Master of Business Administration: Curriculum

This course introduces leadership in dynamic, changing organizations where customers change, technologies shift, and work processes evolve. In this course students will examine how leaders develop themselves and others and create alignment as an organization changes to meet the needs of the future.

This course will develop marketing strategy and execution of diverse communication tactics critical to all enterprises. Students will examine competitive value propositions for business growth across various markets. Course work will analyze business scenarios and determine strategic objectives, target markets and messages, as well as demonstrate how to use and apply multiple marketing tactics.

The student takes a deep dive into vocation through practical exploration of career, as opposed to job, opportunities and aspirations. The student benefits from the “just-in-time” job growth to cultivating their deepest career aspirations. Through reflection and guidance, the student learns to understand their value and skills while effectively telling their vocational story and articulating their servant leadership.

This course examines the various research methodologies used in organizational settings. It provides an overview of quantitative and qualitative methodologies including research design, data collection and analysis, interviewing, case studies, and action science. The philosophy, ethics, and politics of management research are introduced. Students will critique published research, write a literature review, and design research studies.

The course will apply economic theory to develop a framework to analyze and predict trade, exchange rate, environmental, health, labor and other policies. Strategies will encompass the interaction of American and global economic institutions and policy making entities such as the United States Trade Representative, Congress, Federal Reserve, WTO, and the European Union. Topics will include tariffs and comparative advantage.

This course will review and analyze popular models of ethical decision making. Readings, case studies, and special presenters will provide opportunities to investigate current ethical issues facing leaders and managers in business and organizational settings as well as critically apply various ethical theories and decision-making frameworks. Literature relative to Christian vocation, applied ethics, and value-centered leadership will be explored. Student papers and presentations will demonstrate the integration of a personal and vocational ethic.

This course looks at human resources management from an operating manager’s perspective and focuses on the key role strategic human resource management plays in the development and execution of organizational strategy. Emphasis will be placed on the cultural, behavioral, and the legal issues faced by companies as they attempt to compete in an increasingly expanding global economy. Students will work collaboratively to analyze and compare the complexities and challenges of doing business abroad as well as in the United States and discuss approaches, plans, and programs to address those issues strategically.

This course will examine the framework and systems of current accounting and finance principles including preparation of financial statements, accounting cycles and balance sheet classifications. Students will apply these principles along with ethical responsibility and critical thinking skills to management practices of business decision making and strategic planning.

The student’s context for 21st century commerce will become broader, richer, and deeper as they see change, not in singular events but as an interrelated tapestry of complex systems. Beyond simple research they will learn to master an industry of their choice by anticipating unfolding change and discovering rich professional opportunities.

This course integrates the treatment of law and management. It helps managers and leaders spot legal issues before they become legal problems and emphasizes developing the legal astuteness to craft solutions that attain core organizational objectives without incurring undue legal risk. Traditional legal concepts are discussed as well as current topics in developing areas of the law. An emphasis on ethical concerns stimulates understanding of how managers must incorporate considerations of ethics and social responsibility into their managerial actions.

This course will examine value-chain functions such as product-process design, quality management, supply chain management and workforce management in order to understand the resource-based view of strategic advantage for the organization. Students will examine strategic management of operations utilizing to support the value-chain functions of operations management.

This course will focus on how managers think clearly and make effective decisions. Students will examine and apply several models of decision-making from intuition to predictive analytics. In support of effective execution, students will explore innovative, critical, emotional and futuristic thinking. Students will develop their own tools to become effective decision-makers.

This course introduces students to the principal practices and the theorists of contemporary strategic thinking. Students will understand how leaders have strategically created and affected organizational outcomes. After examining the elements of a strategic planning process, students apply those principles and focus on strategic analysis of their industry and the strategic practices of the organizations in that industry.

The student examines and reflects on their program learning and professional development. Course tools will measure and illuminate the student’s progress in gaining a better understanding of their professional worth and value. The Managerial Application and Portfolio (MAP) articulates that value. The MAP is the bridge that examines and applies an ethical framework to a formalized process that will guide the student’s professional and personal life journey.