Master of Business Administration Course Descriptions

MBA - 607. Managerial Accounting (2)

Prerequisite: MBA - 613. Comprehensive introduction to the principles and procedures involved in the preparation and use of managerial accounting reports. Budgetary, performance, and control reporting are the major topics addressed. Emphasis is upon the interpretation and use of these reports as they relate to managerial decision-making in the areas of planning, administration, and control.

MBA - 610. Communication Strategy (2)

Advanced study of communication architectures and strategies for organizational decision-making and problem solving. Develops listening, persuasion, and assertiveness skills in all forms of management communications: writing, speeches and oral presentations, and face-to-face meetings. Specific applications include rapport, negotiation, consensus building, and conflict resolution. Methodology relies heavily on cases, experiential exercises and teamwork. MBA 610 is a prerequisite for MBA 616, 617, and 618.

MBA - 611. Macro-Economic Analysis for Managers (4)

Focus is on developing skills to understand and analyze domestic and international macroeconomic events and on using economic theory to evaluate changing business conditions. Emphasizes skills in analyzing the impact ongoing macroeconomic events have on the business environment. This model-building approach provides the framework for a cohesive treatment of the factors which influence national output, unemployment, interest rates, inflation, and foreign exchange fluctuation.

MBA - 612. Decision Modeling and Data Analysis (4)

Exploratory data analysis and multiple regression models to support management decisions. Techniques include time series analysis, forecasting, and statistical tools for quality control. Extensive use of Excel. Mathematical models of decision problems. Topics include spreadsheet models, sensitivity analysis, decision trees, subjective probabilities, value of information, risk attitude, multi-criteria decision methods, Monte Carlo simulation, and resource allocation.

MBA - 613. Financial Accounting (2)

A comprehensive introduction to the principles and procedures involved in the preparation and use of published financial statements of corporate enterprises. Income and profit determination, asset and liability measurement, and financial disclosure requirements are the major topics addressed. Primary emphasis is upon the interpretation and use of the accounting information content of published financial statements by external parties in making investment related decisions.

MBA - 614. Leadership and Organizational Dynamics (4)

Examines individual and group behavior in organizations as well as gives students the opportunity to study leadership and managerial skills using the most current theory and practices. Enables students to enhance interpersonal skills, examine values and attitudes which affect relationships in the workplace, and gain confidence and experience as leaders in an international and multi-cultural environment. MBA 614 is a prerequisite for MBA 616, 617, and 618.

MBA - 615. Managerial Environment: Ethical, Public Policy and Global Issues (4)

Recommended: MBA 610. Impact of external factors upon development of business policy and managerial decision-making. Consideration of the historical, political, legal, social, and technological context of business in a highly interdependent global economy. Application of basic ethical frameworks for analysis and moral reasoning to questions of values and social purpose in business activities.

MBA - 616. Systems in Organizations (4)

Concepts and methods for analyzing systems in organizations; different types of systems; business process, value chain, and supply chain concepts; lean production and quality management approaches, process improvement and process performance measures; information systems such as ERP; impacts of systems on participants and of participants on systems, strategic significance of systems in organizations; planning concepts and methods; project management; methods for building and maintaining systems; system-related risks, vulnerability, and failure. Instructors may present this course from an information systems or operations management viewpoint. Prerequisite for electives in Telecommunications. Cross Listed With: MBA - 683

MBA - 617. Managerial Finance (4)

Prerequisite: MBA - 613. Course focuses on those concepts and theories of corporate financial management that enable the financial manager to make better decisions. Special emphasis is placed on valuation as a framework for decision-making, with topical coverage including capital budgeting, risk analysis, financial issues, corporate restructuring, and relevant special topics. Also included is a description of the global financial environment and an introduction to investment analysis, as well as an evaluation of recent trends and events in the context of financial theory.

MBA - 618. Marketing Management (4)

Examination of the role of marketing in the economic system, the evolution of markets, market structure, consumer behavior, research, marketing functions and policy. Emphasis on identifying and meeting customer needs, developing effective marketing strategies, ensuring quality of service, and achieving and sustaining competitive advantage. Study of marketing management concepts for products and services, profit and non-profit organizations, and consumer and industrial markets. Prerequisite for electives in Marketing.

MBA - 619. Strategy and Competitive Advantage (4)

Prerequisite: Permission of Department. Strategy formulation and implementation in a global environment. An integrative course, drawing from the functional core courses. Focuses on competitive strategy that defines an organization's position in its environment and formulates strategies resulting in a favorable, sustainable position. Takes a broad view of the external environment and matches it with the internal competencies of the firm. Special focus on external threats and opportunities and the relationships to the strengths and weaknesses of the enterprise.

MBA - 621. Financial Institutions and Markets (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 617. The course examines and compares the nature and regulatory structure of key financial institutions and markets in the dominant economies of the world. The principal focus is on the U.S. financial system, with selected comparisons made to financial systems in Europe and Japan, as well as China and Russia. The specific financial institutions examined include commercial and investment banks, venture capital firms, insurance companies, pension plans and mutual funds. The course also explores the key financial instruments (e.g., derivatives, debt and equity securities) and important financial markets (e.g., futures, options, debt and equity markets). The role and nature of US government financial system regulation is compared to the regulatory systems used in other major economies.

MBA - 622. Advanced Corporate Finance (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 617. Analysis, through the case method approach, of topics pertinent to the financial manager. Topics covered include capital budgeting, financing choices under uncertainty, valuation of companies (including mergers and acquisitions), and risk management and financial derivatives. Cases tend to be open ended, allowing the student to explore a variety of alternatives and make recommendations in an uncertain environment.

MBA - 623. International Finance (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 617. The international financial markets and how the financial activities of multinational firms must be adapted in the global context. Effects on managerial decision-making in the areas of capital budgeting and investments, sourcing of capital, exchange rate hedging, working capital management, accounting and control systems, and tax issues.

MBA - 624. Investment Management (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 617. The course begins with a description of the investment environment, including an analysis of trading practices and market structure. Subsequently, investment management techniques are studied in detail. Specific topics include bond portfolio management, portfolio optimization, and individual company analysis. A description of the use and valuation of various derivative securities, including options and futures, is also included.

MBA - 625. Venture Capital & Investment Banking (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 617. Comprehensive exposure to corporate finance techniques employed by institutional suppliers and corporate users of start-up and growth capital financing. Explores mergers and acquisitions and LBO financing. Guest lectures from Bay Area venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, investment bankers, CEOs/CFOs and other financial professionals. Bridging theory and practice, these high level executives explain specific decision-making processes used in real-life cases.

MBA - 626. Corporate Financial Reporting and Analysis (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 617. Focuses on the recognition, understanding and analysis of corporate financial statements from the viewpoint of various professional users, including corporate executives, bankers, creditors, security/financial analysts and investors. Emphasis is placed upon the assessment of quality of earnings, financial position and cash flows underlying financial valuation. The course blends theory with practical application through the extensive use of case studies and presentations by corporate and investment professionals.

MBA - 629. Special Topics in Finance (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 617. Advanced finance topics including: Mergers and Acquisitions, Interest Rate Risk Management, Venture Capital, and Real Estate Investment Management.

MBA - 631. Marketing Research (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 618. The role of marketing research in marketing decision-making, the research process of problem identification and analysis of data, research design, data collection methods and evaluation, interpretation, research reporting.

MBA - 632. Sales and Marketing Channel Management (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 618. Combines sales management and marketing channel management, leading to an understanding of the many channels through which goods and services reach end users and of how the different elements in the channels are managed. Emphasis will be placed on the economic, structural and behavioral aspects of these systems as well as on the critical elements of the sales management process.

MBA - 633. International Marketing (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 618. The theory and practice of marketing in the multinational firm. The case method is extensively used to analyze development of marketing strategy and the marketing mix (product, price, promotion, and distribution) in the global context.

MBA - 634. Consumer Behavior (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 618. The study of external and internal influences on the behavior of the individual in the exchange situation including consumer information processing and decision-making. The application of consumer behavior theory to the development of marketing strategies.

MBA - 635. Advertising and Promotion Strategy (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 618. An extensive look at the role of advertising, personal selling, publicity, and sales promotion in effective marketing; the research and managerial aspects of advertising and promotion; the interdisciplinary behavioral and communicative elements in advertising and promotion.

MBA - 638. Marketing Strategy (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 618. Examination of the problems in formulating and implementing marketing strategy; deciding what kind of business to be in and translating that decision into marketing plans and a program for action.

MBA - 639. Special Topics in Marketing (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 618. Coverage of topics of special and/or current interest. Examples include Services Marketing, Marketing for Non-Profit Organizations, Public Relations, Advanced Marketing Research, High-Tech Marketing, and Small Business Marketing.

MBA - 641. Managing the Multinational Firm (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 614. Exploration of the special range of decisions facing the managers of multinational corporations (MNC). The case method is used extensively to examine strategic, marketing, operational, financial, and human resource decisions in the MNC.

MBA - 645. Small Business Ventures (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 614. The essentials of establishing small business ventures; management techniques targeted to small business operations.

MBA - 648. Advanced Leadership Seminar (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 614 , and permission of the department. An intensive seminar offering students an opportunity to continue to develop themselves as effective team members and dynamic leaders. Drawing on a variety of materials and models of learning, students will work together to promote a supportive learning environment that fosters honesty, creativity, and risk-taking. The goals of this class will be to increase self-awareness, teamwork, communication, ethical decision making, ability to manage differences, conflict resolution skills, and issues concerning power and authority.

MBA - 649. Special Topics in Management (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 614. Advanced topics in management are highlighted. Topics include Human Resource Management, Organization Theory, Labor-Management Environment, Collective Bargaining, and Advanced Leadership.

MBA - 651. Telecommunications Technology and Management (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 616. Overview of the field including basic technical concepts; convergence of telecommunications and information technologies; applications for business, social services, and consumers; use of telecommunications for strategic advantage.

MBA - 652. Telecommunications System Planning (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 616 or consent of instructor. Concurrent: MBA - 651. Telecommunications network planning and design, including voice and data networks and Internet-based systems. Needs assessment, economic analysis, and evaluation techniques. Students gain practical experience in project planning and evaluation.

MBA - 653. International Telecommunications (3)

Prerequisites: MBA - 616, MBA - 651 (may be taken concurrently) or consent of instructor. Structure of the telecommunications sector in selected countries; trends in privatization and deregulation; the new competitive international marketplace; role of telecommunications in socio-economic development; issues in trade and technology transfer.

MBA - 654. Telecommunications Policy (3)

Prerequisites: MBA - 616, MBA - 651 (may be taken concurrently) or consent of instructor. The structure and evolution of the U.S. telecommunications industry: common carriers, equipment industry, value added services; history and implications of deregulation and divestiture; policy-making at the federal and state levels; implications for the industry, corporate users, and consumers.

MBA - 659. Special Topics in Telecommunications (3)

Prerequisites: MBA - 616, MBA - 651 (may be taken concurrently) or consent of instructor. Designed to provide timely and in-depth analysis of current topics. Examples include satellite communications, data, networking, corporate strategies, converging technologies.

MBA - 661. Entrepreneurial Management (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 614. Entrepreneurial leaders are often thought to possess special talents, gifts, inspirations, or genius. In fact, entrepreneurial management is a purposeful and disciplined way of recognizing, adapting and organizing around an opportunity, and is a part of every executive's job. The purpose of this course is to present a set of tools for opportunity-seeking for managers and executives - whether in an existing organization or in a new enterprise. Students will receive a framework for organizing and managing such tangibles as policies and decisions, uncertainty and risk, structures and strategies, staffing, financing, motivation and rewards.

MBA - 662. Global Product Development (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 618. In today's competitive world of business and technology, getting the correct product(s) to market in time successfully has become a matter of survival. The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding and working knowledge of the new product development and management process. This course will focus on issues involved in selecting, researching and developing, and positioning/marketing new products. Cases of successful new products developed in the medical, biotech, IT, telecom, materials, and consumer fields will be used to illustrate the management processes and issues discussed in class.

MBA - 664. Creativity and Innovation (3)

Prerequisite: MBA - 614. Investigation of innovation in the corporate setting and the personal creative process, with an emphasis on understanding the role innovation plays in corporate success. Students practice methods for sharpening one's own innovative and creative skills through lectures and personal exercises designed to build both information content and a repertoire of specific techniques.

MBA - 670. Global Trends (3)

Prerequisite: Graduate students only. Identification of global events based on research; combining the events into clusters utilizing group dynamics and scanning techniques; selection of global firms and analysis of their strengths/weaknesses; integration of global trends and international alliances to achieve strategic advantage; examination of how to anticipate change in a global environment.

MBA - 683. Internet Business Applications (3)

Business IT is fundamentally restructuring around internet-based applications and services. The growth of internet-based IT (including software as a service, open source applications, web platforms, and standard data formats) is creating new opportunities for non-technology experts to solve business problems and create value. This course is designed to help students develop skills in installing, configuring, evaluating, and delivering business value with internet-based applications and services. Cross Listed With: MBA - 616

MBA - 696. Special Topics: Contemporary Business Issues (1 or 2)

This course will examine contemporary business issues that have had or will have an impact on business. It will identify current issues that have influenced business decisions and legislation, give students the opportunity to research these issues and express various opinions about these issues. The course will also focus on critical thinking skills, discussion and debate, and writing skills that are essential in the business environment.

MBA - 697. Overseas Study Tours (3)

Prerequisite: Graduate students only. Two week international study tour. Students visit selected corporations and organizations, and complete research project studies with emphasis in management, marketing, finance or international business.

MBA - 698. Directed Study (1-2)

Prerequisite: Approval of Graduate Curriculum Committee. Student must be in good academic standing. Individual student project, working directly with a faculty member intended to facilitate the research and study of topics not normally taught within the framework of the regular curriculum. In select cases, internships may qualify for directed study credit.