MBA Elective Courses
  Accounting & Finance Healthcare Information Technology Management Marketing
Accounting & Finance

Accounting & Finance Electives

Financial Statement Analysis

Analysis and interpretation of financial statements. Skills taught include: how to interpret financial statements, analyze cash flows, evaluate earnings quality, uncover hidden assets and liabilities, and forecasting financial statements. - 2 credits

Fundamental Methods of Forecasting

The ability to forecast data which becomes available at regular intervals is very important in the business environment. With the power of modern computers it is possible to carry out effective short term (one or two periods ahead) forecasts using methods studied in the context of a short course. The course will be very heavily weighted toward applied work rather than the mathematical theory behind the methods. Students will have a portfolio of forecasts at the end of the course to demonstrate competence. - 1 credit

Incorporation of Exchange Rates in Strategic Decision-making

Students will acquire competency with the terminology, strategies, and practices needed to interact with confidence in business settings that require working within the global currency market. - 1.5 credits

Introduction to Assurance Services

This course helps students identify situations in which assurance services are necessary, evaluate different types of assurance services and assess the quality of assurance services companies and investment funds provide. - 1 credit

Introduction to Financial Fraud

This course provides an introduction to fraud. Fraudulent financial reporting and misappropriation of assets are major problems for businesses of all sizes. Knowledge about how fraud is committed and how to spot the potential for fraud are valuable for managers at all levels. - 1.5 credits

Investment Analysis and Management

This course will develop a thorough understanding of the portfolio construction thought process. Students will discover how to manage a portfolio by examining the logic and potential of using options and futures to enhance return and minimize risk. - 2 credits

Reengineering Financial Performance

Traditional accounting practices may not accurately reflect the true value of organizations undergoing reengineering. This course investigates using a “balanced scorecard” approach in analyzing performance. - 1 credit

Strategic Cost Management

Strategic Cost Management is the managerial use of cost information explicitly directed at strategic management. Three key elements to be studied are value chain, analysis, strategic positioning analysis, and cost driver analysis. - 1 credit

Tax Impact of Business Decisions

This course introduces the student to an overall framework for evaluating the impact that taxes have on business decisions. While the course concentrates on the impact of federal income taxes, the concepts are general and can apply to a variety of taxing jurisdictions. - 1.5 credits

 
Healthcare

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Healthcare Electives

Fundamentals of Health Information Technology Management

This course provides an introduction to the dynamic world of management of information technology in health care. A description of information processing, the content and evolution of healthcare information systems and the current and future methodologies being employed to acquire and manage information are discussed. - 2 credits

Health Care Finance and Economics

Health care requires individuals in leadership roles who understand how to effectively manage the financial performance of an organization. They need to recognize both the economic factors that influence decisions and the financial systems that drive performance.  This course will help students understand how factors such as government intervention in health care, the organization of health insurance markets, and health care reform influence financial decision making in the health care arena. - 2 credits

Health Care Human Resources & Organizations

The guiding question for this course is: how can we maximize human resources to improve the quality of health care? A unique feature of this course is its emphasis on complex adaptive systems (CAS). Recognition of CAS principles is critically important for success in health care settings, as health systems fit the notion of complex systems very well. This is emphasized throughout the course, guiding students’ thinking about change, motivation, teams, and other concepts. - 2 credits

 
Information Technology

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Information Technology Electives

E-Business Fundamentals for Managers

This course provides an overview of the fast-growing Internet-based economy and asks, from a management point of view, How may e-business contribute to the operational, tactical and strategic goals of an organization? - 1.5 credits

E-Business Website Development

This course provides students with skills to develop a simple and effective E-business website. It examines design factors and the development process and focuses on facilitation of intra-organizational and inter-organizational communication and extra-organizational relationships. Requires Dreamweaver. - 1.5 credits

IS Security Policy Development

This course is designed for managers who have or would like to have responsibilities for security. The technical aspects of information security are not covered in depth in this course - the emphasis is on the managerial aspects and planning for the continuation of the business in the face of catastrophic events. - 1.5 credits

Introduction to Enterprise Resource Planning

This course describes the principal functions of ERP software and emphasizes the business impacts of such. - 1.5 credits

Managing Technology in Turbulent Times

The intent of this course it to show the synergy that exists between the introduction of technologies into an organization and the shift in management strategy and decision making that is essential to receive full value from the technology investment. - 2 credits

 
Management

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Management Electives

Advanced Topics in Project Management

The advanced topics course will be oriented toward the more experienced project manager and/or those who supervise project managers. The focus of the course will be to address some current “hot topics” in the field of project management and assess whether and how they should be addressed in your organization
Project Management (MBA 761) is a pre-requisite. - 1.5 credits

Business Process Simulation

This course will establish basic proficiency in simulation model development, verification, validation, and analysis. - 2 credits

Business and Ethics

Does a company have any obligation to help solve social problems? What about a manufacturer's obligation to the consumer with respect to product defects and safety? This course examines economic activity in an ethical framework. - 1.5 credits

Classic & Contemporary Literature in Business

This class takes the student on a reflective tour of a classic business book and three others that address contemporary business issues. The course is designed to be a discussion group similar to a book club in which instructor and students critically review the authors' comments in light of our their experiences and other sources. - 1.5 credits

Contract Law for Managers

This course emphasizes using the law in ethical managerial decision making.  It examines contract law, sales law, and law in e-commerce. - 2 credits

Decision Analysis

Students will learn decision analysis techniques such as structuring a problem, use of decision trees and influence diagrams, application of utility theory, analysis of multi-attribute decision problems and simulation. - 2 credits

Employee Training and Development

This course focuses on: (1) Human resource development's role in maintaining an organization's competitive position, (2) Identification of training needs, (3) Transferring training to the workplace, (4) Training assessment. - 2 credits

Organizational Leadership and Change

This course examines how change can be accomplished within organizations–who is responsible for change and how people can be helped to change. - 1.5 credits

Project Execution and Control (Prerequisite: Project Management)

The primary focus of this course is identifying and managing challenges commonly seen in doing the work in projects after the project baseline has been approved. - 1.5 credits

Project Management

The course examines project identification, selection, and planning. It will be organized along two major phases of the project management process: 1) Project Selection and Definition; and 2) Project Planning. - 1.5 credits

Project Portfolio Management (Prerequisite: Project Management)

This course is designed to clarify ways to manage the project portfolio which involves tracking and managing all of an organization’s projects, keep an eye on costs and resources, comply with deadlines and ensure the projects are in line with the company’s overall mission. - 1.5 credits

Work-Family Issues in Contemporary Times

This course will critically examine and analyze issues of work and family life from both employee and employer perspectives. - 1 credit

 
Marketing

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Marketing Electives

Business in East Asia

This course provides perspective on business in Japan, South Korea and China by looking at the historical backgrounds of each market and examining how those backgrounds impact present economic & business relations. Students focus on understanding of each country's business practices and learn strategies to build successful East Asian partnerships and to succeed in business in East Asia. - 1.5 credits

Consumer Behavior

How do we make sense of consumer decision making when there are so many variables to consider?  More specifically, how are we, as managers, to create a sound marketing plan given consumer diversity and decision making?  This class will help you to understand how and why consumers behave as they do.  - 1.5 cr credits

Corporate Venturing

This course examines how organizations effectively create new businesses and foster innovation. It focuses on the process through which organizations turn a good idea into a viable business. Students will learn how to encourage entrepreneurship, identify opportunities, locate potential new business within the firm, select the right managers, and set up planning processes. - 1.5 credits

Impact of Regional Marketing Agreements and Emerging Markets on Global Business

This course is an introduction to current issues relating to regional marketing agreements (trading blocs). Special attention is given to the European Union and the North American Free Trade Agreement and to assessing the business potential of emerging markets in Europe and Latin America. - 1.5 credits

International Marketing Research

This course focuses on the principles of international marketing research and be illustrates the practice of international marketing research with specific examples from different regions of the world. - 1.5 credits

Selling Ideas at Work

This course provides students with an understanding of how business people make decisions. It teaches students to utilize developed skills to sell ideas at work to both individuals and to groups. - 1.5 credits

Strategies and Tactics of Pricing

This course presents a framework for evaluating pricing decisions. Pricing is examined from the perspective of customers, competitors and costs; in a variety of contexts, including business-to-business markets, consumer goods markets, services, and not-for profit companies. - 2 credits