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The online M.B.A. curriculum requires 40 credits of study. Students without a business background will be required to complete a sequence of prequalification courses that do not bear credit and can be completed more quickly online than traditional eight-week courses. The online program’s M.B.A. courses include:
- Core courses: 25 credits
- Electives: 15 credits
Course Descriptions
Prequalification Sequence
Students without a business background will be required to complete a sequence of prequalification courses that do not bear credit and can be completed more quickly online than traditional eight-week courses. Students can be waived from these courses based on prior coursework if conditions are met. Challenge exams are available. Please contact an Admissions Advisor at (844) 823-1198 to learn more.
BMBA 8008 Accounting Pre-Qualifier (Required for BMBA 9453)
The course provides the foundation for understanding how accounting information serves decision-makers in the global business world. The course focuses on the basics of accounting and reporting, outlining the composition and interrelationship of the primary financial statements and the principles that underlie their preparation.
BMBA 8009 Legal Studies Pre-Qualifier (Required for BMBA 9454)
The course provides an overview of the American legal process; an introduction to the relationship between law and business with special emphasis on the law of contracts.
BMBA 8011 Economics Pre-Qualifier (Required for BMBA 9459)
The course provides an introduction to or review of both micro and macroeconomics principles. Topics covered include major economic systems, forces of supply and demand and their effect on equilibrium prices, various markets, government intervention and regulation, fiscal policy and international economic issues.
BMBA 8013 Finance Pre-Qualifier (Required for BMBA 9460)
An introduction to the principles of finance for incoming MBA students with very limited finance backgrounds. Topics deal with the terms and tools of basic finance: money and capital markets, time value of money, capital budgeting, asset pricing/portfolio analysis and derivatives.
BMBA 8018 Math Pre-Qualifier (Required for BMBA 9455)
Students will review a variety of mathematical concepts and their applications to the business setting. Elementary algebra and calculus techniques will be the primary focus, and special attention will be paid to how they can be used in the modeling of basic business situations.
BMBA 8019 Statistics Pre-Qualifier (Required for BMBA 9455)
The course introduces and develops an understanding of statistical concepts and methods as tools in the managerial decision -making process in the face of uncertainty. Descriptive statistics, probability and probability distributions and statistical inference will be discussed. Linear regression and correlation also will be introduced. Emphasis will be placed on the student’s ability to identify appropriate statistical tools for analysis in a variety of business-related problems.
BMBA 8020 Information Technology Management Pre-Qualifier (Required for BMBA 9455 and BMBA 9458)
This course familiarizes students with the software productivity tools used in business today. The class focuses on the use of Microsoft Excel. Topics covered include worksheet construction, use of simple equations, creation of graphs and charts and sorting/filtering of data.
Note: Students may be granted waivers of pre-qualification courses based on the basis of coursework completed in the past five years. Students also may request a challenge exam to test out of a pre-qualification course.
International Student Seminar
This course is required of all students needing preparation in language and communication skills (unless a waiver is obtained) and must be completed prior to all core courses.
Core Curriculum (25 Credits)
BMBA 9450 The Launch Experience (2 credit hours)
This course centers on an intensive residency experience, focusing on the introduction to and exploration of key skillsets, and their application via experiential exercises. A post-residency online project involves creating a customized academic and career plan.
BMBA 9451 Corporate Social Responsibility (2 credit hours)
Focus on the social and ethical conduct of business organizations through discussion of the impacts of enterprise behavior and analysis of the ethical implications of corporate policies and procedures. The course provides a framework for students to plan their Service Projects.
BMBA 9452 International Perspective (2 credit hours)
This course is designed to introduce the graduate student to the world of international business, international trade and political economy. These subjects are approached from the viewpoint of a generalist, offering information and insights from the broad perspectives of business, economics, finance, political and economic geography, risk management, marketing, ethics and international law. Through an introduction to these fields, it is expected that students will gain a core understanding of the concepts, ideas and vocabulary of international business.
BMBA 9453 Accounting for Decision Makers (2 credit hours)
This course introduces you to the foundational topics in accounting necessary for a career in business. You will learn the contents of financial statements, accounting for certain common transactions, basic financial statement analysis tools, and commonly used managerial accounting techniques. Prerequisite: BMBA 8008.
BMBA 9454 Legal Environment (2 credit hours)
Managers face a variety of legal challenges that can both help and hinder success. This course will provide a foundation of legal knowledge that will equip students to recognize the legal potholes they will encounter as mangers. We will examine legal issues involved in the areas of torts and products liability, antitrust, employment and labor law and a most important area in this knowledge economy, intellectual property. Prerequisite: BMBA 8009.
BMBA 9455 The Role of Quantitative Analysis in Business Decision Making (2 credit hours)
This course highlights the strategic role of quantitative analysis in the decision-making process in all business-related functional areas. Applications of quantitative concepts and techniques, such as Probability & Statistics, Data Analysis, Simulation, Regression, Modeling, and Sensitivity Analysis to problems from Economics, Finance, Marketing and Law will be used to demonstrate the power of the analytical approach. Prerequisite: BMBA 8018, BMBA 8019 and BMBA 8020.
BMBA 9456 Management Theory and Practice (2 credit hours)
This course covers functional and behavioral aspects of managing organizations, such as planning, organizing, leading, and controlling, with special focus on the changing organizational work environment. It will cover the roles managers play, the skills they need, and the processes they use in managing, with reference to context of the large corporation, small-to-medium sized organization, entrepreneurial/start-up, government unit, and NGO. The course will explore the reasons why individuals, groups, and organizations behave the way they do, and students will learn how to apply their knowledge of organizational behavior to increase motivation and organizational effectiveness.
BMBA 9457 Market Decision Making (2 credit hours)
This course highlights the strategic role of customer satisfaction and how managers from every department contribute to creating customer value. Fundamental marketing concepts such as the 4Ps, segmentation approaches, product positioning, branding, and product-market lifecycle will be used to solve business problems and discover new opportunities.
BMBA 9458 Information Technology Management (2 credit hours)
Information technology (IT) has transformed all aspects of 21st century business and everyday life. It is vital that future managers in every area of business have a working knowledge of modern IT, practical experience in its use, and management perspective on how IT is used in organizations. This course introduces information technologies that are critical to modern business, and discuss applications in various aspects of business operations. Prerequisite: BMBA 8020.
BMBA 9459 Economics for Managers (2 credit hours)
This course offers managerial perspectives from the viewpoint of Economics. Topics covered include demand and supply analysis, elasticities of demand, competitive positioning, productivity, pricing power, profitability, business cycle developments, and macro-policy responses to these influences. Prerequisite: BMBA 8011.
BMBA 9460 Financial Decision Making (2 credit hours)
Anchored in the finance incentives of time and risk, the course offers an introduction to applied finance based on four concepts: time value of money, capital budgeting, asset pricing, including an introduction to portfolio analysis, and derivatives. Part of the course will be motivated by linking topics covered in BMBA 9459, such as revenue generation, costs, competitive structure, and business cycles with financial statements, interest rates, return measurements, risk metrics, and the term structure of interest. This linking will effectively form a “2+2” approach across the disciplines in line with “transforming concepts into business practice,” the core of the Stillman mission. Prerequisite: BMBA 8013. Co-requisites: BMBA 9455 and 9458.
BMBA 9461 Business Consulting (Capstone) (3 credit hours)
In this course you will put concepts into practice by advising a local organization. The organization will provide a context in which to apply the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) you have gained over the course of your Stillman School of Business educational experience. You will be assigned to a functionally-diverse consulting team that will engage with a client on a real strategic issue or issues. Your team will meet with the organization, gather primary and secondary data, analyze the resulting data, define a specific challenges or opportunities and then propose appropriate strategies, tactics and actionable recommendations. The issues will likely cover a broad spectrum across multiple disciplines giving you a chance to apply many of the tools and concepts you learned in the MBA program. In addition, you will practice ‘soft skills’ like communication, peer coaching, problem solving, critical thinking, adaptability, teamwork, and conflict resolution. Prerequisites: BMBA 9450-9460.
Electives
All M.B.A. students must complete 15 credit hours of electives. Students may pursue a concentration in Accounting, Finance or Marketing by completing all the courses below within the listed concentration. Or they may select any combination of individual courses from those listed under the Accounting, Finance and Marketing concentrations to complete a general M.B.A. track.
Accounting Concentration Courses
BACC 7100 Financial Reporting (6 credit hours)
This course provides a comprehensive overview of generally accepted accounting principles. Financial statements for going concerns will be covered, including measurement, recognition and disclosure requirements of financial reporting. Prerequisite: BACC 6101, BMBA 9453 or the equivalent.
BACC 7123 Auditing Standards and Problems (3 credit hours)
This course provides a case study of effective auditing procedures. It covers topics that include Detection of fraud by analysis of accounts, and current findings of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prerequisite: BACC 7100 or equivalent with a grade of C- or better.
BACC 7114 Cost Accounting (3 credit hours)
This course explores cost systems used in business organizations, including topics such as valuation of assets and distribution costs, effective methods of cost analysis and control. Standard costs. Prerequisite: BACC 6101, BMBA 9453 or the equivalent.
BACC 7135 Essentials of Federal Taxation (3 credit hours)
This course provides students with an overview and basic understanding of the federal income tax structure with respect to individuals, as well as corporations, partnerships, estates, and trusts domiciled or engaging in business in the United States. The course is an introduction to the basic concepts of federal income taxation with particular emphasis on the concepts of gross income, deductions, exemptions, basis, recognition of gains and losses, and accounting methods and periods. Additional topics addressed include the formation, operation, and liquidation of business enterprises. Federal transfer taxes will also be explored.
Finance Concentration Courses
BFIN 7215 Capital and Money Markets (3 credit hours)
Structure and functions of the capital and money markets. Effect on those markets of monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government; relation of these markets to the level of general business activity.
BFIN 7219 Security Analysis (3 credit hours)
Analysis, valuation and trading of stocks and bonds, asset pricing theories and portfolio management and evaluation, with emphasis on developing essential analytical skills for investment decisions. Introductions to derivatives will also be covered.
BFIN 7230 Portfolio Analysis (3 credit hours)
Analysis of risk and return characteristics of securities and security market behavior based on mean-variance analysis and optimal portfolio diversification. Special attention given to building optimal portfolios and testing their performance against a broad market index.
BFIN 7236 Corporate Finance (3 credit hours)
Analysis of corporate finance theory and development of analytical tools, including capital budgeting, capital structure decisions, project financing and valuing real options.
Marketing Concentration Courses
BMKT 7611 Marketing Research (3 credit hours)
Marketing research procedure: the systematic collection, analysis, interpretation and reporting of data that enable marketing executives to make better decisions. Techniques of marketing research, including problem definition, research design, sampling, measurement and questionnaire construction, data collection and analysis and report preparation. Ethical considerations in collecting data from consumers, including respondents’ rights of anonymity, privacy and access to information about the study. The applications of emerging information technologies and data processing software (e.g., SPSS, Microsoft Excel) in marketing research.
BMKT 7636 The Science of Persuasion (3 credit hours)
Nothing is more central to one’s professional career than to effectively communicate an argument. Regardless if the communication opportunity is a face-to-face encounter, a group setting, or to a broader audience across an organization, the ability to persuade is a fundamental skill to effective leadership.
The goal of this course is to extract knowledge from the social sciences on proven principles and techniques of effective persuasion that can be used in one’s professional career. The class will review and discuss books, as well as, academic and practitioner articles that focus on persuasion. This course will be conducted in an online environment.
BMKT 7640 Corporate Branding Strategy (3 credit hours)
Today’s companies must develop effective branding strategies for their products and services, as well as identify strategies for their organizations. This course focuses on the strategic essentials of creating strong brands, brand management strategy, and strategies for building corporate brands. The topics covered include: what constitutes a strong “brand” (from both marketing and legal perspectives); using brand personalities and cultures to create customer value and loyalty; strategies for building brand equity through positioning; brand leveraging strategies (e.g. brand extensions) and brand alliances (e.g. co-branding); building and maintaining strong cohesive corporate identities; building brand identities around mergers and acquisitions; and turnaround measures for floundering brands. Students will be required to analyze a given corporate branding strategy on the basis of the material covered.
BMKT 7652 Digital Marketing (3 credit hours)
Individualized interactive marketing is one of the fastest growing avenues for targeting customers. This course explores the philosophies underlying individualized interactive marketing including one-to-one marketing, customer relationship management, and mass customization leading to a greater understanding of consumer-firm co-creation of value in a Web 2.0 world. The class will review and discuss books, academic and practitioner articles, and case studies concerning this topic. Prerequisites: BMBA 9457 and BMBA 9458.