MBA Course Descriptions

MBA 701 Legal Aspects of E-Commerce
Examines the legal principles, obligations, and rights related to conducting business via technology.  Students will have the opportunity to research and apply this critical and expanding trend in the current business world.  Topics include: Data Privacy and Information Rights, Trademarks and Domain Name Issues, Copyright Clearances and Licensing Issues, Technology Transfer Agreements, Hosting and Telecommunications, Service Issues, Web Site Policy Issues, Disclaimers and User Agreements, Defamation, Online Contracting Issues, Authentication, Signatures, Fraud, Record Retention, Payment Systems and Credit Card use issues, Government Relations, Security, Web site Hacker Issues, Jurisdictional Issues and Tax Issues. Students will not only research and present these topics, but they will also apply them through creating and planning an online business considering all of the legal issues surrounding that endeavor.  3 credits

MBA 705 Web Page Authoring
Utilizes Macromedia Dreamweaver MX2004. This course begins with an introduction to how the Internet works and then proceeds into the foundations of planning and designing a successful website. The course work covers topics such as adding and formatting text, organizing page content and layout, and adding shared site elements. The student will plan and develop a Web site using Macromedia Dreamweaver. 3 credits

MBA 711 Writing
Focuses on written communication skills in a professional context. Emphasizes the importance of effective communications. Topics include business/corporate writing, technical writing and proposal writing.  This course also includes a review of grammar and mechanics.  Presentation skills are also addressed.  Students prepare several papers, including a research paper and deliver oral presentations of their research.  3 credits

MBA 720 Communication Technology
Examines various technologies that work behind the scenes to keep a business operating successfully. Through collaborative learning, hands-on demonstrations, and research, students will learn about and experience these various technologies.  Major topics include personal computers - hardware, software, and troubleshooting; networks - theory, hardware, software, security and wireless technologies; systems - server operating systems and managing and protecting system resources; databases – theory, software, design, and administration; and voice communications – theory, hardware, and software.  3 credits

MBA 721 Information and Communicationd Technology
(replaces MBA 720)
Explores various technologies that work behind the scenes to keep a business operating successfully. Management professionals must have a high-level, working understanding of the various modern technologies. Not only will these professionals use these technologies in the workplace; but they will certainly work with and likely oversee people who manage this technology. Through collaborative learning, hands-on demonstrations, and research, students will learn about and experience these various technologies as well as create IT business proposals aligned with the firm’s strategy. Major topics include personal computers—hardware, software, and networks—theory, hardware, software, security and wireless technologies; systems—server operating systems and managing and protecting system resources; databases—theory, software, design, and administration; and voice communications—theory, hardware, and software. 3 credits

MBA 722 Strategic Planning I
Examines the setting and prioritizing of goals in relationship to the mission, culture, resources, and objectives of the organization in order to gain competitive advantage. Organizational strengths, weaknesses, structure, culture, and past performance will be proactively analyzed. Trends will be identified and alternatives developed for an organizational strategic plan. Tools are introduced to facilitate the process, such as simulations, optimizations, database management, goal setting and decision-making software.  Students will prepare and present a strategic plan for an organization or business in the local community.  3 credits

MBA 724 Research
Focuses on the importance of research in leading a successful business enterprise. This course focuses on understanding the basics of good research design methodology (quantitative and qualitative) and the applications of those methodologies in current business/professional research. As particular aspects of methodology are studied in the more abstract (e.g., participant-observation, survey research, documents analysis), current management and technology literature, which relies upon these methodologies, will be read and critiqued. Students will be introduced to the role of statistical software packages in analyzing data.  3 credits

MBA 726 Professional Ethics
Examines personal and corporate values and ethics and how they are used in the realm of management functions. It actively examines present and future issues of the impact of technology on the workforce and management processes. Environmental and societal issues are also examined. Students will utilize case studies and participate in simulations to explore current ethical dilemmas. 3 credits

MBA 728 Decision Making for Leaders
Focuses on decision making as a fundamental activity of professionals working in any management discipline. Modern leaders need to deal with a myriad of factors that affect the achievement of their goals. However, rather than theoretical studies about decision-making, a practical but rigorous methodology is needed. This course addresses the fundamental problems that occur in managerial decision making at both the theoretical and a practical level. Professor Thomas Saaty proposed the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a new paradigm to think, and more importantly, to make creative and effective decisions. Since its conception in 1980, this method that combines simplicity with theoretical rigor has been successfully applied to make decisions in economic, political, social, and technological environments. For this reason, this course offers the opportunity to learn decision-making and the use of the AHP methodology for real world applications. 3 credits

MBA 730 Managing Organizational Change
Examines the history of organizational development and organizational transformation. This course offers a solid view of intervention methodologies and guidelines. It reviews in depth the leading change strategies being used in a diversity of organizations today and explores emerging opportunities. This course makes use of numerous reading from the leading experts in the field – including a set of select readings on information technology and organizational change – and culminates around each student developing executive-level, mock change strategies. 3 credits

MBA 731 Managing Organizational Change and Innovation
(replaces MBA 730)
Focuses on organizational development and transformation. It reviews leading change issues and strategies being used in a diversity of organizations today and explores emerging opportunities for change and innovation. This course makes use of numerous reading from the leading experts in the field and culminates with students developing executive-level, change and innovation strategies. 3 credits

MBA 732 Financial Analysis & Planning
Examines corporate financial management, planning and analysis. Topics include: financial statements, financial statement analysis, budgets, stock markets, cost of capital, present and future values. Students will examine corporate annual reports, participate in a simulated stock market competition, prepare cash budgets, analyze capital investment opportunities, and conduct and present a team research project on a financial topic of their choice. 3 credits

MBA 734 Strategic Planning II: Project Management
Provides a thorough examination of the science and art of project management. This course is the capstone experience for the student.  MS Project and Excel are the software programs utilized. This course emphasized the processes involved in project/matrix management and their important role in the strategic planning process. Students will develop an understanding of the Project Management Institute (PMI) concepts, definitions, and approaches.  Students select a project from their workplace or other organization to demonstrate their ability to use project management software to manage a project. This experiential learning approach allows the student to apply the theory of this imperative skill in today’s workplace.  3 credits

MBA 736 Telecommunications
Studies telecommunications as a business resource, with an emphasis on managing and using telecommunications to meet the goals of the organization.  Telecommunications technology is reviewed and current practices discussed.  Issues, critical to understanding telecommunications from a managerial standpoint are developed. The economic case for investing in telecommunications and organizing the telecommunications resource is evaluated. Topics include systems security and privacy, regulatory issues, and network design and management. Students obtain a solid understanding of both fundamental as well as state-of-the-art telecommunications in business.  3 credits

MBA 737 Telecommunications Management
(Replaces MBA 736)
Studies telecommunications as a business resource, with an emphasis on managing and using telecommunications to meet the goals of the organization. Telecommunications technology is reviewed and current practices discussed. Issues, critical to understanding telecommunications from a managerial standpoint are developed. The economic case for investing in telecommunications and organizing the telecommunications resource is evaluated. Topics include systems security and privacy, regulatory issues, and network design and management. Students obtain a solid understanding of both fundamental as well as state-of-the-art telecommunications in business. 3 credits Pre-requisite: MBA 720 or approval from MBA program director.

MBA 738 Global Business
This course examines selected topics in conducting business in a global setting. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the fundamental strategies and issues associated with the management of diverse categories of global business. We begin with an overview of forces that determine the globalization of a firm and industry. This analysis leads us to further examination of nation-specific, region-specific, industry-specific, and firm-specific factors that are critical to the success of global business. To apply these theoretical frameworks, we will look at a country or region (e.g., China, Europe) in depth and analyze its economy, institutions, industries and firms. We then develop a basic conceptual framework to formulate strategy to conduct business in that particular country or region. Part of the coursework will be completed abroad (e.g., in China or Ireland.) International travel is required to finish the course with a passing grade. 3 credits

MBA 738 includes a study abroad trips to Ireland (even years) or China (odd years).
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MBA 740 Managing Creativity and Innovation
This course explores the factors that stimulate and inhibit creativity and innovation in individuals, teams, and organizations. In addition to this, this course intends to provide tools and practical approaches toward the development of creativity and innovation at all levels. Students are encouraged to explore creative approaches to deal with specific issues in different environments through assignments, case studies, team projects, and related readings. Prerequisites: None. 3 credits

MBA  742 Economics
Explores Macroeconomics in the United States and globally. This course will take a nonpartisan approach to analyzing economic principles and theories. The student will examine macroeconomic outcomes such as inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. The evolution of U.S. capitalism from the Great Depression to the present and major trends in economic policy will be studied. 3 credits

MBA 744 Strategic Leadership
This course examines the need for strategic leadership at all levels in any organization, the need for people who know how to lead a team or organization to positive outcomes. It will challenge students to consider their own leadership styles, their own concepts of leadership, and the way leadership is displayed in their sector, industry, or organization As a result, students will be encouraged to improve their own leadership and followership competencies. The course is based on a study of leadership which includes leading in an environment of constant change and honoring the increasing diversity of our workplaces.3 credits

MBA 750 Professional Seminar
This course is designed to increase the student’s awareness of critical issues and current trends and philosophies in business management and leadership. The format of this course will include presentations from professionals from the business community, who will speak on their area of expertise; the study of articles and books on contemporary views in business management and leadership and students’ presentations on these current trends, critical issues, and philosophies. 3 credits

MBA 752 Advanced IT and IT Management
This course discusses emerging IT-related challenges and trends in organizations and is useful for business professionals who will need to deal with these challenges. Topics such as IT and Business Intelligence (BI), Knowledge Management (KM), and IT and Competitive Advantage will be addressed. Prerequisite – MMT degree or approval of Director 3 credits

MBA 754 Marketing Management
This course examines the impact of technology on marketing, and the strategic role of marketing in the overall goal of organizational success in a highly competitive and volatile market. The decision making process of managers will be explored as they lead the decision making and implementation of marketing strategy that encompasses project planning, pricing, supply chain management and promotion strategies. Prerequisite – MMT degree or approval of Director 3 credits

MBA 760 Graduate Experiential Learning
This course combines management experiential learning with academic theory. This course is aimed at either international students or U.S. students with insufficient management experience (e.g. career changers). The experiential learning component will be obtained through an internship (part-time or full-time) consisting of a minimum of 280 hours in a professional management setting.  This internship will be complemented with periodic management assignments in which the student will be able to relate the practical internship experience with current management theories. Pre-requisites: The student must have completed at least one term in the program and have taken MBA 721 Information and Communication Technology and MBA 722 Strategic Planning 1, must have a GPA>3.0, and approval from the MBA program director (as well as international program director when pertinent) approval. 3 credits