MBA Program Course Descriptions

Required Core Courses

BSL 690 - Legal and Ethical Implications of Business Decision Making
The course includes an introduction to our legal and governmental regulatory system, as well as a review of constitutional considerations for businesses. Morality and ethics are defined and distinguished. Applied philosophy is then introduced, to give the student a foundation upon which to analyze the ethical dimensions of common business questions. The relationship between the letter and the spirit of the law is examined. Specific business topics and their legal and ethical aspects are then addressed.  This includes, but is not limited to, discussion of the following areas: consumer relationships; business organizations; the balancing of corporate vs. individual power (employee rights and responsibilities, employment discrimination); and the emerging ethic of a global economy.

CIS 610 - Foundations of Management Information Systems
This course is designed to provide the foundations in management information systems required to understand and effectively run an enterprise wide systems operation. Topics include: The role of the CIO, managing Information Technology (IT) as a strategic resource, the business of process engineering, IT planning, IT governance and communication, the internet and eBusiness.

FIN 641 - Valuation and Financial Decision Making
Introduction to finance. Topics include the principles of finance; the time value of money; capital market efficiency; basic security valuation; basic capital budgeting; risk, return, and asset pricing model; and the cost of capital.

FIN 642 - The Financial Environment
A continuation of FIN 641. Topics include an introduction to the global securities markets and foreign exchange; basic derivatives, real options, agency theory, fixed income securities, the term structure, investment banking, short-term financial management and planning, and corporate financial policies.

MAS 632 - Management Science Models for Decision Making
This course aims to familiarize the student with Management Science tools for business systems analysis and improvement. The coverage includes linear and integer programming models, project management, simulation, queuing and decision analysis. Some widely used software will be illustrated through examples and case studies derived from business applications.

MGT 677 - Corporate Strategy and Organization
This capstone course focuses on the perspective and skills of the general manager. Its purpose is to provide practice in diagnosing and identifying realistic solutions to complex strategic and organizational problems. The course builds on previous coursework by providing an opportunity to integrate various functional areas and by providing a total business perspective. Since the focus is on pragmatic, action-oriented general management skills, the course will be taught primarily through the case method and will require both written analyses and case presentations.

MKT 645-International Marketing
The objective of this course is to analyze theories and practice of international marketing management.  The course will allow students to understand markets and aid them in developing marketing plans based on the nature of national as well as international markets. The course will address the issues of globalization, standardization, intermarket segments, trading blocks, global marketing strategies, local branding, and global branding in the context of customer movements, product development, pricing, distribution, communication and segmentation in global markets.   Prerequisite:  MKT 640

MKT 650 - Strategic Marketing
The objective of this advanced MBA course is to develop the skills necessary to strategically manage business-unit level marketing activities in a multi-brand firm. This necessitates examining all marketing mix elements, R&D, financial and production considerations simultaneously in the context of the many markets, products and services that may concern a typical firm. The emphasis of the course is on understanding internal capabilities, market competitors as well as our customers. The course will utilize a market simulation exercise, cases and readings.

Elective Offerings

Elective offerings are based on student demand. Therefore, elective offerings listed below are subject to change.

ACC 603 - Studies in Financial Reporting Issues (3 credits)
An exploration of complex financial reporting issues using the case method.  Prerequisites:  ACC 311 & ACC 312.

ACC 604 - Seminar in Cost Accounting (3 credits)
The course has four major segments.  First, the historical development of cost and managerial accounting is explored.  Second, problems arising from utilization of current cost accounting methodologies are examined.  Third, the course explores activity based costing, a recent, revolutionary development in cost accounting.  Fourth, the course addresses the relationship of cost and managerial accounting to organizational control.  Prerequisite:  ACC 301.

ACC 610 - Accounting Theory (3 credits)
This course will examine the foundations and applications of accounting theory as it relates to financial accounting and reporting.  In doing so, the course will draw upon existing research which provides evidence about the applicability of accounting theory to the financial reporting process for business enterprises which prepare financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  Prerequisites:  ACC 311 & ACC 312.

ACC 622 - Advanced Issues in Auditing (3 credits)
Course covers advanced issues which arise in audit practice including audit reporting issues, fraud detection and reporting, attestation engagements, special reporting issues, compilation and review engagements, scope of services issues, and other new issues which have a significant impact in audit practice.  Prerequisite:  ACC 402.

ACC 623 - International Accounting and Taxation (3 credits)
This course covers accounting, tax and business considerations in the global business environment.  The course covers the tax issues involved in doing business or working across national borders, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and uses of accounting information in managing an international business.  Prerequisites:  ACC 670 and 671.

ACC 640 - Corporations I (3 credits)
Tax treatment of the corporate form of organization, its related opportunities, and problem areas; includes formation, tax formula, non-liquidating and liquidating distributions, capital structure, redemptions, alternative minimum tax, and S corporation election and operation.  Prerequisites:  ACC 303 & ACC 404.

ACC 643 - Tax Research (3 credits)
Study of the tax practice environment including the Treasury Department, the Courts and the legislative history of the Internal Revenue Code.  Ethics in tax practice will also be examined.  This course includes library training in the use of loose-leaf tax services and computer tax services, such as LEXIS, in performing tax research.  A research methodology for solving tax problem cases will be studied and cases to be researched will be assigned.  Prerequisites:  ACC 303 & ACC 404.

ACC 645 - Partnerships (3 credits)
Taxation of partners and partnerships; formation, termination, distributions and liquidations and sales of partnership interests are covered.  Limited partnerships in conjunction with their use as tax shelters are discussed as well as family partnerships, limited liability companies and LLPs.  Prerequisites:  ACC 303 & ACC 404.

ACC 647 - Estates and Gift Taxes (3 credits)
Estate and gift planning for shifting wealth from one individual to another by death, gift or by the use of trusts.  Property included in the decedent’s gross estate valuation methods; gifts in contemplation of death; jointly held property, life insurance; transfers with retained life estates, bequests, revocable transfers; the marital deduction, powers of appointment, gifts of present and future interest and gifts to minors are covered.  Prerequisites:  ACC 303 & ACC 404.

ACC 672 - Advanced Financial Analysis and Valuation (2 credits)
Advanced Financial Analysis and Valuation builds on the analytical techniques developed in the basic financial statement analysis course, Accounting 670: Financial Reporting & Analysis, to augment your understanding of the more complex financial reporting issues and to introduce you to the valuation of equity investments.  The viewpoint is that of the user of financial statements, particularly from the standpoint of an equity investor or purchaser of a business.  We discuss each financial reporting issue in terms of its effect on assessments of a firm’s profitability and risk.  This course is designed primarily for students who expect to be intensive users of financial statements as part of their professional responsibilities.  Prerequisites:  ACC 670 and 671.

ACC 673 - Taxation for Business and Investment Decisions (2 credits)
This course is designed to introduce tax concepts and planning applications to MBA students. The primary focus of this course is on business entities (including C corporations, S corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships) with individuals covered in their role as employees and investors. A sample of topics includes choice of business organizational form, deductible business expenses, employee fringe benefits and retirement planning, capital gains and losses, and tax-deferred exchanges. Completion of this course will enhance the students’ appreciation of the role of taxation in making investment, employment-related, and business decisions.   Prerequisites:  ACC 670 and 671.

BSL 691 - The Public Corporation:  Legal Perspectives (2 credits)
The Public Corporation:  Legal Perspectives reviews the laws governing the formation, operation, regulation, and governance of the public corporation with the objective of providing the graduate business student a sophisticated examination of the legal and social aspects of managing the money of others.  Further, the course examines the rules and regulations governing the raising of capital from the public through the sale of securities for the development of and investment in a private enterprise.

BSL 692 - Legal Implications of International Business Transactions (2 credits)
International legal framework, transactional legal issues in finance, marketing, management and distribution.  Case studies in substantive international legal topics such as (1) international sales contracts; (2) the international documentary sale and international terms of trade; (3) the legal implications and substantive rules governing international finance, collections, payments, and letters of credit; and (4) the resolution of international disputes with a particular emphasis and examination upon the management of litigation, enforcement of foreign judgments, and alternative dispute resolution. 

BSL 693 - Legal Principles of Commercial Contracting (2 credits)
Legal Principles of Commercial Contracting examines the fundamentals of all business dealings including the law of contracts.  Reported court cases will be presented and analyzed in order to assist the student’s understanding of basic commercial contracting principles.  This methodology is intended to develop the graduate student’s critical thinking process as well as their skills in oral and written communication.  

BSL 694 - Real Estate Law (2 credits)
Real Estate Law focuses on the U.S. legal system as it relates to the buying, selling, and financing of real property.  In addition to traditional text material, the analysis of U.S. court cases is used to detail the legal factors of ownership rights and liabilities, specific interests in real property, contracting issues related to the purchase and sale of real property, as well as financing and closing the real estate transaction.  The course provides a problem-solving experience, which is intended to develop graduate students’ critical thinking process as well as their skills in oral and written communication.  

CIS 612 - Enterprise Technologies (2 credits)
The course addresses the needs of business students who wish to expand their understanding of information technology fundamentals. Focusing upon their use in today's enterprises, the course aims to provide students with knowledge of a variety of technological concepts commonly used in the IT Organization’s systems development initiatives and enables students to understand the implications of deploying such technologies within the enterprise.

CIS 613 - Business Intelligence Technologies (2 credits)
This course facilitates business decision makers in their understanding of data analysis tools that operate over data warehouses and ‘data marts’ more commonly referred to as Business Intelligence. The course focuses upon using technologies to drive effective data driven decision making through effective mining of corporate data warehouses, thus improving operational efficiency and ultimately increasing profitability. Students will be exposed to the concepts, analysis techniques, data cubes and manipulation of information extracted from a data warehouse that enables the formulation and execution of business strategies. Data analysis case studies will be used to reinforce students’ understanding and strategic use of results to accomplish business objectives.  

CIS 616 - IT Systems Modeling (2 credits)
Overview of the systems development life cycle (SDLC).  Topics include concepts, tools, and techniques of systems modeling with an emphasis on data and process modeling.  Modeling will be accomplished using both structured and object-oriented tools and techniques.  Students will work in groups to model an application system for a business related problem using CASE tools.  

CIS 617 - Information Technology Project Management (2 credits)
This course covers the identification and development of information technology plans for projects supporting the organization’s business objectives, and all activities required in the initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing phases of the project’s lifecycle.  It is intended to provide the body of knowledge, and best practices, necessary for a new Consultant, Business Analyst or Project Manager to successfully perform his/her responsibilities on a wide variety of IT enterprise projects.  

CIS 618 - IT Security For Managers  (2 credits)
This course provides a systematic and practical approach for establishing, managing and operating a comprehensive Information Assurance (IA) program. It is designed to provide INFOSEC managers, IT managers, CIOs, Business owners, organizations that provide the outsourcing of IT, organizational senior and general managers with an understanding of the essential issues required to develop and apply a targeted information security posture for both public and private corporations and government-run agencies.  

CIS 689 - Entrepreneurship:  Launching a High-Tech Venture (2 credits)
The course introduces students to the basic building blocks of the entrepreneurship process with particular attention upon the creation of high technology ventures. The course covers the motivational factors for adopting this business path, the role of venture capital, how to build a culture of creativity and the importance of using the correct recruitment models. The course enables students to run start up businesses through simulations and discuss situational topics through case studies. The students are exposed to the legal documents of entrepreneurial ventures and learn how to write a business plan.

ECO 685 - Managerial Economics in a Global Economy (2 credits)
Modern techniques of economic analysis and decision science are applied management of the firm in a global environment.  Business planning and valuation are an integral part of the course.  The principal forms of business organization and dissolution are reviewed.  The major issues confronted by the firm: the principal-agent problem (or how to motivate managers to act in the best interest of the owners, the shareholders), moral hazard, discounting of free cash flow and terminal value, economies of scale and scope, and strategic management decision making are covered.  Prerequisite:  ECO 680.  

FIN 650 - Financial Investments (2 credits)
Finance 650 builds on Finance 641 and 642.  The major topics covered include investment companies, risk aversion, asset allocation, asset pricing theory, the single index model, market efficiency, fixed income portfolio management, advanced issues of the term structure, financial options, and financial futures.  Prerequisites: FIN 641 and 642.  

FIN 651 - Advanced Topics in Investments (2 credits)
Finance 651 builds directly on Finance 650, and on the MBA core classes Finance 641 and 642 using a variety of techniques, including case analysis and class discussion. A number of special topics will be covered, such as portfolio management, investment banking, market microstructure, and financial analysis.   Prerequisite:  FIN 650.

FIN 660 - International Finance (2 credits)
Finance 660 builds on Finance 641 and 642, and is intended to provide an overview of the concepts and importance of international finance.  Specifically, the course will cover foreign exchange markets and instruments, international debt and equity markets, management of foreign exchange risk and political risk, and as international investments and taxation.  Prerequisites:  FIN 641 and 642.  

FIN 661 - Advanced Topics in International Finance (2 credits)
Finance 661 builds directly on Finance 660, and on the MBA core classes Finance 641 and 642 using a variety of techniques, including case analysis and class discussion.  A number of special topics will be covered, such as measuring and managing the many additional risk exposures faced by a multi-national enterprise, investment and capital budgeting decisions in a global framework and financing the multi-national firm.  Prerequisite:  FIN 660.

FIN 670 - Corporate Finance (2 credits)
Finance 670 builds on Finance 641 and 642 and focuses on financial decision making from a corporation’s perspective.  Issues addressed include capital structure, management of corporate liabilities, leasing and other asset-based financing techniques and advanced treatment of capital budgeting and some of the complex issues involved, and corporate mergers and acquisitions.  Prerequisites:  FIN 641 and 642.  

FIN 671 - Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance (2 credits)
Finance 671 builds directly on Finance 670, and on the MBA core classes Finance 641 and Finance 642 using a variety of techniques, including case analysis and class discussion.  A number of special topics will be covered, such as recapitalizations and bankruptcy, short and long-term financing, capital budgeting sensitivity analysis, risk management, as well as divided policy and share repurchases.  Prerequisite:  FIN 670.  

FIN 681 - Financial Institutions (2 credits)
Finance 681 builds on Finance 641 and 642, and focuses on the management of financial institutions, such as banks.  Topics include risk management; deposits and deposit insurance; liquidity, reserve requirements, and capital adequacy; liability management; investment interest rate risk; and current issues connected with financial institutions.  Prerequisites:  FIN 641 and 642.

FIN 685 - Mathematics of Financial Derivatives (2 credits)
Finance 685 builds on Finance 650, 660, and 670.  This course provides an in-depth mathematical treatment of derivatives, and is divided into three parts:  (1) options; (2) futures and forwards; and (3) other derivative instruments, which include options on futures, foreign currency derivatives, swaps, exotic options, and financial engineering.  The emphasis is on equity instruments, although there is also some coverage of short and long-term interest bearing instruments.  Prerequisites:  FIN 650, 660, and 670.

MAS 633 - Introduction to Quality Management (2 credits)
Participants in this course will be introduced to the major elements of Dr. Deming’s theory of management, including Dr. Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge and Fourteen Points for Management.  Additionally, participants will be introduced to “Six Sigma” tools and methods. These tools and methods have been adopted with great success by many of the largest organizations in the world, for example, General Electric, Allied Signal, DuPont, American Express, J.P. Morgan, to name a few. Additionally, the course is a prerequisite for the “Six Sigma” Green Belt certification examination. Prerequisites:  MAS 631

MAS 634 - Administrative Systems for Quality Management (2 credits)
This course presents a model to pursue quality management (QM).  It features administrative systems and structures necessary for Quality Management.  The administrative systems and structures presented in this course are required to sit for the six Sigma Management “Green Belt” certification examination.   Prerequisite:  MAS 633.

MAS 635 - Design of Experiments (2 credits)
This course will present tools and methodology useful in conducting experiments that provide valid answers to questions of interest to the experimenter.  The course will discuss an overall approach to obtaining and analyzing experimental data, the advantages of using structured multi factor experiments to screen for important factors, ways of minimizing the amount of data points needed to obtain desired information, and how to identify values of experimental factors that optimize the value of measured responses.  Factorial designs, fractional factorial designs, screening designs, and response surface designs will be presented.  Emphasis will be on the knowledge required for proper application of these methods through many examples in business and quality management.  Prerequisite:  MAS 631.

MAS 636 - Statistical Process Control and Reliability (2 credits)
This course aims to introduce some fundamental concepts of statistical process control and reliability with an emphasis on business applications.  The first part of the course focuses on control charts and other tools that are used to monitor and improve business processes.  The second part of the course introduces some basic ideas of reliability models and presents methods used in identifying failure modes in products and in business systems.   Prerequisite:  MAS 631.

MAS 637 - Applied Regression Analysis and Forecasting (2 credits)
This course aims to familiarize the student with statistical prediction.  It covers simple and multiple regression methods as well as time series and forecasting models in business.  Instead of theoretical development, the course emphasizes the application of these methods in business systems analysis and improvement.   Prerequisite:  MAS 631.

MAS 638 - Management Science Consulting (2 credits)
The purpose of this course is to enhance students’ consulting skills in management science.  In addition to skills of modeling and choosing appropriate tools for analysis, these include the communication skills of presenting quantitative and analytical material in business settings.  The course is structured around a set of case studies that are based on real applications of management science models and methods discussed in MAS 631 and MAS 632.   Prerequisites:  MAS 631 and 632.

MGT 621 - High Performance Leadership (2 credits)
Leadership skills are critical for high performing organizations.  Consequently, this course will utilize lecture, cases, exercises and self-assessments, and contemporary reading materials to present leadership approaches that both motivate and enable employees to perform beyond normal or ordinary expectations.  Topics covered include:  followership and organizational culture; power, influence, rewards, and punishments; path-goal and exchange theories; participation and empowerment; charismatic and transformational leadership; and contingency and cognitive resources theory.   Prerequisite:  MGT 620

MGT 622-High Performance Teams (2 credits)
This elective course highlights how to manage and construct effective teams to achieve strategic goals.  Team-based organizations have been created to enhance organizational performance.  The benefits of effective team leadership are performance beyond expectations and enhancement of learning for employees.  Topics covered include team decision-making, team leadership, diversity in teams, conflict resolution, and team creativity.   

MGT 623-Human Resource Systems (2 credits)
Leaders must manage their human resource assets effectively to achieve high performance organizations.  This course will cover such topics as recruitment and selection of high performance employees, designing performance appraisal systems, implementing policies to satisfy legal issues impacting human resources, and instituting training/development systems.  

MGT 625 - Entrepreneurship:  Creating New Ventures (2 credits)
The course is designed to help students understand the basic essentials for creating a new venture.  Among some of the topics covered will be:  preparation of a business plan, securing sources of capital, choosing and creating appropriate distribution channels, and understanding the complexities of selecting a management team.  Students will be required to critique and develop business plans as a key evaluation component for this course.

MGT 645 - Principles of Supply Chain Management (2 credits)
The goal of this course is to introduce students to the business discipline of Supply Chain Management (SCM), which centers on concepts and techniques that enable firms to better coordinate material and information flows, and non-material activities associated with logistical and marketing processes that occur within and across organizations.  This course will also discuss concepts and recent influential innovations in SCM (e.g., Cross-Docking, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), Third-Party Logistics (3PL), Efficient Consumer Response (ECR), and Quick Response (QR).  Prerequisite:  MGT 643.  

MGT 691 - International Management (2 credits)
This MBA course is designed to provide an overview of management problems and issues for organizations and executives operating internationally.  Students will learn how multinational enterprises are different, why they behave as they do, and how to apply management principles to problem-solving in such contexts.

MGT 698 - Special Topics (Doing Business in China) (2 credits)
This course will explore various business and management issues faced by international executives who are interested or active in various industries and markets in China, aiming to improve their understanding of this largest emerging market in the world.  Through lectures and case studies, this course will help the students understand China’s social and cultural norms and best business practices, analyze its competitive and regulatory environments in different sectors, and formulate various strategies of entering, operating and managing in the country.

MGT 698 - Special Topics (Merger & Acquisition Strategies) (2 credits)
‘Merger & Acquisition Strategies’ is an elective course focusing on strategies of growth through acquisition.  The course is organized around four modules.  The first two modules examine issues of strategy formulation and implementation from the perspective of ‘financial’ acquirers, i.e., private equity and buy-out funds who acquire with the intention of re-selling the acquisition to another buyer or to the public through an IPO.  The second two modules examine strategy formulation and implementation from the perspective of ‘strategic’ acquirers, i.e., corporate buyers who acquire with the intention of operating the acquisition as an independent entity or by integrating it into their ongoing operations.  The course is taught through a combination of lectures, case discussions, and guest presenters; it is recommended for those already working in, or those that anticipate entering, the field of M&A.

MKT 641 - Marketing Research (2 credits)
The objective of the course is to allow students to understand functional analysis of consumer and market behaviors utilizing statistical tools.  The course will cover topics of secondary sources of data, sampling, questionnaire design, and analysis and interpretation of data.  Project and case analysis methods will be used for instruction.  Prerequisite:  MKT 640

MKT 644 - Services Marketing (2 credits)
The objective of this advanced MBA course is to develop the skills necessary to manage companies in an increasingly service-oriented and technology-driven economy and to gain sustainable competitive advantage through delivering superior quality services.  This course will cover the special marketing challenges posed by the unique characteristics of services and discuss their managerial implications.  It will also discuss the need and strategies for synergistic management of Operations, Systems and People to satisfy customers so as to achieve marketing excellence and superior financial performance.   Prerequisite:  MKT 640

MKT 645 - International Marketing (2 credits)
The objective of this course is to analyze theories and practice of international marketing management.  The course will allow students to understand markets and aid them in developing marketing plans based on the nature of national as well as international markets. The course will address the issues of globalization, standardization, intermarket segments, trading blocks, global marketing strategies, local branding, and global branding in the context of customer movements, product development, pricing, distribution, communication and segmentation in global markets.   Prerequisite:  MKT 640

MKT 646 - Consumer Behavior (2 credits)
The course offers an overview of psychological and normative principles of consumer decision-making and judgment by focusing on underlying behavioral research and theory.  It focuses on how people process information and make decisions involving risk and uncertainty, conflicting objectives, and imperfect information.  The implications of consumer behavior on marketing strategy will be highlighted.   Prerequisite:  MKT 640

MKT 647 - Advertising and Communication Management (2 credits)
Billions of dollars are wasted every year on ineffective advertising and communication campaigns.  This is not typically because of poor creativity.  The problem is an absence of a compelling strategy to serve as a foundation for developing creative executions and media plans.  This advanced MBA course provides a balanced analysis of strategy and execution of integrated marketing communication campaigns.  The effectiveness of existing and emerging communication vehicles to attain strategic marketing goals, are assessed.  Special emphasis is given to advertising, sales promotions, and online communications.  Current and historical campaigns are reviewed.  The requirements include case reports, projects and class participation.   Prerequisite:  MKT 640

MKT 697 - New Product Development and Marketing (2 credits)
The development of new products (goods or services) is an intensively cross-functional process.  This course examines that process from the marketing perspective and identifies the key points of contact with operations, finance, organizational policy, and strategic planning.  Although an overview of the entire process is provided in the course, special emphasis is placed on the evaluation of concepts early in the process.  Thus, this course is very much concerned with ideas and how to select the best ideas and make them a reality.  Prerequisite:  MKT 640

MKT 698-Strategic Brand Management (2 credits)
More and more firms have come to realize that their brands are among their most valuable assets in the firm.  The goal of this course is to teach students the strategic significance of the role of brands in creating shareholder value.  Using lectures, cases, discussions, exercises and group projects, the students should develop fluency with the core principles associated with branding including: an understanding of how to develop a brand positioning, managing total brand experience, how to manage the brand relevancy over time, familiarity with the various qualitative methodologies that are used to evaluate brand equity, how to achieve growth through brand extension brand design and brand messaging.  Prerequisite:  MKT 640