Executive MBA: Curriculum

History of Management Thought - 1 credit hour*

This course provides an overview of major schools or perspectives of management theory. The focus is upon the disciplinary foundations of management theory as well as the impact of historical context upon the development of management theory. The course also focuses upon the rise of the concept of management as a distinct profession.

Early Management Theory
Transferability and Management Science
Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology
Current Trends in Management Theory
Contemporary Contributions

Management for Results - 3 credit hours

This course gives attention to the knowledge and skills needed to grow and sustain performance in an organization, whether a full company, a department, a division, or other strategic business unit within an existing organization by getting the right things done through teams of people. It addresses the common management functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

Foundations for Management
Planning
Forecasting and Benchmarking
Objectives
Programming and Scheduling
How to Organize for Results
Quantitative Methods
How to Control for Results
How to Lead for Results

Financial Accountability - 3 credit hours

The Financial Accountability course presents students with basic accounting skills and terminology and allows them to apply these skills in practical critical thinking exercises, decision situations and other higher levels of learning. Topics include both financial accounting concepts and managerial accounting concepts. The course begins with an understanding of the various financial statements and the basic accounting process. A more in-depth coverage of assets, liabilities, equities, revenues and expenses precedes a discussion of financial statement analysis. The course transitions into foundational managerial accounting concepts including: cost behavior, budgets, performance evaluation, differential analysis and capital budgeting.

Balance Sheet
Income Statement
Journal Entries
Cash Flow Statement
Current Assets
Long-Term Assets
Liabilities
Equities
Cost Behaviors
Product Costing
Budgeting
Variance Analysis
Responsibility/Performance

Marketing for Results - 3 credit hours

This course gives attention to the knowledge and skills needed to manage the marketing function in a 21st century organization. It addresses the common marketing functions of industry and market research, customer research, product and service design, pricing, creating awareness, distribution, and presentation.

Defining Marketing in the 21st Century; Developing and Implementing Marketing Strategies
Understanding Markets, Demand, Segments; Creating Customer Value
Analyzing Consumer Markets and Business Markets
Identifying Market Segments; Creating Brand Equity
Positioning and Dealing with Competition; Setting Product Strategy
Designing and Managing Services; Developing Pricing Strategies
Designing and Managing Value Networks and Channels; Managing, Retaining, and
Wholesaling Logistics
Designing and Managing Integrated Marketing Communications and Mass Communications
Managing Personal Communications; Marketing Globally

MIS (Management Information Systems) and E-Business - 3 credit hours

This course will investigate issues relevant to effectively managing Information Technology (IT). The functions of an information systems organization will provide the basis for exploring challenges facing Management Information Systems (MIS) managers and e-Business (electronic business). Management of the fast and ever-changing IS environment will be a recurring theme.

The Information Systems Strategy Triangle
Strategic Use of Information Resources
Organizational Impacts of Information Systems Use
Information Technology and the Design of Work
Information Technology and Changing Business Processes
Architecture and Infrastructure
Doing Business on the Internet
Using Information Ethically
The Management Information Systems Organization
Funding IT
Project Management
Knowledge Management

International Business - 3 credit hours

This course gives attention to the knowledge and skills needed to grow and sustain performance in an international business organization, whether a full company, a department, division or other strategic business unit within an existing organization. It addresses the common international business functions of market analysis, exporting, sourcing, direct foreign investment, and cross-cultural management.

The Foundations of International Business
Assessing the Opportunities & Threats
Europe and the NIS
The Pacific Rim, Far East and Central Asia
Latin America and the Caribbean
The Gulf States and the Middle East
Export Sales Logistics
Import Sourcing Logistics
Direct Foreign Investment Logistics
International Business Functions

Decision Analysis and Quantitative Methods - 3 credit hours

This course is about how people and in particular managers imbedded in business organizations make decisions. The objective is to help managers make better decisions. The course is composed of two major sections. The first has to do with how decisions are made by individuals and in organizations. The second has to do with methods and technologies that can assist the manager in the decision processes. It is not the purpose of this course to cause the student to become a management science or operations management expert.

The Foundations of Decision Making
Creatively Exploring Alternatives
Avoiding Decision Traps
Decision Making as a Science
Structured Modeling
Spreadsheet in Decision Models
Deterministic Modeling (Optimization)
Linear Programming
Queuing & Probablistic Modeling (Uncertain Conditions)
The Relationship between Making and Executing a Decision

International Finance - 3 credit hours

This course provides the student the knowledge and skills needed to manage the complexities of financing exports, imports, and direct foreign investment. Primary topics include the nature or behavior of foreign exchange rates and managing the impacts of exchange rates on short-term and long-term international business activities and performance objectives.

The Foundations of International Finance
Economic Factors that Affect Exchange Rate Movements
Non-Economic Factors that Affect Exchange Rate Movements
The Concept of Hedging and Derivatives
The Concept of International Arbitrage
Manage Risk by Forecasting Exchange Rates
Manage Risk by Measuring Exposure to Exchange Rates
A Wide Variety of Hedging Techniques
Country Financial Risk Analysis
Financing Imports and Exports
Financing Direct Foreign Investment

Human Resources and Organizational Behavior - 3 credit hours

This course will examine personal and professional issues related to modern human resource management (HRM). From the stages of pre-employment through termination, this course lays the essential framework for employment. Topics covered include: training and development, motivation, teamwork, compensation, performance, labor relations, safety, laws, and cultural concerns.

Stages of Managing the Employment Relationship
Employee Training and Career Development
Work Motivation
Group Dynamics and Teamwork
Leadership and Organizational Dynamics
Compensation, Employee Benefits, and Services
Job/Work Analysis and Design, Performance Evaluation
Handling Globalization Impact and Cross Cultural Values
Considerations Required by the Legal Contexts of HRM
Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
Promoting Employee Health and Safety

Organizational Strategy - 3 credit hours

This course gives attention to the knowledge and skills needed to grow and sustain performance in an organization, whether a full company, a department, a division, or other strategic business unit within an existing organization by getting the right things done through teams of people. It addresses the common management functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

The Foundations of Organization Strategy
The Role of Forecasting in Strategic Planning
External Analysis
Internal Analysis
Competitive Analysis
Formulating Strategic Alternatives
The Challenges of Execution
Strategic Monitors and Control
Simulation Preparation
Simulation Competition

Leadership in Organizations - 3 credit hours

This course provides the student with the knowledge and skill sets needed to lead people in business organizations. Learning how to build teams, distribute leadership, and develop political acuity and persuasive communication skills are important elements of this course. In addition, understanding one’s self (e.g., learning style, values, aspirations, biases, affective skills, weaknesses, etc.) and learning to manage emotions under stressful circumstances is crucial to the development of effective leadership. This course is delivered in a professor-supervised, self-directed, virtual-reality, on-the-job (OJT) context; this course relies on observation, explanation, application, mentoring, and testing to maximize professional competencies. The student learns from classic and contemporary readings, case studies, peers, and practicing managers.

Leadership Theories
Leadership Tasks Overview
Thinking Like a Leader
Living Like a Leader
Motivation Theories
Leadership and Teams
Leadership Legacies
Leadership Biographies Part I
Leadership Biographies Part II
Comprehensive Course Overview and Practice Exam

Applied Management Capstone - 3 credit hours

The Applied Management Capstone project is designed to help you put into practice the KSAs that you have gained through your studies. This capstone project is done in close coordination with the university. The project details are designed to be unique to each student and/or workgroup.

Comprehensive Exam Review - 2 credit hours

This course is designed to help you prepare for the comprehensive Master’s Examination. A comprehensive examination gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your competency in all subject areas included in your Master’s studies.