Online MBA Courses

Surveys concepts underlying financial accounting and external reporting. Provides an understanding of accounting methods, standards, and terminology so that students can interpret and evaluate financial statements. Students are encouraged to participate in class and group discussions involving contemporary investment issues and decisions.

Focuses on data analysis for the purpose of measurement, inference, quality and productivity improvement, and improved managerial decision making. Exploratory data analysis, graphical analysis, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and techniques such as regression are covered.

Develops a knowledge base and requisite skills for managing individual, group, and organizational processes through the use of diagnostic models, cases, and/or simulated exercises.

Business-oriented overview of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. Approximately two-thirds of the course will focus on microeconomics and one-third on macroeconomics.

Topics include decision analysis tools, mathematical programming, operations strategy, process management, and planning and inventory management concepts. Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Analytics

Topics include ethics in organizations, and problems and challenges dealing with external environment demands including global issues.

Management of marketing functions in modern profit and non-profit enterprises. Introduction to the marketing management process. Prerequisites: Financial reporting and Analysis & Economic Analysis for Business Policy

Provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of the finance function with an emphasis on the decision-making techniques relevant to financial and nonfinancial managers. Topics include valuation, risk and return, capital budgeting, cost of capital, financial analysis and planning, and working capital management. Prerequisite: Financial reporting and Analysis

Emphasizes total organization function and performance in a global environment. Examines general management responsibilities for determining objectives and future strategies and seeking commitment for their implementation, integrates functional course concepts to enhance decision making and communication skills through individual and group analyses of specific companies. Prerequisites: Financial Management, Operations Management and Management Science, Leadership and Organizational Behavior, and Marketing Management

Centers on decision-making as a critical leadership competency. You will see how decision makers learn to use both the emotional and rational sides of their brains to avoid being overwhelmed by their own emotional and cognitive biases. In this course, we will explore emotional intelligence and critical thinking as techniques for managing these biases to improve our decision-making and performance. You will identify your default behavioral and decision-making preferences and biases through the use of a powerful self-assessment commonly used in large organizations as part of the recruitment and hiring process. Once you understand your natural preferences, you will examine how they may enable or thwart you in your leadership journey.

Learning to communicate, network, and build a personal and leadership brand is useful in any role and in any type of organization, and essential to long-term success. This 1-credit course (12 contact hours total), is part of the required MBA program workshop series, taught in conjunction with BUEC 601 on Emotional Intelligence and Critical Thinking. There are no pre-requisites, apart from formal admission into the MBA program. This course is designed to be delivered as a series of 4, 3-hour workshops offered throughout a full semester of the MBA program.

Introduces the fundamentals of modern database concepts. Covers relational database design and implementation techniques, as well as the current relational database standard – the structured query language (SQL). Explore advanced topics such as big data analytics.

Analytics leverages both the proliferation of data and the advancement of computational tools to bring a new level of sophistication to business decision making. As part of developing an analytic mind and skillset, this course teaches students to properly frame decision problems, represent and understand how to manage uncertainty inherent in those problems, manipulate large data sets using modern software to prescribe recommended actions, and to then compel organizational change through data visualizations.

Data has become a torrent flowing into every area of the global economy. Many companies are seeking to enhance their ability to transform data into valuable insights and actions. The substantial focus of this course will be on data-driven business decision-making. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an advanced level of analytical skills that will enable them to:

• Examine business problems by developing spreadsheet models,
• Understand optimization solution techniques, interpret solutions, and transform solutions to business decisions,
• Perform sensitivity analysis and simulation to address uncertain business scenarios,
• Generate insights from data by using predictive modeling and data mining to discover hidden patterns in data that inform strategic business decisions,
• Have a basic knowledge of machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Among the techniques we will study are: problems of optimization, risk analysis, data analytics, simulation and data mining. In each area we will consider specific operations and marketing problems. We will build models, analyze them using various Excel-based tools and add-ins, and most importantly interpret the economic value of the solutions. Prerequisite: BUAD 620

Analytics leverages both the proliferation of data and the advancement of computational tools to bring a new level of sophistication to business decision making. As a capstone experience, this course places students in the role of Business Data Analyst. Students will work on large real-world datasets to recommend courses of action to businesses. All phases of the analytics process from data capture to creation of an analytics-driven recommendation or prototype solution will be practiced. Prerequisite: BUAD 621, ACCT604 and MISY641

Introduces fundamental strategies and methodologies for data mining along with the concepts underlying them, and will provide hands-on experience with a variety of different techniques in a business setting. Students will learn to use data mining tools.

Financial modeling techniques to value IPOs, mergers, private equity transactions, and leveraged buyouts. Explore the economic principles supporting these techniques and apply them to various transaction types using real financial data. Focus is on bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Examines major policy-making areas in corporate finance and the impact of alternative policies on the value of the firm. Emphasis is placed on strengthening financial decision-making skills. Advanced topics include capital investment policy, financing and capital structure policies, dividend policy, and corporate control. Prerequisite: Financial Management.

Examines the role and functioning of securities markets, valuation techniques, and the theory and practice of portfolio management. Topics include portfolio construction and evaluation metrics, relative valuation techniques and an introduction to derivative security pricing. Prerequisite: Financial Management.

Examines theories of leadership and models of change and innovation in healthcare. Gain a systems perspective useful in analyzing the leadership and management needs of healthcare organizations. Examine the key drivers affecting contemporary healthcare delivery. Special emphasis will be placed on developing leaders capable of leading innovation and change in healthcare.

Examines nursing leadership required for population health evaluation and service delivery with a specific focus on policy development and healthcare financing. Gain knowledge needed to position doctor ally-prepared nurses to develop, implement and evaluate policies, programs and financing structures to support innovative methods of decreasing rates of disease and increasing wellness to improve population health.

Integrates knowledge of healthcare information technology and public health data to support and facilitate individual and population health management and improvement. Focuses on the analysis and application of information technologies that support the provision of care including social context, availability of technology, and structure of information along with legal, regulatory, and ethical concerns. Emerging technologies and contemporary issues are highlighted.

The rapid pace of technological change as it relates to connectivity and communications is having a significant impact on healthcare service delivery. Due to enhanced mobility and the proliferation of faster service solutions in nearly all sectors of industry, customer expectations have arguably increased at a fundamental level. How can the healthcare industry adapt to this paradigmatic shift and yet provide high level of assurance expected of it in terms of the quality service? By taking this course, students will be able to evaluate, design and articulate e-service solutions in the healthcare industry. Concepts related to technology and e-services will be applied to a healthcare context using academic articles, industry reports and case studies.

This course engages the healthcare community in critical issues facing the healthcare industry today. Due to CMS (Center for Medicare & Medical Services), HCAHPS and CGCAHPS requirements; as well as intense industry competition, the effectiveness of healthcare delivery is being measured by the quality of related direct and indirect services, including quality of accommodations, communication, and other auxiliary services. Many of these services are not medical in nature, rather they relate directly to patient experience and creating a culture of patient engagement. The goal is to make hospitals and medical practices truly hospitable and prepare current and future healthcare providers, doctors, NPs, nurses, healthcare scientists, students and allied healthcare professionals to deeply connect to the emotional side of patient care and experience. These emotional experiences, especially sensory landscape, effective communicating, and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, are critical to patient engagement, patient confidence, and healing. Current hospital staff and future hospital managers need to be better prepared to face the changing healthcare environment and the increased focus on a total patient experience and engagement.

BUAD 672 – Strategic Leadership & Change (3)
Examines the organizational processes that influence the ability of organizations to successfully manage change and innovation. Designed to impart theoretical understanding as well as practical tools and frameworks for the management of change and innovation.

OR

BUAD 673 – Advanced Topics in Leadership and Teams (3)
Offers an in-depth perspective of leadership and an analysis of teams and teamwork. Emphasizes the practical application of theoretical concepts.

BUAD 672 – Strategic Leadership & Change (3)
Examines the organizational processes that influence the ability of organizations to successfully manage change and innovation. Designed to impart theoretical understanding as well as practical tools and frameworks for the management of change and innovation.

OR

BUAD 673 – Advanced Topics in Leadership and Teams (3)
Offers an in-depth perspective of leadership and an analysis of teams and teamwork. Emphasizes the practical application of theoretical concepts.

OR

BUAD 674 – Selected Topics in Management and Leadership: Positive Leadership Theory and Practice (3)
Using the framework of positive leadership, we will see how by leveraging the evolutionary advantage provided by positive emotion we can help our employees both broaden their thinking to be better problem solvers, who are more creative and innovative, while also building important psychological resources for the future including improving resilience in times of difficulty, creating stronger connections and a sense of purpose at work. Although a topic often ignored, as leaders we are the emotional guides for our units and must recognize that managing the emotional life of our organizations is a critical but often overlooked leadership skill. We will learn how fear and other negative emotions can destroy the performance of an individual and the entire organization. We learn how to use the tools of positive leadership to help build environments in which our employees can thrive and as a consequence our organizations also thrive. Topics will include: Evolutionary Leadership Theory, the Broaden and Build Theory of Emotions, Neuroscience, Positive Psychology, the Stakeholder Model of Organizations, the importance of Engagement, Strengths Based Leadership, building a Positive Organizational Culture and how Happiness can drive performance.

OR

BUAD 679 – Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (3)
Explores the strategy and psychology of negotiation and conflict resolution, including topics such as effective preparation and understanding the role of communication, emotions, and relationships. Simulated negotiations provide the opportunity to put knowledge into practice and acquire feedback on negotiation and conflict resolution skills throughout the semester.

BUAD 641 – Managing the Global Enterprise (3)
Focuses on the development of business strategies and management practices for managing the multinational business organization.

OR

BUAD 678 – Leading Across Boundaries (3)
Focuses on cultural similarities and differences worldwide and how they affect managers’ effectiveness. Attention is given to general cultural dimensions as well as specific cultural practices with a special emphasis on cross-cultural communications.

Assesses environmental, institutional, industrial, strategic, and organizational features of globalization and business. Considers frameworks that guide managers’ understanding of globalization and business, how managers interpret the challenges and opportunities of globalization and the implications of globalization to professional development.

Focuses on the development of business strategies and management practices for managing the multinational business organization.

Assesses the professional, economic, political, cultural, and institutional opportunities and challenges that individuals face in the global business environment. Analytics center on explaining the causes and consequences of the expanding integration of nations. Course materials tap varied resources, including contemporary analyses, multimedia profiles, and decision simulations. Class design taps various pedagogies, including research reports, position papers, discussion boards, and objective assessment. Class delivery leverages online technologies that support the “testing effect” and asynchronous assignments, activities, and assessments.

Leading Across Boundaries focuses on cultural similarities and differences worldwide and how they impact managers’ effectiveness. Attention is given to general cultural dimensions as well as specific global mindset competencies. This course will focus on cultural similarities and differences, and interpersonal interactions with people who are different from us. By understanding this, students will uncover and improve their own global leadership skills. Prerequisites: BUAD 870.

Develops managerial decision-making skills in several areas related to international/global marketing such as environmental analysis, planning/organization, marketing research, segmentation, targeting and positioning/competitive analysis, and method of entry.

Introduces the fundamentals of modern database concepts. Covers relational database design and implementation techniques, as well as the current relational database standard – the structured query language (SQL). Explore advanced topics such as big data analytics.

Explores the management, organizational and technical challenges of developing systems. Analyzes business processes within a data-driven development methodology. Students will elicit requirements, weigh alternatives and design and implement solutions. Data, process and object modeling will be covered.

Enterprise architecture is the process of translating business vision and strategy into effective enterprise change by creating, communicating and improving the key requirements, principles and models that describe the enterprise’s future state and enable its evolution. The scope of the enterprise architecture includes the people, processes, information and technology of the enterprise, and their relationships to one another and to the external environment.
According to Gartner, “Enterprise architecture (EA) is a discipline for proactively and holistically leading enterprise responses to disruptive forces by identifying and analyzing the execution of change toward desired business vision and outcomes. EA delivers value by presenting business and IT leaders with signature-ready recommendations for adjusting policies and projects to achieve targeted business outcomes that capitalize on relevant business disruptions.” In essence, enterprise architecture is the implementation of business strategy through the use of technology.

The course will cover:

• What enterprise architecture is and why it is important
• The relationship between vision, strategy and enterprise architecture
• The elements of enterprise IT architecture
• A methodology for developing an enterprise architecture
• The challenges facing enterprise architects

Students will develop an understanding of how enterprise architecture can be the difference between successful and scalable businesses versus those that are constrained and stagnant.

This course introduces students to a repeatable methodology for the development of viable business models and provides an overview of the technology commercialization process. Entrepreneurial thinking, unique characteristics of technology markets and business concepts germane to entrepreneurial contexts are emphasized.

This course examines services as experiences and provides students with a hands-on understanding of services marketing theory and application. Nearly all businesses, including those that are dominantly manufacturing-driven, have some element of service incorporated into their offerings. The concepts and frameworks in the course are applicable across a wide range of industries and workplace settings.

This course represents a blend of theoretical aspects of dashboard design and practical storytelling by leveraging Qlik Sense, a leading data visualization and analytics tool. Also, students will obtain a strong foundational knowledge of Alteryx Designer, analytics app for data preparation, blending, and analysis. The course requires a hands-on approach where students will utilize a free and fully functional version of both Qlik Sense Business (a cloud version) and Alteryx Designer, along with a free 1-year access to Qlik Continuous Classroom (a part of Qlik Academic Program) and Alteryx Academic and Community website. The course curriculum is designed to provide students with the necessary tools and materials to cultivate those visualization and data prep skills. The individual class sessions will be divided between theoretical material presented by the instructor, and individual activities primarily focusing on Qlik Sense practical modules and Alteryx examples and exercises.
Course Objectives
• Pass Qlik Sense Analyst Qualification Exam
• Pass Alteryx Designer Core Certification
• Clearly understand the specifics of various chart types, the process of chart making and chart selection
• Learn how to
(i) design dashboards and integrate data with Qlik Sense,
(ii) use Qlik Sense for storytelling,
(iii) prepare data with Alteryx Designer
• Build the foundation of data-driven storytelling