Online MBA Elective Options

Online MBA Elective Course Summaries

ACC 586 – Shareholder Value Creation and Financial Statements Analysis
Prerequisites: ACC 502

The course focuses on financial statement analysis topics in the evaluation of the firm and the prediction of its future condition. The course is designed to provide:

• the skills to analyze financial statements,
• exposure to public sources of financial information used in the capital markets,
• an appreciation for the usefulness and limitations of financial statement analysis,

With these objectives, we investigate the following topics:

• fundamental analysis
• knowledge of complex accounting rules
• forecasting
• valuation of the firm

Concentration: Finance

CIS 505 - Enterprise Data Analytics
Prerequisites: None

Ensuring the foundational understanding of contextualized analytics within the business enterprise continuum by covering how data flows and is managed across the landscape of enterprise business processes.

Concentration: Business Data Analytics

CIS 508 - Machine Learning in Business
Prerequisites: None

This course is an introduction to data mining and predictive modeling in the context of creating value for business. We will study fundamental principles and techniques of data mining by examining real-world examples. The student will complete this course with a broad set of practical data mining and predictive modeling skills based on “hands-on” experiences with a programming language, Python.

Concentration: Artificial Intelligence

CIS 541 - Business Data Visualization
Prerequisites: CIS 503

The design of insightful business data visualizations and dashboards to improve business decision making. Key focus on data visualization design principles incorporating graphical integrity. Applies advanced data visualization techniques to make sense of large data sets such as temporal, geospatial, topical and business data while also making it easier to digest, present and utilize for business needs and users.

Concentration: Business Data Analytics

CIS 565 - Artificial Intelligence in Business
Prerequisites: None

Explores modern artificial intelligence (AI) technology, applications, techniques and their implications for business. People, process and technology factors related to the innovation and adoption of AI in the commercial enterprise and how it shapes the competition and society in the future. Also covers implications for information systems professionals as it pertains to managing the AI infrastructure (robots, algorithms, platforms).

Concentration: Artificial Intelligence, Entrepreneurship, Leadership

CIS 591- Python for Data Analysis
Prerequisites: None

This course will get you started on the journey towards mastery of the Python coding language. You will learn (through a lot of hands-on practice) the fundamental building blocks of a Python script as well as the functionality for conducting basic data analysis. You will have the chance to work with important analytics-oriented Python modules and supporting tools that will prepare you for further studies in Machine Learning.

Concentration: Artificial Intelligence

ECN 503 - Global Business Environment
Prerequisites: ECN 502

In this course, students will explore issues related to economic growth, inflation, interest rates behavior, unemployment, exchange rate determination and global competitiveness through macroeconomic analysis. Students will evaluate a particular country's economy to analyze the business issues and current economic challenges.

Concentration: Entrepreneurship, International Business

FIN 525 – Investment Strategies
Prerequisites: FIN 502

Presents the fundamental principles of risk and return, portfolio diversification, asset allocation, efficient markets, active portfolio management, portfolio evaluation. Reviews selected alternative investment strategies such as hedge fund investments. 

Concentration: Finance

FIN 540 – Advanced Financial Management
Prerequisites: FIN 502

This course is designed to further your expertise in areas where problems arise in the strategic aspects of financial problems in higher-level Finance professional positions. We begin with a thorough understanding of capital structure decisions on firm valuation.  We then further that understanding by studying different valuation methods that are well grounded in financial theory.  We continue our use of valuation tools by studying different applications of valuation.  Next, we undertake another line of financial reasoning by studying derivative securities with a special emphasis on option valuation and complete the course with some work on real option applications in corporate finance.  

Corporate Finance is a rigorous topic and as such you should be prepared to utilize the financial, quantitative and economical tools that you have learned in your previous coursework in the program.

Concentration: Finance

FIN 560 – International Finance
Prerequisites: FIN 502

The objective of this course will be to determine how multinational companies deal with the array of risks that they face and a wide variety of financial instruments available to help manage these risks. It will include the examination of valuation methodologies needed to determine the value of any foreign investment project and the international market for debt and equity. Topics covered may include international parity conditions, corporate governance, foreign exchange exposure and related hedging strategies, global cost of capital and the complexities of budgeting for foreign projects. 

Concentrations: International Business & Finance

MGT 530 - Mastering the Art and Influence of Negotiations                                                              Prerequisites: None

Improves students' understanding of and skills in the art of negotiation. For most managers, negotiation is a significant aspect of their day-to-day jobs, not to mention a major element of everyday life. Gives students experience in bargaining and negotiation, as well as provides a foundation in the essential knowledge bases crucial to being an effective negotiator. Emphasizes experiential learning--students spend most of their time participating in exercises and negotiation simulations (including negotiating job offers), as well as discussing negotiation-based cases involving issues that often arise in the workplace. The goal is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of what it takes to be an effective negotiator, as well as several experiences to draw upon in future negotiation situations.

Concentrations: Entrepreneurship & Leadership

MGT 540 - Entrepreneurship
Prerequisites: ACC502 and FIN502

Capstone case-based course covering all aspects of starting a business: opportunity identification, evaluation, concept development, identifying required resources, acquiring those resources, launching the entity, managing growth, and ultimately, harvesting the enterprise. Revolves around a series of cases, readings and class discussions designed to build a comfort level with understanding and solving problems faced every day, in real life, by a broad spectrum of entrepreneurs at various phases of venture development. Significant emphasis on understanding the valuation and financing of entrepreneurial ventures interwoven through discussions.

Concentration: Entrepreneurship

MKT 520- Services Marketing & Management
Prerequisites: MKT 502

Services dominate the US economy and are becoming critical for competitive advantage in companies across the globe and in all industry sectors. For many manufacturers, services represent primary growth and profit strategies in the 21st century. In fact, recent award-winning publications take the view that “all businesses are service businesses.” In addition, many governments around the world (e.g., China, Germany, and Finland) recognize the importance of service(s) as an innovation and competitive platform for their countries.

 This course focuses on challenges of managing service brands and delivering quality service to customers across industry sectors. The attraction, retention, and building of strong customer relationships through quality service(s) are at the heart of the course content. The course is equally applicable to organizations whose core product is service (e.g., banks, transportation companies, hotels, hospitals, educational institutions, professional services, telecommunication, etc.) and to organizations that depend on services for competitive advantage (e.g., high technology manufacturers, automotive, industrial products, etc.). 

Concentrations: Marketing & Leadership

MKT 555 - Business to Business Marketing
Prerequisites: MKT 502

In the business market, the customers are organizations (businesses, governments, and institutions) and these customers (large and small) represent a huge market opportunity. While we think of companies like Procter & Gamble, Sony, or Ford as sellers, they are also buyers that annually spend billions of dollars each on products and services sold to them by other businesses. Building and maintaining a close relationship with a customer, like P&G, requires careful attention to details, meeting promises, and swiftly responding to new requirements.

This course provides you with the tools and specialized knowledge for developing and executing marketing strategy in the business-to-business market. You will learn how to:

• Identify the forces that drive buying behavior in organizations
• Measure business market opportunity
• Analyze competitive forces
• Identify profitable segments
• Manage complex customer relationships
• Develop strategy—particularly for turbulent, high-technology markets

Selected cases are analyzed to isolate the unique challenges that confront the marketing strategist in high-technology, manufacturing, and service markets. The course also provides a perfect vehicle for profiling leading business marketing firms such as IBM, Cardinal Health, Cisco Systems, Dell Computer, and others that demonstrate best practices in serving customers in the business market. This course is ideal for students who currently work in the business-to-business environment, or who are simply interested in learning more about B2B marketing strategies.

Concentration: Marketing, International Business

MKT 571 - Digital Marketing
Prerequisites: MKT 502

Gives students the applied understanding of the internet marketplace that will allow you to adapt to its many changes, while also equipping them with the practical skills needed to perform vital daily functions. Covers web experiences, SEO, search ads, social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, and mobile marketing. Learn how digital marketing has revolutionized the interactions between firms and consumers.

Concentration: Marketing

SCM 515 - Decision Models for Supply Chain Management
Prerequisites: WPC 501

Covers decision modeling approaches for supply chain management such as optimization, simulation and decision analysis. Focuses on technology enablement, performance management and analytics, and strategy change and management. Emphasizes modeling using spreadsheet-oriented approaches. Additionally, focuses on financial spreadsheet analysis and its use in optimization.

Concentrations: Business Data Analytics, Supply Chain Management, Leadership

SCM 520 - Strategic Procurement
Prerequisites: SCM 502

The purpose of this course is to learn and apply the principles, philosophies and processes of supply chain management to the purchasing management process on a global basis. The vision of the course is to learn to facilitate the continuous improvement of the purchasing management system in which we work and companies operate. Toward this end, real company case studies will play a vital role in this educational process.

Concentrations: International Business & Supply Chain Management

SCM 541 - Logistics in the Supply Chain
Prerequisites: SCM 502

In this course, we will delve into the role logistics play in supply chain management. Logistics is typically the function in the last link of the supply chain, responsible for final delivery to customers as well as other movements between facilities. Logistics managers apply tools from cost and process analysis, operations research, and operations management to ensure that customer needs are met or exceeded at the lowest total cost.

This course is intended to familiarize you with analytical approaches to the logistics challenges involved in the management of supply chains. The course begins with an introduction to a strategic framework for supply chain design and operations centered on the logistics function. Then, the course focuses on demand management and the design of distribution networks across the supply chain. Having covered how these networks are designed, the course then will delve into how to staff the facilities in these networks and the shipping lanes connecting these facilities. The course closes with the fundamentals on the management of inventories in these facilities under deterministic and stochastic conditions.

Concentration: International Business & Supply Chain Management

SCM 571- Sustainability & Social Responsibility
Prerequisites: None

This course will examine sustainability and social responsibility in supply chain management from a perspective of both profitable and responsible business practice. Topics include life cycle analysis and measurement, Business Sustainability Strategy, Closed-loop supply chains, Green Manufacturing, Socially Responsible purchasing, and reaching the Bottom of the Pyramid. Class work is heavily focused on class participation including case discussions, general class discussions, several small group presentations, mini-research presentations and in-class small group exercises. Course assignments also include written case analyses and a written life cycle analysis exercise and small research reports. With such a wide ranging and new topic a great deal of the course is going to be exploratory in nature; examining incomplete or uncertain ideas, and looking at new events as they develop and happen.

Concentration: Supply Chain Management

SCM 587 - Project Management
Prerequisites: None

Provides a comprehensive understanding of project management with particular focus on planning, scheduling and control of business processes. Emphasizes understanding team dynamics and risk analysis, as well as program management tools, governance and enabling of technology to drive supply chain processes.

Concentration: Supply Chain Management, Entrepreneurship, Leadership