MBA 500A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
2 credit hours
As an introduction to contemporary fundamentals of management from a problem-solving perspective, this course reviews the range of theories from classical to the current and scientific management, human relations, quantitative and behavioral theories. It  also studies the application of basic management functions.

MBA 500B  ACCOUNTING
3 credit hours
This course introduces the accounting framework of business and how it relates to service, merchandising and manufacturing enterprises. Particular emphasis is placed on how financial statements can be utilized by different users.

MBA 500C  ECONOMICS
3 credit hours
Reviewing basic supply and demand equations, this course views the economy from the micro- and macroeconomics standpoints. Several topics include basic market structures, income distribution, business cycles, and fiscal policies, and international trade.

MBA 500D U.S. ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS HISTORY
2 credit hours
The purpose of this course is to examine the business, economic and cultural forces at work in the United States during the initial settling, its formation, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, the Depression, and through to the present day. This course is only required for international students.

MBA 500E  MARKETING
2 credit hours
This course is the integration of product, distribution, communication and price policies into a comprehensive marketing plan. An emphasis will be on strategic planning and tactual execution of key marketing mix variables as they relate to establishing and maintaining a differential advantage in era of global competition and a fragmenting marketplace.

MBA 500F  FINANCE
Prerequisite: MBA 500B
This course introduces the student to finance terminology, types of financial instruments and the role of financial planning in the corporate setting.

MBA 500G INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
2 credit hours
This course is designed to develop the student's basic skills in the use of information technology, including spreadsheets, presentation graphics and the internet.

MBA 500H QUANTITATIVE AND STATISTICAL METHODS
3 credit hours
This course is designed to develop the student's quantitative and statistical knowledge to a level required to perform the mathematical and statistical operations contained in MBA 503 Operations Management, and MBA 504 Business Statistics.

MBA 500I PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP
Prerequisite: Minimum two years work experience and full-time student status for nine months
This course is designed to provide internship opportunities for international students. These internships are highly recommended to those students who wish to enhance knowledge of American business practices and procedures. Internships are competitive and not guaranteed, and the student holding a visa classified as F-1 must be in the MBAF/MBA program for at least nine months to be eligible.
 

MBA 501 ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT & CHANGE MANAGEMENT

Required within the first 18 hours of the MBA program

3 Credit Hours
This course explores the theories and concepts managers can apply, on their own or in collaboration with an OD consultant, to drive effective change management initiatives within their departments or organizations. The course examines how to create and enact positive change in business at the systems level by understanding the elements of organizational design as well as theories and models pertinent to organizational change. The course focuses on large-scale OD interventions as well as strategies and tactics managers can employ to plan, enact and monitor change within their spheres of influence. Topics covered in this course include: understanding the fundamentals of organizational design; systems thinking and its impact on the change process; defining OD and the dynamics of change in relationship to organizational culture; exploring core OD values in the context of globalization; various OD interventions used at the individual, group and organizational levels; and key issues managers should weigh to initiate and successfully manage change processes within their organizations.

MBA 502 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: MBA 500C or equivalent
Managerial economics instructs manages on the economic approach to management. This course stresses three areas of management decision making: allocative, controlling behavior, and profit analysis. Central to any organization's functioning is the allocation of resources to competing ends for the purpose of accomplishing a final goal. Managerial economics teaches the logic of this process using the classical optimization vocabulary of resource, constraint, competing ends, accounting prices, economic prices, final goal, and choice. Humans, being a highly social specie with a high-level consciousness, want to describe, explain, control, and predict behavior. Any human organization, if it is to be successful, requires behavioral technologies to deal with its own members and outsiders. Managerial economics teaches the rational actor's approach to describing, explaining, controlling, and predicting behavior. Finally, the sine qua non of a capitalistic business is profit. Yet few managers appreciate the constellation of variables that determine it. Managerial economics employs a profit model that allows managers to see the connections between demand, resource prices, technology, quantities of fixed input, a product's price, a firm's capacity utilization rate, and profit. What will be emphasized throughout this course are reasoning and problem solving skills as opposed to memorization.

MBA 503 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: MBA 500H or equivalent
The study of concepts relating to the operations function in both manufacturing and service organizations which is responsible for planning, organizing and controlling resources in order to efficiently and effectively produce goods and provide services and meet the goals of the organization. Quantitative tools of analysis used to support decision making in the various operations management activities will be surveyed, and case analysis will be employed to relate theory to practice.

MBA 504 BUSINESS STATISTICS
Required within the first 18 hours of the MBA program

3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: MBA 500H or undergraduate statistics course
Included in this course are the topics of descriptive statistics, sampling procedures, hypotheses testing, statistical quality control charting, confidence limits, analysis of variance, chi-square tests and simple and multiple regression. These concepts are related to business decisions and form the basis for data analysis and model building encountered in other MBA courses.

MBA 505 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: MBA 500B and MBA 500F or equivalents
Financial planning and control for the financial and the non financial executive, including decisions of investment, growth and expansion strategies, dividend policy and capital structure. Analysis of principles leading to decisions in management of current assets, fixed assets, debt, equity and capital. Emphasis is on decision making based on quantitative analysis.

MBA 506 BUSINESS AND SOCIETY
Required within the first 18 hours of the MBA program

3 Credit Hours
A study of the ethical, moral and legal responsibilities of the manager in the business world. Ethical theory as applied to situations will be presented for discussion. General government regulation, whether federal, state or local laws will be stressed as they relate to the business enterprise. The relationship of the manager and the rights of various stakeholders are identified, with legal theory serving as the basis of such study. As a Phase II base course, the student should enrol in this course early on in their MBA career.

MBA 507 MARKETING MANAGEMENT
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: MBA 500E or equivalent
Deals with proactive marketing topics -- strategic market planning, time-based competition, customer satisfaction, innovation, creativity, and research -- as well as the more traditional "4Ps" of marketing -- product, price, promotion and place. Attention is given to the development of conceptual and analytical thinking, oral and written communications, and interpersonal and group management skills.

MBA 509 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
3 Credit Hours
This course deals with international/global business as an element of operational, functional, and environmental variables and patterns of behavior of the corporation. Intra-corporate research and analysis dealing within the corporation to determine the ability to successfully compete in a foreign market will also be examined. The firm's competitive advantages, anatomy, goals and objectives, internal resources, priorities, and a general framework will be studied. This segment will also examine the techniques of the industry and competitive analysis. Additionally, the course will deal with inter-corporate research and analysis of those variables and conditions outside the control of the firm.

MBA 510 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: MBA 500A or equivalent
A conceptual understanding of the complexities of human behavior is essential for the success of any manager. This course seeks to enhance student knowledge concerning the behavior of individuals and groups in an organizational setting through the use of research perspective, and to guide the application of conceptual organizational behavior knowledge to managerial problems. The topics covered in the course include learning, perception, job attitudes, work motivation, leadership, decision making and various group dynamics and processes.

MBA 511 MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: MBA 500B or equivalent
Particular emphasis in this course is placed on introductory cost concepts, cost behavior, cost accounting systems, budgeting and their relationship to management control systems and decision making.

MBA 513 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
3 Credit Hours
A Management Information System (MIS) is a set of systems and activities used to provide managers with information needed to support planning and decision making. Effective and efficient use of a firm's information resources are facilitated by computer-based storage, manipulation, retrieval, analysis, and presentation of relevant information in a timely fashion. This course provides a basic perspective on the design, development, implementation, utilization, and administration of computer-based information systems. Topics covered include systems analysis and design; decision support systems; artificial intelligence including expert systems, fuzzy logic and neural networks; end-user computing; telecommunications including the internet; and the application of information systems to a firm's competitive strategy.

MBA 520 CONTINUOUS LEARNING SEMINAR

Required at the beginning of the MBA program

1 Credit Hour

This seminar introduces the student into the MBA program and explains the competency-based education they will receive during their academic career. This course is to be taken by all students during the first semester they are enrolled in the graduate program. In the initial meeting, the students will acquaint themselves with expectations and opportunities provided in the MBA program, engage in an assessment of their competencies, and develop an individualized "Learning Agenda," which will track their progress made in the program. Two subsequent meetings will reinforce and summarize student progress.

MBA 514 SPECIAL TOPICS COURSES
3 credit hours each
This course will explore an area of interest to the student that is current and builds upon an existing course in the program. Topics of offerings may include, but are not limited to: leadership, human resources, e-commerce, entrepreneurship, project management, investments, and global finance.

MBA 516 MBA SEMINARS
1 credit hour each
The purpose of these seminars is to provide MBA graduates, active students and prospective students the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of current issues in business. These courses will be presented in seminar format such as all day Friday and Saturday morning sessions, taught by educators as well as business professionals. The prerequisites required for a specific seminar would depend upon the detail and rigor of the topic. Students may apply credit from these seminars as a substitution for only one MBA course.

MBA 530-599 SPECIALIZATION COURSES

3 credit hours each

Students may select three 3 credit specialization courses within a designated numerical range to earn a specialization. Click this link for a list of current specialization requirements.

Specialization in Project Management

MBA 530 FOUNDATIONS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT

3 Credit hours

This course provides an overview of the methods and processes of modern project management. Topics covered include project scope, time, cost, risk, communications, quality, human resource, integration, and procurement management. It will also cover common project management tools like precedence diagramming, developing a work breakdown structure, risk analysis, and earned value analysis.

MBA 531 INCREASING ORGANIZATION CAPACITY IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

3 credit hours

This course provides an overview of the strategies and tools necessary for the development of effective, long-lasting organizational capacity in project management. Topics covered include project management skill development, related skills, organizational arrangements for effective project management, organizational learning, project management communities of practice, effective processes and tools for project management, and building the business case for project management initiatives.

MBA 533 ADVANCED TOPICS IN COMMUNICATIONS FOR PROJECT MANAGERS

3 credit hours

This course introduces students to advanced communications methods and techniques of use to project managers. It explores the challenges of communications, including requirements definition and conflict management, in the project context and allows students to develop skills that they canuse as they manage their projects. Topics covered include communications models, conflict models, positional versus interest-based conflict management methods, and the application of conflict management tools and techniques.

Specialization in Entrepreneurship

MBA 540 ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INTRAPRENEURSHIP

3 credit hours

A study in creating and/or expanding your own business as an entrepreneur. To succeed as an entrepreneur, the student will investigate the basic elements of entrepreneurship including: the foundations of entrepreneurship, sources for funding the business, acquisition practices in purchasing an existing business and understanding the essential components of a business plan. Intrapreneurship foundations will examine how corporate managers may capture the initiative in trying new ideas and developing internal markets for their business organization.

MBA 541 BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS

3 credit hours

This course will examine business information systems as they relate to small businesses. It will examine the various cycles of a small business-revenue cycle, purchase cycle, human resources, financial statement preparation-and the information which needs to be obtained to accurately report on these cycles. This couse will identify the core concepts of small business information systems and the information requirements which should be included in those systems.

MBA 542 CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL TAXATION

3 credit hours

A study of federal income tax law applied to various business entities, including sole proprietorships, C corporations, S corporations and partnerships, as well as income tax law to individual business owners.

MBA 543 ENTREPRENEURIAL LAW

3 credit hours

This course will study the legal implications involved in the creation or acquisition of a business opportunity. Topics will include contractual arrangements, employment agreements, entity selection and tax implications thereof, liability for the owner/operator, and business continuation/termination. This course will integrate the legal considerations into a structured business plan.

MBA 544 SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

3 credit hours

Management theory generally considers the application of organizational strategies and tactics from a macro point of view. Complications arise in applying many theories to the small venture, where capital, labor, marketing, and many other traits of a smaller business present different perspectives. With limited resources, the small business manager/owner must be able to sustain performance, grow and broaden its mix of goods and services and develop management and leadership styles commensurate with the pace of the opportunity.

Specialization in Human Resource Management

MBA 550 FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

3 credit hours

This course is designed to provide an in-depth examination of the issues facing the manager and his or her employees. Through text readings, case studies, experiential exercises, internet activities and research, MBA students will learn to integrate theory and application in managing Human Resources effectively in their organization.

MBA 551 LABOR RELATIONS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

3 credit hours

This course surveys the current field of employee-employer relations, with particular attention to union-management relations. It provides a historical perspective of the social, economic and legal factors influencing the development of unions and union-management relationships. The primary focus is the current legal framework and organizational collective bargaining in the United States . The bargaining process and negotiations are explored in the private and the public sector. The course examines many aspects of unions and the process of certifying and decertifying unions.

MBA 552 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

3 credit hours

This course is designed to familiarize you with the roles and practices of training and development in organizations. The overarching objective is to enable each student to learn how to assess, develop, execute and evaluate a training program. To reach this objective, we will review academic and practitioner oriented research in the filed of training and development. This would include some basic concepts of training such as motivation and learning theory, needs assessment and evaluation of training programs. Different types of training programs will be examined including orientation, skills training, team building, management development, organizational development, multi-cultural and diversity training.

MBA 553 COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

3 credit hours

This course surveys both the theories behind employee reward, including basic compensation and the basis therefore as well as additional employee benefits provided by the company. Developing an effective and efficient system of compensation for labor and benefits created should be a principal goal of the cost-conscious organization. Consideration is made for discriminatory pay practices which may significantly play into the manager's response to wage concerns. The course examines both processes of employee performance appraisal and administration of benefits.

Specialization in Finance

MBA 560 INVESTMENTS

3 credit hours

This course is designed to improve students understanding of the fundamentals of money and capital markets and how it relates to personal investing. During this course we will discuss stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Students will gain a better understanding of equity and income security pricing models. Construction of an investment portfolio will also be developed. This course will require students to develop their own investment strategies through the management of a group of investments.

MBA 561 EMERGING FINANCIAL MARKETS

3 credit hours

This course focuses on the characteristics of financial markets, instruments, and practices in transition economies where economic liberalization and financial deregulation have recently been implemented as a strategic response to globalization.

MBA 562 GLOBAL FINANCE

3 credit hours

This course focuses on the risks involved in financial operations in a global setting and identifies the techniques required in measuring and minimizing those risks. Topics in multinational finance, foreign exchange, risk management and financing the foreign operations are emphasized.

MBA 564 FINANCIAL MARKETS TOUR (Chicago or New York City)

This course is to help the MBA student understand the different vehicles and instruments available for the investor and how they are traded, purchased and sold, in the market place. It is designed to emphasize the institutions that create markets for investment purposes.

Specialization in Global Management

MBA 567 MULTINATIONAL MANAGEMENT

3 credit hours

This course focuses on management tasks confronting managers operating in a transnational environment presented from an operational perspective, alternatives for overall corporate policy and development of a global strategy.

MBA 561 EMERGING FINANCIAL MARKETS 

3 credit hours

This course focuses on the characteristics of financial markets, instruments, and practices in transition economies where economic liberalization and financial deregulation have recently been implemented as a strategic response to globalization.

MBA 562 GLOBAL FINANCE

3 credit hours

This course focuses on the risks involved in financial operations in a global setting and identifies the techniques required in measuring and minimizing those risks. Topics in multinational finance, foreign exchange, risk management and financing the foreign operations are emphasized.

MBA 568 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDY TOUR

3 credit hours

This course integrates class theory with practical observation of the global market activity today's manager may experience. Each year students will have an opportunity to visit and interact with foreign business managers, financial markets, government representatives and other cultural events which will provide the student with a better understanding of the intricacies when working in an international setting.

MBA 601/602 INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECT
3 Credit Hours Each
The primary intention of this project is to integrate the extent of the student's educational material with a practical issue worthy of examination. Thus, the student is encouraged to research matters relating to his or her own business or employment area. The first and foremost purpose is one of learning; any resulting benefit-economic or otherwise-will be secondary.

MBA 517 STRATEGIC PLANNING AND POLICY ANALYSIS
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: 24 credit hours of MBA core courses
The capstone course stresses how to implement contemporary tools and techniques successfully in developing strategic initiatives for an organization. The student will learn the importance of the strategic management process and its value in creating competitive advantage. The course will demonstrate how high-performing enterprises often initiate and lead trailblazing strategies in their industry. Also the capstone course employs the functional areas students learned from previous courses in the MBA program. There is a strong emphasis utilizing business cases which will help the student to develop strategic offensive and defensive initiatives during their case presentation.

MBA 521 CAPSTONE LEARNING SEMINAR

Required for graduation

0 Credit Hours

All students enrolling in the MBA program on or after January 1, 2006 must attend and complete this seminar before graduation from the program. This seminar is the culmination of the experiences by the student in the program and includes an assessment of the success they have achieved in enhancing in the competencies emphasized throughout the program. Because there is no credit for this seminar, there is no tuition cost to the student. However, since this is a requirement of the program, the completion of this seminar will appear on the student's transcript and is necessary for graduation.