MBA Handbooks

Historically, managers have considered decision making as an art; something learned by trial and error; something based on creativity, judgment, intuition, and experience. This course gives you a structured way of attacking a wide range of real problems, using data-driven analysis to guide decision-making. We will consider how to think about and manage uncertainty and risk, how to translate data about the business into useful insights, how to put value on various courses of action, and how to generally make informed decisions. The main focus of the course will be on modeling decisions in the spreadsheet environment, illustrated by applications from operations, finance, marketing, and human resources. The approaches and techniques for decision-making are useful throughout the firm, both within functional areas and for the essential management challenge of working across functional boundaries.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Spring 2024

This course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of database management systems (DBMS) and the skills needed to design and implement a relational database. Students will be introduced to data modeling concepts, modeling tools, the process of transforming conceptual models into relational database designs, and finally the steps needed to implement those designs. Emphasis is placed on Entity-Relationship diagramming, data normalization, database administration, and data definition, data manipulation and query development using Structured Query Language (SQL). Other topics covered include: object-oriented databases, database security and integrity, web/database integration, application development in a Client/Server environment, distributed databases, data warehousing, data mining and knowledge management via the Internet to support electronic commerce. Readings, lectures, interactive case assignments and a database design project reinforce the role of DBMS in supporting organizational systems, transaction processing and decision support applications.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Fall 2023

This course teaches the technical and managerial skills needed in developing predictive analytics applications which are used by customer-centric corporations - retail, financial, communication, and marketing groups - to help make decisions involving complex systems. The course concentrates on a set of well-known predictive analytics methods to support business decision making. Topics such as association rule mining, decision trees, neural networks, regression analysis and cluster analysis are covered in great depth. Extensive hands-on experience using software such as SAS Enterprise Miner is provided.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Fall 2023 | Spring 2024

Fall 2023 (08/28/2023 - 12/11/2023)

Spring 2024 (01/24/2024 - 05/07/2024)

This course provides students with a general understanding of the operation of capital markets and basic analytical tools of investment management. Specifically, the course covers such topics as principles of valuation, risk analysis, modern portfolio theory, Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), market microstructure, index models, arbitrage pricing models, bonds and common stocks valuation, efficient market hypotheses, investment management, and option pricing models.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Fall 2023 | Spring 2024

This course is designed to be an overview of the health care industry and a framing of the severe challenges facing leaders in the field. It will take a business approach to the issues presented, but will always juxtapose financial issues with value creation. The course begins with a short look at classic economic principles, and why they do not always apply in health care, followed by a review of each component of the industry: government, health plans, employers, providers and suppliers.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Spring 2024

The class will focus on the major challenges facing the healthcare industry and innovative solutions being developed across the country. We will start with the qualities of the innovator and how they can be learned; we will then move on to an in-depth look at major innovation evaluation models, with specific focus on innovations in hospitals, physician practice, chronic disease, and personal health.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Fall 2023

This is an introductory course in Digital Forensics where students will learn how to acquire, authenticate and analyze digital evidence. Technical and managerial topics will be explored, providing students with both theoretical and practical hands-on experience using forensic equipment and software. The additional topics of E-Discovery, Data Retention, Litigation, Internal Investigations, Regulatory Compliance and Incident Response will also be discussed within the context of Digital Forensics. EnCase, Access Data FTK and other open source forensic software programs are used in this course.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Spring 2024

Spring 2024 (01/24/2024 - 05/07/2024)

Students will learn contemporary terms, philosophies, technologies, controls and strategies that go into buttressing an organization¿s informational, data-driven, well-being. Students will gain experience assess the growing number of cyber risks to our organizational assets, and how to treat these risks by prioritizing and arraying resources. Common information security controls (both technical and programmatic) will be covered, guided by an analysis of the leading information and cyber security control frameworks such as ISO 27000, NIST CSF, and the CIS top 18 security controls. Students will learn about strategic level security program implementation including, policy management, governance, return on investment and compliance whilst continually improving risk exposure. Cybersecurity is one part of the cross-functional milieu that this class will examine. Multidisciplinary topics that intersect with security program implementation will include Technical, Managerial, Executive, Finance, Human Resources, Business Continuity, Strategic IT Management, Legal, Psychological, Audit, Compliance and Control partnerships. Various IT hosting strategies including on-premises and cloud classifications will be examined for their security merits, challenges and risk exposures. Emerging impactful topics such as new/changing regulation and growth of generative artificial intelligence will be examined in terms of their implications on the information security industry and the deployment of future-proof protections.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Fall 2023
Pre-Requisite: MGS 602 and MGS 605 or MIS student

Fall 2023 (08/28/2023 - 12/11/2023)

The ability for one device to communicate with another is a defining hallmark of the information age. As trends in the information sciences evolve to include elements of cloud computing, containerization and hybrid approaches, so too must our definition of what a network is. This class will take an in-depth look at contemporary network concepts ranging from TCP / OSI models, topological considerations for physical networks, virtualization, software defined networking principals (infrastructure as code), and cloud service deployments (infrastructure as a service). Physical network elements, hardware and design architectures will be surveyed. Private, public, virtual and hybrid network considerations will be discussed. Security touchpoints and common controls within networked ecosystems will be analyzed. Students will walk away from this class with conversancy in the burgeoning network trends found in today¿s and future deployment paradigms.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered:
Pre-Requisite: MGS 602 Or MGS 607 Or MGS 650.

This course is designed to introduce students to the technical facets of the information technology and systems field. Students will learn about the contemporary technologies that underlie and support modern-day technology infrastructures. As a corollary, students will be able to weigh how strategic enterprise technical considerations have a bearing on organization competitiveness, vision and strategy. Key technologies covered will include hardware capabilities, data center hosting, virtualization techniques, cloud infrastructures (public, private, hybrid, IaaS, PaaS, Saas), networking, operating system and software capabilities. Student will also learn of key emerging technologies in the field along with the ability to analyze these technologies for maturity and opportunistic fit. Students will be led down a journey of how IT can be aligned as an organizational partner, enabling it to act as a crucible for innovation. Discussions on information security, resourcing considerations and enterprise architecture will underpin all topics.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Fall 2023

Fall 2023 (08/28/2023 - 12/11/2023)

This course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of database management systems (DBMS) and the skills needed to design and implement a relational database. Students will be introduced to data modeling concepts, modeling tools, the process of transforming conceptual models into relational database designs, and finally the steps needed to implement those designs. Emphasis is placed on Entity-Relationship diagramming, data normalization, database administration, and data definition, data manipulation and query development using Structured Query Language (SQL). Other topics covered include: object-oriented databases, database security and integrity, web/database integration, application development in a Client/Server environment, distributed databases, data warehousing, data mining and knowledge management via the Internet to support electronic commerce. Readings, lectures, interactive case assignments and a database design project reinforce the role of DBMS in supporting organizational systems, transaction processing and decision support applications.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Fall 2023

Fall 2023 (08/28/2023 - 12/11/2023)

This course provides an introduction to the systems development life cycle (SDLC) emphasizing the recent adaptive approaches to SDLC, such as the unified process life cycle and agile methods. The course focuses on the disciplines of business modeling, requirements analysis, and logical design and utilizes the Unified Modeling Language (UML) for analysis, modeling, and design of business-oriented information systems. Information assurance issues of system controls and security are covered with respect to their impact on system requirements and design models.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Spring 2024

Spring 2024 (01/24/2024 - 05/07/2024)

This course teaches the technical and managerial skills needed in developing predictive analytics applications which are used by customer-centric corporations - retail, financial, communication, and marketing groups - to help make decisions involving complex systems. The course concentrates on a set of well-known predictive analytics methods to support business decision making. Topics such as association rule mining, decision trees, neural networks, regression analysis and cluster analysis are covered in great depth. Extensive hands-on experience using software such as SAS Enterprise Miner is provided.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Fall 2023 | Spring 2024

Fall 2023 (08/28/2023 - 12/11/2023)

Spring 2024 (01/24/2024 - 05/07/2024)

Large scale computing environments aggregate resources from many autonomous computers to satisfy the information processing needs of modern enterprises. This course introduces techniques for creating functional, usable, high-performance distributed systems. Objectives are twofold: (1) gain a solid understanding of the technical issues, concepts and systems in the rapidly advancing technologies in distributed computing, and (2) acquire substantial knowledge on how to work with big data in distributed environments. The course is organized into two parts: study of DCS technologies, and study of large scale systems. We will discuss communication and networking services, application support services, large scale distributed system design, data management and interoperability of systems including consistency and data replication. Students will learn to use a framework for data intensive distributed applications (Apache Hadoop) and an associated parallel programming model, MapReduce.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Fall 2023

Fall 2023 (08/28/2023 - 12/11/2023)

This course deals with design, control, and operation of supply chains for competing effectively in the context of global operations management. Both manufacturing and service (such as health care) industry supply chains are covered. The topics covered include: state-of-the-art qualitative and quantitative techniques for optimum configuration of in-bound and outbound logistics, principles of postponement in design, processes and logistics, mass customization, global location factors for offices, plants and distribution centers, collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) systems, countering bullwhip effects in supply chains, vendor managed inventory (VMI), strategic alliances and partnering, global purchasing and buyer-supplier relationships, and the complexities of the material, information, and cash flows across international borders. This course supplements MGS 616, which covers e-commerce integration aspects of supply chains.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Spring 2024

Spring 2024 (01/24/2024 - 05/07/2024)

A basic understanding of the global business environment is essential to everyone. Understanding the global economy is necessary for all engaged in business and careers regardless of the size or type of business or career endeavor. The class will discuss the strategy of international business issues involved in today's global world. In general, the major topics of global business will be discussed to give students a working vocabulary and basic level of knowledge and skills involved in today's global business. For example, the course will explore the interrelation of government and business across boarders and the economic dynamics between countries/regions, including a general overview of the international monetary system, international trade and foreign direct investment. The main premise of this course is that significant business knowledge and skills are increasingly defined by a complex system of cross border, global transactions. Firms face challenges in staying competitive in a global environment of producers, suppliers, and customers where countries are increasingly opening their borders to trade and investment.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Fall 2023

Fall 2023 (08/28/2023 - 12/11/2023)

Pertinent theoretical and empirical findings about the behavior of consumers and industrial and institutional buyers are discussed. Topics include motivation, learning, attitude formation, attitude change, and the relation between attitudes and behavior as applied to buyers. The impact of the electronic environment is also discussed as are innovation and market communication and the social and cultural concepts underlying strategies of market segmentation.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Fall 2023

Fall 2023 (08/28/2023 - 12/11/2023)

Methods and functions of research in marketing management. Attention given to problems of conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation of research designs and to techniques of analysis of research data.

Credits: 3
Semesters offered: Spring 2024