Online Master of Business Administration (MBA) Curriculum

This course focuses on ethical problems in business as well as issues of current interest (e.g. the environment, technology, international relations).

Course topics include the history of management, perception and communication, motivation theory, leadership and power, group dynamics, conflict management and work design theory.

This course focuses on legal issues relating to business relationships. The social and ethical duties of business are studied within the legal context. Analysis and evaluation are applied to legal problems to develop and understand the philosophies underlying the legal rules and regulations controlling business activity.

Apply both management principles and marketing theory to strategic marketing problems, emphasizing long-range planning of marketing mix elements, consideration of marketing interface with other areas, and problem solving and decision making.

Developments and issues in the international marketplace are covered to gain a basic familiarity with global business strategies and philosophies. Different cultural, economic, legal, and political environments also are addressed. Emphasis is on the application of the core business functions in an international context and the implications of global issues for business decision-makers.

This course studies how economic forces can affect a business. Topics from both micro and macroeconomics are included: the basic supply and demand model, market fluctuations, elasticity of demand and revenues, production costs and profits of a firm, measures of economic performance, national output and income, inflation and unemployment, fiscal policy and the government's budget, money and monetary policy, and special topics in economic policy. Prerequisite:  ACCT 509

The basic foundations of managerial accounting to aid in planning, implementing, controlling and evaluating an organizations goals and objectives are covered in this course. NOTE: Computer spreadsheet proficiency required Pre-requisite:  ACCT 509

Students examine areas of concern for financial managers: the financial analysis of the firm, including ratio analysis and fixed and variable cost analysis. Pre-requisite: ACCT 610

This capstone course summarizes prior required curriculum in marketing, finance, economics, accounting and management. Using primarily a case study approach, the course integrates the components into a strategic decision-making model. Students complete all required MBA core courses prior to registering for BUS-691, Business Policies (Capstone)

This course will focus on the fundamental concepts of common tax regulations and provide a broad overview of corporate and partnership taxation and individual tax planning issues. Specific topics include: the framework of the tax system; fundamentals of tax planning; the taxation of sole proprietorships, flow-through entities and corporations; and the tax treatment of fringe benefits and investment assets. Pre-requisite: ACCT 610

This course deals with the role that the accounting function plays in achieving the strategic goals of an organization. It also explores the issues of corporate governance, including the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the interactions among management, auditors and the audit committee. Pre-requisite: ACCT 610

This course will provide the skills necessary to interpret and analyze financial statement information by discussing the four key financial statements and analyzing the financial information to evaluate profitability, liquidity and risk. Topics also covered include traditional ratio analysis and interpretation, accounting rules and quality of earnings, warning signs of financial distress, and SEC reporting requirements. Cross-listed: FIN-620 Prerequisite: ACCT-610

This course serves as an introduction to data analytics. Data analytics is generally defined as the use of data, quantitative analysis, and modeling to drive business decisions. An overview of different analytics techniques (descriptive, predictive and prescriptive) with a focus on descriptive analytics technique to illustrate business decision-making situations is discussed.

Data analytics is generally defined as the use of data, quantitative analysis, and modeling to drive business decisions. This course serves as an introduction to data analytics and the key analytical techniques used for business decision-making. This introductory course aims to provide an overview of programming and data analytics software to develop your foundational programming skills. The course covers basic principles and practical issues combined with hands-on projects that effectively integrate analytics topics using various software.

This course examines database management applications to design, develop, and manage relational databases and data resources. The course also covers the integration of these databases with applications across the enterprise with a specific application towards business intelligence. Topics include the relational database model, requirements gathering, entity-relationship modeling, architecture, normalization, design for data warehousing, and extracting, transforming, and loading strategies to support business intelligence applications through a hands-on project. Corequisite: DATA 600

This course examines data mining techniques to explore patterns or relationships in data using methods such as classification, regression, cluster analysis, and recommendation systems. This course covers the analysis of both structured and unstructured data. Topics include data preparation, modeling, evaluation, and application. Widely adopted data mining software tools will be employed through a project-based learning approach to detecting patterns. Prerequisite: DATA 600

This course discusses techniques for developing effective dashboards to facilitate data-driven business decision-making. The course focuses on creating visualizations to communicate patterns and relationships in data effectively. Several software applications will be employed to enable storytelling through project-based learning. Prerequisite: DATA 600

This course covers the Controls for Effective Cyber Defense, which are a recommended set of actions that provide specific and actionable ways to deter potential attacks. Discussion will focus on how organizations can use these controls to define the starting point for their defenses, direct their resources on actions with immediate payoff, and focus their attention on additional risk issues that are unique to their business or mission.

This hands-on course applies a penetration testing framework to ethical hacking. Emphasis is placed on penetrating testing methodologies for various types of penetration tests, including Reconnaissance, Social Engineering, and Network Penetration Testing. This course, in conjunction with ISYS-671, prepares you for the EC-Council CEH exam. Prerequisite: ISYS-600

This hands-on course applies a penetration testing framework to ethical hacking. Emphasis is placed on penetrating testing methodologies for various types of penetration tests, including hacking web servers, wireless networks, mobile platforms and cloud computing. This course in conjunction with ISYS-670 prepares you for the EC-Council CEH exam. Prerequisite: ISYS 670

This course presents the concepts needed to effectively manage information technology resources. It focuses on the role a CIO plays, the planning, scheduling and risk considerations, along with the strategic role that information technology systems play in an organization.

This course familiarizes students with mobile devices and technology used by industry. You will identify and analyze data that can be retrieved from mobile devices, such as cell phones, tablets, smart phones and GPS devices. Prerequisite: ISYS-600

This course covers the Controls for Effective Cyber Defense, which are a recommended set of actions that provide specific and actionable ways to deter potential attacks. Discussion will focus on how organizations can use these controls to define the starting point for their defenses, direct their resources on actions with immediate payoff, and focus their attention on additional risk issues that are unique to their business or mission.

This course presents the concepts needed to effectively manage information technology resources. It focuses on the role a CIO plays, the planning, scheduling and risk considerations, along with the strategic role that information technology systems play in an organization.

This course will cover the principles of cybersecurity incident response and forensics, which include a recommended set of forensic principles to provide specific methods to identify and manage security related events. Discussion will focus on how to leverage practices used to identify and analyze forensic data received from devices and the responsible actions to manage a security incident. You will learn proper cyber defense, evaluation and response methods that are inherent in today’s ever changing technology landscape. Prerequisite: ISYS-600

This course explores the laws and policies governments, organizations, and individuals leverage to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and technology. This course explores various legal issues that arise in cyberspace, including contracting online, common and tort law, cybercrime, jurisdiction, security and privacy issues and practices, and intellectual property protection. It delves into industry-specific legal, privacy, and ethical considerations in the areas of healthcare, financial reporting, government information, and protecting children online. Lastly, the course provides you with tools for ethical-decision making in a security and privacy context. Prerequisite: ISYS-600

This course focuses on the systems and models of communication practice that have been studied and developed by academics and applied by practitioners in their work. The emphasis in this course is understanding the synergy created when academic knowledge and scholarship are incorporated in strategic decision making as illustrated by case studies and other practical-world analysis.

This course gives graduate students the opportunity to be innovative in the development, creation, implementation, and evaluation of an advanced communication campaign for a client/organization in the St. Louis community. Key elements of this course include the ability to apply theoretical, evidence-based concepts and strategies to a particular client situation, to negotiate and advise the client on best courses of action, and to experience the real-world outcomes of evidence-based strategies.

This course provides an intensive examination of a variety of digital media metrics and analytics necessary to measure and evaluate marketing communication campaigns. Furthermore, it provides an evidence based approach to digital marketing that can measure an organization's return on their marketing investments. Graduate students will learn practical, up to date tools that will help in analyzing, creating and measuring effective digital marketing campaigns.

Develop knowledge, understanding and concepts related to direct and web marketing techniques, tactics, and strategies that enable a manager to make sound business decisions. Topics include web media and databases, target audiences, forecasting and cost control, research, and testing of creative strategies. Cross-listed: MKT 673Prerequisite: COMM 501 or MKT 660 

The course covers data analytics through an accounting lens. Topics include creating databases, cleaning and transforming data, developing queries, and delivering useable information to clients.

This course will provide the skills necessary to interpret and analyze financial statement information by discussing the four key financial statements and analyzing the financial information to evaluate profitability, liquidity and risk. Topics also covered include traditional ratio analysis and interpretation, accounting rules and quality of earnings, warning signs of financial distress, and SEC reporting requirements. *Choose from FIN 601 or FIN 620. Pre-requisite: FIN 630

The practical management of portfolios containing varied financial assets. This course examines the issues in, and the procedures for, portfolio management. There is an emphasis on personal portfolio management by individual investors.

This course helps students understand the functions of money and the financial system in the economy. It examines the functions and main products and services of the major types of financial institutions, and how they manage their business risks.  Students will analyze the operations of – and the issues faced by – commercial banks, thrifts, insurance companies, mutual funds, pension funds, finance companies, venture capital firms, investment banks, and brokerage firms. Students will review the applications of the time-value-of-money concept and analyze the behavior of interest rates. They will study the economics of money supply, the banking system, and monetary policy.  Students will learn the basics of central banking and the Federal Reserve System.  After taking this course, students will understand the workings of the financial system and the goals and limitations of monetary policy; they will have a more-informed perspective on the various issues surrounding money, finance, and government policies related to money and banking. Pre-requisite: FIN 630

The course provides an extensive overview of leadership in the U.S. health services system. The focus of the course will be on the role health services leadership plays in the delivery of healthcare services, including financial management, services utilization, regulatory compliance issues, etc. The student will explore the key theoretical and practical elements of leadership as well as current issues clarifying how the U.S. health services system is organized, managed, and financed. Pre-requisite: MHA 615 and MHA 651

In this course, students examine operational concepts related to delivering quality, consistent and cost-effective patient care across the healthcare system. Students gain an understanding of the major functions of operations management, governance and organizational structures. The course will address specific concepts related to understanding how to perform an operational assessment; taking a systems perspective on the organization and delivery of services; identifying problems and improvement opportunities using analytical techniques; and monitoring performance data to identify trends and variation based on current operations and those resulting from changes and improvements. Pre-requisite: MHA 610

This course explores the legal, policy and ethical challenges found in the healthcare system, and investigates the role of the healthcare administrator as decision-maker, leader and ethical steward of the healthcare administration profession. Pre-requisite: MHA 610

In this course, students will be exposed to management principles of healthcare quality and the origin, distribution and control of disease. Theories of health behavior relevant to individual and community health promotion program planning will also be explored. Students will examine formal and informal programs and strategies used to enhance the healthcare provider’s performance, quality outcomes, and patient satisfaction. Pre-requisite: MHA 610 and MHA 615

This course is the study of human resource management (HRM) related to managing equal opportunity and diversity, personnel planning, recruiting and talent management, testing and selecting employees, training and development, performance management, compensation, ethics, retention, labor relations, collective bargaining, and safety. Prerequisite: MGMT 647 or COMM-501

This course develops students' understanding of recruitment and selection strategies, hiring aligned with organization-specific competencies, and training and recruitment methods. Students will learn to measure the costs of hiring and training, and turnover rate, all of which are central for an organization's strategic plan. Pre-requisite: MGMT 647

This course focuses on the study of employment law regulations and how to plan and reduce legal exposure in the area of human resources. Employment laws are extensive and vary based on many factors, including the size of an organization, its location and the type of industry in which the business operates. The laws that apply to the majority of employers are discussed. Pre-requisite: MGMT 647

This course examines the total compensation package with a special emphasis on employee benefits - both legally required such as workers' compensation insurance and optional benefits such as retirement plans. The course provides students the guidelines for establishing job and pay structures while taking into account legal requirements. Other topics include compensable and economic factors influencing pay decisions, incentive pay plans, executive compensation, and compa-ratio calculation. Pre-requisite: MGMT 647

This course is the study of human resource management (HRM) related to managing equal opportunity and diversity, personnel planning, recruiting and talent management, testing and selecting employees, training and development, performance management, compensation, ethics, retention, labor relations, collective bargaining, and safety. Prerequisite: MGMT 647 or COMM-501

This course examines the current leadership literature and traces the development of leadership theory. It stresses the strategic nature of leadership and its role in contemporary organizations. You will conduct a self assessment of your personal leadership skills and participate in many activities designed to develop leadership and skills in team building. Prerequisite: MGMT 647

This course examines the roles and skills of the project manager and project teams through the phases of the project life cycle. Topics including project initiation and planning, project organizational structure, teamwork, leadership, resource planning and scheduling, control and project termination. Case studies of real organizations focus on the issues associated with new product, reengineering, technology implementation projects, and behavioral aspects including culture, conflict, risk and change management. The course is a general coverage of project management issues commonly found in the project management certification resources relevant for a wide variety of project types. Prerequisite: MGMT 647

This course addresses the integrated management of value-added activities from product development through material procurement from vendors through manufacturing and distribution of the good to the final customer. In addition to examining operational topics of partnering, negotiation, purchasing and logistics, the course uses case studies to examine issues in corporate supply-chain strategy and the influence of emerging technologies and globalization. Prerequisite: MGMT 647

This course will examine how to effectively integrate operations across all functional areas of the organization. Prerequisite: MGMT 647

This course provides an understanding of enterprise-wide resource planning and control. Prerequisite: MGMT 647

This course presents the concepts needed to effectively manage information technology resources. It focuses on the role a CIO plays, the planning, scheduling and risk considerations, along with the strategic role that information technology systems play in an organization.

This course focuses on further preparing you to enter the workforce by concentrating on a greater understanding of human relations principles and practices. (Career success is a function of many facets.) The ability to understand and cope effectively with todays work and/or life issues and problems is a skill that is valued by most employers. Many trends, such as workforce diversity, flatter organizations, globalization, teamwork, workplace violence, require a greater understanding of human relations. Prerequisite: MGMT 647

This course examines influences such as political and legal factors (external) and attitudes and personality (internal) that affect the consumers ultimate decision process. It also explores marketing strategies that respond to the consumers needs. Pre-requisite: MKT 660

Develop knowledge, understanding and concepts related to direct and web marketing techniques, tactics and strategies that enable a manager to make sound business decisions. Topics include web media and databases, target audiences, forecasting and cost control, research and testing of creative strategies. Pre-requisite: MKT 660

This course explores the role of the brand management function in building strong brands, measuring their equity or value, and in maintaining the strength of the brand over time. The primary objectives of this course are to increase the understanding of the important issues in planning and evaluating brand strategies and to provide the appropriate theories, models, and other tools to make better branding decisions. An additional area of emphasis will be brand management's interaction with other functional disciplines within the corporate structure, including customer marketing and field sales. Pre-requisite: MKT 660

This course addresses the fundamental concepts of promotion management and applies them to a product situation. It examines the major issues facing the promotion manager. Pre-requisite: MKT 660

This course examines the roles and skills of the project manager and project teams through the phases of the project life cycle. Topics including project initiation and planning, project organizational structure, teamwork, leadership, resource planning and scheduling, control and project termination. Case studies of real organizations focus on the issues associated with new product, reengineering, technology implementation projects, and behavioral aspects including culture, conflict, risk and change management. The course is a general coverage of project management issues commonly found in the project management certification resources relevant for a wide variety of project types. Prerequisite: MGMT 647

This course will examine how to effectively integrate operations across all functional areas of the organization. Prerequisite: MGMT 647

Course topics include the history of management, perception and communication, motivation theory, leadership and power, group dynamics, conflict management and work design theory.

This course focuses on further preparing you to enter the workforce by concentrating on a greater understanding of human relations principles and practices. (Career success is a function of many facets.) The ability to understand and cope effectively with todays work and/or life issues and problems is a skill that is valued by most employers. Many trends, such as workforce diversity, flatter organizations, globalization, teamwork, workplace violence, require a greater understanding of human relations. Prerequisite: MGMT 647

This course introduces fundamental software development concepts, including data types, variables, decisions, repetition, data containers, functions, and classes. Students will practice using these concepts by writing Python to implement algorithms that operate on data retrieved from different sources (e.g., user input, files, etc.). Students will be introduced to C, C++, C#, and Java syntax. Prerequisites: none

Building on fundamental software development concepts, this course fleshes out the key data structures used in application development as well as the analysis of algorithms to determine code complexity. Concepts covered include pointers, stacks, queues, trees, hash tables, searching and sorting, and set and graph theory. Students will use Python, as well as a variety of other languages, to demonstrate competency in the concepts. Prerequisites: SWDV 600

This course covers the foundational elements of modern web applications. Students will learn the hardware and network aspects of the Internet, including the client and server backend. They will build pages using HTML, CSS as well as Javascript. They will use JQuery, AJAX, and technologies like node.js, Django, and PHP. Full applications will be built using C# and Java. Prerequisites: SWDV 610  

This course focuses on a 'day in the life' of a software developer, working through a project as part of a team. Students will learn about the different methodologies in use today, including Agile and Spiral. They will run through all aspects of a project, including acquisition using RFI, RFP, and Statement of Work documents, requirements gathering and creating design artifacts, and move through implementation and deployment. Technologies like Scrum and KanBan will be utilized. Prerequisites: SWDV 610 *preferred course  

This capstone course summarizes prior required curriculum in marketing, finance, economics, accounting and management. Using primarily a case study approach, the course integrates the components into a strategic decision-making model. Students complete all required MBA core courses prior to registering for BUS-691, Business Policies (Capstone)