Course Descriptions MBA

MBA 602. Essential Skills in Financial Reporting and Analysis. 3 Hours
Have you ever been curious about how companies manage their finances—from monitoring assets to handling expenses? Discover how these financial figures influence a company’s market value. In this course, you’ll demystify the complexities of financial data. It serves as an engaging introduction to the vibrant world of finance and accounting, tailored specifically for those eager to leverage financial insights for enhanced decision-making. (Pre- or co-requisite: MBA 610)

MBA 603. Internal Tools for Investment Risk and Profitability. 3 Hours
This course focuses on the intersection of managerial accounting and finance to equip students with financial tools for decision-making. Core topics include cost analysis, budgeting, and financial forecasting. Emphasis is also placed on capital investment decisions to determine the viability and profitability of potential projects. The course is designed to help managers, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in business interpret cost structures, enhance profitability, and align investments with organizational goals. (Prerequisite: MBA 602)

MBA 610. Business Analytics and AI. 3 Hours
This course provides a comprehensive survey of the fast-changing landscape of business analytics and artificial intelligence from a managerial perspective. It includes case studies illustrating how business analytics and AI can harness the power of data for better problem-solving and decision-making as a manager.

MBA 611. Managing Disruptive Technologies. 3 Hours
This course examines how disruptive technologies arise in the business environment, based on current events and developments. Topics include identifying the emergence of disruptive technologies, evaluating them, and creating effective strategies for organizations to implement and leverage them for competitive advantage. Students will gain an appreciation for the business case associated with emerging and disruptive technologies and IT trends facing business managers.

MBA 630. Leadership of People and Organizations. 3 Hours
In this course, we will assess and develop your leadership knowledge, skills, and abilities by presenting opportunities to reflect on your strengths and confront your weaknesses. We will also explore various topics related to organizations and the management issues they face. Throughout the course, you will apply your learning through self-assessments and collaborative engagement with the professor and classmates. Participants will complete the class with a better understanding of organizations, their own leadership style, and a personal development plan (PDP).

MBA 639. Developing Your Blueprint for Professional Success. 3 Hours
This course is designed to guide MBA students through a self-discovery of strengths, natural tendencies, and internal motivators. When paired with an effective career plan, these insights will prepare students for a successful and enriching career. The confirmation and application of personal leadership strengths will also enable students to optimize work relationships, improving engagement and productivity. All activities, readings, exercises, and assignments are designed to help MBA students succeed as business professionals and thrive personally.

MBA 640. Navigating the Complex Economic Environment. 3 Hours
As a manager seeking to maximize firm value, understanding how markets function is crucial. The decisions made by individual managers and consumers generate the fundamentals of market supply and demand, governing prices and quantities in economic transactions. This course examines how managers make day-to-day decisions in both efficient markets and those where they can increase market power. It also develops a practical understanding of broader global economic factors, including public policy, that affect firm performance and management. (Pre- or co-requisite: MBA 610)

MBA 650. Marketing Management: Strategies and Implementations. 3 Hours
This course provides students with an understanding of the basic concepts underlying strategic marketing management, with an emphasis on real-world application. Students will learn how to integrate marketing strategy into an organization’s overall strategic plan and business model. Topics include the use of marketing analytics to support strategy, creation of sustained competitive advantage through market-based assets, development of effective value propositions, new product ideation and development, brand management, and relationship marketing.

MBA 693. Strategic Management: Competitive Advantage in the Marketplace. 3 Hours
This course investigates the characteristics and actions that lead firms to achieve sustainable competitive advantage and above-average returns. It integrates functional areas of business such as accounting, economics, finance, marketing, and management. Topics include external business environment analysis, internal business analysis, business- and corporate-level strategies, corporate governance, and strategy formulation and implementation.
Prerequisite: Must be in final semester of MBA program; department permission required.