business; the factors that determine the international environment [economic, accounting, ethical, physical, socio-cultural, political, legal, labor, competitive, and distributive]; most important international organizations; and the methods that can be used by business to effectively and ethically deal with these forces. The course provides an in-depth review and analysis of the latest theories and research on leadership and collaboration research and literature as it is related to international business practices will be examined. Communication projects will focus on critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making based on relevant research, information literacy, applied technology, integration, ethical, and diversity concerns.

B6604 International Marketing

This course focuses on the opportunities, problems, and challenges involved in international marketing. The course examines the methods companies use to organize their international versus domestic markets, international market research tasks, methods of entry strategies in the international markets, and potential marketing strategies for a multinational firm. Knowledge of local cultural environments is high-lighted as a prerequisite for success.

B6608 International Standards, Regulations, and Compliance

This graduate course provides the advanced graduate student with an opportunity to explore the standards, standard setting practices, regulations, and compliance issues with the most important international organizations and agreements. The course provides an in-depth review and analysis of the latest theories and research on international standards, regulation, and compliance. Research is done to discover the processes, regulations, and compliance standards that impact international business. Attention is given to issues of violation, defense, conflict resolution options, and resolution. Special attention is given to how international corporations are organized and function internally and as part of the globalization process. The topic must be researched from a multidisciplinary, theoretical, research study, and practical implemental perspective. Communication projects will focus on critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making based on relevant research, information literacy, applied technology, integration, ethical, and diversity concerns.

Corporate Compliance (12 CREDITS)

Students choose 4 of the Following to Fulfill Corporate Compliance Concentration Requirements

B6003 Ethics in Business

This course addresses the ethical dimensions of management with a special focus on the processes managers may use to raise and resolve ethical dilemmas and conflicts in organizational settings. Policies pertaining to treatment of those raising ethical issues will be considered. The legal and regulatory requirements of ethical conduct will be examined. Policies and codes of conduct established by various organizations and industry groups will be critically examined. The course will feature case studies involving alleged breaches of ethical conduct among publicly held corporations.

B6606 International Regulatory Compliance

This course will examine the impact of regulatory and compliance issues within a global marketplace. This course will focus on the evolution of international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, United Nations, the European Union, and North American Free Trade Agreement, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and their attempts to regulate international business transactions.

B6889 Fraud Examination: Theories and Methods

Fraud examination will cover the principles and methodology of fraud detection and deterrence; an integral component to effective corporate compliance. The course includes such topics as: fraud theories, skimming, cash larceny, check tampering, register disbursement schemes, billing schemes, payroll and expense reimbursement schemes, non-cash misappropriations, corruption, accounting principles and fraud, fraudulent financial statements, and interviewing witnesses.

B6902 Corporate Compliance

This course will examine corporate compliance as a response to the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, which is intended to dramatically alter business practices, relative to honesty, integrity, compliance, and ethical behavior in corporate America. Students will review the elements of the Act with particular emphasis on the areas of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB); auditor independence; corporate responsibility; enhanced financial disclosure; corporate fraud and accountability all designed to promote greater financial security and address corporate malfeasance. Additionally, students will, through discussion and research, consider the catalytic effect of such scandals such as Enron, Tyco, WorldCom, Arthur Andersen, et al., on legislative action. As a part of developing a contextual framework this course will also analyze current and proposed changes in corporate governance that is attended to assure corporate compliance with the Act.

B6904 Monitoring and Assessing Corporate Compliance

The central theme of this course will be to monitor and assess corporate responses to compliance. This course is designed to study in depth those options available to manage compliance. An additional focus of this course will be an examination of the elements necessary to implement an effective risk management program. The elements will include senior management commitment, relevant policy, compliance validation programs, adequate risk measurement, and the role of internal auditors. Students will review options available to corporations for aligning corporate structure and standards more closely with compliance risk measurements. Special focus will be on organizational changes designed to reduce compliance risk related to independent decision making, conflict of interest, and ethical behavior.

Fraud Examination (12 CREDITS)

Students are Required to Take the Following to Fulfill Fraud Examination Concentration Requirements

B6889 Fraud Examination: Theories and Methods

Fraud examination will cover the principles and methodology of fraud detection and deterrence; an integral component to effective corporate compliance. The course includes such topics as: fraud theories, skimming, cash larceny, check tampering, register disbursement schemes, billing schemes, payroll and expense reimbursement schemes, non-cash misappropriations, corruption, accounting principles and fraud, fraudulent financial statements, and interviewing witnesses.

B6890 Fraud Auditing and Financial Analysis

This course focuses on uncovering financial statement fraud. Focus will be on financial statement fraud, ratio and variance analysis, financial shenanigans, analyzing and interpreting financial anomalies, and use of computer assisted audit techniques (CAAT) software in uncovering financial fraud.

B6891 Legal Aspects of Fraud, Investigation, and Expert Testimony

This course focuses on various elements of modern internal auditing as they relate to providing reasonable assurances against fraud detection and prevention. Financial, operational, and compliance control best practices at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels are introduced and discussed to help the professional fraud prevention expert develop an effective system of accounting and operational controls within an organizational setting.

B6892 Internal Auditing and Control Management

This courses focuses on civil and criminal procedures, gathering admissible evidence, CV writing, forming and expressing opinions, report writing and testifying skills for the professional fraud examiner. In addition, interviewing and interrogation techniques, and proper techniques to secure a court-admissible confession are also introduced and discussed.

Public Administration (12 CREDITS)

Students choose 4 of the Following to Fulfill Public Administration Concentration Requirements

B6732 Perspective in Ethics

This course addresses the ethical and moral dimension of business. It stresses the application of moral concepts to practical case situations involving ethical dilemmas. Practical questions are addressed regarding the responsibilities and values involved in managing a firm’s relationship with individual employees, the marketplace, and society. Students analyze and understand the implications alternative resolutions of moral dilemmas have on organizational performance.

B6761 Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

This course provides an opportunity to investigate issues and trends shaping the nonprofit and public sectors and the challenges they present for leaders. "Best practices" and benchmarking public and nonprofit sectors are examined. Topics include trends in philanthropy and public giving; mergers, strategic alliances, and joint ventures within and across sectors; new models for governance and boards; and the type of leadership that is required to create and maintain high levels of excellence in organizations.

B6762 Organizational Theory and Management Behavior

Behavior within the public organization framework and the new dynamics required in management are considered. Focus is on such issues as perception, attitude formation, motivation, leadership, systems theory, communication and information flow, conflict theory, and decision theory.

B6763 Public Policy Process

This course studies processes of making public policy, including detection of public issues, consideration of alternatives, and adoption and implementation of solutions. This course highlights the major contributors in the policy process, as well as the environment within which they work.

B6764 Financial Aspects of Public and Nonprofit Organizations

This course studies fundamental normative debates in the public and nonprofit financial management arena with a focus on resulting implementation principles and techniques in governmental accounting, financial reporting, budget and revenue decisions, debt management, cash and investment management, pensions and employee benefits, and risk management.

Sustainable Management (12 CREDITS)

Students are Required to Take the Following to Fulfill Sustainable Management Concentration Requirements

B6420 Foundations of Sustainable Business

This course provides an overview and comparative understanding of sustainable business practices, along with frameworks of sustainable business practice and economic principles, and provides the foundations for helping managers achieve competitive advantage. This course also presents current theory and practice of systems thinking to understanding global, environmental, and social change. This holistic and dynamic understanding helps bridge the social sciences with the natural sciences to understand the complexities involved in developing and implementing sustainable business practice. Issues of sustainable business practices are explored in order to provide tools and methods to help students understand, make decisions, implement, and evaluate emerging global issues surrounding sustainable business practice.

B6421 Change Management and the Sustainable Enterprise

The course introduces Six Sigma is a change management framework that has evolved from a focus on process improvement using statistical tools to a comprehensive framework for managing a sustainable business. The course also surveys the analytic tools and techniques which are useful in the design and operation of sustainable systems from supply networks to distribution channels. The material is taught from a managerial perspective, with an emphasis on where and how specific tools can be used to improve the overall performance, reduce the total cost, while increasing the sustainability of the firm's value chain.

B6422 Ethical and Economic Dimensions to Sustainable Business

This dynamic graduate course provides an analysis of ethical theories that address topics of global and business sustainability. Also included are relevant economic theories that inform sustainability decisions in business and organizations. Theories and readings in natural capitalism, managing and accounting for the triple bottom line, finding and developing market solutions, and determining and reducing externalities are included. Additionally, measuring and reporting firm performance and reviewing social responsibility standards, policies, and risks are included.

B6423 Sustainable Venture Plan Seminar

This course is project-based and is intended to help students to learn how to frame sustainable systems problems. The course uses project management tools to plan and implement a sustainability study. Students are asked to identify an existing organization and conduct a full sustainability analysis. Students are asked to identify the sustainability issues of the organization and choose the most appropriate analysis to use among such tools as systems modeling, Six Sigma, sustainable value chain analysis, etc. The course focuses on gaining practical insight from the sustainability analysis process.