Management and Business Courses

This course focuses on the role of business intelligence in business process changes. You can construct data-based models and examine their impact on business functions. You can use software tools to assess strengths and weaknesses of various models. The course also addresses handling large data sets, and analyzing text and network data.

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course builds on concepts presented in BIAM500 (Applications of Business Analytics I). It examines how to use business analytics tools.

Topics include:

• Data warehousing and accessing data sources
• Customer profiling
• Customer churn
• Social network analysis
• How analytics fits into business processes

PREREQUISITE(S): BIAM500; and MATH533 or MATH534

This course addresses building relational databases and large database applications. Case studies are used. Topics include:

• Tables, queries, forms, reports and macros
• Database security, backup and recovery procedures
• The role of normalization and meeting business requirements
• Data warehousing, data mining tools, data modeling and decision trees

PREREQUISITE(S): None

In this course you explore strategies for implementing Internet analytics. You will consider an organization's possible web objectives and goals. You can use analytic tools to evaluate online and social media activity. Key performance indicators are examined. You can gain familiarity with several Internet analytics tools and data sources. These include web logs, big data and social media.

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course examines exploratory data and cluster and association analyses, with current and historical facts to make predictions. Also covered are logistic regression, text analytics and decision trees. Also examined are managerial issues for selecting models for specific business problems.

PREREQUISITE(S): BIAM510

This course introduces mathematical approaches to organizational decision-making and model development. Topics include:

• Model building
• Linear and nonlinear optimization
• Simulation
• Time series analysis
• Network models and decision analysis

PREREQUISITE(S): BIAM510

This is an overview of entrepreneurship in the context of new ventures. The coursework examines:

• The entrepreneurship process
• Identifying and assessing opportunities
• Managing a new venture through maturity and exit
• Ideation and opportunity assessment
• Business plan creation and differentiation
• Equity financing and due diligence
• Growth management
• Liquidity and exit mechanisms

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course examines the process of selling a new venture to equity sources. This includes:

• Making internal preparations
• Identifying and communicating with venture firms
• Evaluating and negotiating investment offers
• Processes investors use to assess and determine opportunities and entrepreneurs

PREREQUISITE(S): ENTR510

This course covers the critical role of marketing for the success of a new venture, including:

• Assessment and selection
• Market research, analysis, valuation and sizing
• The value proposition and distinctive competence
• Segmentation, targeting and positioning
• Pricing; channels; sales management
• Hiring
• Raising capital
• Creating marketing plans for various audiences

PREREQUISITE(S): ENTR510

This applications-based course addresses in-depth planning for executing a start-up venture. You can prepare a business plan and deliver an investor pitch. You can work through the entrepreneurial process, including:

• Research, planning and opportunity assessment
• Team and company formation
• Business model creation
• Entrepreneurial finance and equity financing
• Company development
• Exit planning

PREREQUISITE(S): ENTR530

This course focuses on financial concepts and tools needed for effective business planning. Topics discussed include:

• Financial statement analysis
• Time value of money
• Securities valuation
• Working capital management
• Cost of capital
• Financial forecasting
• Sources of capital, capital structure and company valuation

PREREQUISITE(S): ACCT503 or ACCT504

Managerial Finance teaches financial concepts and tools needed for effective business planning. Topics include:

• Formation of interest rates
• Income taxes
• Working capital management
• Cost of capital, financial forecasting, sources of capital and capital structure
• Company valuation
• Bankruptcy

PREREQUISITE(S): ACCT505

This course provides a comprehensive view of financial management. It includes insight into securities analysis, mergers/acquisitions and financial/futures options. Course topics include:

• Risk, return and the capital asset pricing model
• Dividend policy
• Financing flexibility
• Valuation of securities
• Derivatives and risk management
• Capital structure with the Modigliani-Miller models

PREREQUISITE(S): FIN510 or FIN515

This course develops analytical skills for personal or business investment activities. It covers security selection based on technical and fundamental analyses. This includes:

• Analyzing risk and return for specific investment opportunities
• Modern and traditional portfolio management techniques

PREREQUISITE(S): FIN510 or FIN515

This course addresses corporate combinations and resource allocation. Topics include advanced capital budgeting techniques and valuation methods. You can learn strategies and rationale for mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and restructuring.

PREREQUISITE(S): FIN510 or FIN515

This course focuses on managing commercial banks and other financial institutions. It also focuses on the interaction of participants in money and capital markets. Topics include:

• Management of lending
• Funds acquisition
• Capital management
• Portfolio management
• Issues relating to risk

PREREQUISITE(S): FIN510 or FIN515

This course examines international financial flows and the balance of payment considerations. This includes:

• Corporate exposure to currency fluctuations (including foreign exchange rates and markets)
• Methods of hedging risks in international transactions

PREREQUISITE(S): FIN510 or FIN515

This course can help you to use financial market strategies and protect investments. Topics covered include:

• Put and call buying
• Covered call writing
• Put hedging
• Futures speculation, hedging and arbitrage
• Methods of valuation
• The function and purpose of the marketplace

PREREQUISITE(S): FIN510 or FIN515

This course covers financial statement analysis. It builds on core accounting and investment concepts. The coursework addresses:

• Analysis of information including ratio analysis
• Analysis of balance sheets, income statements and cash flows
• Accounting information in investment and credit decisions

PREREQUISITE(S): ACCT503 or ACCT504

This course addresses personal finance from a practitioner's point of view, including:

• Cash flow management
• Creating and maintaining annual cash budgets
• Investments, taxation and insurance
• Retirement and estate planning

PREREQUISITE(S): ACCT503 or ACCT504

This course introduces forecasting, measuring and analyzing returns from real estate operations. It introduces tools used in real estate valuation for funding and sale purposes. This course uses real-world problems with profit maximization as the goal. Course topics include:

• Financial leverage and the consequence of income tax
• The inherent risk of real estate and its reduction through modern portfolio theory

PREREQUISITE(S): FIN510 or FIN515

This course covers the processes that convert resources into goods and services. The coursework emphasizes integrating all aspects of the supply chain, including:

• Making sure the quantity of goods produced or acquired is accurate
• Making sure the goods produced are time and cost-efficient

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course examines the processes that result in optimal supply chain efficiency, including:

• Demand management and forecasting
• Master production scheduling
• Material requirements and resource planning
• The Theory of Constraints
• Distribution requirements
• Inventory management

PREREQUISITE(S): GSCM520

This course provides an overview of sourcing relationships, including their strategy and implementation. It examines the role of supply management across a global value chain. Topics include:

• Suppliers and outsourcers
• Make versus buy versus partner decisions
• Supplier evaluation, selection and quality assurance
• The procurement and partnering processes
• Relationship management and purchasing ethics

PREREQUISITE(S): GSCM520

This course covers supply and distribution systems. It examines how physical systems are critical to an integrated supply chain. Coursework addresses:

• Analytical and managerial methods
• Facilities and materials management
• Freight, transportation and warehousing
• Logistics information systems
• Metrics, assessments and total cost analytics

PREREQUISITE(S): GSCM520

This course analyzes supply chain information. It examines:

• Supply chain design and integration
• Constraint, inventory and advanced demand management
• Risk pooling

PREREQUISITE(S): GSCM520

This course focuses on the quality function in manufacturing and service industries. You can learn about implementation, cost and management in quality assurance. The coursework addresses:

• Quality concepts and tools, as well as their application in quality planning
• Improvement and control in both parent organizations and supplier relationships

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course covers trends and best practices in technology use in human resources. Topics include:

• Strategic use of human resources information systems
• Web-based human resources
• Other technological applications used in various areas of human resources

PREREQUISITE(S): HRM591 or previous human resources experience

This course examines the global human resources field. It compares and contrasts global and domestic human resources. It explains how to create and put in place a global human resources strategy. There is an emphasis on:

• Staffing, compensation, training, performance management and labor relations
• Communication and regulatory compliance in the global business environment

PREREQUISITE(S): None

Labor Relations focuses on the interaction of management and labor in the corporation. The course discusses:

• The history of the American labor movement
• Federal and state labor laws
• Collective bargaining, mediation and work stoppage
• Contract administration and interpretation
• The relationship between management rights and employee discipline

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course teaches how to adopt change across an organization with success. The course focuses on creating an organization's vision. Then it examines how to align the structures, processes, culture and team to that vision. Also addressed are:

• Human dynamics within organizations
• Models principles and values that can help to lead the process of change

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course covers how to use human capital management can as a business strategy and asset. It focuses on the impact of the changing global economy. It examines how that requires flexible staffing and new approaches to the work force. Other topics include:

• Decentralized and virtual work environments
• Diversity
• Legal and compliance
• The ethics of managing human capital

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course covers training and development strategies that businesses use to drive effectiveness. Skills for groups and individuals that tie to organizational goals are explored. Development strategy topics include:

• Conducting needs analyses
• Linking needs to business objectives
• Developing an implementation plan
• Using a variety of best practices and assessing results

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course is an analysis of federal and state laws that affect human resources, including:

• Equal employment opportunity
• Wage/overtime payment
• Employment agreements and other restrictions on management’s rights
• Applying employment laws to avoid disputes and litigation
• Adopting personnel practices in compliance with the law

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course teaches a strategic framework for human resources to achieve corporate goals. It focuses on short- and long-range human resource planning, recruiting and selection. Rightsizing, employee separations and retention are also included.

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course introduces business negotiation techniques and strategies. It also emphasizes conflict resolution. You can practice these skills in the classroom and using a variety of media. Course topics include:

• Preparing for negotiations
• Distributive and integrative bargaining
• Resolution of impasse
• Ethics, the roles of power, personality and dispute resolution
• Communication processes

PREREQUISITE(S): None

Compensation focuses on using pay systems as strategic tools for improving organizational effectiveness. This includes:

• Major systems of the design of pay
• Paying for performance
• Administering and applying pay systems

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This is a comprehensive review of employee benefits including:

• Legally-required benefits - such as social security, worker compensation and unemployment
• Voluntary programs - such as health, disability, life, retirement, time-off and education
• The strategic importance of using benefits as part of the total compensation package
• The financial, actuarial, administrative and legal implications of benefit plans

PREREQUISITE(S): None

In this course you review and integrate what you learned in the program. This is the program's last course. You will complete a comprehensive corporate human resource plan which you will present to the class and potentially a panel of HR professionals.

PREREQUISITE(S): Successful completion of all other required MHRM program courses, and permission from the appropriate academic administrator

This course covers all aspects of global commerce. It uses case studies and best practice examples from global corporations. Topics include:

• International strategy, operations, supply chain management, marketing and finance
• The roles of culture, politics and economics
• Various multi-national business strategies

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course covers core management concepts, including:

• The fundamental functions of management
• Business policy in a dynamic global marketplace
• Marketing strategy
• Organizations as customers
• Management topics within an ethical and legal framework

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course introduces legal, political and regulatory controls in business. It emphasizes the interactions between law, politics, ethics and social responsibility. Topics include:

• Business law and ethics
• The constitution and business
• Regulatory and administrative agencies
• Regulation of private business conduct
• The employer-employee relationship
• Formation and performance of contracts
• Business ownership and control
• Antitrust, trade and consumer protection
• Land use and environmental protection
• The legal environment of international business

PREREQUISITE(S): MGMT501 or permission from the appropriate academic administrator

This course integrates culture and arts to help you learn current business practices. You can investigate emerging topics as they relate to economic, historic and society. The course addresses topics affecting business, culture and technology. You can use reflective practice and research methods to apply insights to business situations.

PREREQUISITE(S): Permission from the appropriate academic administrator

This course covers communications that help businesses to succeed, including:

• Effective persuasive and negative messages
• Business research
• Proposals and reports
• Oral presentations and visual aids
• Corporate training materials
• Intercultural communications

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course examines individual and interpersonal dynamics that affect corporate success. It covers organizational behavior in a systematic manner. Topics include:

• Organizational behavior theories and applications
• Motivation, group dynamics and communication processes
• Leadership and power
• Team building and organizational development
• Managing change in a complex environments

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This is the final, culminating course for MBA candidates. You will integrate concepts and skills developed in previous coursework.

As your final experience, you will develop a new business opportunity. Your plan will include research, marketing, operations, finance, human resources and management principles. The opportunity may be a case study, business plan or project for an existing company.

PREREQUISITE(S): Successful completion of all other required MBA program courses, and permission from the appropriate academic administrator

This course covers contemporary marketing management. You can learn about:

• Creating customer value in products and services
• The dynamic global marketplace
• Consumer research
• Product positioning and branding
• Customer segmentation by demographics and behavioral and attitudinal variables
• Traditional and digital channels to reach niche or mass markets
• Ethical implications of online behavioral tracking and targeting

PREREQUISITE(S): MGMT501

This course examines the emergence of digital marketing as a business discipline. It also covers the use of digital media as part of a marketing plan. Topics include:

• Website and blog publishing
• Social media and email marketing
• Digital behavior tracking
• Web analytics

PREREQUISITE(S): MKTG522 or MKTG525

This course teaches how to use data to assist in making marketing decisions. It addresses both quantitative and qualitative research techniques. You can learn how research findings inform marketing decisions. Research informs decisions for target markets, product features, positioning and advertising. Tactics covered include questionnaires, telephone surveys, test marketing and focus groups. Ethical implications of marketing research activities are considered.

PREREQUISITE(S): MKTG522 or MKTG525

This course presents a framework for planning, implementing and evaluating new products. The course addresses the new product development process – from idea generation to commercialization. The course emphasizes managing resources to help ensure a successful product launch.

PREREQUISITE(S): MKTG522 or MKTG525

This course presents a structured approach to managing advertising, promotions and public relations. You can learn to:

• Determine promotional objectives
• Select campaign themes
• Choose media
• Control advertising costs
• Design sales promotions
• Evaluate results
• Select and manage an agency

PREREQUISITE(S): MKTG522 or MKTG525

This course teaches you how to design and put in place a sales force strategy. It covers issues such as territory decisions, compensation plans and motivation techniques. And it presents techniques for:

• Identifying, recruiting and training sales personnel
• Monitoring and controlling sales efforts
• Forecasting and budgeting sales performance

PREREQUISITE(S): MKTG522 or MKTG525

This course examines the methods used to better understand customers and their needs. Topics includes:

• The decision process of buyers
• Factors affecting purchasing decisions and customer satisfaction
• Implications of marketing strategies (e.g., segmentation, product design and promotion)
• Basic concepts of buyer behavior, including pre- and post-purchase attitudes and behavior patterns

PREREQUISITE(S): MKTG522 or MKTG525

This course examines knowledge and skills needed for software product development. Topics include:

• Software project development processes and standards
• Project planning, scheduling and control strategies
• Risk and mitigation
• Team building and managing technical personnel

PREREQUISITE(S): MIS581 and PROJ586

This course introduces the fundamentals of project management, with an emphasis on planning. You can learn the manager's perspective and role in achieving program objectives. The course addresses scheduling, budget and performance objectives. This includes topics such as:

• Project life cycles, organization and charters
• Work breakdown structures
• Responsibility matrixes
• Planning, budgeting and scheduling systems
• Various planning and control methods. These include PERT/CPM, Gantt charts, earned value systems, software applications and audits

PREREQUISITE(S): None

This course covers how managers run multi-project programs within an organizational context. It emphasizes the importance of project teams and human resource management. Topics include:

• The role of projects in organizations
• Organizational systems
• Planning, budgeting, monitoring, control and management methodologies
• Team management and leadership
• Legal and ethical issues
• Conflict identification and resolution
• Advanced applications of project management software

PREREQUISITE(S): PROJ586

This course addresses the advanced tools and techniques used for project financial plans. This includes:

• Cost and benefit estimation
• Project financial analysis and budgeting
• Resource allocation
• Sensitivity analysis
• Project metrics
• Project cost and schedule control using earned value management systems

PREREQUISITE(S): PROJ586

This course explores ways to identify, analyze and mitigate project risks. You can learn risk management techniques by applying them to case studies. This course also explores the six risk management processes. These are outlined in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide).

• Risk management planning
• Risk identification
• Qualitative risk analysis
• Quantitative risk analysis
• Risk response planning
• Risk monitoring and control

PREREQUISITE(S): PROJ586

This course examines the processes through which goods and services are acquired, including:

• Contract and procurement strategies
• Legal issues
• Contract pricing
• Technical, management and commercial requirements
• RFP development, bid evaluation and source selection
• Risk assessment
• Contract negotiation and administration

PREREQUISITE(S): None

In this course, you can integrate what you have learned throughout the Master's in Program Management (MPM) program. This is the last course in the program. You will develop, design and present a project, including:

• Planning the project and giving rationale
• Meeting performance, schedule and budget requirements
• Adjusting for unplanned circumstances
• Providing status reports

PREREQUISITE(S): Successful completion of all other required MPM program courses, and permission from the appropriate academic administrator