MBA Concentration Courses
(Note: Please refer to the Proposed Schedule of MBA Course for the most recent tentative schedule)

Accounting Concentration:

MBA542 Accounting Theory (Spring, Odd Years)
This course identifies and discusses the elements that frame accounting theory and relates these elements to significant problem areas of accounting. Current literature and pronouncements are examined with respect to these elements. Prerequisite: MBA501 (3 credits)

MBA552 Accounting Information Systems (Fall, Even Years)
This course investigates and analyzes the role of accounting information systems (AIS) within companies’ operating environments. Emphasis is placed upon internal controls, current technology (including databases), application of AIS, and AIS auditing techniques. Prerequisites: MBA501 and MBA527 (3 credits)

MBA562 Financial Statement Analysis (Summers)
An intensive study of financial statement analysis, with emphasis on description and explanation of the demand and supply forces underlying the provision of financial statement data, properties of the numbers derived from financial statements, key aspects of decisions that use financial statement information, and features of the environment in which these decisions are made. Prerequisites: MBA501 and MBA527 (3 credits)

Finance Concentration:

MBA562 Financial Statement Analysis (Summers)
An intensive study of financial statement analysis, with emphasis on description and explanation of the demand and supply forces underlying the provision of financial statement data, properties of the numbers derived from financial statements, key aspects of decisions that use financial statement information, and features of the environment in which these decisions are made. Prerequisites: MBA501 and MBA527 (3 credits)

MBA582 Investments (Each Spring)
This course examines securities markets, the different classes of securities, and the importance of portfolio management. Various assets are discussed, including bonds, options, futures contracts, and foreign currencies, but the course emphasis is on common stocks and the stock market. A major goal of the course is to show students methods for obtaining optimal portfolio allocation. Prerequisite: MBA 572 (3 credits)

MBA592 Financial Planning (Each Fall)
This course is a study of the five areas of financial planning. Students will examine the fundamentals of investments planning, insurance planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and income tax planning. Important topics include mutual fund and real estate investments; home, life, and auto insurance contracts; pension plans; wills and trusts; and retirement management. Each topic includes an emphasis on risk management. A major goal of the course is for students to develop their own personal financial plan. Prerequisite: MBA572 (3 credits)

Human Resource Management Concentration:

MBA554 Human Resource Management (Each Summer)
This course is designed to facilitate an understanding of how human resource systems are developed and maintained within organizations. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the legal environment (both legislative and judicial) of the employment relationship in areas such as equal employment opportunity, compensation, and safety. Specific systems covered in depth include: recruitment, selection, training, performanceappraisal, compensation and benefits, discipline, and employee health. Throughout the course, specific attention will be given to the importance of ethics, employee rights, and social responsibility in human resource decisions. Prerequisite: MBA503 (3 credits)

MBA567 Compensation and Benefits Systems (Spring, Odd Years)
This course provides a framework for the design and implementation of compensation and benefit systems and the integration of that system into the strategic management process. Students will gain an understanding of the compensation and benefits component of Human Resource Management as well as the prevalent bases of pay. Through readings, case studies, and lectures students will learn to implement and evaluate compensation systems and benefit packages. Prerequisite: MBA554 (3 credits)

MBA584 Organizational Development: Managing Organizational Change (Fall, Even Years)
This course is aimed at those individuals who will facilitate change initiative within organizations. It provides a conceptual framework of the change process and examines the major models of change in the structural, behavioral, and organizational development literature. The course will help students develop practical skills such as organizational diagnosis, intervention techniques for both small and large groups, dealing with resistance to change, and designing communication programs for organizational transitions. Finally, the role of the change agent will be explored with a focus on political issues and professional ethics. Prerequisite: MBA539 (3 credits)

Management Concentration:

MBA556 Executive Leadership (formerly titled, "Management Theory and Practice") (Each Fall)
This course is designed to review and analyze the major traditional and nontraditional theories that have developed in the field of management. This course will also examine current challenges and problems that managers face and how theories can be applied in improving effectiveness, efficiency, and general performance. Topics such as leadership, change, downsizing, re-engineering, diversity, technology and innovation, and teamwork will be discussed. Case analysis, experiential exercises, and readings will supplement the course work. Prerequisite: MBA503 (3 credits)

MBA566 International Business (Each Spring)
An overview of how the global business environment impacts decision making and planning within the multi-national firm. Topics include: economic reasons for global trade, environmental factors that impact decision making (economic, cultural, political, legal), foreign market penetration strategies, and international considerations in a variety of business areas (finance, organizational design, staffing, marketing, strategic
planning). Prerequisites: MBA502 and MBA503 (3 credits)

MBA576 Business and Government (Each Summer)
This course examines the political, social, economic, and philosophical foundations of the business-government relationship in both theory and practice. Of main concern will be government agencies and how they affect the conduct of both private and public business sectors. Topics will include the history, functions, and areas of authority of government agencies, major court decisions, and the regulatory process. Also examined in this course are contemporary issues such as change, diversity, the role of special interests, ethics, and social responsibility. Prerequisite: MBA503 (3 credits)

MBA554 Human Resource Management - See description under Human Resource Concentration.

Marketing Concentration:

MBA558 Buyer Behavior (Fall, Odd Years)
The student taking this course will examine customer behavior from the standpoint of the marketing manager. The course covers consumer learning, consumer perception, and consumer motivation and how they shape and influence the marketing process. This course gives special attention to models of buyer behavior and their use in the making of strategic and tactical marketing decisions. Prerequisite: MBA503 (3 credits)

MBA568 Promotional Strategy Management (Fall, Even Years)
The student taking this course will examine promotional strategy from the standpoint of the marketing manager. The course covers the absolute and synergistic impacts of combinations of advertising, publicity, personal selling, and sales promotion. Special attention is given to the concerns of budgeting, planning, targeting, implementing, and evaluating promotional strategies under conditions of uncertainty. Prerequisite: MBA503 (3 credits)

MBA578 Marketing Information and Research (Spring, Odd Years)
The student taking this course will examine marketing research from the standpoint of the marketing manager. The course covers techniques for soliciting, compiling, evaluating, and interpreting the information necessary to make marketing decisions. This course gives special attention to problems in data collection, questionnaire construction, and experimental design. Prerequisite: MBA503 (3 credits)

MBA588 Internet Marketing Strategy (Spring, Even Years)
The student taking this course will gain an understanding of the wide ranging potential of the Internet as a marketing tool. Topics covered will include using the Internet: to gather data, to build business-to-business relationships selling networks, as an electronic payment system, as a retailing outlet, and as a method of delivery of the product. Special attention will be paid to the limits to and potential of the technology, Internet
security, and international, legal, ethical, and tax issues in using the Internet for marketing activity. This course focuses on the strategic and tactical use of the Internet as a marketing tool, it is not a programming course. Prerequisite: MBA503 (3 credits)

MBA598 Directed Study
Research in fields of special interest of supervised study covering areas not specifically included in the curriculum. Completed under the direction of a faculty member with prior consent of the MBA Committee.