2003 - 2004 Master of Business Administration Courses

Designed to cover writing fundamentals, processes, and techniques to enable business professionals to communicate clearly and effectively. See MBA Graduate Coordinator for additional information.

An introduction to national income and output, price level and employment determination (macroeconomics); and consumer behavior, theory of cost and the firm, income distribution, and market structures (microeconomics). Designed for students who have not completed undergraduate courses in macro- and microeconomics. Prerequisite: intermediate college algebra.

Designed to present accounting information as an essential element of the decision-making process in a business environment. Presents basic standards and principles that underlie accounting information. The course introduces the ways in which accounting information is accumulated and explains how such information can be used by management in directing the affairs of an organization.

Discusses current legal problems confronting business and the legal aspects of decision-making. Develops an understanding of legal principles and the process of legal reasoning and proceedings, particularly as they pertain to business. Defines the responsibilities of business to consumers and the public.

An introduction to business computer applications utilizing word processing, spreadsheet and database software. Students utilize business software in solving business problems. See MBA Graduate Coordinator for additional information.

This course is designed to provide graduate students with the mathematical skills and concepts necessary to be competitive in an increasingly quantitative environment; it includes an introduction to differential and integral calculus with applications to business and economics. Note: students will be required to take a mathematics placement test. Prerequisite: MATH 105, MATH 141.

Covers topics in descriptive and inferential statistics including measures of location and dispersion, probability distributions, sampling, hypothesis testing, statistical inference, correlation and simple regression. Prerequisite: MATH 105 or MATH 141.

Explores marketing strategies unique to international business. Focuses on modifications of marketing strategies and tactics occasioned by environmental differences. Prerequisite: MBA 610. Cross-listed to MKTG 340. Graduate students are required to complete additional course work.

Explores and analyzes the practice of global management. The focus is on the entire spectrum of international management, including large multinational enterprises. Students study both the general internationalization process and the more comprehensive and complex management requirements of global business organizations.

An overview of the field of human resource management, including issues in employee influence, managing human resource flow, reward systems, and work systems. Topics studied include aspects of international human resource management, including personnel selection for international operations, cross-cultural training for overseas assignments, management development in the global context, and cross-cultural issues in motivation, productivity, performance appraisals, and compensation.

Provides an understanding of traditional and evolving reward systems. Includes the development of the basic tools of compensation, analyzing wage and salary systems, establishing a compensation structure, exploring incentive plans of various forms, and managing executive compensation. Explores the design of benefit plans, managing the bidding process, setting up efficient administrative systems, and complying with pertinent laws and regulations. Prerequisite: MBA 522.

Designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the planning and staffing functions within the HRM department. Includes forecasting employment needs, managing recruiting, coordinating the employment process, interviewing techniques, pre-employment testing, orienting the new employee, and employment law. Prerequisite: MBA 522.

A survey course in international trade dealing with the economic basis for trade among nations, tariffs, customs unions, balance of payments, exchange rates, and public policy. Prerequisite: MBA 501. Cross-listed to ECON 319. Graduate students are required to complete additional course work.

Introduction to labor market economics. Survey course in wage theory, labor mobility, unionism, collective bargaining, employment, and public policy. Prerequisite: MBA 501. Cross-listed to ECON 420. Graduate students are required to complete additional course work.

Intermediate study of income, employment, and output; also the role of fiscal and monetary policies. Prerequisite: MBA 501. Cross-listed to ECON 317. Graduate students are required to complete additional course work.

The central objective of this course is to provide in-depth coverage of financial accounting and reporting topics from both a theoretical and practical standpoint. This objective is accomplished through a combination of reading assignments, classroom lecture/discussion sessions, assignments, cases, and student presentations. The course seeks to sharpen students' analytical and interpretative skills, as well as their oral and written communication skills, through exposure to practical business situations. The course covers the FASB conceptual framework. Prerequisite: ACCT 360.

Provides a comprehensive examination of the treatment of acquisitions and mergers, preparation of consolidated financial statements, principles of accounting for partnerships, not-for-profit accounting, and foreign currency transactions. Prerequisite: ACCT 360.

Topics studied include financing of international transactions, balance of payments between nations, international financial institutions and foreign exchange markets. Prerequisites: MBA 501, 502. Cross-listed to FINC 435. Graduate students are required to complete additional course work.

The course provides students with an understanding and background of the skills, concepts, attitudes, and knowledge necessary for creating and managing new business ventures. Students review typical pitfalls in starting a new business venture and learn to develop a business plan for potential investors. Prerequisites: MBA 502, 503, 610, 640, 645.

Methods of integrating technology in management information systems, telecommunication and data communication concepts, design, architecture, networking, and distributed systems. Introduces students to the concepts of data communications and reviews in-depth the physical aspects of data communications, computer networking, and data management. Prerequisite: MBA 667.

This course is a systematic study of the human aspects of management. It deals with organizations: how they begin, grow and develop, and their effect on individual members, constituent groups, other organizations, and larger institutions.

Advances students' understanding of ethics in the context of business. The objective of this course is to help students recognize ethical dilemmas when they appear, provide alternative means of resolving those dilemmas, and take into account the ethical implications of their actions.

The background and understanding of marketing as it is applied to the organization. Emphasis is on marketing theory, concepts, and practice. Students develop a critical orientation of marketing activities on how they accomplish organizational objectives and the relationship between marketing and other processes within the organization.

This course is an introduction to the basics that will form the foundation of knowledge for the financial services professional. The financial planning process, as well as the legal, ethical, and regulatory issues affecting financial planners, and time value of money concepts are covered. The course continues with a discussion of the principles of risk management and insurance, allowing the student to identify a client's risk exposure and select appropriate risk management techniques. Prerequisite: MBA 645.

This course covers all the major retirement-related issues: retirement savings need analysis, qualified retirement plan design, Social Security, Medicare, and more. In addition, group life, health, and disability insurance; nonqualified deferred compensation; and other commonly provided employee benefits are examined. Prerequisite: MBA 615.

This course is an introduction to the Securities Industry. It focuses on the rules, regulations, and laws an individual must know to be prepared to function as a licensed professional dealing with securities. Prerequisites: FINC 315.

Views basic process functions in managing a production or service organization, such as inventory, production, procurement, total quality management, production planning, project management, and business forecasting. Also develops skills in quantitative decision-making and the use of various quantitative models, including linear programming, PERT, queuing theory, transportation methods, etc. Prerequisites: MBA 505, 506, 507.

Develops a framework for beginning an entrepreneurial firm with the focus on being and remaining innovative, starting with the business plan and continuing through the firm life cycle. Using case studies to develop successful business plans, the course specifically analyzes the market need, financing options, demand estimation, and financial forecasting. Through each phase of the planning, special emphasis is accorded to issues surrounding firm flexibility v. rigidity for maximum receptiveness to innovation. Models for the continued use of planning criteria for post start-up phases are developed and analyzed. Prerequisite: MBA 560.

Follows the firm from acquisition of start-up capital through financing options. This course analyzes the concepts and institutions involved in each phase, weighing the appropriateness of financing from both demand and supply perspectives. Course examines actual proposals made to venture capital firms and critically analyzes financial viability. Course includes financing start-ups, financial planning for the smaller enterprise, going public, selling out, bankruptcy, and evaluating multiple capital sources.

This course develops the qualitative tools necessary for successful entrepreneurship and/or intrapreneurship. Specific areas of coverage are: leadership and the firm life cycle, the art of negotiations, evaluating venture opportunities, managing in the face of constraints to firm and product innovation, and the importance of decision making. Prerequisite: MBA 560.

This course develops the framework for innovation. The innovation process is divided into the pre-market (entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial) phase and the commercialization phase. In the pre-market phase, topics include the innovation environment within and outside the firm, the process of intellectual property rights, and evaluating the value of a potential innovation. The commercialization phase analyzes the process of protecting differentiation, determining production methods, and marketing the innovation. Case studies are used to analyze theory and to develop new models.

The emphasis is on integration of economic theory and methodology with analytical tools for application to decision-making in public and private institutions. Topic areas include forecasting, demand analyses, production and cost, pricing, capital budgeting, and money banking. Prerequisites: MBA 501, 505, 506, 507.

Emphasizes the internal uses of accounting data by managers in directing the affairs of business organizations. The class looks at accounting data through the eyes of those who must use it in setting plans and objectives, in controlling operations, and making the myriad of decisions involved with the management of an enterprise. Looking at the accounting data with this perspective provides a solid managerial base upon which to build concepts. Prerequisites: MBA 502, 505.

Designed for both accounting and non-accounting students. The course provides comprehensive coverage of the Federal income tax structure and application of tax principles to preparation of individual tax returns.

This course deals with the Federal tax statutes, regulations, rulings, and leading cases applicable to individual and other taxpayers with special emphasis placed upon estate planning. The probate process, federal gift taxes, estate taxes, trusts, and valuation of assets are areas covered in this course.

Introduces the concepts and problems of financial decision-making. Briefly reviews accounting statements, then moves on to methods of analyzing financial performance, including measuring cash flows, ratio analysis, time value of money, and fundamentals of capital budgeting. Prerequisites: MBA 502, 505, 506, 507.

An exploration of the role and function of the chief financial officer/controller in an enterprise, blending accounting applications with financial and strategic business decisions. Prerequisites: MBA 640, 645.

Special topics in international business are offered periodically under this course number.

Given its presentation of the integrative function of the general manager, this course is intended to be a capstone to the MBA Program. Through case studies and lectures, it is designed to integrate the student's graduate learning experience, further analytical capabilities and improve skills in business decision-making and strategy formulation. Prerequisite: completion of MBA core course work.

Work experience in field of study or career. Prerequisite: completion of a minimum of 15 Westminster credit hours, completion of the Career Center Internship workshop, and consent of Practice Experience Coordinator and Career Center Internship Coordinator.

Examines the information systems used to support managerial decision-making. Includes an in-depth study, design, and development of a multimedia system. Other topics covered include executive information systems and group decision support systems. Prerequisites: MBA 505, 667.

Explores the relationship between government and business. Topics include the role of business in the macro economy, the effect of government and trade deficits on business, the role of regulation, industrial policy, and other issues. Prerequisite: MBA 501.

Special topics in human and organizational development are offered periodically under this course number.

Special topics in management information systems are offered periodically under this course number.

Special topics in business are offered periodically under this course number.

Introduction to simple and multiple regression analyses with applications to business and economics. Course is designed to provide more advanced statistical tools helpful in managerial decision-making. Prerequisites: MBA 501, 505, 506, 507. Cross-listed to ECON 499. Graduate students are required to complete additional course work for graduate credit.

Special topics in economics are offered periodically under this course number.

Special topics in finance are offered periodically under this course number.

Study of models, theories, and methods used in changing entire organizations or major organizational sub-units to achieve improved performance. Prerequisite: MBA 602.

Explores marketing strategy and tactics necessary for effective managerial decision-making. Development of strategy and tactics is accomplished through case studies. Prerequisite: MBA 610.

Special topics in accounting are offered periodically under this course number.

Investigates theories and principles of systems analysis and design from a macro perspective. Develops procedures for analyzing systems in general and the specific application to integrated management information systems. Prerequisite: MBA 505.

Independent research/readings in areas not fully covered by core or elective courses. Prerequisites: all MBA survey courses and consent of instructor and school dean.

Examination of leadership theories and principles studied within the framework of the organization. Styles, skills, mentoring, influence processes and power bases will be investigated and personal leadership skills will be developed. Prerequisite: MBA 602

Examines the nature of adult learning, training, and development. Focuses on the process of identifying training needs, specifying training objectives and developing training programs. Prerequisite: MBA 602.

Presents an overview of current trends and developments in labor-management relations. Prerequisites: MBA 501, 602.

Covers the range of marketing research activities and methods, including problem definition, sources of data, questionnaire design, sampling, and the analysis of data with respect to marketing problems. Prerequisites: MBA 507, 610.

Special topics in marketing are offered periodically under this course number. Prerequisite: MBA 610.

Methods of structuring information, database organization, and concepts and techniques for storing and accessing information in an organization. Examines the organizational implications of databases, information structures and file organization, DBMS goals and objectives; design and implementation of network, hierarchal, and relational database models, and database administration. Prerequisite: MBA 667.

This course is designed to explore and analyze the development of different management philosophies. Students become familiar with the history of management thought and its impact on current management theory, practice, and philosophy. They also analyze why and how management philosophy in general must adjust to new organization models and structures. Prerequisite: MBA 602.

Provides an opportunity to investigate systemic and integrative approaches to managing change. The emphasis is on determining the validity/practicality of current change models including general systems theory. Prerequisite: MBA 602.

Gives MBA students an opportunity to participate in a management consulting engagement with an actual business or non-profit organization. Students receive a comprehensive orientation in managing and conducting a consulting engagement. They are then assigned to a consulting team to conduct an actual engagement under the direction and supervision of a faculty advisor; students present their findings to the client. Prerequisite: completion of MBA core course work.

Introduction to various investment vehicles including stocks, bonds, and various contingent investments and their uses. Includes various investment strategies such as hedging and portfolio analysis.

Develops the theory of finance underlying all areas of finance and focuses on in-depth applications of investments, capital budgeting, capital structure and cost of capital, and merger and acquisition. Prerequisites: MBA 630, 640, 645.

Designed to introduce students to advanced statistical forecasting procedures. Addresses the process of assessing the need for forecasting, choice of forecasting tools, evaluation of the forecast and how to present results to management. Topics include exploratory data analysis and graphing techniques, data transformations and smoothing, multivariate regression models, simultaneous system estimation, and time series analysis. Prerequisite: MBA 630. MBA 661 is recommended.

The analysis and logical design of business data processing, management information, and management control systems, project management and cost-benefit analysis, and techniques for stating and analyzing information systems requirements. Prerequisite: MBA 667.

Focuses on the relationship between information system planning and overall organizational strategy. The course covers planning and control, application development and maintenance, systems management and control, I/S strategy, social and legal perspectives, as well as other selected topics. Prerequisite: MBA 667.