Full Course Description List:

WMBA Courses

0 semester credits

A background in the basics of business is often a key to making the most of a graduate business or management program. In this foundational course, students can build their business acumen in major functional areas that are essential to business success including business leadership and management, business ethics, the legal environment of business, accounting, finance, economics, quantitative methods and statistics, information systems management, global business, marketing, and strategic management.

0 semester credits

A background in the basics of business is often a key to making the most of a graduate business or management program. In this foundational course, students can build their business acumen in major functional areas that are essential to business success including business leadership and management, business ethics, the legal environment of business, accounting, finance, economics, quantitative methods and statistics, information systems management, global business, marketing, and strategic management.

5 credits

Being an effective leader is essential in business and demands that an individual has a strong set of competencies including the ability to understand one's self, motivate others, understand organizational culture, and manage ambiguity. In this course, students begin their personal and professional transformation by closely examining their current strengths and weaknesses, values, decision-making processes, and approaches to dealing with difficult problems. Students also explore leadership in turbulent times by examining how effective leaders think as well as how various management styles impact situations and relationships within an organization. Topics include key leadership concepts with applications to authentic situations; personal leadership and competency assessment; personal and professional development planning; and ethical values-based leadership decision making.

5 credits

Contemporary business environments are increasingly competitive, global, fast paced, and knowledge intensive. In these environments, effective use of human capital is vital to an enterprise's success and survival. In this course, students will explore practical issues related to developing individuals and managing collaboration and will examine the skills and strategies necessary to address them effectively. Students will examine ethical and legal implications of managing a diverse workforce including issues that arise from cross-cultural differences and virtual work settings. The importance of communication as a tool to manage internal and external relationships is emphasized as it relates to the effectiveness of managing people to achieve organizational goals. Topics include planning and executing staffing strategies, developing individuals, fostering positive work environments, creating and sustaining teams, maintaining influence in the organization, managing a global workforce, managing programs for productivity improvement, and planning and managing the human side of organizational change.

5 credits

The need for information and dependence on information systems and enabling technologies is ubiquitous in business. Businesses use information systems to collect, process, store, and manage data, which can be aggregated and disseminated in the form of information to support effective decision making. Students in this course explore how to realize optimum benefit from information systems and technology to support and improve business decisions, processes, and services at all levels of business in alignment with business goals to achieve competitive advantage and sustainable business performance. Topics include cost, selection, implementation and use of information systems; quality, reliability, and process standards; and use of information systems to drive strategic advantage.

5 credits

Effective managers know that a clear understanding of the role of marketing, as well as a grasp of effective marketing practices, is essential for organizations to succeed in today's fast-paced, competitive environment. In this course, students gain a working knowledge of both marketing theory and the practical application of innovative marketing tools and strategies. Students also explore how product, price, place, promotion, and people contribute to the marketing mix as they explore research-based insights into consumer behavior.

3 semester credits

Being an effective leader is essential in business and demands that an individual has a strong set of competencies including the ability to understand one's self, motivate others, understand organizational culture, and manage ambiguity. In this course, students begin their personal and professional transformation by closely examining their current strengths and weaknesses, values, decision-making processes, and approaches to dealing with difficult problems. Students also explore leadership in turbulent times by examining how effective leaders think as well as how various management styles impact situations and relationships within an organization.

3 semester credits

Being an effective leader is essential in business and demands that an individual has a strong set of competencies including the ability to understand one's self, motivate others, understand organizational culture, and manage ambiguity. In this course, students begin their personal and professional transformation by closely examining their current strengths and weaknesses, values, decision-making processes, and approaches to dealing with difficult problems. Students also explore leadership in turbulent times by examining how effective leaders think as well as how various management styles impact situations and relationships within an organization.

Note: This course is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.

3 semester credits

Contemporary business environments are increasingly competitive, global, fast paced, and knowledge intensive. In these environments, effective use of human capital is vital to an enterprise's success and survival. In this course, students will explore practical issues related to developing individuals and managing collaboration and will examine the skills and strategies necessary to address them effectively. Students will examine ethical and legal implications of managing a diverse workforce including issues that arise from cross-cultural differences and virtual work settings. The importance of communication as a tool to manage internal and external relationships is emphasized as it relates to the effectiveness of managing people to achieve organizational goals.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Contemporary business environments are increasingly competitive, global, fast paced, and knowledge intensive. In these environments, effective use of human capital is vital to an enterprise's success and survival. In this course, students will explore practical issues related to developing individuals and managing collaboration and will examine the skills and strategies necessary to address them effectively. Students will examine ethical and legal implications of managing a diverse workforce including issues that arise from cross-cultural differences and virtual work settings. The importance of communication as a tool to manage internal and external relationships is emphasized as it relates to the effectiveness of managing people to achieve organizational goals.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000A

Note: This course is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.

3 semester credits

In today's complex and uncertain environment, innovation is important to achieving business success. In this course, students will examine how to be an effective creative leader who can readily apply imagination to resolve complex problems. Additionally, students explore methods to establish a work environment conducive to creative thinking. Students will gain a set of proven methods, skills, and strategies that enable innovative breakthroughs to occur in a much more deliberate and predictable manner.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

In today's complex and uncertain environment, innovation is important to achieving business success. In this course, students will examine how to be an effective creative leader who can readily apply imagination to resolve complex problems. Additionally, students explore methods to establish a work environment conducive to creative thinking. Students will gain a set of proven methods, skills, and strategies that enable innovative breakthroughs to occur in a much more deliberate and predictable manner.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000A

Note: This course is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.

3 semester credits

The need for information and dependence on information systems and enabling technologies are ubiquitous in business. Businesses use information systems to collect, process, store, and manage data, which can be aggregated and disseminated in the form of information to support effective decision making. Students in this course explore how to realize optimum benefit from information systems and technology to support and improve business decisions, processes, and services at all levels of business in alignment with business goals to achieve competitive advantage and sustainable business performance.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

The need for information and dependence on information systems and enabling technologies are ubiquitous in business. Businesses use information systems to collect, process, store, and manage data, which can be aggregated and disseminated in the form of information to support effective decision making. Students in this course explore how to realize optimum benefit from information systems and technology to support and improve business decisions, processes, and services at all levels of business in alignment with business goals to achieve competitive advantage and sustainable business performance.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000A

Note: This course is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.

3 semester credits

One of the most critical challenges in maintaining and improving organizational performance is identifying core strengths and weaknesses within the organization and across the more general value creation landscape. The focus of this course is on the challenges and opportunities for managers to create value and to increase organizational performance through the effective deployment of systems thinking and change management skills. Students in the course explore systems thinking as a process whereby problems are viewed as individual components within a larger system and explore how various operational and systems thinking frameworks can be utilized to optimize organizational performance in both industrial and service settings.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

One of the most critical challenges in maintaining and improving organizational performance is identifying core strengths and weaknesses within the organization and across the more general value creation landscape. The focus of this course is on the challenges and opportunities for managers to create value and to increase organizational performance through the effective deployment of systems thinking and change management skills. Students in the course explore systems thinking as a process whereby problems are viewed as individual components within a larger system and explore how various operational and systems thinking frameworks can be utilized to optimize organizational performance in both industrial and service settings.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000A

Note: This course is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.

3 semester credits

Accounting is the language of business. Managers must understand and be able to effectively use this language to create meaningful measures upon which to make appropriate decisions. They must know what to measure, how to measure, and what the consequences of the measurement might be. This course takes a rigorous stakeholder approach that integrates fundamental managerial accounting topics with strategic business analysis. Students will explore the use of accounting information to make effective business decisions; analysis of the impact of decisions on various stakeholder groups; and the development of sustainable solutions based on the information that is measured, analysis of various types of budgets, strategic planning, and forecasting as well as communicating accounting information effectively to various stakeholders.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Accounting is the language of business. Managers must understand and be able to effectively use this language to create meaningful measures upon which to make appropriate decisions. They must know what to measure, how to measure, and what the consequences of the measurement might be. This course takes a rigorous stakeholder approach that integrates fundamental managerial accounting topics with strategic business analysis. Students will explore the use of accounting information to make effective business decisions; analysis of the impact of decisions on various stakeholder groups; and the development of sustainable solutions based on the information that is measured, analysis of various types of budgets, strategic planning, and forecasting as well as communicating accounting information effectively to various stakeholders.

Note: This course is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.

3 semester credits

Effective managers know that a clear understanding of the role of marketing, as well as a grasp of effective marketing practices, is essential for organizations to succeed in today's fast-paced, competitive environment. In this course, students gain a working knowledge of both marketing theory and the practical application of innovative marketing tools and strategies. Students also explore how product, price, place, promotion, and people contribute to the marketing mix as they explore research-based insights into consumer behavior.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Effective managers know that a clear understanding of the role of marketing, as well as a grasp of effective marketing practices, is essential for organizations to succeed in today's fast-paced, competitive environment. In this course, students gain a working knowledge of both marketing theory and the practical application of innovative marketing tools and strategies. Students also explore how product, price, place, promotion, and people contribute to the marketing mix as they explore research-based insights into consumer behavior.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000A

Note: This course is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.

3 semester credits

Today's companies are challenged to constantly do more with less. Effective managers know how to deploy scarce financial resources in ways to achieve optimum returns on these resources. Students will discover the latest financial tools and analytic methods to strengthen the capital investment decision-making process. Students will use critical-thinking skills to apply and, at times, challenge traditional financial theory, while balancing various stakeholder interests in the financial decision-making process. Students will examine a range of contemporary issues and techniques relevant to sound and ethical financial decision making.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000
• WMBA 6050

3 semester credits

Today's companies are challenged to constantly do more with less. Effective managers know how to deploy scarce financial resources in ways to achieve optimum returns on these resources. Students will discover the latest financial tools and analytic methods to strengthen the capital investment decision-making process. Students will use critical-thinking skills to apply and, at times, challenge traditional financial theory, while balancing various stakeholder interests in the financial decision-making process. Students will examine a range of contemporary issues and techniques relevant to sound and ethical financial decision making.

Note: This course is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.

3 semester credits

Performance management involves the ongoing activities of employee evaluation and development focused on achieving the organization's short- and long-term goals. Performance management also is required to meet ethical and statuary requirements. Looking at the continuous nature of performance management underscores the importance of identifying and supporting talent development. Students assess performance management systems within the context of the defined system metrics supporting the organization's goals, and they assess the role of performance management in strengthening the organization through diversity and inclusion.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Understanding the value of an organization's human capital is crucial to its continuing success. Human resource (HR) management metrics provide the tools both for measuring value and for managing an organization's human resources. Students in this course explore HR analytics and metrics as tools for organizational and individual performance improvement. These tools establish a foundation for the effective deployment of performance metrics as part of the recruitment, talent development, and retention of human resources. They also facilitate alignment of the HR strategy with the business strategy. Students examine the power of analytics and an HR metrics dashboard. In addition, students investigate the role of human resource information systems (HRIS) and the importance of working with internal business partners from areas such as information technology, finance, and the executive team.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6201

3 semester credits

Negotiation and conflict management are core responsibilities of human resource (HR) professionals and having the HR function as the conflict resolution facilitator is critical to employee/employer relationships. Taking a leadership role in facilitating conflict is critical to assuring employment law and regulatory compliance. In organizations with unionized workforces, the HR role in conflict resolution tactics may be constrained by collective bargaining agreements. Students in this course explore the challenges of conflict and dispute and work toward developing skills to identify different types of conflict solutions. Students engage in hands-on, practical exercises in negotiation and bargaining strategies as well as communication styles.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6201

3 semester credits

Effective managers know how to identify, prioritize, and act upon the most important items of the myriad of tasks that can potentially distract them on any given day.  Students will explore  the qualities of effective managers and various management styles to identify those which resonate.  Students will examine critical skills  that are imperative to successful  management including organizing and handling priorities; communicating effectively; motivating, empowering,  and developing people; resolving issues and challenges; and managing oneself. Students will gain valuable skills and knowledge that they can apply immediately.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Students in this course assess the causes and consequences of historical events on health and medical care in the United States. They appraise the impact of barriers related to cost, quality, and access to health and medical care. Students analyze unique and complex aspects of subsystems and differentiate vertical and horizontal integrated healthcare delivery systems. They compare characteristics of healthcare and medical care in the United States with healthcare and medical care systems in other countries. Students also evaluate current and future issues, trends, and forces in healthcare and medical care reform.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

The rapidly evolving healthcare system presents the healthcare administrator with complex challenges and risks. Healthcare administrators must possess the skills needed to assess external and internal healthcare polices to influence organizational design and delivery of healthcare services. Students assess and discuss key policy initiatives from the diverse perspectives of policymakers, interest groups, and other stakeholders. Through coursework, students focus on required knowledge of laws and regulations developed by policymakers that impact the healthcare organizations, and they review key laws that govern patient care delivery, employee relations, contracts, and fraud. Emphasis will be placed on legal and regulatory failure points that administrators must avoid in designing and implementing policies and practices within the healthcare organization. To help frame these concepts, students examine the ethical underpinnings and principles that healthcare organizations and administrators follow in the delivery of services to patients.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Being an effective, authentic, and trustworthy leader requires considerable self-awareness based on commitment to candid self-reflection and the wisdom to recognize how to best serve others through creating shared vision for a better future. In this course, students examine their values, experiences, skills, capabilities, preferences, and knowledge in context of their leadership aspirations. Students examine factors that affect their ability to influence and inspire others and create plans to strengthen these leadership skills. Students learn strategies to navigate in turbulent, changing environments that often pose difficult choices and discover how leaders rise to meet challenges and opportunities.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

In this course, students gain knowledge of economics principles such as cost, quality, and access as they relate to the healthcare world. The principles of healthcare financial management, including accounting and finance, are vitally important to the viability and ongoing operations of a healthcare business. Students have the opportunity to interpret and analyze the financial statements of a business, use and analyze financial ratios, utilize variance analysis, understand and implement operating and capital budgeting, and develop knowledge of the business planning process. Students create portions of a business/financial plan using these techniques and analyze the viability of their plan using accepted financial management tools.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

One of the most important assets of an organization is its talent, in other words, its human capital. However, too often there is little planning or strategy applied to the creation and management of this huge asset. In this course, students have the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge to create and work effectively within a talent management and planning process. They explore recruiting strategies within a human capital development context and focus on building specific skills in managing an organization's talent through position planning, talent selection and placement, and retention. Using industry best practices, students also engage in applications and group projects to practice developing initiatives that align with organizational strategies.

3 semester credits

Understanding the specific value of the human resource (HR) capital of an organization is crucial. Metrics for HR management provide the tools for both measuring human capital value and for overseeing and managing an organization's human resources. Students in this course explore HR metrics as tools for organizational and individual performance improvement. They work toward establishing a foundation for the effective deployment of performance metrics as part of the recruitment, training and development, and retention of human resources. Students learn which metrics to employ and how to manage the results – a pivotal responsibility of HR managers. Students in this course are provided with the tools to make informed decisions required to create, apply, interpret, and manage results of appropriate metrics as an HR professional.

3 semester credits

Organizational leaders act as partners in shaping, and are shaped by, the organizational cultures they seek to influence. Students in this course learn to recognize the elements that make up an organization's culture as well as ways to harness these for positive change and organizational success. They explore perspectives on how to make conceptual sense of the cultural landscape of organizations and examine the implications for leading and building effective communities at various levels of application. Students assess and discuss a variety of topics, such as tools of self-development, the reciprocal nature of leadership, and cultural components.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Students in this course are introduced to the knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques needed to successfully manage projects throughout the life of a project, known as the project life cycle. By learning about the project management Knowledge Areas and Process Groups as well as the distinguishing characteristics of each, students gain an appreciation for how these two dimensions of project management interact in initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing a project.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Project management involves an ongoing, and nearly inevitable, variation of risks to which managers must be attuned and ready to mitigate. In this course, students learn how to plan, analyze, respond to, and control qualitative and quantitative risk in projects. They examine the internal risks associated with managing projects and the external risks associated with customer behavior, the supply chain, transportation and distribution channels, and acts of nature within the framework of the organization's overall risk strategy. Assessing real-world examples of project risks, students learn about strategies for working with project stakeholders to identify and respond to risk within defined ethical and legal standards.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

One role of the project manager is to lead teams in complex and diverse organizational settings while concurrently communicating with all stakeholders. In this course, students analyze this dual role and examine how individual and group behavior impacts organizational effectiveness. They discover how using influence, rather than organizational power, leads to more successful project management. Students learn ways to design projects to support organizational goals and how to build and engage organizational capital (intellectual, human, physical, financial, and structural). They also apply stakeholder management practices to engage in and manage relationships with the community of project stakeholders.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Mentoring requires an understanding and integration of many theories, including leadership, interaction, and communication, that support the development of effective leaders. Students in this course understand and apply skills of effective mentoring, such as active listening, learning, empowering, and enabling change. Students engage in practical exercises, such as using feedback to create interactive dialogue and asking questions to acquire a deeper understanding of mentoring and coaching processes. In consideration of modern and virtual environments, students explore the challenges of mentoring or coaching individuals in a virtual or team setting.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Effectively using data and information can make the difference in whether the best decisions are made or problems are solved correctly. There are multiple approaches to practical managerial problem solving that are rooted in the systematic collection, analysis, and display of relevant data and information. In this course, students examine the importance of data, beginning with the process of transforming data into information, and then focusing on the best methods for presenting that information in support of sound and ethical decision making. Students evaluate common misinterpretations or errors in working with data and determine how to detect data and information presented in a deceptive manner. Students explore current paradigms in data-based decision making and problem solving. They learn how they can use these analytical-thinking practices to improve their general managerial decision-making skills.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

The focus of this course is on how students use financial information for internal decision-making purposes. It is designed for the leaders who will be using, rather than producing, financial information. Decision making is an art. Good decision makers need to be able to anticipate the alternatives, evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each, and recognize the tradeoffs inherent in each alternative. Students in this course will approach financial decision making using this framework that also overtly includes rigorous stakeholder analysis and implications. Stakeholder analysis sometimes leads to controversial decision alternatives, but it is this exercise that will develop the students' talents for challenging the traditional and finding the balance between stakeholder expectations and creating opportunity for the organization. The objective of this course is for students to apply finance theory and principles to the analysis of important business problems. Specific topics will include capital budgeting, cost of capital, real options, capital structure, payout policy, and enterprise valuation.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6070

3 semester credits

Corporate finance managers use a variety of tools when identifying possible alternatives for recommendations on financial management decision making. Students in this course use the tools of finance to help managers maximize their firm's value. Topics include the time value of money, net present value, internal rate of return, capital budgeting, capital structure, working capital management, multinational concepts, and dividend policy.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6070

3 semester credits

Students taking this course build on WMBA 6643 and focus more deeply on contemporary issues and optimal financial decision making. Students participate in hands-on demonstrations of how to become more skillful in various financial management environments. Topics include valuation, advanced capital budgeting, cost of capital, risk, standard deviation, variance, covariance, capital asset pricing model, and beta. Additional topics include multinational concepts, leasing, option pricing, derivatives, hedging, and other advanced financial applications.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6070

3 semester credits

In this course, students continue to build their entrepreneurial skills and knowledge base by addressing problems drawn from real-world organizations. Students analyze how the organization contributes to society (local, national, or international), how entrepreneurship and commercial activities affect the environment, and how the potential of forming "glocalities" (a combination of individuals, business organizations, and political agencies) becomes more significant in the future in terms of working in unison to better society.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Students in this course focus on the emerging trend of business organizations moving from a profit-only mentality to one in which they utilize their profits and other resources to enhance society. Students explore entrepreneurial concepts and processes that apply to startup enterprises as well as those that are well established with an innovative focus or entrepreneurial spirit. Topics such as market opportunity, risk management, change management, innovation, product development, financing and raising capital, intellectual property, and commercialization are covered. Students apply these and related concepts to problems common to real-world organizations.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Small businesses make up a large majority of all businesses in the United States. Students in this course are presented with the fundamentals of successfully establishing a sustainable small business enterprise. They address small business organization, operation, management, and sustainability. Business topics in the areas of planning, accounting, finance, and marketing are analyzed through the lens of the small business organization. Students analyze the unique relationships between government and small businesses. Topics include how to identify what determines the status of being a small business with local, state, and federal government agencies as well as how small businesses apply sustainable practices to be profitable. Students investigate the crucial role that technology plays in managing small business operations and evaluate popular software applications for efficiently managing those functions.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

While some companies may still be asking, "Why should we care about social media?," most are now asking, "How can we leverage the power of social media?" In this course, students examine how social media has changed the way consumers interact with brands and apply elements of storytelling to develop a social media strategy for an organizational scenario. In addition, students explore issues of ethics, privacy, and media law that are heightened by social media and digital communication distribution. Topics include types of social media, audience appropriateness, reputation management, social media strategy, evaluation methods, and the communications regulatory environment, including media law and privacy.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6060

3 semester credits

Understanding consumer behavior is essential for developing and effectively marketing products and services. In this course, students can learn how to use customer data and insights to improve strategic marketing decisions and improve performance. Students have the opportunity to analyze factors that influence buyer behavior during all stages of the purchasing process and to consider how learnings can be translated into product strategy and related marketing decisions. Additionally, students will study market segmentation and targeting practices as a key means of differentiation.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6060

3 semester credits

How can a marketing plan help a business meet its goals and objectives? How can a marketing plan help capitalize on consumer insights and trends? How can the latest innovations and communication strategies be used to reach the target audience? In this course, students will be immersed in all aspects of developing a comprehensive 3-year marketing plan that aligns with an organization's business strategy and helps marketers make better decisions about their products, services, customers, brand, and competition. Students can learn to apply best practices for market segmentation, consumer insights, competitive analysis, brand positioning and strategy, and consumer acquisition and retention strategies, as well as developing tactical ideas for each strategy, and providing financial justification for the plan.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6060

3 semester credits

A fundamental shift is occurring in today's business environment as international borders become less of a barrier to trade and investment. Successful businesses recognize the importance of a global mindset and a strong understanding of the global forces affecting them. In this course, students will examine the forces and institutions that are shaping international trade and investment flows, explore the many options for "going global," and evaluate the complex challenges that organizations face when moving into new and diverse cultural, political, business, and economic environments. Topics include: an overview of multinational institutions; alternative methods for entering global markets; the effects of regional integration on multinational businesses; risks faced by multinational organizations; supply chain and Research and Development (R&D) considerations; sustainability in a global environment; and financial management and ethics.

3 semester credits

In this course, international business topics are explored in depth and in context through real-world case studies. Students analyze the success and failure of international business ventures across a wide range of industries, developing their analytical skills in the process.

3 semester credits

Managers encounter a variety of challenges on a daily basis, which require the ability to employ existing tools and strategies to strategically communicate with individuals and the organization at large and to understand the different types of attitudes and values of others. Individuals with these skills are most successful when their efforts are coupled with the ability to think critically and analytically. Students are provided with the opportunity to improve their overall critical-thinking and reasoning skills within a managerial context. Using relevant management articles, case studies, and current topics analyses, students sharpen their diagnostic-reading skills and learn to construct effective, ethical, evidence-based arguments, which are fundamental capabilities of effective managers. They also examine common fallacies in thinking and reasoning as well as the rhetorical use of language to formulate convincing and effective arguments.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Over the last few decades, a fundamental shift in the world economy has been underway. No longer are national economic interests and business operations largely confined within well-­defined geographic borders. Phenomena such as the explosion of the Internet, global sourcing, and the reduction in barriers to cross-­border trade have all contributed to the creation of a truly global economy. Students in this course focus on the global environment of business and explore how the international sociocultural, political, legal, economic, physical, and historical environments affect business practices and policies. Students will learn the skills and methodologies required for market analysis and business strategizing on a global scale. In particular, students identify the internal and external forces affecting an organization's ability to compete both domestically and globally.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6000

3 semester credits

Today's effective finance professionals use a variety of financial management tools as they seek to evaluate alternatives and make sound financial recommendations. Students will gain practical experience of a financial professional's role by using financial modeling tools such as breakeven and cost-volume-profit analysis for model pricing and cost sensitivity, forecasting and cost prediction, variance cost analysis, relevant cost analysis, project valuation and prioritization using payback, rates of return, and discounted cash flow methods. Students' increased diagnostic critical-thinking skills will help them to construct effective, ethical, fact-based arguments, which are among the fundamental capabilities required for financial decision making. Using relevant management articles, case studies, and topic analyses, students also examine how to align business needs with fact-based solutions, how to identify new opportunities, and how to manage and enhance an organization's competitive position.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6050

3 semester credits

One of the primary functions of the accountant's role is preparing internal accounting information that can be used by management for effective decision making and organizational performance. Students can gain a practical perspective into this role through case study review and analysis of pricing and contribution margin analysis, cost management and allocation, activity-based costing and throughput accounting, and inventory management. Students assess performance measurements, including key performance indicators, balanced scorecard, and forecasting. They explore operating and capital budgeting and financial planning techniques and become familiar with quantitative models and approaches used in management accounting. Through this course, students learn about the different departments and operating divisions within an organization and how they work individually and collaboratively to handle accounting responsibilities.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6050

3 semester credits

Accountants and business managers must be astute and proactive in managing a business to combat the inevitable threat of operational and financial risks, including those involving credit, market, liquidity, reputation, technology, and legality. In this course, students assess the tools used by accountants and managers in managing these risks. They explore the various processes used to identify, analyze, and assess risks, and they learn the appropriate use of financial and operational controls to mitigate such risks. Additionally, students examine ways to implement techniques, such as developing a risk control matrix and using the concepts of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) framework to improve an organization's enterprise risk management.

Prerequisites

• WMBA 6050

3 semester credits

The ability to communicate with others influences success in both professional and personal settings. As communities and places of work become increasingly diverse, the intersections of interpersonal and intercultural communication also increase, and communicators need to be aware that the cultural diversity of their audiences should affect the way they convey information. Students in this course examine interpersonal and intercultural intersections and study the influence of cultural diversity on interpersonal communication. By examining theory, students develop an approach to practice and hone individual strategies for communicating successfully in diverse interpersonal situations. Topics include interpersonal communication theory, intercultural communication theory, individual communication competence, nonverbal channels, person perception, conflict resolution, and listening and communication barriers.

3 semester credits

Effective communication is frequently cited as one of the most important factors in managerial and organizational success—as well as one of the areas of greatest dissatisfaction. In this course, students take a close look at the components of effective communication and hone strategies for communication success. They explore how self-perception and perception of others affect communication and will develop skills for communicating more effectively with diverse audiences. Topics include the communication process, interpersonal communication, self-awareness in communication, communication channels and mediums, and communicating across and beyond the organization.

3 semester credits

Students in this course leverage a wide range of knowledge and skills to conceive and execute a global communications campaign that uses traditional and digital media. Students have the opportunity to develop and review a creative or innovative brief grounded in concepts of integrated marketing communication. Students generate solutions for that brief across the phases of the creative process, present and defend solutions, and evaluate solutions using metrics. Topics include the creative process, integrated marketing communication, selecting appropriate channels, pitching and selling ideas, and evaluation metrics.

3 semester credits

To successfully build and manage the relationship between an organization and the public in today's increasingly global community, a strategic communications plan requires the use of both traditional and new technology. Students in this course explore, from a global perspective, the needs of various public relations stakeholders, including the customer, the press, and the investor. Topics include how to change behaviors, advocate for causes, design messages for specific audiences, select appropriate communication channels, and evaluate results of public relations campaigns. Students also consider the potential legal and ethical aspects of the practice of public relations.

3 semester credits

Social entrepreneurs are gaining international attention motivated by the desire for change and to see the world as it can be, not as it is. Students in the course will learn how social entrepreneurs have developed creative solutions to address social problems. The intention of the course is to develop knowledge, appreciate of the role of social entrepreneurs who create social change, deepen students' understanding of the world around them, and to inspire them to use their skills and knowledge to be, as Gandhi said, "the change you wish to see in the world."

Students in this course will gain knowledge about social entrepreneurs and how they are creating solutions to address societal problems, learn how to develop creative solutions to address social problems, and empower students to see social entrepreneurship as a force for social change. The course is designed for those who want to gain valuable tools to prepare them to make an impact on the lives of others. This course will be housed in the School of Public Policy and Administration for future upgrades and course maintenance.

3 semester credits

Grant writing is the method by which external funding can be secured by educational institutions, community organizations, and nonprofit agencies to provide services to the community. In this course, students will understand processes and gain basic skills needed for successful grant writing. These processes and skills consist of developing a project idea, identifying a funding agency, writing a compelling needs statement with goals and measurable objectives, developing a budget, collaborating with other people, submitting the grant application, understanding the grant review process, responding to the review, and managing the grant award. Course assignments allow students to apply and practice grant writing skills by developing a grant proposal based on an actual Request for Proposal (RFP).

3 semester credits

Today's business environment is constantly evolving to accommodate changes in economy, leadership, new regulations, and internal reduction and growth. Organizations require leaders who know how to work through barriers to effect positive and efficient organizational change. Students in this course learn about situations that constitute and require such change. They engage in a variety of assignments through which they explore effective strategies for initiating change and anchoring change into corporate culture to achieve organizational goals as well as for managing unplanned or unwelcome change. Students explore a variety of approaches and methods to transition individuals and organizations within evolving environments. They distinguish between reactive responses and proactive responses to change and examine the implications of culture, inertia, and uncertainty. Additionally, students explore the importance of understanding motivation and effective communication in mitigating negative reactions to change and facilitating the change process itself.

3 semester credits

Through this course, education professionals consider the future of teaching and learning, discover promising trends in technology, and investigate opportunities to become leaders in the field of technology and learning. They consider how to address school-wide challenges, such as limited resources and resistance to change, and they explore skills and strategies, such as grant writing and leading change. Additionally, they complete a capstone project that demonstrates their ability and willingness to become advocates and change agents who use technology to address challenges and create opportunities within the field of education.

3 semester credits

Leaders in the early childhood field must have in-depth understanding of the critical issues and trends affecting young children, their families, and the field. Education professionals in this course explore changing demographics; political and economic influence on programmatic funding streams; current debates related to school success, effective assessment and the achievement gap; and brain research influence on early development, care, and education from a historical and current perspective. Sharing perspectives and making connections with the professional world, educational professionals post blogs to establish contacts with early childhood professionals; reach out to international contacts in the field to gain an understanding of poverty issues in different regions, issues related to excellence at the forefront of professional discussions, and insight on further development opportunities; and share web resources, such as websites and e-newsletters. 

3 semester credits

The purpose of the capstone course is to integrate the knowledge and concepts students have gained through the MBA program. Students will practice their skills and employ their knowledge by evaluating business strategies capable of achieving sustainable competitive advantage. Students in this course will be required to identify and address challenges and opportunities found in today's complex and often uncertain business environment. Students complete their transformational journey through the program by reflecting on their learning and will consider the next phase of their career development. The aim of the course is to improve the students' ability to manage in an environment requiring both strategic and operational knowledge.

Prerequisites

• All required core and concentration courses

3 semester credits

The purpose of the capstone course is to integrate the knowledge and concepts students have gained through the MBA program. Students will practice their skills and employ their knowledge by evaluating business strategies capable of achieving sustainable competitive advantage. Students in this course will be required to identify and address challenges and opportunities found in today's complex and often uncertain business environment. Students complete their transformational journey through the program by reflecting on their learning and will consider the next phase of their career development. The aim of the course is to improve the students' ability to manage in an environment requiring both strategic and operational knowledge.

Prerequisites

• All required core and concentration courses/competencies

Note: This course is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.