Course Descriptions

MBA 6100 Business for the Greater Good (3 credits)

This course examines the interaction of business, government, and society with a specific emphasis on how businesses create value for their stakeholders. This course utilizes a stakeholder theory lens to explore the role of markets and market failure within society, the expectations of modern corporations, and how businesses design value propositions that respond to and balance the needs of all stakeholder groups while maintaining financial viability. Students will utilize current case studies and simulations to explore how businesses navigate and respond to existing and emerging issues that require a balance between social, environmental, and economic resources with emphasis on corporate social responsibility, triple bottom line accounting, ethical decision making, and innovation to address market failures.

MBA 6230 Principled Leadership (3 credits)

This course explores the concept of Principled Leadership which involves leading people using methods that adhere to the values of the leader and the leader’s organization. Students in the course will examine a diverse roster of leadership approaches and critically evaluate how these approaches may align with their values, the current demands of business, and the values of different business organizations. Students will support their leadership development by exploring specific management topics in motivation, team building, organizing, decision making, and managing employee job performance and job attitudes.

MBA 7650 Principled Strategic Decision-Making (3 credits)

This capstone course—Principled Strategic Decision-Making—bookends with the “Business for the Greater Good” and “Principled Leadership” courses and integrates the business process topics from the core courses. Students will work with outside organizations facing specific challenges and focus on methods to diagnose internal and external issues, research and propose alternatives, and present solutions.

MBA 6250 Essential Economics for Strategic Management (3 credits)

Future managers, entrepreneurs, and business strategists practice applying the economic way of thinking. You will begin by reviewing the basics of cost-benefit analysis and market com- petition. Using this intuition, you will consider more advanced topics. For example, you will examine the importance of product differentiation and learn how to use pricing strategies such as group pricing and targeted discounts. You will also judge how your views of markets might change when market power, neighborhood effects, and information problems are present. Lastly, you will consider how to think strategically when your best choices depend on what others choose.

MBA 6430 Data-Informed Decision-Making (3 credits)

This course examines the foundational business analytics skills and tools required to make effective and informed managerial decisions. Topics covered in this course include descriptive statistics, probability distribution functions, Central Limit Theorem, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, ANOVA, simple and multiple regression, among others. Computer applications of the course material will be performed using Excel.

MBA 6270 Applied Marketing Management (3 credits)

This class introduces the concepts and principles of marketing management. The primary thrust of this course is framework-based analysis of marketing problems. The goal of the class is for students to learn the basics of marketing management, as well as improve their structured thinking, communication and analytic skills. The course emphasizes the following: Primary and changing perspectives on marketing management in the New Economy; the impact of interactive media on marketing management, applied marketing management and strategy, domestic and global, an international focus in developing marketing management and strategy.

MBA 6450 Project Management (3 credits)

The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the knowledge, skills and processes associated with project management as it is practiced in a wide variety of organizations. This course is appropriate for individuals with limited project management knowledge/experience, as well as those who have extensive experience managing projects in organizations for internal and/or external clients. The course will cover project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing, and will focus on building subject matter knowledge in the project management discipline. Additionally, this course will provide students with opportunities for skill building using project management tools, techniques, and software (e.g., MS Project and Oracle® Crystal Ball). Additional guidance will be provided for individuals who seek PMI project management certification (CAPM® or PMP®).

MBA 7170 Financial Management (3 credits)

Selected topics in corporate finance, including the finance function and the role of financial managers in a firm, capital structure optimization, project selection methods, shareholder payout policies and corporate governance.

MBA 7150 Quantitative Decision-Making with Accounting Data (3 credits)

In this course, students delve into how leaders use cost and revenue data for decision-making, planning, and control. The course focuses on quantitative analyses for managerial decisions using accounting information. It covers qualitative and quantitative data aspects, sources, critical thinking, mathematical models, problem-solving, and effective communication of recommendations, ethical considerations, and the impact of decisions.

MBA 6231 Talent Acquisition and Onboarding (1.5 credits)

To achieve competitive advantage within an industry, organizations must support the recruitment, selection, and deployment of human capital. This course introduces students to talent acquisition and onboarding issues that impact any manager who has direct and indirect reports. Through readings, discussions, exams, and team projects, students will complete the course with a broad understanding of the complexities involved in talent acquisition and onboarding.

MBA 6271 Creativity and the Doer-Maker Mindset (1 credits)

Creativity is the development of novel and useful products, services, ideas, or processes. Indeed, before people engage in formal entrepreneurship – the founding of a new venture – they tend to have already been acting creatively. It is relatively easy to recognize the utility and aesthetic of something creative when we encounter it. Yet, most of us are not sure how to go about being creative ourselves. Moreover, if we have creative thoughts, we are not sure what to ‘do’ or ‘make’ with them. This intensive course introduces cognitive tools designed to jump-start your creative thought and action.

MBA 6272 Entrepreneurial Evaluation and Persuasion (1 credits)

There is an expression that states, “ideas are a dime a dozen”. Lots of people have ideas, but the execution – the founding team, the geographic location, the market constraints, the financial implications, and more – tend to be the reasons ideas succeed or fail. This intensive course immerses students in the process of evaluating and selecting real ventures run by real people. Moreover, students will demonstrate their personal value-add to persuade classmates that their chosen ventures are the most viable.

MBA 6273 Bringing the Venture to Life (1 credits)

In this third installment of intensive graduate coursework in entrepreneurship, student will practice Bringing the Venture to Life. The course title is a double entendre’ invoking the processes of getting an initiative from idea to action, but also suggesting that students make entrepreneurial thinking a core part of their everyday lives. Following this theme, each of the phases of the course will include both the examination of how famous entrepreneurs (e.g., Benjamin Franklin) orient their lives and students making progress toward a real entrepreneurial initiative of their own.

MBA 6280 Digital Marketing (1.5 credits)

This course will provide an overview of digital marketing practices with insight on how modern industry is adopting new emerging media and technology as marketing tools. It aims to give learners a general understanding of digital marketing and prepare them with practical skills and knowledge to implement, optimize, and modify digital marketing campaigns. Topics will include search engine optimization, website design, website analytics, and social media marketing. In addition, this course will address ethical issues that can be found in the adoption of these diverse emerging media from the perspectives of both consumers and practitioners.

MBA 6290 The Science of Persuasion (1.5 credits)

In this course, we will unravel the intricate and fascinating science of persuasion. Drawing from research in marketing psychology, and neuroscience, we’ll explore the hidden drivers that influence human decision-making. With a keen focus on practical applications, you’ll develop the skills needed to ethically and effectively persuade others in a world where influence is a critical asset. Discover the secrets of crafting compelling messages, leveraging social proof, and understanding the power of reciprocity. Join me on a journey to uncover the mechanics behind persuasion, equipping you with the tools to navigate a persuasive world with insight and integrity.

MBA 6410 Global Supply Chain Management (1.5 credits)

Supply chain involves the integration of numerous activities and processes from sourcing raw materials to delivering finished products to customers in a highly competitive global environment. This course provides an in-depth exploration of the strategies, tools, and techniques required to manage global supply chains effectively. At the end of the course, students will have a fair understanding of the role supply chain management plays in business practices. Emphasis is given both to familiarization of various supply chain processes and to quantitative analysis of problems presented by global operations. Topics include inventory management, transportation management, risk management, etc.

MBA 7130 International Business – Study Abroad (1.5 credits)

This course provides an in-depth exploration of dynamic and fast-growing economies, focusing on the interaction of business and government, environmental issues tied to growth, and the impacts of climate change. It offers a first-hand experience of various business, legal, political, and cultural aspects of different economic environments, emphasizing the challenges faced by developing regions in balancing rapid urbanization and industrialization.

MBA 7260 Investments (1.5 credits)

This course is an introduction to modern investment thought and practice, with an emphasis on the portfolio. We’ll take the point of view of someone saving for retirement or putting together a 401(k) plan for their firm. We’ll cover the institutional basics, such as who participates in financial markets, how mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) work, the relationship between risk and return, some portfolio mathematics, and how taxes affect investment decisions. We’ll use case studies to get hands-on experience and real examples throughout.

MBA 7280 Marketing Research (3 credits)

This course will enable students to conduct, understand, use, and evaluate marketing research done for you or your company. This is a highly applied course; you will learn by conducting marketing research, not just by reading about it. You will develop a research program, collect and analyze data, report and present results, and make recommendations based on your analysis.