Course descriptions

Master of Business Administration Course Descriptions

Below students will find Master of Business Administration course descriptions including the required graduate leadership seminar, essentials courses, core courses, capstone courses, and elective courses. The course descriptions includes an overview of the class, the amount of credits and any prerequisites MBA students must have.

Required Graduate Leadership Seminar

LDRS 500 – Principled Leadership Seminar – 0 Credit Hours

Free course with required completion for MBA students in first semester enrollment.

MBA Essentials Courses

GBUS 702 – Effective Leadership Decisions I – 3 Credit Hours

This course focuses on leadership decision-making competencies and processes in the context of business. Participants will develop an understanding of the internal operations and external environments that impact decisions and organizational success. Prerequisite: None

GBUS 703 – Effective Leadership Decisions II – 3 Credit Hours

This course focuses on developing an understanding of key quantitative techniques foundational to effective Leadership decisions through organizational analysis. Participants will develop the ability to understand and characterize firm performance and measure the impact of decisions through spreadsheet modeling. Prerequisite: None

MBA Core Courses

ACCT 710 – Accounting for Executives – 3 Credit Hours

This course provides students with a knowledge of the basic tools and concepts used in managerial accounting and to provide an opportunity for students to employ their knowledge of financial and managerial accounting projects. It emphasizes identifying and interpreting relevant accounting information for decision-making by internal and external users. The focus is on the use of accounting information for decision-making, including behavioral and ethical aspects. Prerequisite: GBUS 703

FINC 710 – Corporate Financial Management – 3 Credit Hours

This MBA course provides students with a venue for applying the concepts and techniques from the Foundations of Finance course to complex business problems. The course content primarily uses the case method of analysis. Emphasis will be on teamwork and group analysis of directed and non-directed business finance cases. Students will be responsible for identifying relevant financial issues, offering alternative solutions, and making, justifying and critiquing recommended courses of action. A portion of the course will be devoted to analyzing cases with a significant international component. The course may also utilize simulation as a part of the course content. Prerequisite: GBUS 703

ENTR 710 – Managing Innovation – 3 Credit Hours

This course focuses on innovation’s role in 21st Century organizations. It addresses the need for a systemic approach to building innovation capabilities and the challenges of integrating the many facets of innovation management. Leading innovators and building innovative organizations are covered from both a theoretical and applied approach. Topics addressed include fundamental theories of innovation, developing an innovation strategy, innovation as a business process, the role of the innovation context including leadership and organization, culture and values, people and skills, processes and tools, and assessing and improving innovation performance. Both classroom and alternative instructional methods will be used throughout the semester. Prerequisite/Co-requisite: GBUS 702 and GBUS 703

MGMT 710 – Ethical Leadership and Organizational Behavior – 3 Credit Hours

This MBA course is a seminar that focuses on the understanding and application of organizational theory and leadership principles. In addition, the course will include components on developing individual leadership skills and different theories of organizations. The applications component of the course will include a variety of approaches such as cases, films, guest speakers, individual self-assessments, role play, team building exercises, and a leadership portfolio. Prerequisite: GBUS 702 Cross listed: LDRS 722

MGMT 712 – Information Technology Management – 3 Credit Hours

This course introduces the student to the vocabulary of Management Information Systems (MIS) and explores how organizations are using information technology for a competitive advantage and redefining the way in which they interact with their stakeholders. Prerequisite: GBUS 702 and GBUS 703

MKTG 710 – Strategic Marketing – 3 Credit Hours

This course examines how organizations gain and maintain a competitive advantage in a dynamic era. The course emphasizes the analysis of marketing decisions involving product, price, promotion, and distribution variables. Students investigate global opportunities. Prerequisite: GBUS 702

SCMT 710 – Quantitative Methods for Operations Management – 3 Credit Hours

Students explore the role of operations management in building the competitive strength of the firm and in pursuing the firm’s goals of customer satisfaction, profit, service delivery, quality and shareholder wealth. The course integrates classical and modern operations management methodologies with both hypothetical and real-world business cases. Students learn concepts and quantitative algorithms involved in designing and managing operations. Prerequisite: GBUS 703

Capstone Courses (choose one)

MGMT 760 – Global Business Strategy – 3 Credit Hours

This comprehensive and integrative MBA capstone course pulls together the concepts, tools, and approaches taught in all the required courses. This course uses a combination of cases which place students in diverse managerial positions and a business simulation which requires the student to act as a senior executive responsible for the strategic decisions of an organization, the course emphasizes the application, execution, and resolution of multi-dimensional problems. The course emphasizes the strategic management of the business unit and the development of a paradigm for strategic analysis, as well as matching internal processes with the implementation of diverse objectives. The focus is on business-level strategy and the role of leadership in improving performance. Prerequisites: ACCT 710, SCMT 710, FINC 710 AND MKTG 710. This course should be taken within the last six hours of a student’s MBA program of study.

MGMT 762 – Strategic Consulting Experience – 3 Credit Hours (semester long, when offered)

This course provides opportunities for students to apply knowledge and skills acquired throughout their MBA coursework in a real-world business environment as project consultants. Consulting projects address issues of significance to client organizations, and project teams make recommendations to client management through oral presentations and written reports based on a thorough analysis of the client organization and environment. MBA Capstone course. Prerequisites: ACCT 710, SCMT 710, FINC 710 and MKTG 710, or with permission of instructor. Registration requires permission of MBA advisor.

MGMT 764 – Business Plan – 3 Credit Hours

This course focuses on researching, developing, writing and presenting business plans with associated financials for a new product and/or service that is not available in the current market place. MBA Capstone course. Prerequisites: ACCT 710, SCMT 710, FINC 710 and MKTG 710. Students must take this course within the last six hours of their MBA program of study.

Elective Courses

ACCT 730 – Financial Statement Analysis – 3 Credit Hours

This course examines the basic techniques of using financial statement analysis to evaluate an organization’s financial performance. Topics include cash versus accrual measures of profitability, working capital management, cash flow forecasting, credit analysis, and valuation. The course assumes some exposure to financial accounting. But, the course is aimed at non-accountant managers, lenders, and investors who use financial statement data to evaluate businesses. The case method is the primary learning approach. Students will have an opportunity to work with financial statements from publicly traded corporations, small businesses, start-up businesses, and not-for-profit organizations. Prerequisite: ACCT 710.

ACCT-750—Lecture in Accounting – 3 Credit Hours

This MBA course may be elected by students to perform advanced study and/or research in a particular area. Special topics covered within the seminar, as well as required prerequisites, are at the discretion of the instructor. Prerequisites: GBUS703 and ACCT 710

ACCT-770—Advanced Topics in Accounting – 3 Credit Hours

This course explores the current issues in the field of accounting. Particular issues covered are selected by the course professor and announced at the time of registration. Prerequisite: ACCT 710.

ECON 730 – Business and Economic Forecasting – 3 Credit Hours

This course addresses the important function of strategic planning. Planning requires accurate forecasts of future sales, capacity, market size, prices, and a myriad of other variables that determine the long-run profitability of the firm. This course will help the student understand and create forecasts for the firm, industry, and the economy. Techniques include smoothing, time series analysis, and regression analysis. Prerequisite: GBUS 703

ECON 750 – Lecture in Economics – 3 Credit Hours

ENTR 730 – Entrepreneurship – 3 Credit Hours

This course is for students interested in creating a business venture, acquiring an existing business, working in industries that serve the entrepreneur, or who wish to become familiar with the concepts, issues, and techniques of new venture creation and entrepreneurship. Tools developed include recognition of a venture opportunity, acquisition of information on resources needed for venture creation and survival, development of competitive marketing strategies, and international opportunities. Prerequisites: GBUS 702 and GBUS 703

FINC 730 – Personal Finance – 3 Credit Hours

This course will focus on the application of basic financial tools and principles to the student’s personal life including the financial planning process, liquidity management, debt management, asset management, and risk management. This course will also include retirement, education and estate planning. Prerequisite: None

FINC 740 – Financial Markets and Institutions – 3 Credit Hours

This MBA course provides an overview of the key financial institutions (banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, government entities etc.) and markets (stocks, bonds and foreign exchange among others). We are also going to discuss the wide array of financial instruments that are available to businesses and individuals. Particular attention will be paid on risk management and how the various markets and institutions interact with each other. The study of financial markets and institutions will help your understanding of many exciting issues such as the recent financial crises in the United States and around the world. Activities that take place in financial markets have a direct effect on personal wealth, the behavior of consumers and businesses and the well-being on the overall economy. Prerequisite: GBUS 703

MGMT 731 – Human Resource Development – 3 Credit Hours

This course examines Human Resource Development (HRD) as a field through the learning, development and behavior of humans in social systems. These systems include but are not limited to, workforce, education, and family. Research from Management Science, Education, Psychology, and Sociology strengthen HRD theory and practice. The purpose of this course is to explore the integration of the individual into work organizations by examining work issues in learning, training, leadership, and psychosocial development. This course focuses on applied performance management informed by human sciences research as a tool that can be applied to productivity. Prerequisite: GBUS702

MGMT 732 – Human Resource Management – 3 Credit Hours

This course provides managers with an understanding of the processes of adding strategic human capital to the organization. The course examines the design of work, personnel recruitment and selection, employee compensation and benefits, employee relations and personnel policies, and labor issues. The course is applied management science designed for managers. Prerequisite: GBUS 702

MGMT 742 – International Business – 3 Credit Hours

This MBA course studies the trend toward internationalization, explores the terminology used in international business, and, via case studies and examples, demonstrates the problems and advantages of the internationalization process. Prerequisite: GBUS 702

MGMT 744 – International Management – 3 Credit Hours

This course provides students with an understanding of the issues facing international managers and the environment of the Global Market Place. Some of the challenges include: accommodating different currencies, dealing with a multiplicity of governments, operating effectively in diverse legal environments, being sensitive to and avoiding problems that may arise from cultural differences among people, and the formulation of effective strategies in the complex global environment. Prerequisite: GBUS 702

MGMT 750 – Lecture in Business Administration – 3 Credit Hours

This course may be elected by students to perform advanced study and/or research in a particular area. Special topics covered within the seminar, as well as required prerequisites, are at the discretion of the instructor. Prerequisite: GBUS 702

MKTG 730 – Communication for Leadership – 3 Credit Hours

This course provides insight on the role of organizations as communication systems in which effective writing and speaking are crucial. Emphasis is on developing awareness of verbal and written styles, interpersonal skills, and creating a repertoire of writing and speaking strategies. Prerequisites: None

MKTG 731 – Negotiation Strategies – 3 Credit Hours

This course emphasizes negotiation, the art and science of creating agreements between two or more parties, and introduces students to the effective use of power, persuasion, influence, and control in modern organizations. In this course students first apply theories developed as guides to improving negotiating strategies (the science) and, second, develop and sharpen negotiating skills through realistic cases (the application) with an emphasis on preparation, bidding, and distributive and integrative bargaining techniques. Prerequisites: None

MKTG 732 – International Marketing – 3 Credit Hours

This course examines detailed analysis of theories, issues, and decisions facing the global marketing manager. Emphasis is on small and large firms, innovative applications, workshops, and original research projects. Prerequisite: GBUS 702

MKTG 733 – Consumer Behavior – 3 Credit Hours

This MBA course consists of the study of domestic and international models of consumer behavior, including key variables from the behavioral sciences. Course content includes research methodologies, case studies, applications to decision-making, and an original student research project. Prerequisite: GBUS702

MKTG 750 – Lecture in Marketing – 3 Credit Hours

SCMT 731 – Production/Operations Strategies for Manufacturing and Service Industries – 3 Credit Hours

This course builds upon previous course work to provide a basis for development of a coherent operations strategy to support the firm’s competitive strategy. Using case studies, course content is based upon the programs that have proven successful in global firms and covers process choice, product development, order coordination inside and outside the firm, and methodologies for developing technology and operations strategies. Prerequisites: ACCT 710 and SCMT 710

ACCT/BANA/ECON/ENTR/FINC/MGMT/MKTG/SCMT 795 – Independent Study – 3 Credit Hours

This is an advanced course for graduate students desiring to engage in a research/scholarly project of mutual interest to the student and the faculty member who directs the study. The course is rigorous. The course structure, evaluation process, and expected outcomes is delineated by the instructor in advance. Prerequisite: GBUS 702 and GBUS 703

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