BUSA 505 The Business Environment
Organizations of every size utilize core business functions and concepts such as marketing, human resources, accounting, financial management, economics, information systems, and operations management. Managers must understand these functional areas and the relationships between them in order to competently lead their team within the organization. This foundational course in the MBA program provides this necessary context and sets the stage for students to delve deeper into these concepts throughout their program. 

BUSA 510 Innovation and Design
This course examines the culture required to build innovation within teams and organizations as well as equipping students with the mindsets and processes employed by innovative problem-solvers. The course provides a learning atmosphere that emphasizes creativity and innovation and has a distinct emphasis on skill development through dynamic engagement in real world problems using an entrepreneurial and design thinking mindset.

BUSA 515 Strategic Human Resource Management
People are the most valuable asset of any organization. Demographic developments in the workforce and trends in the business environment are requiring organizations to focus on strong talent management practices to turn human resources into a competitive advantage. Institutions face a myriad of challenges associated with recruiting, training and managing the modern workforce including remote workforce management, diversity, preparation for a changing business environment, as well as heavy competition for top-tier talent. This course provides strategies for addressing these challenges, unlocking the potential of an organization’s workforce, and cultivating a corporate culture that promotes effective strategy execution.

BUSA 565 Marketing in the 21st Century
Students will be presented with foundational marketing concepts necessary to complete and execute an holistic marketing strategy and plan, including digital marketing strategies such as internet advertising, search engine optimization, and social media marketing. Contemporary digital marketing technologies will be explored in the broader context of marketing and students will understand how to effectively measure and calculate return on investment from digital marketing strategies.

BUSA 575 Data Analysis for Business
With the proliferation of the internet, businesses are collecting incalculable amounts of data and are seeking new insights from it in order to improve performance and maintain an edge in the market. This course provides an introduction to the collection, cleaning, storage, statistical analysis, and management implications of business data. Students will gain the basic skills and managerial knowledge required to manage data-competent teams and organizations. NOTE: Students in the MBA Business Analytics concentration are not required to take this course.

BUSA 585 Financial Accounting
This course overviews the processes of financial reporting, summation, and analysis. Students will learn how to prepare and interpret financial statements, evaluate an organization’s financial health, and forecast future financial decisions. The emphasis of this course will be on the managerial insights of financial accounting rather than day-to-day accounting practices. Students will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to effectively and responsibly manage the financial aspects of their teams, departments, and organizations.

BUSA 615 Managerial Economics
Managerial Economics utilizes microeconomic principles, econometrics, and game theory to analyze business decision making. Major topics include firm and consumer behavior, market structures, and industrial organization. Students will use a combination of theory and empirical techniques to critically analyze contemporary, real-world issues in economics and business. 

BUSA 625 Operations and Supply Chain Management
This course provides students with the tools to manage a high-functioning operational unit. Particular attention will be given to operational efficiencies, quality management, supply chain management, data infrastructure, and performance measurement. Students will learn the activities involved in the delivery of an organization’s value proposition.

BUSA 665 Leading Organizational Strategy
Behind every successful organization is a well-crafted, well-executed strategy aimed at achieving the organization’s goals. In this course, students will develop competencies to prepare and assess strategic plans. Tools will be provided to evaluate the organization’s external and internal environments to build competitive advantage and improve company performance. Students will recommend strategic approaches to strengthen the company’s competitive position in the market. The course culminates by examining the leadership challenges of strategic management and offering best practices for leading organizational change.

BUSA 685 Applied Knowledge Capstone
A student-directed applied learning project completed under faculty advisement designed to allow students to demonstrate their management competency.  Adopting the persona of a researcher, consultant, or founder of a new venture, students select a topic, problem, or opportunity to explore as a culminating project in the course. Students demonstrate mastery of their program’s material by incorporating critical analysis, sound business principles, ethical standards, and best practices into a research paper, business plan, presentation, and/or pitch.