MBA Archive 2020-2021
- MBA Archive 2020-2021
- MBA Concentrations Archive 2020-2021
- MBA Online Archive 2020-2021
- MBA Online Concentrations Archive 2020-2021
- Accelerated MBA for Attorneys Archive 2020-2021
- Accelerated MBA for Attorneys Online Archive 2020-2021
- MBA/Health Archive 2020-2021
- MBA Nonprofit Archive 2020-2021
- Graduate Certificate in Business Fundamentals Archive 2020-2021
- Graduate Certificate in Business Fundamentals Online Archive 2020-2021
- Dual Degree with JD Archive 2020-2021
- Dual Degree with MSA Archive 2020-2021
- Dual Degree with MSBA Archive 2020-2021
- Dual Degree with MSF Archive 2020-2021
- Dual Degree with MSM Archive 2020-2021
- Dual Degree with MST Archive 2020-2021
MBA Archive 2020-2021
MBA Curriculum
14-20 Courses
36-51 Credits
Program Length:
- Full-time in as few as 11 months
- Part-time in as few as 16 months
Contextualize: From Boston to the World (5 credits)
SBS-700 Unlocking Your Professional Potential
1.00
SBS-700 is the first required course in Suffolk's graduate programs. The course is based on the precepts of experiential learning. Based on the idea that people learn best by participating in meaningful activities this course provides you with the opportunity to identify your strengths, interests, values, vision, and capabilities, and identify next steps to leverage your program and realize your professional goals.
MBA-701 Values Based Decision Making
MBA students only
1.00
This course teaches students ethical frameworks to lead and manage organizations that go beyond the standard legal compliance and risk management approaches, and that embrace the more inclusive principles of sustainability and corporate responsibility. This course will set forth the fundamentals of managerial ethics and will prepare students for the complex, multilevel managerial and leadership integrity challenges that corporations face today.
MBA-710 Understanding World Class Clusters
MBA students only
3.00
This first-semester MBA course introduces students to the topic of world-class clusters as a multi-level phenomenon. Beginning from the macro level of analysis and proceeding to the micro level, the course covers a panoply of concepts and frameworks for understanding why world-class clusters emerge at specific locations in the first place and then regularly succeed in transforming themselves to keep up with and even lead the pace of change in their respective industries. In the group projects that they conduct for this course, students are expected to emulate the characteristics of high-powered teams found in world-class clusters: the course thus begins with conceptual understanding of world-class clusters and then proceeds to have students emulate the behavior that can be observed in world-class clusters.
Core Courses (15 credits)
May be waived.
MBA-615 Economics
1.50
This course introduces the basic tools and concepts of microeconomics (2 classes) for supply and demand analysis; for consumer market behavior; and for production, cost, and pricing decisions in different market structures. Greater emphasis (4 to 5 classes) in the course is on the macroeconomic topics of national economic performance, the economic role of government and fiscal and monetary policy, and the banking and financial system in the current economic environment. The course is intended for MBA students who have no recent academic background in economics.
MBA-625 Managerial Statistics
1.50
This course emphasizes the importance of basic concepts in probability and statistics for managerial decision making with a strong emphasis on practical application. Students will learn basic data analysis, random variables and probability distributions, sampling distributions, interval estimation, hypothesis testing and regression. MS Excel will be used throughout the course. Numerous examples are chosen from quality control applications, finance, marketing and Management to illustrate the managerial value of applying sound statistical techniques to the analysis of operational data.
MBA-635 Operations Management: Design and Analysis
MBA-625 or SBS-604 or ISOM-631 (may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course provides students with Operations Management concepts, techniques, and tools to design, analyze, and improve operational capabilities in any organization. Students will understand and analyze common OM decisions on managing inputs (materials, information, finances, and human resources) and processes to deliver desirable outcomes to customers. Topics covered include operations strategy, process analysis, quality management and lean operations, capacity analysis, inventory management, product development, supply chain management, project management, revenue management and pricing, decision analysis, and forecasting. Software tools used may include MS Excel, MS Visio, and MS Project. This course will contain experiential learning components related to Boston's world-class industries, which may include guest lectures, simulation exercises, and/or visits to local organizations.
MBA-640 Corporate Financial Reporting and Control
3.00
This course deals with the structure and information content of the three principal financial statements of profit-directed companies, namely the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. It develops skill in using accounting information to analyze the performance and financial condition of a company, and to facilitate decision making, planning and budgeting, and performance appraisal in a managerial context. This course also contains an experiential component by offering guided inquiry and real company cases.
MBA-650 Value Based Financial Management
1 course from each of the following groups: MBA-615 or SBS-603; MBA-625, SBS-604, or ISOM-631; MBA-640 or ACCT-800; These courses may be taken prior to or concurrently with MBA-650.
3.00
This course introduces the basic principles of corporate finance. The main focus is on fundamental principles such as time value of money, asset valuation, and risk and return tradeoff. Topics to be covered also include cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure.
MBA-660 Marketing: the Challenge of Managing Value
3.00
At its core, marketing is about providing consumer value. The practice of doing this is changing constantly-driven by rapid and far-reaching changes in technology; globalization; and the evolution of consumer values, practices, and lifestyles. This course will present themes, theories, and trends that are critical for: 1. understanding the business of creating, capturing and sustaining value; 2. introducing students to the global, consumer, and technological realities of marketing in the 21st Century; and 3. providing students with a sound foundation to explore marketing in further depth in upper-level elective courses. This course also contains an experiential component. .
Understand Business Fundamentals (9 credits)
MBA-721 Collaborate
3.00
This course teaches students critical thinking and problem solving skills in the context of two essential ingredients of collaboration: leading people and teams, and managing projects. Students will learn concepts and processes that support building and launching high performing teams that can manage complex projects efficiently and effectively. Students will collaborate experientially to solve problems facing Boston's world-class industry clusters.
MBA-730 Innovate: Entrepreneurial Thinking, IT, And Business Law
3.00
This course introduces students to three essential ingredients of innovation: Entrepreneurial Thinking, Information Technology in an Age of Disruption, and Law as Framework. Entrepreneurial thinking is a critical element in the creation, growth, and sustainability of an organization. In new ventures, entrepreneurs drive innovation with limited resources and within a flat organization. Information technology, strategically selected and implemented, can provide a significant, competitive advantage. Students will survey the increasingly complex, evolving, and highly competitive business environment in which ethical, legal, economic, and regulatory forces are continuously reshaping the global marketplace both to create and limit competitive opportunities. This course will contain experiential components, relating to Boston's world-class industries.
MBA-740 Immerse- Travel Seminar
3.00
The Immersion course provides an opportunity for students to link their program work to hands-on experience and visits to real-life global companies. The highly experiential, intensive course combines classroom learning with a direct business and cultural experience. Students will work in teams directly for a client or several clients, solving real challenges, using their analytical skills, knowledge, and experience to develop feasible solutions. Required for all MBA students, the course will be offered globally or nationally to accommodate a variety of student needs.
Construct the Big Picture (7 credits)
MBA-745 Contextualizing Values Based Decision Making
Take MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-721, MBA-730, and SBS-700
1.00
This course involves synthesizing and applying the content from Values Based Decision Making through two deliverables, both of which require reflection on the MBA experience. Students will consider the external clients they have worked with in their client oriented classes and the MBA curriculum through an ethical lens. They will focus on identifying organization-based ethical issues and values, applying ethical frameworks to analyze them, and making an argument as leaders or managers for an ethical solution. This course will offer application and synthesis, taught towards the end, allowing students to creatively apply ethical perspectives to what they learned in the MBA.
MBA-750 Building Global Connections
MBA students only. SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of the global business environment in a way specifically relevant to innovation in world-class clusters. The course has a three-part format: 1. global business fundamentals; 2. opportunity recognition, validation and planning; and 3. experiential term group project in the elaboration of a proposed innovation. Global business fundamentals include the complexities of operating in the international economic environment, the theory and practice of trade, the global integration and local responsiveness of the multinational firm, the internationalization decision of firms, as well as the different modes of entry.
MBA-760 World Class Strategies
SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
Students engage in a variety of learning activities, such as case studies, computer simulations, examinations, project reports, and most especially, experiential exercises involving competition. Students will develop a multi-functional general management perspective. The course is designed to help students integrate and apply their knowledge and techniques learned in the core courses of the MBA program into an overall view of the firm, evaluate the environment, and speculate on the future direction of the organization. Students will also learn about the principal concepts, frameworks, and techniques of strategic management, they will develop the capacity for strategic thinking, and they will examine the organizational and environmental contexts in which strategic management unfolds. This course will make extensive use of experiential activities and projects designed to get students to experience the dynamics of competition right in the classroom.
Lead and Implement Change (3 credits)
Must be taken as late in the program as possible.
MBA-770 Leading and Implementing Change
MBA students only. SBS-700 MBA-701 MBA-710 MBA-615 MBA-625 MBA-635 MBA-640 MBA-650 MBA-660 MBA-720(or MBA-721) MBA-730 MBA-745 MBA-750 MBA-760 (MBA-745, MBA-750 and MBA-760 may be taken concurrently with MBA-770)
3.00
The final course in the MBA curriculum ties together the integral components of the four industry clusters, strategy and business fundamentals to the experience of leading change. Students experience the change process personally through a simulation. Students then apply their learning to an applied project based in one of the four clusters that is team-based, client-focused, grounded in research, and integrates MBA concepts as required with a final presentation to a live client. As part of understanding change, students will also evaluate the wider societal impacts of the business change. Finally, students reflect on their MBA program in total, revisiting their career plan and vision. This course uses multiple approaches, defining, understanding and experiencing the strategic value of change at the organizational, team, and individual levels.
MBA Electives (12 credits)
The curriculum requires four courses (12 credits) of MBA electives, or an option of completing a three course (9 credit) concentration with an open 3 credit MBA elective. The courses must be taken within the Sawyer Business School and be 800 level or above. A select number of 700 level Healthcare and Nonprofit electives are acceptable. The schedule of when elective courses are offered varies by semester.
SBS-920 SBS Graduate Internship is designed for students interested in completing an internship, not for credit. Students must consult with the MBA Advisor for guidance on how to be considered for this option.
Accounting
ACCT-800 Graduate Financial Accounting I
3.00
This introductory-level accounting course provides students with a solid base in accounting fundamentals, including U.S. GAAP, the conceptual framework, nature of accounts, journal entries, and ultimately, financial statements. Provides in-depth coverage of the process by which accountants analyze, journalize, post, and summarize transactions. Reviews and analyzes multiple examples of current "real life" financial statements. The students would practice data analytics through the analysis of companies' financial ratios. The course includes a discussion of ethical issues facing accounting professionals and time value of money techniques. For MSA, GCA, & MST students, this is the first course in the financial accounting sequence. For MBA students, this potential elective course builds upon concepts learned in MBA 640.
ACCT-801 Graduate Financial Accounting II
ACCT-800 or MSA Program Director permission
3.00
This is the first of two intermediate-level accounting courses that build on students' learning in ACCT 800, going in-depth into measurement and reporting of asset, liability, and stockholders' equity accounts for external financial reporting purposes. Discusses pronouncements of authoritative sources such as the SEC, AICPA, and the FASB. Introduces students to IFRS and their similarities to and differences from U.S. GAAP. Develops strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
ACCT-802 Graduate Financial Accounting III
ACCT-801 or MSA Program Director permission
3.00
This is the second of two intermediate-level accounting courses. The critical thinking and problem-solving skills developed in ACCT 801 are broadened as this class tackles more complex accounting concepts, including: dilutive securities, earnings per share, investments, revenue recognition, income tax accounting, pensions and leases. Since accounting for many of these areas has been a source of substantial debate and major revisions in recent years, subject matter covered will be topical. Pertinent pronouncements of standard-setting bodies continue to be studied.
ACCT-804 Cost and Managerial Accounting
3.00
Examines the concepts and practices of cost measurement: variable costing, cost-volume-profit analysis, goal setting and performance monitoring, standard costing, and variance analysis. Students learn how to prepare a financial plan for a business by constructing operating, working capital, and capital budgets. Students study and practice Excel skills and how those are used to build a financial plan, analyze the sensitivity of the financial plan to different changes, examine performance, and measure and control overhead costs. Students study data analytics techniques and perform analyses in support of decisions, such as pricing, setting product line and customer profitability policy, sourcing of products and services, and matching costing systems to strategy. For MSA, GCA, & MST students this is the first managerial accounting course you will take. For MBA students, this potential elective course builds upon concepts learned in MBA 640.
ACCT-805 Auditing and Assurance Services
ACCT-800 or MBA-640
3.00
Introduces the field of auditing, with a concentration in auditing historical financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and some exposure to auditing the internal control over financial reporting of large public companies. Covers the environment, standards, regulation, and law of auditing in the US, with some exposure to the international environment. Covers audit planning, risk, and materiality assessments, audit evidence, evaluation of internal control, documentation, and audit reports. Includes researching and resolving practice-oriented problems and practice in using computer-assisted audit techniques and electronic confirmations.
ACCT-806 Fraud Examination
ACCT-800 or MBA-640
3.00
Examines the pervasiveness and genres of fraud and explores the motivations, opportunities, and rationalizations that facilitate fraudulent behavior. Covers methods of detection, investigation, and prevention of financial statement frauds and other types of financial-related frauds.
ACCT-824 Big Data and Financial Statement Analytics
ACCT-800 or MBA-640, and MBA-650 or program director approval
3.00
This course consists of two parts. The first part teaches students how to use Tableau to analyze large data sets and visualize data patterns to derive meaningful, actionable insights. We will utilize different data sets containing detailed information on sales, inventory, and other operational and financial metrics. This part will also introduce some basic tools used in accessing and compiling relevant big data from online resources such as the SEC's EDGAR website and Twitter. Students will be provided with necessary computer code and software to perform textual analysis for company documents and social media posts. The second part focuses on the analysis of financial statement data in an automated fashion. We will employ advanced tools in Excel along with the state-of-the-art data sources including Calcbench to perform financial data analytics and peer benchmarking. Our discussion on financial ratios and credit risk will have an analytical emphasis. This part will conclude with exercises on forecasting income statement data and valuing public companies.
ACCT-825 Management Decisions and Control
ACCT-804 and ACCT-800 or MBA-640 or program director approval
3
This case based course, teaches students how to better use information for improved decision making. Students will study how to identify the relevant information that is needed to make decisions. The decisions discussed will span a variety of business areas including accounting, finance, marketing and others. A special emphasis would be put on developing and strengthening the students' presentation skills in both face to face and online environments. Students will learn to speak influentially and effectively about numbers and communicate their conclusions and suggested decisions to different stakeholders.
ACCT-861 Leadership in the Financial Professions
ACCT-802, ACCT-805, and ACCT-865 (previously or concurrently) or program director approval
3.00
This student driven course develops professional and leadership skills that are needed to serve effectively as senior financial professionals in a challenging global economy. In this course students develop their independent learning and research proficiencies by investigating developing areas of accounting practice. Students broaden their appreciation of the accountant's role as a business advisor by examining current challenges for the accounting profession, considering the impact that professional activities have on various stakeholders, and how responsibilities of the profession are evolving in response. Students will develop their awareness of the activities of policy makers and standard setters such as the SEC, FASB, and AICPA. Finally, students develop their effectiveness as professional colleagues throughout the semester by actively working on their professional skill set including: data analytics, business writing, oral presentations, team building, and leadership.
ACCT-865 Accounting Information Systems
ACCT-800 or MBA-640
3.00
Describes various transaction processing cycles and their use in the structured analysis and design of accounting information systems. Students gain an understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning softwares, Quickbooks, database design, XBRL, implementations of internal controls, and privacy and data security issues.
ACCT-871 Not-For-Profit and Governmental Accounting
MBA-640 or ACCT-800
3.00
Covers unique aspects of financial reporting in not-for-profit organizations and governmental units. Topics include fund accounting, encumbrance accounting, GASB pronouncements, cost accounting, and budgetary control for government and its agencies, healthcare, educational, religious and other not-for-profit organizations. Students learn how to apply the cost benefit analysis in the resources allocation process, program planning, budgeting and reporting systems.
ACIB-872 International Accounting
ACCT-800 or MBA-640
3.00
Imparts an understanding of differences among nations in approaches to disclosure and choices of accounting measurement systems. Students learn about the influence of the IASB and IOSCO on multinational accounting harmonization, contrasting historical cost/purchasing power accounting with other accounting approaches, including current value accounting. Students will assess how differences in industrial and ownership structures affect accounting performance measurement. Students will also analyze risk management, accounting for derivative contracts, consolidation accounting, budgetary control, and transfer pricing in a multinational company.
ACCT-910 Directed Individual Study in Accounting
Instructor's approval
3.00
Enables a student-initiated directed study project. The student and faculty advisor must concur on a written proposal and final report. The project must be approved by the dean of academic affairs prior to registration.
ACCT-920 Accounting Graduate Internship
SBS-700. Limited to MBA and MSA students only. Instructor consent required.
3.00
Provides a hands-on, practical learning opportunity for a student-initiated experience at a domestic or international organization. Students work closely with their faculty advisor regarding career-related learning outcomes. Over the course of a semester, students collaborate with their corporate internship supervisor and complete projects in either accounting or tax. Offered every semester.
Business Law and Ethics
BLLS-800 Business Law
3.00
Examines the philosophy and practice of substantive law affecting the formation, operation and discharge of commercial transactions, contracts, and business associations. Topics include: agency, partnership, corporation and trust forms of association. Considers aspects of property law and international dimensions.
BLLS-830 Managing in the International Legal Environment
MBA-680 or MBA-730
3.00
Examines the complex interactions among legal, political, economic and cultural forces. Students discuss contemporary international conflicts in the areas of trade,expropriation, political risk analysis, foreign direct investment, anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws, export control laws,extraterritoriality and taxation of income.
BLLS-871 Corporate Crime and Financial Fraud
3.00
Presents an in-depth study of corporate crime and financial fraud. Examines accounting devices and schemes employed to defraud stakeholders, failure of industry watchdogs, and the regulatory and legislative environment. Topics include:corporate governance, corporate finance, corporate compliance programs, ethical misconduct by outside legal, accounting,investment and banking professionals, Sarbanes Oxley Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act,Organizational Sentencing guidelines, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering,conspiracy, securities violations, qui tam litigation(whistleblowers)and financial accounting crimes.
Entrepreneurship
*Full-time MBA student should take MGES-803 in their first semester only.
MGES-800 Business Startups
3
In this introductory course you will learn a deliberate process of opportunity recognition. You will learn how to generate ideas that fit within your and your team's mindset, as well as your knowledge, skills and abilities intended to improve the likelihood of success. Once your opportunity is identified, you will determine its level of feasibility from the conceptual stage, industry and competitive analysis, through legal and financial risk areas," leading to a ""go or no go"" decision. Topics include the individual and team mindset\"
MGES-802 Corporate Entrepreneurship
3.00
Corporate entrepreneurship refers to alternative approaches that existing firms use to innovatively generate new products, new services, new businesses and new business models. This course emphasizes the cultivation of each student's ability to evaluate innovations and business models for development in a corporate setting. It emphasizes various kinds of internal corporate ventures and multiple "external" collaborative approaches that include corporate venture capital investments, licensing and different types of alliances and formal joint ventures. Special emphasis will be placed on skills needed to promote and manage corporate entrepreneurship, including opportunity recognition, selling an idea, turning ideas into action, developing metrics for venture success and strategies for aligning corporate entrepreneurial projects with company strategies and growth opportunities and managing the conflicts that may arise between existing businesses and corporate entrepreneurial ventures. Students will also learn to identify the elements of an organization's culture, structure and reward and control systems that either inhibit or support the corporate entrepreneurship, and analyze how corporate entrepreneurial activities relate to a company's ability to drive innovation throughout the organization.
MGES-803 Think Like a Leader
3.00
Do you have the confidence and business acumen to identify credible solutions and make persuasive arguments to gain the support of business stakeholders? What is your ability to see through the chaos of business problems and utilize a vision to identify real solutions to real organizations? How do we address the role of humans in a rapidly advancing technological world? Students pull together resources, information and ideas from a multitude of sources to create outcomes that have impact. Creativity and innovation skills are essential in this process to face the new reality of a rapidly changing world. By leveraging the creative mindset and building business knowledge, you will develop the tools necessary to utilize the creative mindset into actionable business solutions. You will identify, research and analyze problems more clearly, apply techniques to brainstorm uninhibited alternatives, and persuade audiences on innovative, business solutions. In the process, you will broaden your business terminology, increase your confidence and persuasiveness, and understand the value of business in leading innovation in an era of significant global change. Cannot be used towards the entrepreneurship concentration.
MGES-810 Social Entrepreneurship
3
Social entrepreneurship is about applying innovative financial and operational solutions to ameliorating intractable social problems such as health care, education, poverty, climate change and human rights. This course will not only introduce you to the issues and challenges faced by social entrepreneurs the world over, but will also focus on the various business models adopted by social enterprises. The class will be case-based (2 books) with two short exams, one additional book to read, and an out of class project (individual or group--your choice).
MGES-842 Global Innovation & New Product Development in Virtual Team
3.00
Corporations place high importance on innovation and new product development for competitiveness and profitability. Since many companies are operating in a global environment, there's a need to find ways to harness the talent of people at multiple locations. This course is designed to teach global innovation and new product development using "virtual team and connectivity" techniques involving multiple locations/countries, while equipping students with the necessary knowledge, expertise and capabilities towards this goal. This course may also be conducted with Suffolk Law School students.
MGES-843 Business Opportunities Using Design Thinking and Biomimicry
3.00
Ever wonder what great breakthroughs are on the horizon to improve business thinking, processes, products, and services? If you have, this course is for you. We will learn about how businesses are using principles of design thinking and biomimicry to create entirely new ways of meeting the challenges of modern business: those are, needs to reduce costs, increase revenues, minimize waste & energy use, maximize novel approaches, & meet consumer and business needs. You may recognize the term "design thinking" if you are a follower of Apple, Inc. which has used this process in the development of all of their products and services over the past 15 years. Biomimicry principles are those that seek their inspiration from nature; after all, nature has been problem-solving for 3.8 billion years -- surely there is something to learn from this to be adapted to solving modern challenges. The course will be both conceptual and practical with various experiential learning opportunities.
MGES-890 Special Topics: Crowdfunding
3.00
This advanced course is held in an experiential setting to help entrepreneurial-minded students, managers, etc. develop and practice their business skills working with real startups or small business under pro bono consulting arrangements. This course will be under the supervision of a faculty member, coach and advisor. Students will learn to assess client situations, develop alternatives and identify and defend solutions, at times within the client organization. This course is offered as a joint practicum with Suffolk Law School or as an independent study.
Finance and Managerial Economics
FIN-800 Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation
MBA-650 or MSF Program Director Approval
3.00
An in-depth analysis of financial statements, this course is designed to help investors and managers in their assessment of a business entity. The course focuses on the analysis and interpretation of the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows, and statement of shareholder's equity. The course also focuses on forecasting the financial performance and valuation of a company by combining the analytical work with a qualitative assessment of the economy and the industry in which the firm operates.
FIN-801 Money & Capital Markets
MBA-650
3.00
Students analyze markets for financial assets, including the money market and various bond and stock markets. They learn determinants of the level and structure of interest rates, the Federal Reserve impact on markets, how financial institutions operate with respect to their sources and uses of funds, essentials of the regulatory structure of financial markets, transaction costs, and interrelations among markets.
FIN-808 General Theory in Corporate Finance
MBA-650
3.00
This course extends the body of knowledge acquired in MBA 650. Students expand knowledge of dividend theory, capital structure theory, capital budgeting, long-term financing decisions, cash management and corporate restructuring, market efficiency, and risk and liability management.
FIN-810 Investment Analysis
MBA-650 or MSF Program Director Approval
3.00
Students examine markets for investment procedures, valuation models, basic analytical techniques, and factors influencing risk/return tradeoffs. This course emphasizes the professional approach to managing investment assets. A variety of investment vehicles are discussed, including stocks, bonds, options, and futures.
FIN-812 Capital Budgeting
MBA-650
3.00
Students examine techniques and decision-making rules for the evaluation and selection of long-term investment projects by corporations and the interaction of investment and financing.
FIN-814 Options and Futures
MBA-650 or MSF Program Director Approval
3.00
Students explore the pricing of options and futures contracts, the characteristics of the markets in which these contracts are traded, options and futures strategies, and the application of these contracts in the hedging of financial positions. In addition, students are exposed to swap markets and a variety of swaps.
FIN-816 Risk Management in Banking and Finance
Take MBA-650;
3.00
The course introduces students to the structure and management of international financial-services firms and methods through which financial institutions manage risk. The course discusses tools for identifying, measuring, evaluating, and managing risks, such as interest rate, credit, foreign exchange, liquidity, market, sovereign, and operational risk. The course also introduces key regulations and discusses important ethical issues in the financial-services industry.
FIN-818 Financial Econometrics
MBA-650
3.00
Students are introduced to mathematical statistics and basic econometrics. They study fundamental econometric tools as well as hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, linear regressions, simultaneous equations, and models of qualitative choice.
FIN-820 Financial Policy
Take FIN-808, FIN-810, and FIN-814. (FIN-814 can be taken concurrently)
3.00
Students examine financial theories, techniques, and models applied to the study of corporate financial decisions, aspects of corporate strategy, industry structure, and the functioning of capital markets.
FIN-825 International Finance
MBA-650 or MSF Program Director Approval
3.00
This course covers corporate financial decisions in an international setting with a focus on foreign exchange management and capital budgeting.
FIN-830 Introduction to FinTech
MBA-650 or MSF Program Director Approval
3.00
This course introduces students to the history, terminology, current developments, future challenges and opportunities related to the application of technology to financial discipline. With an emphasis of case studies and guest lecture, the class will discuss algorithmic trading, predictive behavioral analysis, data-driven decision making, mobile-only services, robo advisers, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, Blockchain, RegTech, InsureTech, innovations in lending, and cybersecurity. Students will be required to complete projects based on a statistical software package.
FIN-831 Portfolio Management
FIN-810
3.00
Students learn theory and techniques of scientific portfolio management, including the establishment of portfolio objectives, evaluation of portfolio performance, asset allocation strategies, and the use of derivative securities in portfolio insurance.
FIN-835 Behavioral Finance
MBA-650 or MSF Program Director Approval
3.00
The foundation of most of modern financial models and theories are based on neoclassical economists' assumption that most economic agents are rational decision makers. Behavioral finance recognizes that our cognitive biases and errors along with our individuality are not always consistent with the rationality assumption and utility maximization. This course will examine the implications of human psychology, emotions and biases on financial decision-making process as well as potential impact on the overall financial markets.
FIN-841 Financial Forecasting
Take MBA-650
3.00
The nature, techniques, and problems of business forecasting. Covers indicators of business activity, short-run econometrics forecasting models, and the construction of aggregate forecasts as well as forecasts of major economic sectors. Includes long-term predictions and the application of aggregate and sector forecasts for particular industries and firms. Prerequisite: FIN 818.
FIN-845 Private Capital Markets
Take MBA-650;
3.00
This course addresses the financial needs of private businesses, focusing on the financial motives and needs of private company owners and their advisors. The course is an opportunity to present private finance as a complement to corporate finance/public finance so as to prepare students to better serve or participate in making better financing decisions in the marketplace of privately held businesses.
FIN-881 Real Estate Finance
Take MBA-650;
3.00
Students are introduced to the language and principles of real estate. Includes an overview of decision-making in the field, with particular emphasis on investment and asset management.
FIN-882 Applied Risk Management
MBA-650
3.00
Students develop a framework for understanding, analyzing, and valuing modern financial instruments. Students examine several types of derivative securities and their use in managing financial risk. While the interests of issuers, intermediaries, and investors will all be considered, the primary emphasis will be on the perspective of corporate financial managers and the use of modern financial technology in the creation of value for shareholders.
FIN-884 Fixed Income Securities
Take FIN-810
3.00
The course is designed to provide information on various types of fixed income securities and markets, theories and concepts of the term structure of interest rates and valuation of fixed income securities, measurement and management of risk for traditional bonds and bonds with embedded options, understanding of the role of derivatives such as mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, swaps and exotic options, credit analysis and bond rating, portfolio management and performance evaluation. This course is generally offered as an intensive elective.
FIN-885 Enterprise Risk Management
MBA-650
3.00
The course introduces basic corporate valuation models and shows how risk arises in firms and how managing that risk can impact the firm's valuation. It shows different ways and contracts that can be used to change the risk profile of the firm. The course will introduce methods including using derivatives to hedge, and the use of insurance and hybrid insurance contracts, and through the adjustment of the capital structure and other financial policies of the firm (dividend payout strategies, optimal compensation, etc.). Throughout the course we will use various risk metrics to demonstrate the impact the risk management strategy has on the firm's exposure to risk and the value that is created by undertaking the activity.
FIN-887 Fundamental Equity Analysis
Take FIN-810;
3
Students examine fundamental equity analysis as the convergence of a number of skills such as accounting, financial, and strategic analysis with detective work and experience. Students practice communicating and defending an argument, use a business analysis framework that helps tie together strategy and finance, practice model building and practical approach to profitability in the markets.
FIN-890 Data Analytics & Credit Risk
Take MBA-650
3.00
This course provides introduction to quantitative business analytics methods and their applications in credit risk analysis. It covers the steps involved in building, testing, and validating various credit risk models, as currently practiced in modern lending financial institutions. The course delves both into the theoretical and the practical aspects of each particular class of models, and emphasizes hands-on application of analytical tools and construction of models. Integral part of the course is the development and improvement of business analytics skills through projects using firm-, industry-, and macroeconomic data. The projects involve data preparation, analysis, and visualization, as well as result interpretation and communication. The primary computing tool for the course is R, which is widely used for data analysis in the corporate world, and is growing in popularity.
FIN-900 Special Topics in Finance
MBA-650
3.00
An in-depth analysis of timely special issues in the field of finance. Specific topics are announced when the course is scheduled.
FIN-910 Directed Individual Study
Instructor's approval required
3.00
A student-initiated directed study project, generally for three credit hours and completed within one quarter or semester. The student and faculty advisor must concur on a written proposal and final report, and the proposal must be approved by the Office of the Dean prior to registration.
FIN-920 MSF Graduate Internship
MBA-650 and Instructor's approval. Limited to MSF students only.
3.00
Provides a hands-on, practical learning opportunity for a student-initiated experience at a domestic or international organization. Students work closely with the MSF advisor and a faculty advisor regarding career-related learning outcomes. Over the course of a semester, students collaborate with their corporate internship supervisor and complete projects related to the field of finance. Offered every semester.
FNEC-810 The Manager in the Global Economy: Trade Issues and Policy
FNEC 700 or MBA 730 OR MBA-630
3
Students examine the conflicts, constraints, opportunities, and economic and non-economic issues facing managers/organizations interested or engaged in international trade. Special attention will be given to the basis for trade, current trade disputes between the US and other countries, issues of international competitiveness, and the decision process for exportation versus on-site production through foreign direct investment.
SBS-603 Managerial Economics
3.00
This course is required for MSA and MSF students and it is also a recommended elective for MBA students with a finance concentration. This course develops an understanding of the concepts, tools, and applications of economics at both the micro and macro level. The focus is on how economic analysis influences decision-making in the public and private sectors and how economic tools can enhance managerial effectiveness and organizational efficiency. The economic role of government and its impact on the business environment in a market economy, the factors that influence firm performance and competitiveness, and the role of financial institutions in the current economic environment are discussed throughout the course.
Healthcare Administration
HLTH-702 Health Economics
HLTH-701;
3.00
This course provides a framework for understanding the economics of the U.S. healthcare industry. The industry is experiencing great pressure to reduce costs, even as it strives to do better at both improving the health of the population and engaging patients in their care. This course enables students to apply the perspectives and tools of health economics to the tasks of understanding and improving the business of healthcare. Students analyze and evaluate current and evolving healthcare markets, public policies, payment methods, mechanisms for bearing and sharing financial risk, and the economic impact of changes in technology and the health professions. Students participate in envisioning the future and designing better ways for healthcare leaders, managers and policy makers to meet the challenges facing the industry.
HLTH-705 Health Systems I: Healthcare in the U.S.
3.00
This course explores the origins, components, organization, and operation of the U.S. health system. It prepares students for subsequent healthcare administration courses that delve more deeply into key aspects of the health system. Topics include major current health and health system issues; the history and trends underlying those issues; and the organizations, professions, laws and policies, patients and consumers, payers and other aspects of the health system. Learning activities focus on the relationships among the many parts of the health system.
HLTH-707 Evidence-Based Healthcare Management
3.00
Develops foundational evidence-based management skills and initiates the professional self-development work that students undertake throughout the MHA Program. This course covers applied research methods and statistical tools as it develops students' skills at identifying, collecting, analyzing and interpreting data. Students engage in hands-on data collection, statistical analysis and interpretation of results. Professional development work includes self-assessments, clarification of career aims, and connecting with resources available to healthcare management professionals.
HLTH-710 Healthcare Accounting and Financial Management
3.00
Builds essential accounting and financial management skills for healthcare managers. Topics include income statements, balance sheets, and interpretation and analysis of financial statements, as well as the implications of assuming financial risk. The course also covers the revenue cycle, financial information systems, and the use of financial information for decision-making. Focused attention is given to managerial accounting, cost allocation, budgeting and variance analysis, as well as ethical and legal perspectives.
HLTH-720 Health Systems Ii: Economics, Law, and Policy
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701)
3.00
Builds on Health Systems I: Healthcare in the U.S. by examining the system through the lenses of economics, law, and policy. In order for students to be better prepared to help their organizations adapt effectively to opportunities and constraints presented by the environments in which they operate, they must be able to analyze and evaluate current and evolving healthcare markets, laws and public policies, payment methods, mechanisms for bearing and sharing financial risk, and their impact on healthcare business models and organizational models.
HLTH-730 Healthcare Operations Management and Performance Improvement
MHA and MSBA students only. HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701) and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812 or MBA-625 or SBS-604).
3.00
Introduces students to concepts, analytic tools, and techniques in operations management, including project management, process documentation and analysis, process improvement tools, Lean Six Sigma methodology, queuing theory, forecasting, Theory of Constraints, and supply chain management. Students will understand patient flow and will learn to measure and compare productivity between departments and healthcare organizations, to map processes and identify improvement opportunities, and to apply quantitative methods for optimal managerial decisions. The course builds on the "Evidence-Based Healthcare Management" foundation course. Class exercises, applied concept assignments, and other learning tools enable students to understand ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare organizations.
HLTH-740 Healthcare Management and Human Resources
3.00
Develops students' knowledge and skills to enable them to engage more effectively with the human side of healthcare organizations. The course examines forces that shape healthcare organizations, and it draws on management theory and practice to explore topics including: governance and control; strategy; organizational structures, tasks and positions; culture and ethics; teamwork; communication; planning; decision making and problem solving; and managing people and performance in clinical and support services. The course also covers operational aspects of human resources planning and management, including recruiting, retaining and managing human resources; cultural competence and diversity management.
HLTH-805 Big Data and Analytics for Health and Healthcare
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701), and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812 or MBA-625 or SBS-604)
3.00
Introduces students to the new science of analytics in the context of the health and healthcare sectors. Building on the "Evidence-Based Healthcare Management" Foundation course, this course further develops students'competencies in seeking and analyzing data, and presenting findings. Analytics drives innovative solutions through its use of data science, information technology, and deep knowledge of a particular industry sector. This course focuses on applications in population health, community health, business intelligence, and behavior change. Students will have establish competency in obtaining information from multiple data sources, analyzing metrics, applying analytic tools, using systems thinking to frame and solve problems, evaluating the pros and cons of various analytics approaches, and creating solutions through the use of case narratives, use cases, and client presentations.
HLTH-807 Innovation: The Future of Healthcare
3.00
Introduces students to a wide range of current innovations as well as innovations that are expected in the future. The course builds students' skills to anticipate, adopt and manage innovation in healthcare. It covers innovation in the organization and delivery of healthcare services as well as in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and healthcare information technology. In particular, the course explores how innovation happens -- i.e., how players across the healthcare industry create, identify, pursue, and support or impede opportunities for innovation.
HLTH-810 Quality, Patient Safety, and Patient Experience
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701), and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812 or MBA-625 or SBS-604)
3.00
The "production" of healthcare is a service of significant personal and social consequence and the quality of that service is high on the agenda of every healthcare leader. A number of trends in the industry are interacting to provide both new challenges and new opportunities for managers in the areas of healthcare quality, patient safety and patient experience. Among those trends are new ways of organizing and delivering services, new technologies, the growth of consumerism and patient-centered care, and new standards and expectations. This course builds on Foundation and Core Level 1 courses as it focuses on the complexities and processes of assuring quality performance in healthcare organizations. Among the topics covered in this course are: creating a culture of safety; establishing and sustaining organizational alignment; quality/safety implications for accreditation and regulatory compliance; and measuring and improving the patient experience.
HLTH-815 Ambulatory and Primary Care
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701)
3.00
This course prepares students to plan, lead, manage and improve primary care and other ambulatory patient care services ("APC") toward achieving the "Triple Aim" of better population health, better patient care and lower cost. The course covers a range of APC services including physician practices, community health centers, ambulatory surgery, retail clinics, behavioral health and dental care. Students who complete the course will be able to understand and analyze: key structures and processes of APC services and their effects on the Triple Aim; key APC contexts including regulatory, reimbursement, technological and professional; and important industry trends related to APC. Specific topics include organizational structure and governance; workforce and staffing; facilities and licensure; emerging business models; performance measurement; relationship between primary care and public health; and emerging practice models including the patient-centered medical home.
HLTH-816 Healthcare Human Resources Management
HLTH-701
3.00
The growing healthcare field is the most labor intensive employer in the United States. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the theories, requirements and practices associated with managing human resources in healthcare organizations. The course covers both strategic and operational aspects of human resources planning and management, and it devotes particular attention to the issues that make human resources management in healthcare so challenging. Perhaps most important, the course guides students in developing practical knowledge and skills to prepare them- as healthcare leaders and managers- to successfully address human resource issues. The course will draw from a range of theoretical material and practical situations, using a variety of learning approaches and featuring guest speakers from healthcare organizations who share their experiences and perspectives from the field of human resources. The course focuses on the following topics: The changing healthcare environment and its implications for human resources management, the use of strategic human resource management to gain a competitive edge in the healthcare industry, workforce design, legal and regulatory requirements, recruitment and retention, organizational development, performance management, compensation and benefits, managing with organized labor and creating customer-satisfying healthcare organizations.
HLTH-820 Ethics, Leadership, and Organizational Change in Healthcare
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701), and HLTH-740 (or HLTH-808 or MBA-721)
3.00
The business of delivering healthcare services generates a multitude of ethical questions which must account for a range of interests, from the interests of patients and consumers, to those of providers and staff, to those of the organization as a business, and the broader interests of community and society. This course familiarizes students with these issues and interests, and with ethical concepts and frameworks for ethical decision making. The course integrates ethics into students' development of their own leadership and change management skills and practice. The course is designed to promote intellectual growth and personal insight into one's own leadership capabilities and style, moral values and beliefs, and to develop competency both in one's personal leadership practice and in leading and managing organizational change.
HLTH-825 Legal Environment of Healthcare
HLTH-701;
3.00
Explores some of the extremely varied, increasingly complex, and ever-changing major legal influences on health care delivery in the United States and the impact on patients, consumers, and the public, focusing in particular on the role of the health care administrator and/or service provider in the context of these influences. Examines the basic structure and concepts of the American legal system, the influence of social values in shaping the law, and the role that the law plays in the operation of health care institutions and the conduct of providers and administrators. Focuses on selected topic areas including: public health law and the role and influence of the government; individual and corporate liability; informed consent; privacy and confidentiality; managed care liability; competency and the right to refuse medical treatment; the practical and ethical impacts of technology; and health care fraud.
HLTH-828 Population Health
HLTH-701
1.50
Healthcare industry trends point toward increasing need for meaningful measurement of the health of populations- from the population of patients who use a particular health service to the populations of nations. Healthcare managers must measure the need and demand for health services as well as the quality, safety and effectiveness or services. This course provides the fundamental information and enables students to develop the skills to apply principles and techniques of epidemiology in planning, delivering and evaluating health services.
HLTH-830 Healthcare Operations Management
Take HLTH-701 and either HLTH-812 or SBS-604. MHA and MSBA students only.
3.00
Students are introduced to concepts and analytic tools and techniques in operations management, such as project management, process improvement, queuing theory, forecasting, capacity planning, and supply chain management. Students will be challenged to examine the distinctive characteristics of health services operations, understand process improvement and patient flow, and explore the means for making optimal managerial decisions. In-class exercises, applied concept assignments, guest speakers, and exams are used to help students understand ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare organizations.
HLTH-831 Performance Improvement and Patient Safety
HLTH-701;
1.50
The 'production' of health care is a service of significant personal and social consequence and high on the agenda of every healthcare executive. Today's consumer actively seeks evidence about the quality of care they can anticipate while payers are offering financial incentives to providers who can demonstrate superior patient outcomes. This course will focus on the complexities and processes of assuring quality performance in healthcare organizations.
HLTH-832 Health Policy
HLTH-701
3.00
Examines health policy development and implementation as well as current and emerging U.S. health and healthcare delivery issues and the policies, politics, and ethical implications surrounding them. We examine health policy through different models related to the healthcare delivery system and financial and payment systems; we also examine current issues that affect healthcare access, cost, and quality. Topics may change each year, but typically include policies and perspectives on state and federal healthcare reform, disparities in health and access, staffing ratios of nurses and other professionals, drug prices, and other current health topics in the news.
HLTH-833 Rebuilding Public Trust: Quality And Safety in Healthcare Organizations
Take HLTH-701 AND HLTH-831;
3.00
The imperative to improve and assure the quality and safety of services is of paramount importance to clinical providers, managers, and executive leadership. This course builds on the basic principles, concepts, tools, and analytic methods addressed in HLTH 831. Among the topics explored in this advanced course are: creating a culture of safety; establishing and sustaining organizational alignment; quality/safety implications for accreditation and regulatory compliance; measuring and improving the patient experience; mistake-proofing the design process; and principles and strategies to improve reliability. The course will provide a foundation for the learner to: 1.Compare and contrast definitions of quality from a variety of stakeholder perspectives. 2.Classify medical error and identify means to reduce risk and/or take effective corrective action. 3.Explore sense-making and its applicability to transformational change in healthcare quality. 4.Identify leadership strategies for establishing an organization-wide culture of safety. 5.Apply essential healthcare team concepts, especially collegiality and collaboration, in complex circumstances of quality improvement. 6.Define mistake-proofing and mistake-proofing approaches and design applied to patient safety. 7.Apply reliability principles to performance improvement in complex systems. 8.Complete an actual healthcare performance improvement project that involves the use of knowledge and skills acquired in the pre-requisite course HLTH 831: Performance Improvement and Patient Safety as well as this course.
HLTH-835 Healthcare Marketing and Communication
Take HLTH-701;
1.50
As the healthcare industry continues to be highly competitive, and as health-related information becomes more available through television and the Internet, healthcare organizations are challenged to communicate their messages more aggressively and in new ways to their key audiences. This course enables students to learn about the nature of those audiences as well as healthcare marketing and communications, with emphasis on designing and conducting market research, identifying market segments and their unique characteristics, selecting promotional strategies and tactics for reaching target audiences, and developing marketing plans.
HLTH-840 Innovation and Strategic Management in Healthcare
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701) and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812)
3.00
The success of any healthcare organization depends on the ability of its leaders and managers to continuously identify, evaluate and address the key issues facing the organization. Innovations in technology, products, practices, and organization, which are continuously reshaping healthcare, are among the most important issues. This course introduces students to these types of innovations, as part of the larger healthcare environment, and integrates them into the larger framework of strategic management of healthcare organizations. The course explores the essential elements of strategic management: systems thinking, strategic analysis, and strategy development and implementation. Using healthcare industry publications and provocative case studies, students conduct assessments of external trends, assumptions and implications; identify and assess organizational opportunities and challenges as well as strengths and weaknesses; identify strategic and operational issues; and review and develop strategies and actions to address the issues and achieve success.
HLTH-842 Global Health
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701)
3.00
The health and wellbeing of people throughout the world are challenged by many factors. To highlight those factors and what is being done to address them, this course focuses on global health problems and needs, including those related to infectious and chronic diseases, injuries, mental illness and substance abuse, and complex emergencies such as natural disasters and war, with particular attention to women, children and families. It also review critical global health-related policy issues such as poverty, population growth, the food and nutrition crisis, water wars, environmental degradation and climate change. Among the assignments, students write papers on specific global health problems and needs and identify healthcare and health-related organizations and financial resources in selected countries that are addressing the problems and needs. The course closes by examining the challenges of how to prioritize the deployment of scarce resources and mobilize citizens, governments and for-profit and non-profit organizations to enhance people's health and wellbeing and save civilization.
HLTH-850 Health Information Systems
HLTH-701;
1.50
This course covers health information and a range of healthcare IT applications as well as topics related to IT planning and management. Applications include medical records, order entry, decision support, and emerging applications. Planning and management topics include data security, IT cost, systems interoperability, project management, IT implementation, and governance.
HLTH-855 Advanced Quality, Patient Safety, and Performance Improvement
HLTH-810 (or HLTH-831)
3.00
Builds student competencies in the improvement and assurance of the quality and safety of healthcare services. This course builds on the principles, concepts, tools, and analytic methods addressed in the pre-requisite Core II course, HLTH-810. Among the topics explored are: creating a culture of safety; establishing and sustaining organizational alignment; quality/safety implications for accreditation and regulatory compliance; measuring and improving the patient experience; mistake-proofing the design process; and principles and strategies to improve reliability. The course will provide the foundation for students to conduct a sophisticated performance improvement project by learning how to classify medical errors, establish cutting-edge concepts in leadership and teamwork, and apply reliability principles to performance improvement in complex systems.
HLTH-860 Leadership and Ethics in Healthcare Organizations
Take HLTH-701;
3.00
The business of delivering healthcare services generates a multitude of ethical questions which must account for a range of interests, from the interests of patients and consumers, to those of providers and staff, to those of the organization as a business, and the broader interests of community and society. This course familiarizes students with these issues and interests, and with ethical concepts and frameworks for ethical decision making. The course integrates ethics into students' development of their own leadership and change management skills and practice. The course is designed to promote intellectual growth and personal insight into one's own leadership capabilities and style, moral values and beliefs, and to develop competency both in one's personal leadership practice and in leading and managing organizational change.
HLTH-880 Directed Individual Study
Take HLTH-705
1.00- 3.00
This is a student-initiated directed study project. The student and faculty advisor must concur on a written proposal and final report, and the project must be approved by the Dean of Academic Affairs prior to registration.
HLTH-885 Healthcare Internship
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701); and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812)
0.00- 3.00
The internship enables students to learn about important aspects of healthcare by working in a healthcare organization. It is intended for students who do not have professional experience in the U.S. healthcare system as well as students who already work in healthcare and seek to gain exposure to other areas of the system. For all students, the internship provides networking opportunities for future career development. The internship requires each student to: work with a healthcare faculty member to identify opportunities and secure an internship in a healthcare organization; complete 400 hours of supervised work in that healthcare organization; attend classes to examine relevant aspects of the internship; and report on the lessons learned from the internship and how they could be applied in the student's future professional endeavors.
HLTH-890 Healthcare Strategic Management
This course is the capstone of the MHA Program and should be taken in the last semester of coursework. MHA and MBA/HLTH students only.
3.00
The success of any healthcare organization depends on the ability of its leaders and managers to continuously identify, evaluate and address the key issues and challenges facing the organization. This capstone course for healthcare explores the essential elements of strategic management: the foundation (including Systems Thinking), strategic analysis, and strategy development and implementation. Using Futurescan and provocative case studies, students: conduct assessments of external trends, assumptions and implications; identify and assess organizational opportunities and threats/challenges as well as strengths and weaknesses; identify strategic and operational issues; and review and develop strategies and action steps to address the issues. For the final project, each student develops a strategic plan for a healthcare organization or conducts a research project on a healthcare organization or strategic issue of particular interest (e.g., mergers and acquisitions in healthcare). Fundamentally, this course focuses on applying strategic and systemic thinking in diagnosing organizational circumstances and developing strategies for "what to do next."
Information Systems and Operations Management
ISOM-730 Python for Business Analytics
3.00
This course is introductory to use Python for business analytics, intended for students with little or no programming experience. Students will learn how to program with Python and how to use it in conjunction with scientific computing modules and libraries to compute, analyze, and visualize data to make analytics-driven decisions in finance, operations, marketing, accounting, and management. By the end of this course, students will have confidence and understanding of how to program in Python, know how to create and manipulate arrays using numpy library, know how to use pandas library to create and analyze data sets, know how to use matplotlib and seaborn libraries to create beautiful data visualization, and have an understanding of scikit-learn for data analytics.
ISOM-801 Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel
3.00
Analyzes various real world business problems and explores the full scope of MS Excel's formulas, functions and features to create data models and present solutions. Students analyze data, design custom charts, graphs, PivotTables and Pivot charts, create three-dimensional workbooks, build links between files and endow worksheets with decision-making capabilities. Students conduct What-If Analysis, utilizing Scenario Manager, Solver, Data Tables and Goal Seek. This course provides the skills necessary to pass the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification in Excel.
ISOM-813 Business Systems Analysis
MBA-670 or MBA-730
3
Covers the concepts, techniques and tools used in the analysis, design and implementation of information systems to analyze and solve business problems. Fundamental information systems concepts, a systems life cycle approach and various systems analysis tools are used to design an optimal solution to solve business problems. A variety of tools will be used including lectures, cases, assignments and a project involving the design, analysis and prototyping of an information system. From the initial project scope and definition of system requirements, database schema, application architecture and GUI, the student uses industry standard templates to prepare a real life case study. Additionally, the course focuses upon using Object Oriented analysis and design techniques including the UML.
ISOM-815 Data Management and Big Data
3
Introduces the importance of information as an organizational resource, role of big data in organizations, and the application of tools to provide high quality information. Students will be able to select the most appropriate data management tool (e.g., SQL vs. non-SQL databases) to business scenarios. Develops the skills needed to succeed in today's big data environment through the application of data management techniques, cases and exercises. Students will become proficient in designing databases using entity relationship modeling and normalization, in building and querying databases of various sizes with Access and SQL (an industry standard), preparing high quality data and applying data visualizing techniques. Students will complete a series of business-oriented hands-on exercises, prepare cases, and complete projects on database design and big data.
ISOM-821 Data Management and Modeling
This course was formerly ISOM-815
3.00
Introduces the importance of information as an organizational resource, role of big data in organizations, and the application of tools to provide high quality information. Students will be able to select the most appropriate data management tool (e.g., SQL vs. non-SQL databases) to business scenarios. Develops the skills needed to succeed in today's big data environment through the application of data management techniques, cases and exercises. Students will become proficient in designing databases using entity relationship modeling and normalization, in building and querying databases of various sizes with Access and SQL (an industry standard), preparing high quality data and applying data visualizing techniques. Students will complete a series of business-oriented hands-on exercises, prepare cases, and complete projects on database design and big data.
ISOM-825 Enterprise Data Management
3.00
Provides students with an understanding of the nature of enterprise integration and enterprise software, business process reengineering, the implementation within organizations, and strategies for maximizing benefits from enterprise systems. To manage complex business processes in today's multi-national, wired and wireless world, firms need integrated software packages to manage their global business. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are used to support a wide range of business functions for all companies across industries. With ERP systems, business managers are able to make decisions with accurate, consistent, and current data. Intensive lab projects on the SAP ERP System with real life business scenarios are utilized to reinforce understanding of enterprise systems functionality and business process concepts.
ISOM-835 Predictive Analytics
3.00
Predictive analytics make predictions about unknown future events. It is crucial for companies to ask the right questions, perform rigorous analysis, and take actions that will result in the most desirable outcomes. This course develops students' capability in applying the core concepts and techniques of predictive analytics to identify opportunity, recognize patterns, predict outcomes, and recommend optimal actions within the context of organizational decision-making. Topics include: business analytics life cycle, data pre- processing, linear and nonlinear regression, tree-based methods, model assessment and selection, and resampling methods.
ISOM-840 Security and Privacy
3.00
Introduces the fundamental principles of information and big data security. Security vulnerabilities, threats and risks will be analyzed. Common types of computer attacks and counter-attacks will be identified. Security technologies such as biometrics, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and cryptography systems will be applied in conjunction with human based safeguards. Business continuity and disaster recovery planning will be covered. Students will then learn how to design and build a layered security defense combining several of the above controls to address the different challenges to data security. The managerial concerns of security and privacy of information will be stressed including the legal and privacy issues. Best practices for planning and auditing security and privacy will then be covered.
ISOM-845 Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
3.00
Introduces business intelligence and data analytics. Business intelligence and data analytics help organizations in strategic and operational decision making by improving performance management, optimizing customer relations, monitoring business activity, and improving decision support. On a macro-level, the class will discuss business cases for the adoption of business intelligence and data analytics. We will discuss technologies and processes for gathering, storing, accessing, and analyzing data to provide users with better insights and business decisions. On a micro-level, students will use a variety of tools to build their skills in analyzing data to solve business problems. In summary, this course provides a conceptual understanding of business data resources and the development of capabilities for data preparation, warehousing, selection, description, mining, interpretation, visualization, communication, and innovation.
ISOM-851 Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Operations, & Analytics
3.00
Introduces the fundamental principles and concepts for effective management of supply chains via performance drivers such as procurement, facilities, inventory, transportation, and pricing. No company can do better than its supply chain, a complex network of organizations that collaboratively manage transformation processes to deliver products/services to customers. Managing a supply chain is a tremendous challenge for most firms which, paradoxically, can also be a crucial source of competitive advantage. This "how-to" course also offers hands-on familiarity with analytical models, data analysis, and interpretation from which supply chain managers can gain deep insights.
ISOM-861 Project Management
3.00
Introduces the basic principles, tools and technique of the Project Management Life Cycle with practical real-life examples and scenarios. The basic concepts will be studied within the framework of the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK (R)Guide) guidelines set forth by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Other project management framework will be described though not in detail. The course will attempt to help students understand the relationship between good project management and successful software management, development and implementation, and the best practices at each stage of project planning, execution, control and closure. The course will also help build skills to research, analyze and report project management case studies that illustrate the topics covered in this course. PMP(R) and (PMBOK(R)Guide) are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
ISOM-910 Directed Individual Study
Instructor Permission
3.00
This elective course option involves a student initiated written proposal to a willing and appropriate full-time faculty member for a directed study project. The project should be completed during one semester. The faculty member and student must concur on a written proposal, final project and grading criteria. Approval by the Department Chair and the Dean is necessary before registration.
ISOM-920 ISOM Internship
Approval of the student's Program Director and ISOM Department chair required.
0.00- 3.00
Provides a hands-on, practical learning opportunity for a student-initiated experience at a domestic or international organization. Students work closely with the department chair and faculty advisor regarding career-related learning outcomes. Over the course of a semester, students collaborate with their corporate internship supervisor and complete projects in either information systems, operations management, or business analytics. A final written report and presentation are mandatory if this course is taken for credit. Offered every semester.
SBS-604 Data Analytics
3.00
This course introduces students to the concepts and applications of data analytics on large data sets for managerial decision making. Students will learn foundation skills needed to extract valuable information out of data, including various descriptive and predictive analytics techniques. Students develop knowledge of data visualization and interpretation coupled with conveying data, results and insights. Issues on data acquisition, storage and management will be discussed.
International Business
ACIB-872 International Accounting
ACCT-800 or MBA-640
3.00
Imparts an understanding of differences among nations in approaches to disclosure and choices of accounting measurement systems. Students learn about the influence of the IASB and IOSCO on multinational accounting harmonization, contrasting historical cost/purchasing power accounting with other accounting approaches, including current value accounting. Students will assess how differences in industrial and ownership structures affect accounting performance measurement. Students will also analyze risk management, accounting for derivative contracts, consolidation accounting, budgetary control, and transfer pricing in a multinational company.
BLLS-830 Managing in the International Legal Environment
MBA-680 or MBA-730
3.00
Examines the complex interactions among legal, political, economic and cultural forces. Students discuss contemporary international conflicts in the areas of trade,expropriation, political risk analysis, foreign direct investment, anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws, export control laws,extraterritoriality and taxation of income.
MGIB-835 International Strategy
3.00
This course addresses the creation of competitive advantage in a multinational firm. Topics include: analysis of the nature of globalization, the formulation and implementation of international strategy, market entry and organizational forms, and the management of global operations.
MGIB-837 Strategic Context of International Business
3.00
This course focuses on the institutional and policy contexts in which businesses develop global strategies. It expands the understanding of global contextual factors impacting business, in order to gain deeper local, national, and global perspectives on competition. The course pays particular attention to social and political dimensions of strategy that are an essential component for superior performance in the contemporary world but receive little consideration in standard strategic analysis, such as trade protectionism, political risks affecting foreign direct investment, the use of the law as a competitive tool, government regulation, lobbying, and corporate social responsibility.
MGIB-850 Global Travel Seminar
SBS-600
3
The seminar is designed to develop student's awareness, understanding and knowledge of managing in an international context. The format will consist of several preparatory sessions, at Suffolk and an intensive one week seminar outside the United States. Topics will include, but are not limited to, managing cultural and structural differences, geo-political-economic considerations, international human resources and strategic management issues. The scheduling and the host country destination, as well as content emphasis, will vary from term to term. A maximum of two off-campus courses is permitted subject to the 30 credit residency requirement.
MGIB-920 MBA Graduate Internship
SBS-700, MBA-615, MBA-625, MBA-635, MBA-640, MBA-650 MBA-660, and Instructor's approval. Limited to MBA students only.
3.00
Provides a hands-on, practical learning opportunity for a student-initiated experience at a domestic or international organization. Students work closely with the MBA advisor and faculty advisor regarding career-related learning outcomes. Over the course of a semester, students collaborate with their corporate internship supervisor and complete projects in either accounting, business law and ethics, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, strategy or tax. Offered every semester.
MKIB-812 Global Branding and Communication Strategies
MBA-660. MBA & Integrated Marketing students only.
3.00
In many firms, the brand or portfolio of brands has become the most valuable asset requiring strategic management in order to secure the goals of the organization. Hence, developing strong brands for markets around the world has become increasingly important in today's global economy. This objective of this course is to examine appropriate theories, models and other tools to help make branding and communication decisions for brands globally. The course presentation will combine lectures, case studies, guest speakers and a semester long, team-based project.
MKIB-817 International Marketing
MBA-660; MBA & Integrated Marketing students only.
3.00
The application of marketing principles and practices to competition in global markets. The course emphasizes the skills necessary for cross-cultural marketing.
MKIB-819 Global Perspectives in Consumer Marketing
MBA-660 (previously or concurrently)
3.00
A key to successful marketing is cracking the code of consumer behavior. The scope of this course is analyzing consumer behavior both at home and abroad, particularly contrasting the emergent markets in the East with more established Western markets. This comparison highlights issues such as the role of consumption in negotiating modernity while honoring tradition, responses of consumers to innovations, the role of social class and status in consumption, and value placed on authenticity in different cultural milieus. This course is constructed in three modules. The first focuses on the globalization of consumption, the second on the adoption and consumption of innovations, and the last on special topics in cultural and cross-cultural studies.
MKIB-833 Global Business Horizons
MBA 660
3
At the dawn of the 21st century, business and society is confronted with a confluence of factors ranging from widespread poverty," untapped business markets and issues of sustainability. The diverse sources of information that point to an uncertain future suggests that a ""business as usual"" approach has to be replaced with more proactive alternatives that address the needs of untapped markets\"
TAX-865 International Taxation Outbound
TAX-801 and TAX-862 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
This course studies the U.S. taxation of U.S. persons with non-U.S. income and or activities, or both. The course examines foreign tax credit principles and includes hands on application of the foreign tax credit limitation rules. The course covers individuals with earned foreign income, controlled foreign corporations, and provides an overview of earnings and profits, tested income, Subpart F income and investment in U.S. property. The curriculum of the course has been revised to incorporate the substantial additions and modifications to the U.S. international tax system resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act including the Global Intangible Low Tax-Taxed Income (GILTI), Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) and the Foreign-Derived Intangible Income (FDII). The curriculum includes foreign currency issues, an overview of income tax treaties, other current international tax issues, and addresses compliance and disclosure requirements. The course incorporates tax practice by employing a case study that allows hands on application of the course curriculum as it relates to the calculation and reporting of non-U.S. transactions and the completion of relevant tax forms.
Marketing
MKIB-817 International Marketing
MBA-660; MBA & Integrated Marketing students only.
3.00
The application of marketing principles and practices to competition in global markets. The course emphasizes the skills necessary for cross-cultural marketing.
MKT-810 Marketing Research for Managers
MBA-625, SBS-604, ISOM-631, OR MBA-622; AND MBA-660. MBA and Integrated Marketing students only.
3.00
This course explores the role of research in marketing decision-making, including the cost and value of information. The course uses cases and problems to explore problem definition, research design, sampling, questionnaire design, field methods, data analysis and reporting.
MKT-814 Strategic Marketing
MBA-660. MBA & Integrated Marketing students only.
3.00
This course is designed to provide you with both a sound theoretical and an applied approach to developing and implementing marketing strategy at multiple levels of the organization - corporate, division, strategic business unit, and product. Special emphasis will be placed on dealing with contemporary marketing issues in the highly competitive global environment. The course presentation will combine lectures, case studies, guest speakers, and a semester-long, team-based project.
MKT-820 Sales Management
MBA-660
3.00
This course addresses the role of the sales manager in today's challenging business environment. As such, the course includes an understanding of direct sales, as well as all facets of sales management such as recruitment, compensation, and management of a sales force. The core of activity is lecture and case study.
MKT-854 Biotech Industry & Marketing Application
Take MBA-660
3.00
New technological marketing strategies are revolutionizing and disrupting the biotech business industry by using comprehensive statistical and analytical models capable of providing insightful prescriptive and predictive data powerful enough to persuade and influence the global biotechnology ecosystem. Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, neural networks, human genomic and microbiome sequencing along with nanotechnology and personalized medicine are helping biotech companies to invent new methodologies of diagnosing and treating disease. Ethically marketing life-changing therapeutics that address major sustainability issues in energy, food, and health can lead to solutions that will make our earth a safer place for current and future generations.
MKT-855 Digital Marketing Challenges
MBA-660
3.00
The foundational course in the digital marketing track this course focuses on the consumer of digital media and five big picture marketing strategy challenges confronting marketers in the new digital (mobile +social) marketing era. Challenge 1: Marketing to a smarter, more engaged, empowered consumer; Challenge 2: Marketing to a networked, collaborative, and more social consumer; Challenge 3: Marketing to a more distracted and fickle consumer; Challenge 4: Marketing to a unique, individual consumer; and Challenge 5: Marketing to prosumers or producer-consumers. The course takes on these big picture challenges thorough a deep engagement with and critical analysis of readings and cases. Given this focus the course demands thorough preparation for class and active engagement in the class discussion. The evaluation is assignment and project based.
MKT-870 Advanced Marketing Analytics
MKT-810 previously or concurrently
3.00
In this course, students learn how data analytics transforms businesses and industries, using examples and case studies in multiple industries and contexts. Through applied examples, the use of statistical methods such as linear regression, logistic regression, factor analysis, decision trees, cluster analysis, and optimization will be demonstrated. Students will be using the statistical software, such as SPSS and R, to explore patterns in marketing datasets and build predictive models.
MKT-898 Consulting Project
Take MKIB-819, MKT-810, & MKT-860. MKT-814 and MKT-870 may be taken concurrently. MS Marketing students only.
3.00
Students apply the social science research process in a marketing consulting project to solve a problem (or explore an opportunity) for a professional client. Students will engage in study design (to include qualitative and/or quantitative methods) data collection, and data analysis. Statistical analysis tools for bivariate analyses (t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square, correlations) and multivariate analyses (regression, factor analysis, cluster analysis, conjoint analysis) will be used. Students create and deliver a professional report and presentation to the client upon completion of the project.
MKT-910 Directed Study in Marketing
MBA-660
1.00- 3.00
A student proposes a directed study project, generally for three credit hours and completed during one semester. The student and faculty advisor must concur on a written proposal and final report, and the project must be approved by the Office of the Dean prior to registration.
MKT-920 Marketing Internship
SBS-700, SBS-604 and Instructor's approval.
3.00
A semester long internship in a company, non-profit organization, or public agency in the Boston Metropolitan area, usually requiring the equivalent of at least one day per week on site. The internship project is described in a written proposal agreed upon by the company sponsor and faculty members. The intern must complete a mid-semester progress report, a final report and/or presentation.
Organizational Behavior
MGOB-810 Emotional Intelligence
3.00
This course introduces learners to the concepts of Emotional Intelligence (EI). Learners will assess their own EI, examine how their EI impacts their performance in the workplace, and develop a plan to improve their own emotional intelligence. In addition, learners will study how EI concepts are applied in organizations via their use in selection, training, management development, coaching, and performance evaluation.
MGOB-835 Managing Difficult People at Work
3.00
Most employees will encounter difficult interpersonal situations at some point in their careers. This course focuses on the high costs of incivility to employee well-being and productivity. Students will reflect on their experiences, learn techniques to improve their communication skills, and experientially practice having difficult conversations. Topics such as abusive supervision, sexual harassment, and abnormal psychology will also be covered. Students will gain insight into how to cope with challenging interpersonal situations, address problematic behaviors, and develop more positive relationships in the workplace.
MGOB-841 Bldg Inclusive Organizations
3.00
Matters related to diversity and inclusion are increasingly salient to business, impacting companies' mission, brand, talent management strategies, and performance. In this class, we will learn about common dynamics that occur in diverse groups and organizations; explore the power of inclusion and the challenges to leveraging it; discuss relevant current events, their impact on business, and business' responses to them; and study best practices for building diverse and inclusive companies.
MGOB-855 Conflict & Negotiation
3.00
This course emphasizes the theory and skills of win-win negotiation. Students assess their own negotiation styles, analyze the process of negotiation, and apply theory-based skills for integrating problem solving approaches to negotiation. The course utilizes a mix of teaching tools, including readings, lectures, cases, exercises, videotapes, and role-playing.
MGOB-866 Managing Failure for Success
3
This course brings to light one of the most important yet vastly unmentionable topics of management: Failure. We will examine various aspects of failure from a sense making perspective at the organizational and individual levels, within emphasis on the latter. Examples of course questions include: What is failure? How do I usually handle it? Can I change if I want to? How? We will adopt an action learning pedagogical perspective so that students may enjoy the difference between mere knowing and understanding of material, on the one hand, and acting upon their understanding, on the other hand, to detect and possibly correct their frameworks for personal groundings, meaning-making, and failure handling strategies. There are no formal academic prerequisites for the course, except a desire for personal mastery and a white belt mentality.
Public Administration including Nonprofit Management
P.AD-711 Foundations of Public Service and Administration
3.00
This introductory graduate-level course provides an overview of public administration and service and serves as a basis for further advanced studies in the MPA program. This course covers the structure, functions, and process of public service organizations at various levels, including governments and nonprofit organizations. Students explore historical trends, ethical considerations, and political rationale for the present operations of public service.
P.AD-712 Information Based Management
3.00
This course demonstrates how issues, problems, and questions surrounding public policies, program operations, and administrative systems can be structured as hypotheses and made amendable to resolution through the application of social science research techniques. The elements of research design such as surveys, true experiments, quasi-experiments, case studies and non-experimental studies are described, as well as sampling techniques and descriptive statistics. Ethical issues related to employment of these methods in the policy making process are also explored. The course content is presented as a way to reduce managerial uncertainty regarding alternative courses of action.
P.AD-715 Quantitative Analysis
3.00
Quantitative analysis introduces basic statistical techniques used to analyze and draw conclusions from citizen and client surveys; program and policy evaluations; and performance and operations data. These techniques include chi square, lambda, gamma, correlations, and analysis of variance, t test correlations, and multivariate regression. Knowledge of these statistical techniques empowers managers by giving them the ability to evaluate the work of consultants, access the policy and management of literature, and analyze data using the analytical tools available in commonly used statistical software, such as Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
P.AD-716 Public Service Human Resource Management
3.00
This course will explore complex issues in public and non-profit human resource management (HRM) by examining policies and practices that support and enhance the value and contribution of individuals in these organizations.
P.AD-718 Leadership Strategies for an Interconnected World
3.00
Leadership is a critical ingredient of successful communities and organizations. This course develops a diagnostic framework as well as strategies and tactics to mobilize adaptive work; engage multiple government, non-profit, and business stakeholders; and build awareness and momentum for actions at all levels of government and community organizations. It introduces the catalytic model of leadership and applies it to the ethical handling of societal and organizational problems. Students' leadership competencies are reviewed and improved. This course is designed for people from diverse backgrounds with various experience in leadership roles.
P.AD-810 Public Sector Admin Law
3.00
Students review the basis for administrative practice. They learn legal interpretation of statutes, regulations, and proposed legislation that impact public administration and public policy.
P.AD-811 Politics of Federal Bureaucracy
3.00
Instructor's signature required for registration. Students examine the interrelations among the federal executive, Congressional committees, constituency groups, and federal administrative agencies in the formulation and implementation of federal policies. Also discussed are managerial functions (e.g., personnel regulations, program evaluations, and intergovernmental design). This course includes a 3-day travel seminar to Washington D.C.
P.AD-815 Nonprofit Management
3.00
The primary focus will be on understanding the operational and strategic leadership aspects of managing mission driven, public service organizations. Specific emphasis will be placed on nonprofit corporations, including coursework that explores the legal, structural, and operational issues that are particular to such organizations.
P.AD-816 Seminar in Public Policy
3.00
This is an intensive analysis of selected public policy challenges. Using a combination of case studies, theoretical writings, and real-time intelligence and reports, students discuss and compare the substance, practices, and impacts of contemporary public policy issues. Through this examination students will consider operations and methodologies used to understand and tackle public policy systems analysis. Examples are used to demonstrate how these analytical methods can be used to make more informed policy decisions and assessments. Topics for this course will vary and students may take this course more than once as long as the topic (title) is different.
P.AD-817 Administrative Strategies of State and Local Government
3.00
This course is built on the premise that state and local government leaders have an obligation to fully develop the human resources, network relationships and physical assets available to them so as to increase the value of their organizations to the public. Through case studies, students will explore the successes and failures of state and local government leaders and their strategies in major policy arenas, such as public safety, health and welfare, education, environment and economic development. Through readings, students will examine state and local government structures and functions, political culture, and administrative reforms.
P.AD-819 Grant Writing and Management
3.00
PAD 819 covers both grant seeking and grant writing. Students, individually, or in teams work with a nonprofit or government organization to develop a project idea and prepare a Master Grant Proposal and a Grant Application to be submitted to a most-likely-to-fund grant maker. Classes focus on step-by-step grant writing & grant seeking process, and the instructor also consults with student-grant writers individually and via Blackboard.
P.AD-822 Public Management Information Systems
3.00
A decision-making course focusing on applying high speed information systems to support administrative and managerial functions. PMIS incorporates organizational assessments leading to purchasing computer hardware and software, office automation, and diverse communications including electronic automation, and diverse communications including electronic mail, Internet, telecommunications, and networking. Current events, professional journals and the technology presently used will be highlighted.
P.AD-823 The U.S. Health System
3.00
An introduction to the health system, its origins, its components, and how they are organized and interrelated; determinants of health and disease; the role of professions, institutions, consumers, and government; landmark legislation, and social responses to the system.
P.AD-827 Financing State & Local Government
3.00
Recessions and economic stagnation, loss of economic base, and natural disasters have significant consequences for the effectiveness of governments and nonprofits, yet during times of fiscal crisis these organizations carry more responsibility as people look to these organizations for leadership and relief from hardships. This course addresses strategies to prepare for and cope with fiscal crises. Students will learn to assess economic and financial vulnerability, develop management and budget methodologies that are adaptable to changing economic conditions, and develop strategies to ensure long-term financial viability and effectiveness of governments and nonprofits.
P.AD-828 Public Service Communication
3.00
Students develop techniques and directives related to communication processing. Both interpersonal communication and electronic information flow will be examined. Communication skills, styles, and strategies will be stressed through use of all media. Students will also analyze the theory and practice of public service marketing in relation to the administration of multiple sectors including private, public, nonprofit and health care by looking at innovative public service products and services.
P.AD-831 Civic Innovation and Citizen Engagement
3.00
Participants in this course will examine a variety of innovations that attempt to reap the benefits of diverse engagement by bringing together varied parties to forge new solutions to public service challenges. Across a variety of policy areas, practitioners have developed innovative policies and practices that engage citizens in public problem-solving, giving power to groups made up of citizens and public employees, and holding them accountable for producing and measuring results. Citizens play a critical and increasingly influential role in government decision-making and performance. As a result, leaders must understand the complexity of citizen participation and build skills for effective citizen engagement.
P.AD-832 Health Policy
3.00
Students examine disability issues of health, mental health, substance abuse, special education, long-term illnesses including HIV/AIDS, sensory impairments, and early-life and end-of-life issues, including genetics.
P.AD-838 Ethics in Public Service
3.00
In this course, students study the ethical, moral, and legal dilemmas in public and private managerial operations. The gray areas of decision-making provide case studies for exploration of effective ethical practices. Management approaches to deter fraud, waste, abuse, and corrupt practices are identified as are the tools and strategies to strengthen the organizational ethic and culture in business and government. Ethical management strategies designed to improve productivity within organizations are explored.
P.AD-839 Leadership and Decision Making in Action
3.00
Students learn effective approaches to leadership by examining leadership models, styles, and strategies. Emphasis is placed on the values and ethics of successful managerial leadership in public, private, and nonprofit sectors
P.AD-840 Comparative Public Policy
Registration requires instructor approval
3.00
An opportunity will provided for students to research, experience, analyze, and compare public policy development and implementation in the United States, and in other nations like Dublin, Ireland, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The course consists of classroom lectures and independent research on the Suffolk campus as well as at a university related center in another country. Students may pick their specific research topics from a variety of public policy and program subject areas. This course may be taken twice, for a maximum of 6 credits.
P.AD-842 Workplace and Labor Law
3.00
Workplace and labor law affects every manager's ability to achieve the goals and objectives of the organization. Ignorance of the relevant statutes and case law leads to misunderstanding, mismanagement, and substantial legal costs and controversies. This course reviews some of the more significant legal requirements associated with recruitment and selection, performance appraisal, discipline, wages and benefits, etc. Teaching method includes lecture and case analysis.
P.AD-848 Nonprofit Law and Ethics
3.00
This course provides a practical framework for understanding the legal and ethical challenges continually faced by nonprofit human and social service organizations. Students learn about the various levels of legal influence, including federal, state, and city, as well as the "internal" laws of the corporation, and will explore the impact these laws can have on the day-to-day operation of the nonprofit organization. Students develop a methodology for identifying issues that can trigger a legal response and processes for best protecting their organizations, their clients, and themselves.
P.AD-849 Revenue Strategies for Nonprofits
3.00
This course provides an in-depth look at today's philanthropic trends, patterns, and best practices in fundraising techniques.
P.AD-900 Special Topics
3.00
When offered this course focuses upon a special topic in the field of public administration. The course may be retaken for credit when the topics differ.
P.AD-910 Individual Study in Public Service
1.00- 6.00
Instructor and Dean's Approval required for registration. This elective course option involves a student- initiated proposal to a willing and appropriate faculty member for a directed study project. The faculty member and student must concur on a written proposal and final report. Approval by the Office of the Dean is necessary prior to registration.
Strategic Management
MGES-848 Green and Sustainable Business
3.00
Over the past decade, the world of business and the environment has exploded. Beginning as an engineering-driven movement among a handful of companies during the 1980s, many firms have learned that improved environmental performance can save money and create competitive advantage. Much of the focus over the last 30 years has been on larger businesses. But now the big businesses are encouraging their small and mid-sized enterprises vendors and partners to pay attention to these concerns also. Consequently, the "greening" of Small Business is of utmost importance as many small businesses are a part of the supply chains of larger companies. And improving their performance can strengthen the business relationships of all parties by becoming cleaner, greener and sustainable businesses. This course will cover all aspects of green and sustainable business from innovation to new products to greening of the supply chain. It will cover how small and large businesses like General Electric, General Motors and others are paying attention to this very critical topic and taking actions which benefit the environment as well as their bottom lines and thus creating entrepreneurial opportunities in this growing market.
MGSM-833 Corporate Innovation
3.00
This course is designed to provide you the tools to analyze your organization's competitive situation and develop innovative strategies and proposals that disrupt your competition and are game changers for your industry. You will also learn how to develop blue ocean strategies that create new growth opportunities and bring new customers into your industry. Next, you will learn how to assess existing business models and design business models supportive of your overall innovation-based strategy offerings. Lastly, you will learn how to access and leverage external sources of innovative ideas through the processes of open innovation, including crowd sourcing and co creation and their application in diverse industry settings.
MGSM-834 Mergers and Acquisitions
MBA-650
3.00
This course is designed to examine the underlying theoretical foundations and practice of decisions central to corporate strategy development. Since this subject is important to scholars in strategic management, financial economics, and public policy, it is approached from an integrative, interdisciplinary perspective. Topics include: the history of merger waves in America and comparative global trends; types of mergers; merger financial and economic motives; strategic and managerial motives; acquisition processes; synergy of the diversified corporate portfolio; empirical evidence of merger success; post-merger integration; divestment; takeover defense strategies; leveraged buyouts; and public policy issues. Students will develop conceptual and analytical skills required for effective merger and divestment analysis through class lectures, selected readings, case discussions, and guest speakers.
MGT-910 Directed Study in Management
1.00- 3.00
A student proposes a directed study project, usually for three credit hours and to be completed in one semester. The student and faculty advisor must concur on a written proposal and final report, and the project must be approved by the Office of the Dean prior to registration.
MGT-920 Management Internship
Approval of the MMS Program Director or Management and Entrepreneurship Department Chair required. MBA students may not take this course.
3.00
The internship is a semester-long, hands-on, practical learning experience in a company or non-profit organization. It usually requires the equivalent of at least one day per week on site. The site cannot be a firm where the student is already employed, unless the internship is confirmed to be related to the degree, substantially differentiated from the student's current work, and sponsored by a different department or division. The internship project is described in a written proposal agreed upon by the company sponsor and sponsoring faculty member, and it includes degree-related and career-related learning outcomes. The intern completes several written reflection assignments, a final report, and a presentation.
Taxation
TAX-801 Federal Taxation of Income
3.00
This course focuses on the federal income taxation of individuals with some discussion of business entity taxation where the topics are applicable to both areas of tax law. The course explores the basic structure of individual income taxation, including gross income, exclusions, deductions, credits, the alternative minimum tax and the tax formula. The course also covers a basic introduction to the taxation of property transactions which is the focus of TAX 802. It emphasizes professional tax practice by incorporating research, professional writing and communication skills and the preparation of complex tax returns. The attainment of these essentials skills is facilitated by the routine exposure to the interpretation of statutes of the Internal Revenue Code, the review of Treasury Regulations, and the exploration of various court cases and rulings as applied to various fact patterns and case studies.
TAX-802 Taxation of Property Transactions
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
This course builds upon the basic exposure to the taxation of property transactions in TAX 801. The course explores realization and recognition issues related to the disposition of property. It includes the coverage of basis, holding period, the characterization of gains and losses, passive activity and at-risk rules, amortization, depreciation and depreciation recapture, and other current tax topics related to property transactions. It emphasizes professional tax practice by incorporating the research of complex transactions, the preparation of tax journal entries, and professional writing and communication skills. Tax planning skills are learned via the exploration of transaction structuring techniques that minimize or defer tax exposure.
TAX-861 Tax Research
3.00
Title 26 of the United States Code, otherwise known as the Internal Revenue Code, is among the most complicated area of the law to research. Statutes, regulations, and agency issuances interact to create a complicated set of legal precedents. This course covers tax research methods, including identifying and defining tax questions, locating appropriate authority, and interpreting statutes, cases, and rulings. This course will also emphasize effective oral and written communication of research findings and recommendations, and proper administration, ethics, and responsibilities of tax practice.
TAX-862 Taxation of Corporations
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
This course examines the concepts, principles and practices of taxation of corporations and their shareholders. The effects of taxation on corporate formation, capital structure, income tax calculation, corporate distributions to shareholders, stock redemptions, and partial and complete liquidation are covered. Tax planning and professional practice will be emphasized throughout the course via realistic tax cases and the completion of a comprehensive corporate tax return problem, including adjusting entries, work paper preparation and a tax accrual calculation. To enhance oral presentation skills students will analyze a realistic case and will present aspects of the case to the class.
TAX-863 Taxation of Pass-Through Entities
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
This course provides an in-depth study of pass-through entities inclusive of partnerships, Subchapter S corporations, limited liability companies and other tax issues related to closely held businesses. The course covers entity selection, entity formation, allocations of income, maintenance of capital accounts, taxation of operations, transactions, contributions, distributions, mixing bowl transactions, sales of ownership interests and other current issues. The course develops procedural skills by including the examination and application of relevant Code sections, regulations, and case law. Emphasis is placed on professional tax practice by incorporating a case study which promotes the development of decision making, tax planning, technical writing and communication skills to be employed in advising clients and business partners.
TAX-864 Tax Practice and Procedures
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
This course focuses on understanding the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion. Ethics and tax practitioner regulation will be presented and explored. Upon successful course completion, students should know and understand the laws governing practice before the IRS and how the IRS is organized and administrated. Tax deficiencies, assessments, claims for refunds, statutes of limitation and the appeal process will be explained and illustrated. Selected Code sections, regulations, Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) provisions and case law will be analyzed to understand tax practice. The Collection Process used by Revenue Officers will be described. The taxpayers' ability to make Installment Agreements or Offers in Compromise will be studied and presented. Indirect methods of accounting used by IRS Revenue Agents will be identified and examined. The course emphasizes tax practice by incorporating technical writing skills to be employed in responding to tax notice correspondence from taxing authorities. Additionally, tax practice is emphasized via the incorporation of a case study which requires an oral presentation of a written protest in defense of a taxpayer under audit.
TAX-865 International Taxation Outbound
TAX-801 and TAX-862 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
This course studies the U.S. taxation of U.S. persons with non-U.S. income and or activities, or both. The course examines foreign tax credit principles and includes hands on application of the foreign tax credit limitation rules. The course covers individuals with earned foreign income, controlled foreign corporations, and provides an overview of earnings and profits, tested income, Subpart F income and investment in U.S. property. The curriculum of the course has been revised to incorporate the substantial additions and modifications to the U.S. international tax system resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act including the Global Intangible Low Tax-Taxed Income (GILTI), Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) and the Foreign-Derived Intangible Income (FDII). The curriculum includes foreign currency issues, an overview of income tax treaties, other current international tax issues, and addresses compliance and disclosure requirements. The course incorporates tax practice by employing a case study that allows hands on application of the course curriculum as it relates to the calculation and reporting of non-U.S. transactions and the completion of relevant tax forms.
TAX-866 State & Local Taxation
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
This course strikes a balance between theoretical concepts and practical, real-world issues and covers the interrelationships between the federal and state taxation systems. The course also delves into the limitations upon the states' authority to tax which arise from U.S. Constitutional and federal law. The major types of taxes are covered which include sales and use taxes, corporate income, franchise taxes, and excise taxes. The course emphasizes a case review approach to the study of state and local taxation. Students will be exposed to current developments via the analysis of current tax cases from various states and local taxing authorities and recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions. The ability to practice in this area requires strong research skills as tax law routinely changes at the state and local level and changes in federal tax law can pose significant implications on the states' enforcement of its tax laws. In order to meet this expectation, the course focuses on professional tax practice skills development by incorporating research of current tax law and its implication as it relates to an assigned case study. The case study requires that students develop a tax planning strategy and present a recommendation based on their research findings and the overall business strategy of a given entity.
TAX-867 Mergers & Acquisitions Taxation
TAX-801 and TAX-862 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
This course examines the IRC corporate provisions of both tax-free and taxable acquisitions and reorganizations in relation to various acquisitive and reorganizational transactions. Topics include acquisition methods such as asset purchase, stock purchase, and contribution and acquisition combinations. Topics also covered include the continuity of enterprise and interest issues in conjunction with the tax treatment accorded a transaction, carryovers, limitations, basis, and consolidated tax returns. The course incorporates professional tax practice via the implementation of a case study approach which requires the examination of Code provisions, case law and current tax practice in devising a tax strategy that identifies the most tax advantaged acquisition or reorganization based on an assigned fact pattern, and the completion of a consolidated tax return.
TAX-868 Estate Planning
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
3
Includes a review and analysis, from an estate planning prospective, of legal principles critical to the development of an effective dispositive plan with a primary focus on past, current and proposed Federal tax law principles (under the income, gift, and estate tax statutes) pertinent to the development of a variety of estate plans. In addition, the course includes the discussion of particular estate planning problems and techniques for the purpose of determining the most effective means of achieving the client's goals.
TAX-871 Taxation of Estates, Trusts and Gifts
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
This course primarily focuses on the taxation of U.S. citizens and residents as it relates to estates, trusts and gift taxes. Due to recent growth in the global mobility of persons, the course also introduces tax issues surrounding the estate and gift tax burden of non-U.S. persons who are domiciled in the U.S. or who have never been domiciled in the U.S. but must be considered in U.S. estate and gift tax planning. The tax implication related to various types of trusts and their use in estate planning is also analyzed. Topics covered include, income in respect to a decedent, generation-skipping transfer taxes, the implication of administrative powers, terminations, distributable net income and other recent developments. The course emphasizes tax professional tax practice by incorporating research based on the analysis of various practical tax scenarios and the preparation of estate, gift and trust tax returns.
TAX-874 International Taxation Inbound
TAX-801 and TAX-861 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
Studies U.S. taxation of non-U.S. persons with activities in the United States. Covers source of income, business investment, and financial planning from a tax perspective for non-U.S. persons doing business in the United States. Also addresses withholding, treaty implications, and compliance and disclosure requirements.
TAX-876 Tax Policy
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
Examines the history and evolution of the tax policy and budget process in the United States and the players in that process. Considers the issues of fairness, simplicity and efficiency in the context of the current tax system and evaluating past and current tax policy to make recommendations to craft new policy. Emphasizes the ethical dimensions involved in the tax policymaking process.
TAX-879 Personal Financial Planning
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
Presents the legal, economic, cash flow, tax, investment and insurance ramifications of life and death. Emphasizes tools and techniques necessary to maximize benefits generated from net worth, cash flow, and employment, and minimize the loss resulting from unforeseen contingencies, death, and retirement. Students participate in class discussions and are required to submit a written financial plan for a hypothetical client.
TAX-910 Individual Study in Taxation
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
1.00- 3.00
Enables a student-initiated directed study project. The student and faculty advisor must concur on a written proposal and final report. The project must be approved by the dean of academic affairs prior to registration.
TAX-920 MBA Graduate Internship
SBS-700, MBA-615, MBA-625, MBA-635, MBA-640, MBA-650 MBA-660, and Instructor's approval. Limited to MBA students only.
3
Provides a hands-on, practical learning opportunity for a student-initiated experience at a domestic or international organization. Students work closely with the MBA advisor and faculty advisor regarding career-related learning outcomes. Over the course of a semester, students collaborate with their corporate internship supervisor and complete projects in either accounting, business law and ethics, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, strategy or tax. Offered every semester.
Waiver Policy
Core courses may be waived. Required MBA Courses (SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-721, MBA-730, MBA-740, MBA-745, MBA-750, MBA-760 and MBA-770) cannot be waived.
To waive a core course, a student must successfully complete equivalent academic coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven (7) years prior to MBA matriculation, with a grade of “B” or better, and provide official transcripts (with English translations, if applicable).
All waiver requests are evaluated upon a student’s acceptance into the MBA Program and are waived during the student’s first semester. Students may also elect to take a proficiency exam, for a fee, to gain a waiver. Proficiency exams must be taken in the first semester and are administered on the Boston campus only, with prior arrangements. All MBA students must complete a minimum of 36 credits graduate credits in the Sawyer Business School.
Transfer Policy
Six (6) credits of elective courses, taken at the graduate level from an AACSB accredited graduate program in business, may be transferred if the credits do not apply to a previously completed degree. Transfer credits must have an earned grade of "B" or better and be taken within seven (7) years prior to entering the Suffolk MBA Programs. Transfer credits apply only to electives.
Students Who Leave Boston Before Their Degree is Complete
Occasionally, Suffolk MBA students must leave the Boston area having not yet completed their degree. You may be able to transfer in six credits of elective courses from an AACSB-accredited MBA close to your new place of residence. Courses must be pre-approved by Suffolk’s assistant dean of graduate programs and have a grade of "B" or better.
Students who leave the area may also be able to complete all or a portion of their Suffolk MBA on a part-time basis online.
Transfer Credits from the Moakley Center for Public Management's Certificate Program
Students who have completed a certificate program through the Suffolk University Moakley Center for Public Management may have an opportunity to reduce credit requirements to an SBS graduate degree program (MBA, MMS, MSA, MST, MHA, MSBA, or MSM). All course waivers and/or transfers varies by program and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the respective SBS Graduate Programs Office.
In order for a course to be considered, it must have an SBS graduate program course equivalent, the student must have earned a grade of B or better, and the student must have successfully completed the certificate prior to enrolling in the SBS graduate degree program.
Applicants must also meet the admission standards for the SBS graduate degree program to which they are applying.
Learning Goals & Objectives
- Identifies the problem and related issues.
- Identify key assumptions.
- Generates salient alternatives.
- Examine the evidence and source of evidence.
- Identify conclusions, implications, and consequences.
Learning Goals | Learning Objectives |
---|---|
Be able to effectively apply analytical and critical reasoning skills to solve organizational challenges. (Analytical Reasoning) | |
Effectively articulate the role of ethics in management. (Ethics) |
|
Indicate an understanding of how culture, economic and political issues differ across countries. (Global Awareness) |
|
Be able to effectively communicate in oral form. (Oral Communication) |
|
Be able to effectively communicate in written form. (Written Communication) |
|
MBA Concentrations Archive 2020-2021
Boston campus concentrations include: Accounting Business Intelligence, Corporate Accounting and Finance, Forensic Accounting, Government and Not-for-Profit Accounting, Business Intelligence, Creative Disruption: Entrepreneurship for New and Existing Businesses, FinTech, Financial Services and Banking Investments, Risk Management, Global Strategy, Health Sector Management, Managing Others, Market Research and Customer Insights, Product Management, Global Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. The schedule of when courses within a concentration are offered varies by semester.
MBA/JD students can declare a concentration only if they are approved to substitute at least three (3) electives due to MBA core course waivers.
Students who declare a concentration must submit an SBS Graduate Program Concentration Request Form. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor before they declare concentration.The concentration appears on the transcript, not the diploma.
View the academic requirements for each of the MBA concentrations.
MBA Online Archive 2020-2021
MBA Curriculum
14-20 Courses
36-51 Credits
Program Length:
Part-time in as few as 20 months
Contextualize: from Boston to the World (5 credits)
Must be taken as early in the program as possible.
MBA-701 Values Based Decision Making
MBA students only
1.00
This course teaches students ethical frameworks to lead and manage organizations that go beyond the standard legal compliance and risk management approaches, and that embrace the more inclusive principles of sustainability and corporate responsibility. This course will set forth the fundamentals of managerial ethics and will prepare students for the complex, multilevel managerial and leadership integrity challenges that corporations face today.
MBA-710 Understanding World Class Clusters
MBA students only
3.00
This first-semester MBA course introduces students to the topic of world-class clusters as a multi-level phenomenon. Beginning from the macro level of analysis and proceeding to the micro level, the course covers a panoply of concepts and frameworks for understanding why world-class clusters emerge at specific locations in the first place and then regularly succeed in transforming themselves to keep up with and even lead the pace of change in their respective industries. In the group projects that they conduct for this course, students are expected to emulate the characteristics of high-powered teams found in world-class clusters: the course thus begins with conceptual understanding of world-class clusters and then proceeds to have students emulate the behavior that can be observed in world-class clusters.
SBS-700 Unlocking Your Professional Potential
1.00
SBS-700 is the first required course in Suffolk's graduate programs. The course is based on the precepts of experiential learning. Based on the idea that people learn best by participating in meaningful activities this course provides you with the opportunity to identify your strengths, interests, values, vision, and capabilities, and identify next steps to leverage your program and realize your professional goals.
Core Courses (15 credits)
May be waived.
MBA-615 Economics
1.50
This course introduces the basic tools and concepts of microeconomics (2 classes) for supply and demand analysis; for consumer market behavior; and for production, cost, and pricing decisions in different market structures. Greater emphasis (4 to 5 classes) in the course is on the macroeconomic topics of national economic performance, the economic role of government and fiscal and monetary policy, and the banking and financial system in the current economic environment. The course is intended for MBA students who have no recent academic background in economics.
MBA-625 Managerial Statistics
1.50
This course emphasizes the importance of basic concepts in probability and statistics for managerial decision making with a strong emphasis on practical application. Students will learn basic data analysis, random variables and probability distributions, sampling distributions, interval estimation, hypothesis testing and regression. MS Excel will be used throughout the course. Numerous examples are chosen from quality control applications, finance, marketing and Management to illustrate the managerial value of applying sound statistical techniques to the analysis of operational data.
MBA-635 Operations Management: Design and Analysis
MBA-625 or SBS-604 or ISOM-631 (may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course provides students with Operations Management concepts, techniques, and tools to design, analyze, and improve operational capabilities in any organization. Students will understand and analyze common OM decisions on managing inputs (materials, information, finances, and human resources) and processes to deliver desirable outcomes to customers. Topics covered include operations strategy, process analysis, quality management and lean operations, capacity analysis, inventory management, product development, supply chain management, project management, revenue management and pricing, decision analysis, and forecasting. Software tools used may include MS Excel, MS Visio, and MS Project. This course will contain experiential learning components related to Boston's world-class industries, which may include guest lectures, simulation exercises, and/or visits to local organizations.
MBA-640 Corporate Financial Reporting and Control
3.00
This course deals with the structure and information content of the three principal financial statements of profit-directed companies, namely the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. It develops skill in using accounting information to analyze the performance and financial condition of a company, and to facilitate decision making, planning and budgeting, and performance appraisal in a managerial context. This course also contains an experiential component by offering guided inquiry and real company cases.
MBA-650 Value Based Financial Management
1 course from each of the following groups: MBA-615 or SBS-603; MBA-625, SBS-604, or ISOM-631; MBA-640 or ACCT-800; These courses may be taken prior to or concurrently with MBA-650.
3.00
This course introduces the basic principles of corporate finance. The main focus is on fundamental principles such as time value of money, asset valuation, and risk and return tradeoff. Topics to be covered also include cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure.
MBA-660 Marketing: the Challenge of Managing Value
3.00
At its core, marketing is about providing consumer value. The practice of doing this is changing constantly-driven by rapid and far-reaching changes in technology; globalization; and the evolution of consumer values, practices, and lifestyles. This course will present themes, theories, and trends that are critical for: 1. understanding the business of creating, capturing and sustaining value; 2. introducing students to the global, consumer, and technological realities of marketing in the 21st Century; and 3. providing students with a sound foundation to explore marketing in further depth in upper-level elective courses. This course also contains an experiential component. .
Understand Business Fundamentals (9 credits)
MBA-721 Collaborate
3.00
This course teaches students critical thinking and problem solving skills in the context of two essential ingredients of collaboration: leading people and teams, and managing projects. Students will learn concepts and processes that support building and launching high performing teams that can manage complex projects efficiently and effectively. Students will collaborate experientially to solve problems facing Boston's world-class industry clusters.
MBA-730 Innovate: Entrepreneurial Thinking, IT, And Business Law
3.00
This course introduces students to three essential ingredients of innovation: Entrepreneurial Thinking, Information Technology in an Age of Disruption, and Law as Framework. Entrepreneurial thinking is a critical element in the creation, growth, and sustainability of an organization. In new ventures, entrepreneurs drive innovation with limited resources and within a flat organization. Information technology, strategically selected and implemented, can provide a significant, competitive advantage. Students will survey the increasingly complex, evolving, and highly competitive business environment in which ethical, legal, economic, and regulatory forces are continuously reshaping the global marketplace both to create and limit competitive opportunities. This course will contain experiential components, relating to Boston's world-class industries.
MBA-741 Experiential Intensive
Fully online MBA students only
3.00
The Experiential Intensive course provides an opportunity for students to deepen their MBA skillset using an intensive, hands-on experience. The highly experiential, intensive course combines classroom learning with a direct business experience. Students will work in teams solving real challenges, using their analytical skills, MBA knowledge, and experience to develop feasible solutions.
*Online MBA students take MBA-741 but have the option of taking MBA-740 for an additional fee.
Construct the Big Picture (7 credits)
MBA-745 Contextualizing Values Based Decision Making
Take MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-721, MBA-730, and SBS-700
1.00
This course involves synthesizing and applying the content from Values Based Decision Making through two deliverables, both of which require reflection on the MBA experience. Students will consider the external clients they have worked with in their client oriented classes and the MBA curriculum through an ethical lens. They will focus on identifying organization-based ethical issues and values, applying ethical frameworks to analyze them, and making an argument as leaders or managers for an ethical solution. This course will offer application and synthesis, taught towards the end, allowing students to creatively apply ethical perspectives to what they learned in the MBA.
MBA-750 Building Global Connections
MBA students only. SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of the global business environment in a way specifically relevant to innovation in world-class clusters. The course has a three-part format: 1. global business fundamentals; 2. opportunity recognition, validation and planning; and 3. experiential term group project in the elaboration of a proposed innovation. Global business fundamentals include the complexities of operating in the international economic environment, the theory and practice of trade, the global integration and local responsiveness of the multinational firm, the internationalization decision of firms, as well as the different modes of entry.
MBA-760 World Class Strategies
SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
Students engage in a variety of learning activities, such as case studies, computer simulations, examinations, project reports, and most especially, experiential exercises involving competition. Students will develop a multi-functional general management perspective. The course is designed to help students integrate and apply their knowledge and techniques learned in the core courses of the MBA program into an overall view of the firm, evaluate the environment, and speculate on the future direction of the organization. Students will also learn about the principal concepts, frameworks, and techniques of strategic management, they will develop the capacity for strategic thinking, and they will examine the organizational and environmental contexts in which strategic management unfolds. This course will make extensive use of experiential activities and projects designed to get students to experience the dynamics of competition right in the classroom.
Lead and Implement Change (3 credits)
Must be taken as late in the program as possible.
MBA-770 Leading and Implementing Change
MBA students only. SBS-700 MBA-701 MBA-710 MBA-615 MBA-625 MBA-635 MBA-640 MBA-650 MBA-660 MBA-720(or MBA-721) MBA-730 MBA-745 MBA-750 MBA-760 (MBA-745, MBA-750 and MBA-760 may be taken concurrently with MBA-770)
3.00
The final course in the MBA curriculum ties together the integral components of the four industry clusters, strategy and business fundamentals to the experience of leading change. Students experience the change process personally through a simulation. Students then apply their learning to an applied project based in one of the four clusters that is team-based, client-focused, grounded in research, and integrates MBA concepts as required with a final presentation to a live client. As part of understanding change, students will also evaluate the wider societal impacts of the business change. Finally, students reflect on their MBA program in total, revisiting their career plan and vision. This course uses multiple approaches, defining, understanding and experiencing the strategic value of change at the organizational, team, and individual levels.
MBA Electives (12 credits)
The curriculum requires four (4) courses (12 credits) of MBA electives, or an option of completing a three course (9 credit) concentration with one open 3 credit MBA elective. The courses must be taken within the Sawyer Business School and be 800 level or above. A select number of 700 level Healthcare electives (HLTH-705, HLTH-707 and HLTH-740) are acceptable. The schedule of when elective courses are offered varies by semester.
Accounting
ACCT-800 Graduate Financial Accounting I
3.00
This introductory-level accounting course provides students with a solid base in accounting fundamentals, including U.S. GAAP, the conceptual framework, nature of accounts, journal entries, and ultimately, financial statements. Provides in-depth coverage of the process by which accountants analyze, journalize, post, and summarize transactions. Reviews and analyzes multiple examples of current "real life" financial statements. The students would practice data analytics through the analysis of companies' financial ratios. The course includes a discussion of ethical issues facing accounting professionals and time value of money techniques. For MSA, GCA, & MST students, this is the first course in the financial accounting sequence. For MBA students, this potential elective course builds upon concepts learned in MBA 640.
ACCT-801 Graduate Financial Accounting II
ACCT-800 or MSA Program Director permission
3.00
This is the first of two intermediate-level accounting courses that build on students' learning in ACCT 800, going in-depth into measurement and reporting of asset, liability, and stockholders' equity accounts for external financial reporting purposes. Discusses pronouncements of authoritative sources such as the SEC, AICPA, and the FASB. Introduces students to IFRS and their similarities to and differences from U.S. GAAP. Develops strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
ACCT-802 Graduate Financial Accounting III
ACCT-801 or MSA Program Director permission
3.00
This is the second of two intermediate-level accounting courses. The critical thinking and problem-solving skills developed in ACCT 801 are broadened as this class tackles more complex accounting concepts, including: dilutive securities, earnings per share, investments, revenue recognition, income tax accounting, pensions and leases. Since accounting for many of these areas has been a source of substantial debate and major revisions in recent years, subject matter covered will be topical. Pertinent pronouncements of standard-setting bodies continue to be studied.
ACCT-804 Cost and Managerial Accounting
3.00
Examines the concepts and practices of cost measurement: variable costing, cost-volume-profit analysis, goal setting and performance monitoring, standard costing, and variance analysis. Students learn how to prepare a financial plan for a business by constructing operating, working capital, and capital budgets. Students study and practice Excel skills and how those are used to build a financial plan, analyze the sensitivity of the financial plan to different changes, examine performance, and measure and control overhead costs. Students study data analytics techniques and perform analyses in support of decisions, such as pricing, setting product line and customer profitability policy, sourcing of products and services, and matching costing systems to strategy. For MSA, GCA, & MST students this is the first managerial accounting course you will take. For MBA students, this potential elective course builds upon concepts learned in MBA 640.
ACCT-805 Auditing and Assurance Services
ACCT-800 or MBA-640
3.00
Introduces the field of auditing, with a concentration in auditing historical financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and some exposure to auditing the internal control over financial reporting of large public companies. Covers the environment, standards, regulation, and law of auditing in the US, with some exposure to the international environment. Covers audit planning, risk, and materiality assessments, audit evidence, evaluation of internal control, documentation, and audit reports. Includes researching and resolving practice-oriented problems and practice in using computer-assisted audit techniques and electronic confirmations.
ACCT-806 Fraud Examination
ACCT-800 or MBA-640
3.00
Examines the pervasiveness and genres of fraud and explores the motivations, opportunities, and rationalizations that facilitate fraudulent behavior. Covers methods of detection, investigation, and prevention of financial statement frauds and other types of financial-related frauds.
ACCT-824 Big Data and Financial Statement Analytics
ACCT-800 or MBA-640, and MBA-650 or program director approval
3.00
This course consists of two parts. The first part teaches students how to use Tableau to analyze large data sets and visualize data patterns to derive meaningful, actionable insights. We will utilize different data sets containing detailed information on sales, inventory, and other operational and financial metrics. This part will also introduce some basic tools used in accessing and compiling relevant big data from online resources such as the SEC's EDGAR website and Twitter. Students will be provided with necessary computer code and software to perform textual analysis for company documents and social media posts. The second part focuses on the analysis of financial statement data in an automated fashion. We will employ advanced tools in Excel along with the state-of-the-art data sources including Calcbench to perform financial data analytics and peer benchmarking. Our discussion on financial ratios and credit risk will have an analytical emphasis. This part will conclude with exercises on forecasting income statement data and valuing public companies.
ACCT-825 Management Decisions and Control
ACCT-804 and ACCT-800 or MBA-640 or program director approval
3
This case based course, teaches students how to better use information for improved decision making. Students will study how to identify the relevant information that is needed to make decisions. The decisions discussed will span a variety of business areas including accounting, finance, marketing and others. A special emphasis would be put on developing and strengthening the students' presentation skills in both face to face and online environments. Students will learn to speak influentially and effectively about numbers and communicate their conclusions and suggested decisions to different stakeholders.
ACCT-861 Leadership in the Financial Professions
ACCT-802, ACCT-805, and ACCT-865 (previously or concurrently) or program director approval
3.00
This student driven course develops professional and leadership skills that are needed to serve effectively as senior financial professionals in a challenging global economy. In this course students develop their independent learning and research proficiencies by investigating developing areas of accounting practice. Students broaden their appreciation of the accountant's role as a business advisor by examining current challenges for the accounting profession, considering the impact that professional activities have on various stakeholders, and how responsibilities of the profession are evolving in response. Students will develop their awareness of the activities of policy makers and standard setters such as the SEC, FASB, and AICPA. Finally, students develop their effectiveness as professional colleagues throughout the semester by actively working on their professional skill set including: data analytics, business writing, oral presentations, team building, and leadership.
ACCT-865 Accounting Information Systems
ACCT-800 or MBA-640
3.00
Describes various transaction processing cycles and their use in the structured analysis and design of accounting information systems. Students gain an understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning softwares, Quickbooks, database design, XBRL, implementations of internal controls, and privacy and data security issues.
ACCT-871 Not-For-Profit and Governmental Accounting
MBA-640 or ACCT-800
3.00
Covers unique aspects of financial reporting in not-for-profit organizations and governmental units. Topics include fund accounting, encumbrance accounting, GASB pronouncements, cost accounting, and budgetary control for government and its agencies, healthcare, educational, religious and other not-for-profit organizations. Students learn how to apply the cost benefit analysis in the resources allocation process, program planning, budgeting and reporting systems.
ACCT-910 Directed Individual Study in Accounting
Instructor's approval
3.00
Enables a student-initiated directed study project. The student and faculty advisor must concur on a written proposal and final report. The project must be approved by the dean of academic affairs prior to registration.
ACIB-872 International Accounting
ACCT-800 or MBA-640
3.00
Imparts an understanding of differences among nations in approaches to disclosure and choices of accounting measurement systems. Students learn about the influence of the IASB and IOSCO on multinational accounting harmonization, contrasting historical cost/purchasing power accounting with other accounting approaches, including current value accounting. Students will assess how differences in industrial and ownership structures affect accounting performance measurement. Students will also analyze risk management, accounting for derivative contracts, consolidation accounting, budgetary control, and transfer pricing in a multinational company.
Business Law and Ethics
BLLS-800 Business Law
3.00
Examines the philosophy and practice of substantive law affecting the formation, operation and discharge of commercial transactions, contracts, and business associations. Topics include: agency, partnership, corporation and trust forms of association. Considers aspects of property law and international dimensions.
Entrepreneurship
MGES-843 Business Opportunities Using Design Thinking and Biomimicry
3.00
Ever wonder what great breakthroughs are on the horizon to improve business thinking, processes, products, and services? If you have, this course is for you. We will learn about how businesses are using principles of design thinking and biomimicry to create entirely new ways of meeting the challenges of modern business: those are, needs to reduce costs, increase revenues, minimize waste & energy use, maximize novel approaches, & meet consumer and business needs. You may recognize the term "design thinking" if you are a follower of Apple, Inc. which has used this process in the development of all of their products and services over the past 15 years. Biomimicry principles are those that seek their inspiration from nature; after all, nature has been problem-solving for 3.8 billion years -- surely there is something to learn from this to be adapted to solving modern challenges. The course will be both conceptual and practical with various experiential learning opportunities.
Finance and Managerial Economics
FIN-800 Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation
MBA-650 or MSF Program Director Approval
3.00
An in-depth analysis of financial statements, this course is designed to help investors and managers in their assessment of a business entity. The course focuses on the analysis and interpretation of the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows, and statement of shareholder's equity. The course also focuses on forecasting the financial performance and valuation of a company by combining the analytical work with a qualitative assessment of the economy and the industry in which the firm operates.
FIN-808 General Theory in Corporate Finance
MBA-650
3.00
This course extends the body of knowledge acquired in MBA 650. Students expand knowledge of dividend theory, capital structure theory, capital budgeting, long-term financing decisions, cash management and corporate restructuring, market efficiency, and risk and liability management.
FIN-810 Investment Analysis
MBA-650 or MSF Program Director Approval
3.00
Students examine markets for investment procedures, valuation models, basic analytical techniques, and factors influencing risk/return tradeoffs. This course emphasizes the professional approach to managing investment assets. A variety of investment vehicles are discussed, including stocks, bonds, options, and futures.
Note: the approved FIN Electives (above) are part of the General Finance Concentration online.
Healthcare Administration
HLTH-705 Health Systems I: Healthcare in the U.S.
3.00
This course explores the origins, components, organization, and operation of the U.S. health system. It prepares students for subsequent healthcare administration courses that delve more deeply into key aspects of the health system. Topics include major current health and health system issues; the history and trends underlying those issues; and the organizations, professions, laws and policies, patients and consumers, payers and other aspects of the health system. Learning activities focus on the relationships among the many parts of the health system.
HLTH-707 Evidence-Based Healthcare Management
3.00
Develops foundational evidence-based management skills and initiates the professional self-development work that students undertake throughout the MHA Program. This course covers applied research methods and statistical tools as it develops students' skills at identifying, collecting, analyzing and interpreting data. Students engage in hands-on data collection, statistical analysis and interpretation of results. Professional development work includes self-assessments, clarification of career aims, and connecting with resources available to healthcare management professionals.
HLTH-710 Healthcare Accounting and Financial Management
3.00
Builds essential accounting and financial management skills for healthcare managers. Topics include income statements, balance sheets, and interpretation and analysis of financial statements, as well as the implications of assuming financial risk. The course also covers the revenue cycle, financial information systems, and the use of financial information for decision-making. Focused attention is given to managerial accounting, cost allocation, budgeting and variance analysis, as well as ethical and legal perspectives.
HLTH-720 Health Systems Ii: Economics, Law, and Policy
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701)
3.00
Builds on Health Systems I: Healthcare in the U.S. by examining the system through the lenses of economics, law, and policy. In order for students to be better prepared to help their organizations adapt effectively to opportunities and constraints presented by the environments in which they operate, they must be able to analyze and evaluate current and evolving healthcare markets, laws and public policies, payment methods, mechanisms for bearing and sharing financial risk, and their impact on healthcare business models and organizational models.
HLTH-730 Healthcare Operations Management and Performance Improvement
MHA and MSBA students only. HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701) and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812 or MBA-625 or SBS-604).
3.00
Introduces students to concepts, analytic tools, and techniques in operations management, including project management, process documentation and analysis, process improvement tools, Lean Six Sigma methodology, queuing theory, forecasting, Theory of Constraints, and supply chain management. Students will understand patient flow and will learn to measure and compare productivity between departments and healthcare organizations, to map processes and identify improvement opportunities, and to apply quantitative methods for optimal managerial decisions. The course builds on the "Evidence-Based Healthcare Management" foundation course. Class exercises, applied concept assignments, and other learning tools enable students to understand ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare organizations.
HLTH-740 Healthcare Management and Human Resources
3.00
Develops students' knowledge and skills to enable them to engage more effectively with the human side of healthcare organizations. The course examines forces that shape healthcare organizations, and it draws on management theory and practice to explore topics including: governance and control; strategy; organizational structures, tasks and positions; culture and ethics; teamwork; communication; planning; decision making and problem solving; and managing people and performance in clinical and support services. The course also covers operational aspects of human resources planning and management, including recruiting, retaining and managing human resources; cultural competence and diversity management.
HLTH-805 Big Data and Analytics for Health and Healthcare
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701), and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812 or MBA-625 or SBS-604)
3.00
Introduces students to the new science of analytics in the context of the health and healthcare sectors. Building on the "Evidence-Based Healthcare Management" Foundation course, this course further develops students'competencies in seeking and analyzing data, and presenting findings. Analytics drives innovative solutions through its use of data science, information technology, and deep knowledge of a particular industry sector. This course focuses on applications in population health, community health, business intelligence, and behavior change. Students will have establish competency in obtaining information from multiple data sources, analyzing metrics, applying analytic tools, using systems thinking to frame and solve problems, evaluating the pros and cons of various analytics approaches, and creating solutions through the use of case narratives, use cases, and client presentations.
HLTH-807 Innovation: The Future of Healthcare
3.00
Introduces students to a wide range of current innovations as well as innovations that are expected in the future. The course builds students' skills to anticipate, adopt and manage innovation in healthcare. It covers innovation in the organization and delivery of healthcare services as well as in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and healthcare information technology. In particular, the course explores how innovation happens -- i.e., how players across the healthcare industry create, identify, pursue, and support or impede opportunities for innovation.
HLTH-810 Quality, Patient Safety, and Patient Experience
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701), and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812 or MBA-625 or SBS-604)
3.00
The "production" of healthcare is a service of significant personal and social consequence and the quality of that service is high on the agenda of every healthcare leader. A number of trends in the industry are interacting to provide both new challenges and new opportunities for managers in the areas of healthcare quality, patient safety and patient experience. Among those trends are new ways of organizing and delivering services, new technologies, the growth of consumerism and patient-centered care, and new standards and expectations. This course builds on Foundation and Core Level 1 courses as it focuses on the complexities and processes of assuring quality performance in healthcare organizations. Among the topics covered in this course are: creating a culture of safety; establishing and sustaining organizational alignment; quality/safety implications for accreditation and regulatory compliance; and measuring and improving the patient experience.
HLTH-820 Ethics, Leadership, and Organizational Change in Healthcare
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701), and HLTH-740 (or HLTH-808 or MBA-721)
3.00
The business of delivering healthcare services generates a multitude of ethical questions which must account for a range of interests, from the interests of patients and consumers, to those of providers and staff, to those of the organization as a business, and the broader interests of community and society. This course familiarizes students with these issues and interests, and with ethical concepts and frameworks for ethical decision making. The course integrates ethics into students' development of their own leadership and change management skills and practice. The course is designed to promote intellectual growth and personal insight into one's own leadership capabilities and style, moral values and beliefs, and to develop competency both in one's personal leadership practice and in leading and managing organizational change.
HLTH-840 Innovation and Strategic Management in Healthcare
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701) and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812)
3.00
The success of any healthcare organization depends on the ability of its leaders and managers to continuously identify, evaluate and address the key issues facing the organization. Innovations in technology, products, practices, and organization, which are continuously reshaping healthcare, are among the most important issues. This course introduces students to these types of innovations, as part of the larger healthcare environment, and integrates them into the larger framework of strategic management of healthcare organizations. The course explores the essential elements of strategic management: systems thinking, strategic analysis, and strategy development and implementation. Using healthcare industry publications and provocative case studies, students conduct assessments of external trends, assumptions and implications; identify and assess organizational opportunities and challenges as well as strengths and weaknesses; identify strategic and operational issues; and review and develop strategies and actions to address the issues and achieve success.
Information Systems and Operation Management
ISOM-730 Python for Business Analytics
3.00
This course is introductory to use Python for business analytics, intended for students with little or no programming experience. Students will learn how to program with Python and how to use it in conjunction with scientific computing modules and libraries to compute, analyze, and visualize data to make analytics-driven decisions in finance, operations, marketing, accounting, and management. By the end of this course, students will have confidence and understanding of how to program in Python, know how to create and manipulate arrays using numpy library, know how to use pandas library to create and analyze data sets, know how to use matplotlib and seaborn libraries to create beautiful data visualization, and have an understanding of scikit-learn for data analytics.
ISOM-801 Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel
3.00
Analyzes various real world business problems and explores the full scope of MS Excel's formulas, functions and features to create data models and present solutions. Students analyze data, design custom charts, graphs, PivotTables and Pivot charts, create three-dimensional workbooks, build links between files and endow worksheets with decision-making capabilities. Students conduct What-If Analysis, utilizing Scenario Manager, Solver, Data Tables and Goal Seek. This course provides the skills necessary to pass the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification in Excel.
ISOM-821 Data Management and Modeling
This course was formerly ISOM-815
3.00
Introduces the importance of information as an organizational resource, role of big data in organizations, and the application of tools to provide high quality information. Students will be able to select the most appropriate data management tool (e.g., SQL vs. non-SQL databases) to business scenarios. Develops the skills needed to succeed in today's big data environment through the application of data management techniques, cases and exercises. Students will become proficient in designing databases using entity relationship modeling and normalization, in building and querying databases of various sizes with Access and SQL (an industry standard), preparing high quality data and applying data visualizing techniques. Students will complete a series of business-oriented hands-on exercises, prepare cases, and complete projects on database design and big data.
ISOM-825 Enterprise Data Management
3.00
Provides students with an understanding of the nature of enterprise integration and enterprise software, business process reengineering, the implementation within organizations, and strategies for maximizing benefits from enterprise systems. To manage complex business processes in today's multi-national, wired and wireless world, firms need integrated software packages to manage their global business. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are used to support a wide range of business functions for all companies across industries. With ERP systems, business managers are able to make decisions with accurate, consistent, and current data. Intensive lab projects on the SAP ERP System with real life business scenarios are utilized to reinforce understanding of enterprise systems functionality and business process concepts.
ISOM-827 Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence
3.00
This course teaches students how to build and maintain data warehouses, and how to analyze and use this data as a source for business intelligence and competitive advantage. Students study data mining concepts, Big Data environments and analytics, and the use of analytics tools and methods for producing business knowledge. Topics include extraction, transformation and loading; decision support systems; text, web and data mining models as well as data presentation/visualization including dashboards, scorecards and various charts. Students build a data warehouse and practice the extraction and transformation process used to produce high quality data warehouses. Students will also experience Big Data storage and processing of Big Data. Students will use tools such as MS Excel, Tableau, Hadoop, Hive, Pig, Spark, and SAP Business Warehouse.
ISOM-835 Predictive Analytics
3.00
Predictive analytics make predictions about unknown future events. It is crucial for companies to ask the right questions, perform rigorous analysis, and take actions that will result in the most desirable outcomes. This course develops students' capability in applying the core concepts and techniques of predictive analytics to identify opportunity, recognize patterns, predict outcomes, and recommend optimal actions within the context of organizational decision-making. Topics include: business analytics life cycle, data pre- processing, linear and nonlinear regression, tree-based methods, model assessment and selection, and resampling methods.
ISOM-840 Security and Privacy
3.00
Introduces the fundamental principles of information and big data security. Security vulnerabilities, threats and risks will be analyzed. Common types of computer attacks and counter-attacks will be identified. Security technologies such as biometrics, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and cryptography systems will be applied in conjunction with human based safeguards. Business continuity and disaster recovery planning will be covered. Students will then learn how to design and build a layered security defense combining several of the above controls to address the different challenges to data security. The managerial concerns of security and privacy of information will be stressed including the legal and privacy issues. Best practices for planning and auditing security and privacy will then be covered.
ISOM-845 Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
3.00
Introduces business intelligence and data analytics. Business intelligence and data analytics help organizations in strategic and operational decision making by improving performance management, optimizing customer relations, monitoring business activity, and improving decision support. On a macro-level, the class will discuss business cases for the adoption of business intelligence and data analytics. We will discuss technologies and processes for gathering, storing, accessing, and analyzing data to provide users with better insights and business decisions. On a micro-level, students will use a variety of tools to build their skills in analyzing data to solve business problems. In summary, this course provides a conceptual understanding of business data resources and the development of capabilities for data preparation, warehousing, selection, description, mining, interpretation, visualization, communication, and innovation.
ISOM-851 Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Operations, & Analytics
3.00
Introduces the fundamental principles and concepts for effective management of supply chains via performance drivers such as procurement, facilities, inventory, transportation, and pricing. No company can do better than its supply chain, a complex network of organizations that collaboratively manage transformation processes to deliver products/services to customers. Managing a supply chain is a tremendous challenge for most firms which, paradoxically, can also be a crucial source of competitive advantage. This "how-to" course also offers hands-on familiarity with analytical models, data analysis, and interpretation from which supply chain managers can gain deep insights.
ISOM-861 Project Management
3.00
Introduces the basic principles, tools and technique of the Project Management Life Cycle with practical real-life examples and scenarios. The basic concepts will be studied within the framework of the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK (R)Guide) guidelines set forth by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Other project management framework will be described though not in detail. The course will attempt to help students understand the relationship between good project management and successful software management, development and implementation, and the best practices at each stage of project planning, execution, control and closure. The course will also help build skills to research, analyze and report project management case studies that illustrate the topics covered in this course. PMP(R) and (PMBOK(R)Guide) are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
ISOM-910 Directed Individual Study
Instructor Permission
3.00
This elective course option involves a student initiated written proposal to a willing and appropriate full-time faculty member for a directed study project. The project should be completed during one semester. The faculty member and student must concur on a written proposal, final project and grading criteria. Approval by the Department Chair and the Dean is necessary before registration.
SBS-604 Data Analytics
3.00
This course introduces students to the concepts and applications of data analytics on large data sets for managerial decision making. Students will learn foundation skills needed to extract valuable information out of data, including various descriptive and predictive analytics techniques. Students develop knowledge of data visualization and interpretation coupled with conveying data, results and insights. Issues on data acquisition, storage and management will be discussed.
International Business
ACIB-872 International Accounting
ACCT-800 or MBA-640
3.00
Imparts an understanding of differences among nations in approaches to disclosure and choices of accounting measurement systems. Students learn about the influence of the IASB and IOSCO on multinational accounting harmonization, contrasting historical cost/purchasing power accounting with other accounting approaches, including current value accounting. Students will assess how differences in industrial and ownership structures affect accounting performance measurement. Students will also analyze risk management, accounting for derivative contracts, consolidation accounting, budgetary control, and transfer pricing in a multinational company.
MGIB-835 International Strategy
3.00
This course addresses the creation of competitive advantage in a multinational firm. Topics include: analysis of the nature of globalization, the formulation and implementation of international strategy, market entry and organizational forms, and the management of global operations.
MKIB-819 Global Perspectives in Consumer Marketing
MBA-660 (previously or concurrently)
3.00
A key to successful marketing is cracking the code of consumer behavior. The scope of this course is analyzing consumer behavior both at home and abroad, particularly contrasting the emergent markets in the East with more established Western markets. This comparison highlights issues such as the role of consumption in negotiating modernity while honoring tradition, responses of consumers to innovations, the role of social class and status in consumption, and value placed on authenticity in different cultural milieus. This course is constructed in three modules. The first focuses on the globalization of consumption, the second on the adoption and consumption of innovations, and the last on special topics in cultural and cross-cultural studies.
Marketing
MKIB-819 Global Perspectives in Consumer Marketing
MBA-660 (previously or concurrently)
3.00
A key to successful marketing is cracking the code of consumer behavior. The scope of this course is analyzing consumer behavior both at home and abroad, particularly contrasting the emergent markets in the East with more established Western markets. This comparison highlights issues such as the role of consumption in negotiating modernity while honoring tradition, responses of consumers to innovations, the role of social class and status in consumption, and value placed on authenticity in different cultural milieus. This course is constructed in three modules. The first focuses on the globalization of consumption, the second on the adoption and consumption of innovations, and the last on special topics in cultural and cross-cultural studies.
Strategic Management
MGSM-833 Corporate Innovation
3.00
This course is designed to provide you the tools to analyze your organization's competitive situation and develop innovative strategies and proposals that disrupt your competition and are game changers for your industry. You will also learn how to develop blue ocean strategies that create new growth opportunities and bring new customers into your industry. Next, you will learn how to assess existing business models and design business models supportive of your overall innovation-based strategy offerings. Lastly, you will learn how to access and leverage external sources of innovative ideas through the processes of open innovation, including crowd sourcing and co creation and their application in diverse industry settings.
MGT-910 Directed Study in Management
1.00- 3.00
A student proposes a directed study project, usually for three credit hours and to be completed in one semester. The student and faculty advisor must concur on a written proposal and final report, and the project must be approved by the Office of the Dean prior to registration.
Taxation
TAX-801 Federal Taxation of Income
3.00
This course focuses on the federal income taxation of individuals with some discussion of business entity taxation where the topics are applicable to both areas of tax law. The course explores the basic structure of individual income taxation, including gross income, exclusions, deductions, credits, the alternative minimum tax and the tax formula. The course also covers a basic introduction to the taxation of property transactions which is the focus of TAX 802. It emphasizes professional tax practice by incorporating research, professional writing and communication skills and the preparation of complex tax returns. The attainment of these essentials skills is facilitated by the routine exposure to the interpretation of statutes of the Internal Revenue Code, the review of Treasury Regulations, and the exploration of various court cases and rulings as applied to various fact patterns and case studies.
TAX-862 Taxation of Corporations
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
This course examines the concepts, principles and practices of taxation of corporations and their shareholders. The effects of taxation on corporate formation, capital structure, income tax calculation, corporate distributions to shareholders, stock redemptions, and partial and complete liquidation are covered. Tax planning and professional practice will be emphasized throughout the course via realistic tax cases and the completion of a comprehensive corporate tax return problem, including adjusting entries, work paper preparation and a tax accrual calculation. To enhance oral presentation skills students will analyze a realistic case and will present aspects of the case to the class.
TAX-863 Taxation of Pass-Through Entities
TAX-801 or approval of the MST Director
3.00
This course provides an in-depth study of pass-through entities inclusive of partnerships, Subchapter S corporations, limited liability companies and other tax issues related to closely held businesses. The course covers entity selection, entity formation, allocations of income, maintenance of capital accounts, taxation of operations, transactions, contributions, distributions, mixing bowl transactions, sales of ownership interests and other current issues. The course develops procedural skills by including the examination and application of relevant Code sections, regulations, and case law. Emphasis is placed on professional tax practice by incorporating a case study which promotes the development of decision making, tax planning, technical writing and communication skills to be employed in advising clients and business partners.
Waiver Policy
Core courses may be waived. Required MBA Courses (SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-721, MBA-730, MBA-740, MBA-745, MBA-750, MBA-760 and MBA-770) cannot be waived.
To waive a core course, a student must successfully complete equivalent academic coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven (7) years prior to MBA matriculation, “B” or better, and provide official transcripts (with English translations, if applicable).
All waiver requests are evaluated upon a student’s acceptance into the MBA Program and are waived during the student’s first semester. Students may also elect to take a proficiency exam, for a fee, to gain a waiver. Proficiency exams must be taken in the first semester and are administered on the Boston campus only, with prior arrangements. All MBA students must complete a minimum of 36 graduate credits in the Sawyer Business School.
Transfer Policy
Six (6) credits of elective courses, taken at the graduate level from an AACSB-accredited graduate program in business, may be transferred if the credits do not apply to a previously completed degree. Transfer credits must have an earned grade of "B" or better and be taken within seven (7) years prior to entering the Suffolk MBA programs. Transfer credits apply only to electives.
Transfer Credits from the Moakley Center for Public Management's Certificate Programs
Students who have completed a certificate program through the Suffolk University Moakley Center for Public Management may have an opportunity to reduce credit requirements to an SBS graduate degree program (MBA, MMS, MSA, MST, MHA, MSBA, or MSM). All course waivers and/or transfers varies by program and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the respective SBS Graduate Programs Office.
In order for a course to be considered, the following criteria must be met: must have an SBS graduate program course equivalent; received a grade of "B" or better, and successfully completed the certificate prior to enrolling in the SBS graduate degree program.
Applicants must also meet the admission standards for the SBS graduate degree program to which they are applying.
MBA Learning Goals & Objectives
Learning Goals | Learning Objectives |
---|---|
Be able to effectively communicate in oral form. |
|
Be able to effectively communicate in written form. |
|
Be able to effectively apply analytical and critical reasoning skills to solve organizational challenges. |
|
Effectively articulate the role of ethics in management. |
|
Indicate an understanding of how culture, economic and political issues differ across countries. |
|
MBA Online Concentrations Archive 2020-2021
Online MBA concentrations include: Accounting Principles, Business Intelligence, General Finance or Health Sector Management. The schedule of when courses within a concentration are offered varies by semester.
Students who declare a concentration must submit an SBS Graduate Program Concentration Request Form. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor before they declare a concentration.
The concentration appears on the transcript, not the diploma.
Accounting Principles Concentration
Note: if a student has not taken or waived MBA-640 they can count either ACCT-800 or ACCT-804 in place of MBA-640 and choose an additional course from the elective list.
Required Courses (6 credits)
ACCT-800 Graduate Financial Accounting I
3.00
This introductory-level accounting course provides students with a solid base in accounting fundamentals, including U.S. GAAP, the conceptual framework, nature of accounts, journal entries, and ultimately, financial statements. Provides in-depth coverage of the process by which accountants analyze, journalize, post, and summarize transactions. Reviews and analyzes multiple examples of current "real life" financial statements. The students would practice data analytics through the analysis of companies' financial ratios. The course includes a discussion of ethical issues facing accounting professionals and time value of money techniques. For MSA, GCA, & MST students, this is the first course in the financial accounting sequence. For MBA students, this potential elective course builds upon concepts learned in MBA 640.
ACCT-804 Cost and Managerial Accounting
3.00
Examines the concepts and practices of cost measurement: variable costing, cost-volume-profit analysis, goal setting and performance monitoring, standard costing, and variance analysis. Students learn how to prepare a financial plan for a business by constructing operating, working capital, and capital budgets. Students study and practice Excel skills and how those are used to build a financial plan, analyze the sensitivity of the financial plan to different changes, examine performance, and measure and control overhead costs. Students study data analytics techniques and perform analyses in support of decisions, such as pricing, setting product line and customer profitability policy, sourcing of products and services, and matching costing systems to strategy. For MSA, GCA, & MST students this is the first managerial accounting course you will take. For MBA students, this potential elective course builds upon concepts learned in MBA 640.
Elective Course (1 course, 3 credits)
Choose one elective from the following list:
ACCT-801 Graduate Financial Accounting II
ACCT-800 or MSA Program Director permission
3.00
This is the first of two intermediate-level accounting courses that build on students' learning in ACCT 800, going in-depth into measurement and reporting of asset, liability, and stockholders' equity accounts for external financial reporting purposes. Discusses pronouncements of authoritative sources such as the SEC, AICPA, and the FASB. Introduces students to IFRS and their similarities to and differences from U.S. GAAP. Develops strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
ACCT-805 Auditing and Assurance Services
ACCT-800 or MBA-640
3.00
Introduces the field of auditing, with a concentration in auditing historical financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and some exposure to auditing the internal control over financial reporting of large public companies. Covers the environment, standards, regulation, and law of auditing in the US, with some exposure to the international environment. Covers audit planning, risk, and materiality assessments, audit evidence, evaluation of internal control, documentation, and audit reports. Includes researching and resolving practice-oriented problems and practice in using computer-assisted audit techniques and electronic confirmations.
TAX-801 Federal Taxation of Income
3.00
This course focuses on the federal income taxation of individuals with some discussion of business entity taxation where the topics are applicable to both areas of tax law. The course explores the basic structure of individual income taxation, including gross income, exclusions, deductions, credits, the alternative minimum tax and the tax formula. The course also covers a basic introduction to the taxation of property transactions which is the focus of TAX 802. It emphasizes professional tax practice by incorporating research, professional writing and communication skills and the preparation of complex tax returns. The attainment of these essentials skills is facilitated by the routine exposure to the interpretation of statutes of the Internal Revenue Code, the review of Treasury Regulations, and the exploration of various court cases and rulings as applied to various fact patterns and case studies.
Business Intelligence Concentration
Required Courses (6 credits)
ISOM-821 Data Management and Modeling
This course was formerly ISOM-815
3.00
Introduces the importance of information as an organizational resource, role of big data in organizations, and the application of tools to provide high quality information. Students will be able to select the most appropriate data management tool (e.g., SQL vs. non-SQL databases) to business scenarios. Develops the skills needed to succeed in today's big data environment through the application of data management techniques, cases and exercises. Students will become proficient in designing databases using entity relationship modeling and normalization, in building and querying databases of various sizes with Access and SQL (an industry standard), preparing high quality data and applying data visualizing techniques. Students will complete a series of business-oriented hands-on exercises, prepare cases, and complete projects on database design and big data.
ISOM-845 Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
3.00
Introduces business intelligence and data analytics. Business intelligence and data analytics help organizations in strategic and operational decision making by improving performance management, optimizing customer relations, monitoring business activity, and improving decision support. On a macro-level, the class will discuss business cases for the adoption of business intelligence and data analytics. We will discuss technologies and processes for gathering, storing, accessing, and analyzing data to provide users with better insights and business decisions. On a micro-level, students will use a variety of tools to build their skills in analyzing data to solve business problems. In summary, this course provides a conceptual understanding of business data resources and the development of capabilities for data preparation, warehousing, selection, description, mining, interpretation, visualization, communication, and innovation.
Elective Course (1 course, 3 credits)
Choose one elective from the following list:
ISOM-801 Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel
3.00
Analyzes various real world business problems and explores the full scope of MS Excel's formulas, functions and features to create data models and present solutions. Students analyze data, design custom charts, graphs, PivotTables and Pivot charts, create three-dimensional workbooks, build links between files and endow worksheets with decision-making capabilities. Students conduct What-If Analysis, utilizing Scenario Manager, Solver, Data Tables and Goal Seek. This course provides the skills necessary to pass the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification in Excel.
ISOM-825 Enterprise Data Management
3.00
Provides students with an understanding of the nature of enterprise integration and enterprise software, business process reengineering, the implementation within organizations, and strategies for maximizing benefits from enterprise systems. To manage complex business processes in today's multi-national, wired and wireless world, firms need integrated software packages to manage their global business. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are used to support a wide range of business functions for all companies across industries. With ERP systems, business managers are able to make decisions with accurate, consistent, and current data. Intensive lab projects on the SAP ERP System with real life business scenarios are utilized to reinforce understanding of enterprise systems functionality and business process concepts.
ISOM-840 Security and Privacy
3.00
Introduces the fundamental principles of information and big data security. Security vulnerabilities, threats and risks will be analyzed. Common types of computer attacks and counter-attacks will be identified. Security technologies such as biometrics, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and cryptography systems will be applied in conjunction with human based safeguards. Business continuity and disaster recovery planning will be covered. Students will then learn how to design and build a layered security defense combining several of the above controls to address the different challenges to data security. The managerial concerns of security and privacy of information will be stressed including the legal and privacy issues. Best practices for planning and auditing security and privacy will then be covered.
General Finance Concentration
Required Courses (9 credits)
FIN-800 Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation
MBA-650 or MSF Program Director Approval
3.00
An in-depth analysis of financial statements, this course is designed to help investors and managers in their assessment of a business entity. The course focuses on the analysis and interpretation of the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows, and statement of shareholder's equity. The course also focuses on forecasting the financial performance and valuation of a company by combining the analytical work with a qualitative assessment of the economy and the industry in which the firm operates.
FIN-808 General Theory in Corporate Finance
MBA-650
3.00
This course extends the body of knowledge acquired in MBA 650. Students expand knowledge of dividend theory, capital structure theory, capital budgeting, long-term financing decisions, cash management and corporate restructuring, market efficiency, and risk and liability management.
FIN-810 Investment Analysis
MBA-650 or MSF Program Director Approval
3.00
Students examine markets for investment procedures, valuation models, basic analytical techniques, and factors influencing risk/return tradeoffs. This course emphasizes the professional approach to managing investment assets. A variety of investment vehicles are discussed, including stocks, bonds, options, and futures.
Health Sector Management Concentration
Required Courses (6 credits)
Choose 2 courses from the following list:
HLTH-705 Health Systems I: Healthcare in the U.S.
3.00
This course explores the origins, components, organization, and operation of the U.S. health system. It prepares students for subsequent healthcare administration courses that delve more deeply into key aspects of the health system. Topics include major current health and health system issues; the history and trends underlying those issues; and the organizations, professions, laws and policies, patients and consumers, payers and other aspects of the health system. Learning activities focus on the relationships among the many parts of the health system.
HLTH-805 Big Data and Analytics for Health and Healthcare
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701), and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812 or MBA-625 or SBS-604)
3.00
Introduces students to the new science of analytics in the context of the health and healthcare sectors. Building on the "Evidence-Based Healthcare Management" Foundation course, this course further develops students'competencies in seeking and analyzing data, and presenting findings. Analytics drives innovative solutions through its use of data science, information technology, and deep knowledge of a particular industry sector. This course focuses on applications in population health, community health, business intelligence, and behavior change. Students will have establish competency in obtaining information from multiple data sources, analyzing metrics, applying analytic tools, using systems thinking to frame and solve problems, evaluating the pros and cons of various analytics approaches, and creating solutions through the use of case narratives, use cases, and client presentations.
HLTH-807 Innovation: The Future of Healthcare
3.00
Introduces students to a wide range of current innovations as well as innovations that are expected in the future. The course builds students' skills to anticipate, adopt and manage innovation in healthcare. It covers innovation in the organization and delivery of healthcare services as well as in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and healthcare information technology. In particular, the course explores how innovation happens -- i.e., how players across the healthcare industry create, identify, pursue, and support or impede opportunities for innovation.
HLTH-855 Advanced Quality, Patient Safety, and Performance Improvement
HLTH-810 (or HLTH-831)
3.00
Builds student competencies in the improvement and assurance of the quality and safety of healthcare services. This course builds on the principles, concepts, tools, and analytic methods addressed in the pre-requisite Core II course, HLTH-810. Among the topics explored are: creating a culture of safety; establishing and sustaining organizational alignment; quality/safety implications for accreditation and regulatory compliance; measuring and improving the patient experience; mistake-proofing the design process; and principles and strategies to improve reliability. The course will provide the foundation for students to conduct a sophisticated performance improvement project by learning how to classify medical errors, establish cutting-edge concepts in leadership and teamwork, and apply reliability principles to performance improvement in complex systems.
Required Elective (1 course, 3 credits)
Choose 1 elective of the following courses:
HLTH-815 Ambulatory and Primary Care
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701)
3.00
This course prepares students to plan, lead, manage and improve primary care and other ambulatory patient care services ("APC") toward achieving the "Triple Aim" of better population health, better patient care and lower cost. The course covers a range of APC services including physician practices, community health centers, ambulatory surgery, retail clinics, behavioral health and dental care. Students who complete the course will be able to understand and analyze: key structures and processes of APC services and their effects on the Triple Aim; key APC contexts including regulatory, reimbursement, technological and professional; and important industry trends related to APC. Specific topics include organizational structure and governance; workforce and staffing; facilities and licensure; emerging business models; performance measurement; relationship between primary care and public health; and emerging practice models including the patient-centered medical home.
HLTH-842 Global Health
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701)
3.00
The health and wellbeing of people throughout the world are challenged by many factors. To highlight those factors and what is being done to address them, this course focuses on global health problems and needs, including those related to infectious and chronic diseases, injuries, mental illness and substance abuse, and complex emergencies such as natural disasters and war, with particular attention to women, children and families. It also review critical global health-related policy issues such as poverty, population growth, the food and nutrition crisis, water wars, environmental degradation and climate change. Among the assignments, students write papers on specific global health problems and needs and identify healthcare and health-related organizations and financial resources in selected countries that are addressing the problems and needs. The course closes by examining the challenges of how to prioritize the deployment of scarce resources and mobilize citizens, governments and for-profit and non-profit organizations to enhance people's health and wellbeing and save civilization.
HLTH-875 Community and Public Health
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701)
3.00
This course revisits the health system as a diverse set of public and private entities working together to build and sustain health at the community and population levels. It prepares students to be boundary-spanners within that system and to plan and manage services that optimize community and population health. The traditional "caring and curing" mission of healthcare delivery organizations is expanding toward prevention, wellness, and population health. As a result, interdependencies are growing among healthcare service delivery organizations, other community-based services and public health agencies. Topics covered in this course include both the traditional and emerging roles of public health professionals and agencies (e.g., research, surveillance, prevention, education, behavior change, seeking healthier living conditions); community health entities including community health centers, accountable communities for health and community-integrated health systems; measurement of and responses to environmental and social determinants of health; movement and reporting of health data and information moving across organizational and sectoral boundaries; collaborative initiatives such as primary care public health integration and learning health systems that crosses public-private boundaries.
Accelerated MBA for Attorneys Archive 2020-2021
Accelerated MBA for Attorneys Curriculum
14 Courses
37 Credits
Program Length:
Part-time in as few as 16 months
Contextualize: from Boston to the World (4 Credits)
SBS-700 Unlocking Your Professional Potential
1.00
SBS-700 is the first required course in Suffolk's graduate programs. The course is based on the precepts of experiential learning. Based on the idea that people learn best by participating in meaningful activities this course provides you with the opportunity to identify your strengths, interests, values, vision, and capabilities, and identify next steps to leverage your program and realize your professional goals.
MBA-710 Understanding World Class Clusters
MBA students only
3.00
This first-semester MBA course introduces students to the topic of world-class clusters as a multi-level phenomenon. Beginning from the macro level of analysis and proceeding to the micro level, the course covers a panoply of concepts and frameworks for understanding why world-class clusters emerge at specific locations in the first place and then regularly succeed in transforming themselves to keep up with and even lead the pace of change in their respective industries. In the group projects that they conduct for this course, students are expected to emulate the characteristics of high-powered teams found in world-class clusters: the course thus begins with conceptual understanding of world-class clusters and then proceeds to have students emulate the behavior that can be observed in world-class clusters.
Core Courses* (15 Credits)
If a core course is waived, students must substitute with an MBA elective(s).
MBA-615 Economics
1.50
This course introduces the basic tools and concepts of microeconomics (2 classes) for supply and demand analysis; for consumer market behavior; and for production, cost, and pricing decisions in different market structures. Greater emphasis (4 to 5 classes) in the course is on the macroeconomic topics of national economic performance, the economic role of government and fiscal and monetary policy, and the banking and financial system in the current economic environment. The course is intended for MBA students who have no recent academic background in economics.
MBA-625 Managerial Statistics
1.50
This course emphasizes the importance of basic concepts in probability and statistics for managerial decision making with a strong emphasis on practical application. Students will learn basic data analysis, random variables and probability distributions, sampling distributions, interval estimation, hypothesis testing and regression. MS Excel will be used throughout the course. Numerous examples are chosen from quality control applications, finance, marketing and Management to illustrate the managerial value of applying sound statistical techniques to the analysis of operational data.
MBA-635 Operations Management: Design and Analysis
MBA-625 or SBS-604 or ISOM-631 (may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course provides students with Operations Management concepts, techniques, and tools to design, analyze, and improve operational capabilities in any organization. Students will understand and analyze common OM decisions on managing inputs (materials, information, finances, and human resources) and processes to deliver desirable outcomes to customers. Topics covered include operations strategy, process analysis, quality management and lean operations, capacity analysis, inventory management, product development, supply chain management, project management, revenue management and pricing, decision analysis, and forecasting. Software tools used may include MS Excel, MS Visio, and MS Project. This course will contain experiential learning components related to Boston's world-class industries, which may include guest lectures, simulation exercises, and/or visits to local organizations.
MBA-640 Corporate Financial Reporting and Control
3.00
This course deals with the structure and information content of the three principal financial statements of profit-directed companies, namely the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. It develops skill in using accounting information to analyze the performance and financial condition of a company, and to facilitate decision making, planning and budgeting, and performance appraisal in a managerial context. This course also contains an experiential component by offering guided inquiry and real company cases.
MBA-650 Value Based Financial Management
1 course from each of the following groups: MBA-615 or SBS-603; MBA-625, SBS-604, or ISOM-631; MBA-640 or ACCT-800; These courses may be taken prior to or concurrently with MBA-650.
3.00
This course introduces the basic principles of corporate finance. The main focus is on fundamental principles such as time value of money, asset valuation, and risk and return tradeoff. Topics to be covered also include cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure.
MBA-660 Marketing: the Challenge of Managing Value
3.00
At its core, marketing is about providing consumer value. The practice of doing this is changing constantly-driven by rapid and far-reaching changes in technology; globalization; and the evolution of consumer values, practices, and lifestyles. This course will present themes, theories, and trends that are critical for: 1. understanding the business of creating, capturing and sustaining value; 2. introducing students to the global, consumer, and technological realities of marketing in the 21st Century; and 3. providing students with a sound foundation to explore marketing in further depth in upper-level elective courses. This course also contains an experiential component. .
Understand Business Fundamentals (9 Credits)
MBA-721 Collaborate
3.00
This course teaches students critical thinking and problem solving skills in the context of two essential ingredients of collaboration: leading people and teams, and managing projects. Students will learn concepts and processes that support building and launching high performing teams that can manage complex projects efficiently and effectively. Students will collaborate experientially to solve problems facing Boston's world-class industry clusters.
MBA-730 Innovate: Entrepreneurial Thinking, IT, And Business Law
3.00
This course introduces students to three essential ingredients of innovation: Entrepreneurial Thinking, Information Technology in an Age of Disruption, and Law as Framework. Entrepreneurial thinking is a critical element in the creation, growth, and sustainability of an organization. In new ventures, entrepreneurs drive innovation with limited resources and within a flat organization. Information technology, strategically selected and implemented, can provide a significant, competitive advantage. Students will survey the increasingly complex, evolving, and highly competitive business environment in which ethical, legal, economic, and regulatory forces are continuously reshaping the global marketplace both to create and limit competitive opportunities. This course will contain experiential components, relating to Boston's world-class industries.
MBA-740 Immerse- Travel Seminar
3.00
The Immersion course provides an opportunity for students to link their program work to hands-on experience and visits to real-life global companies. The highly experiential, intensive course combines classroom learning with a direct business and cultural experience. Students will work in teams directly for a client or several clients, solving real challenges, using their analytical skills, knowledge, and experience to develop feasible solutions. Required for all MBA students, the course will be offered globally or nationally to accommodate a variety of student needs.
Construct the Big Picture (6 Credits)
MBA-750 Building Global Connections
MBA students only. SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of the global business environment in a way specifically relevant to innovation in world-class clusters. The course has a three-part format: 1. global business fundamentals; 2. opportunity recognition, validation and planning; and 3. experiential term group project in the elaboration of a proposed innovation. Global business fundamentals include the complexities of operating in the international economic environment, the theory and practice of trade, the global integration and local responsiveness of the multinational firm, the internationalization decision of firms, as well as the different modes of entry.
MBA-760 World Class Strategies
SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
Students engage in a variety of learning activities, such as case studies, computer simulations, examinations, project reports, and most especially, experiential exercises involving competition. Students will develop a multi-functional general management perspective. The course is designed to help students integrate and apply their knowledge and techniques learned in the core courses of the MBA program into an overall view of the firm, evaluate the environment, and speculate on the future direction of the organization. Students will also learn about the principal concepts, frameworks, and techniques of strategic management, they will develop the capacity for strategic thinking, and they will examine the organizational and environmental contexts in which strategic management unfolds. This course will make extensive use of experiential activities and projects designed to get students to experience the dynamics of competition right in the classroom.
Lead and Implement Change (3 Credits)
MBA-770 Leading and Implementing Change
MBA students only. SBS-700 MBA-701 MBA-710 MBA-615 MBA-625 MBA-635 MBA-640 MBA-650 MBA-660 MBA-720(or MBA-721) MBA-730 MBA-745 MBA-750 MBA-760 (MBA-745, MBA-750 and MBA-760 may be taken concurrently with MBA-770)
3.00
The final course in the MBA curriculum ties together the integral components of the four industry clusters, strategy and business fundamentals to the experience of leading change. Students experience the change process personally through a simulation. Students then apply their learning to an applied project based in one of the four clusters that is team-based, client-focused, grounded in research, and integrates MBA concepts as required with a final presentation to a live client. As part of understanding change, students will also evaluate the wider societal impacts of the business change. Finally, students reflect on their MBA program in total, revisiting their career plan and vision. This course uses multiple approaches, defining, understanding and experiencing the strategic value of change at the organizational, team, and individual levels.
Concentrations
Accelerated MBA for Attorney students who waive MBA core courses must substitute with a graduate elective from within the Sawyer Business School. If at least 9 credits of core courses are waived, students may declare a concentration with 3 electives from the same functional area. The schedule of when courses within a concentration are offered varies by semester.
Students who declare a concentration must submit an SBS Graduate Programs Concentration Request Form. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor before declaring a concentration.
The concentration appears on the transcript, not the diploma.
View the requirements for MBA Concentrations.
Waiver Policy
If core courses (MBA-615, MBA-625, MBA-635, MBA-640, MBA-650, and MBA-660) are waived, student must substitute with an MBA elective.
If a 1.5 credit core course is waived, student may complete an independent study for 1.5 credits.
Students in the Accelerated MBA for Attorneys must complete a minimum of 37 graduate credits in the Sawyer Business School.
Accelerated MBA for Attorneys Online Archive 2020-2021
Accelerated MBA for Attorneys Online Curriculum
14 Courses
37 Credits
Program Length:
Part-time in as few as 16 months
Contextualize: from Boston to the World (4 Credits)
SBS-700 Unlocking Your Professional Potential
1.00
SBS-700 is the first required course in Suffolk's graduate programs. The course is based on the precepts of experiential learning. Based on the idea that people learn best by participating in meaningful activities this course provides you with the opportunity to identify your strengths, interests, values, vision, and capabilities, and identify next steps to leverage your program and realize your professional goals.
MBA-710 Understanding World Class Clusters
MBA students only
3.00
This first-semester MBA course introduces students to the topic of world-class clusters as a multi-level phenomenon. Beginning from the macro level of analysis and proceeding to the micro level, the course covers a panoply of concepts and frameworks for understanding why world-class clusters emerge at specific locations in the first place and then regularly succeed in transforming themselves to keep up with and even lead the pace of change in their respective industries. In the group projects that they conduct for this course, students are expected to emulate the characteristics of high-powered teams found in world-class clusters: the course thus begins with conceptual understanding of world-class clusters and then proceeds to have students emulate the behavior that can be observed in world-class clusters.
Core Courses* (15 Credits)
If a core course is waived, students must substitute with an MBA elective(s).
MBA-615 Economics
1.50
This course introduces the basic tools and concepts of microeconomics (2 classes) for supply and demand analysis; for consumer market behavior; and for production, cost, and pricing decisions in different market structures. Greater emphasis (4 to 5 classes) in the course is on the macroeconomic topics of national economic performance, the economic role of government and fiscal and monetary policy, and the banking and financial system in the current economic environment. The course is intended for MBA students who have no recent academic background in economics.
MBA-625 Managerial Statistics
1.50
This course emphasizes the importance of basic concepts in probability and statistics for managerial decision making with a strong emphasis on practical application. Students will learn basic data analysis, random variables and probability distributions, sampling distributions, interval estimation, hypothesis testing and regression. MS Excel will be used throughout the course. Numerous examples are chosen from quality control applications, finance, marketing and Management to illustrate the managerial value of applying sound statistical techniques to the analysis of operational data.
MBA-635 Operations Management: Design and Analysis
MBA-625 or SBS-604 or ISOM-631 (may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course provides students with Operations Management concepts, techniques, and tools to design, analyze, and improve operational capabilities in any organization. Students will understand and analyze common OM decisions on managing inputs (materials, information, finances, and human resources) and processes to deliver desirable outcomes to customers. Topics covered include operations strategy, process analysis, quality management and lean operations, capacity analysis, inventory management, product development, supply chain management, project management, revenue management and pricing, decision analysis, and forecasting. Software tools used may include MS Excel, MS Visio, and MS Project. This course will contain experiential learning components related to Boston's world-class industries, which may include guest lectures, simulation exercises, and/or visits to local organizations.
MBA-640 Corporate Financial Reporting and Control
3.00
This course deals with the structure and information content of the three principal financial statements of profit-directed companies, namely the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. It develops skill in using accounting information to analyze the performance and financial condition of a company, and to facilitate decision making, planning and budgeting, and performance appraisal in a managerial context. This course also contains an experiential component by offering guided inquiry and real company cases.
MBA-650 Value Based Financial Management
1 course from each of the following groups: MBA-615 or SBS-603; MBA-625, SBS-604, or ISOM-631; MBA-640 or ACCT-800; These courses may be taken prior to or concurrently with MBA-650.
3.00
This course introduces the basic principles of corporate finance. The main focus is on fundamental principles such as time value of money, asset valuation, and risk and return tradeoff. Topics to be covered also include cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure.
MBA-660 Marketing: the Challenge of Managing Value
3.00
At its core, marketing is about providing consumer value. The practice of doing this is changing constantly-driven by rapid and far-reaching changes in technology; globalization; and the evolution of consumer values, practices, and lifestyles. This course will present themes, theories, and trends that are critical for: 1. understanding the business of creating, capturing and sustaining value; 2. introducing students to the global, consumer, and technological realities of marketing in the 21st Century; and 3. providing students with a sound foundation to explore marketing in further depth in upper-level elective courses. This course also contains an experiential component. .
Understand Business Fundamentals (9 Credits)
MBA-721 Collaborate
3.00
This course teaches students critical thinking and problem solving skills in the context of two essential ingredients of collaboration: leading people and teams, and managing projects. Students will learn concepts and processes that support building and launching high performing teams that can manage complex projects efficiently and effectively. Students will collaborate experientially to solve problems facing Boston's world-class industry clusters.
MBA-730 Innovate: Entrepreneurial Thinking, IT, And Business Law
3.00
This course introduces students to three essential ingredients of innovation: Entrepreneurial Thinking, Information Technology in an Age of Disruption, and Law as Framework. Entrepreneurial thinking is a critical element in the creation, growth, and sustainability of an organization. In new ventures, entrepreneurs drive innovation with limited resources and within a flat organization. Information technology, strategically selected and implemented, can provide a significant, competitive advantage. Students will survey the increasingly complex, evolving, and highly competitive business environment in which ethical, legal, economic, and regulatory forces are continuously reshaping the global marketplace both to create and limit competitive opportunities. This course will contain experiential components, relating to Boston's world-class industries.
MBA-741 Experiential Intensive
Fully online MBA students only
3.00
The Experiential Intensive course provides an opportunity for students to deepen their MBA skillset using an intensive, hands-on experience. The highly experiential, intensive course combines classroom learning with a direct business experience. Students will work in teams solving real challenges, using their analytical skills, MBA knowledge, and experience to develop feasible solutions.
Construct the Big Picture (6 Credits)
MBA-750 Building Global Connections
MBA students only. SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of the global business environment in a way specifically relevant to innovation in world-class clusters. The course has a three-part format: 1. global business fundamentals; 2. opportunity recognition, validation and planning; and 3. experiential term group project in the elaboration of a proposed innovation. Global business fundamentals include the complexities of operating in the international economic environment, the theory and practice of trade, the global integration and local responsiveness of the multinational firm, the internationalization decision of firms, as well as the different modes of entry.
MBA-760 World Class Strategies
SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
Students engage in a variety of learning activities, such as case studies, computer simulations, examinations, project reports, and most especially, experiential exercises involving competition. Students will develop a multi-functional general management perspective. The course is designed to help students integrate and apply their knowledge and techniques learned in the core courses of the MBA program into an overall view of the firm, evaluate the environment, and speculate on the future direction of the organization. Students will also learn about the principal concepts, frameworks, and techniques of strategic management, they will develop the capacity for strategic thinking, and they will examine the organizational and environmental contexts in which strategic management unfolds. This course will make extensive use of experiential activities and projects designed to get students to experience the dynamics of competition right in the classroom.
Lead and Implement Change (3 Credits)
MBA-770 Leading and Implementing Change
MBA students only. SBS-700 MBA-701 MBA-710 MBA-615 MBA-625 MBA-635 MBA-640 MBA-650 MBA-660 MBA-720(or MBA-721) MBA-730 MBA-745 MBA-750 MBA-760 (MBA-745, MBA-750 and MBA-760 may be taken concurrently with MBA-770)
3.00
The final course in the MBA curriculum ties together the integral components of the four industry clusters, strategy and business fundamentals to the experience of leading change. Students experience the change process personally through a simulation. Students then apply their learning to an applied project based in one of the four clusters that is team-based, client-focused, grounded in research, and integrates MBA concepts as required with a final presentation to a live client. As part of understanding change, students will also evaluate the wider societal impacts of the business change. Finally, students reflect on their MBA program in total, revisiting their career plan and vision. This course uses multiple approaches, defining, understanding and experiencing the strategic value of change at the organizational, team, and individual levels.
Concentrations
Accelerated MBA for Attorney students who waive MBA core courses must substitute with a graduate elective from within the Sawyer Business School. If at least 9 credits of core courses are waived, students may declare a concentration with 3 electives from the same functional area. The schedule of when courses within a concentration are offered varies by semester.
Students who declare a concentration must submit an SBS Graduate Programs Concentration Request Form. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor before declaring a concentration.
The concentration appears on the transcript, not the diploma.
View the requirements for MBA Concentrations.
Waiver Policy
If core courses (MBA-615, MBA-625, MBA-635, MBA-640, MBA-650, and MBA-660) are waived, student must substitute with an MBA elective.
If a 1.5 credit core course is waived, student may complete an independent study for 1.5 credits.
Students in the Accelerated MBA for Attorneys must complete a minimum of 37 graduate credits in the Sawyer Business School.
MBA/Health Archive 2020-2021
MBA/Health Curriculum
17-23 Courses
54-60 Credits
Program Length:
- Full-time in as few as 12 months
- Part-time in as few as 24 months
Contextualize: From Boston to the World (5 credits)
Must be taken as early in the program as possible.
SBS-700 Unlocking Your Professional Potential
1.00
SBS-700 is the first required course in Suffolk's graduate programs. The course is based on the precepts of experiential learning. Based on the idea that people learn best by participating in meaningful activities this course provides you with the opportunity to identify your strengths, interests, values, vision, and capabilities, and identify next steps to leverage your program and realize your professional goals.
MBA-701 Values Based Decision Making
MBA students only
1.00
This course teaches students ethical frameworks to lead and manage organizations that go beyond the standard legal compliance and risk management approaches, and that embrace the more inclusive principles of sustainability and corporate responsibility. This course will set forth the fundamentals of managerial ethics and will prepare students for the complex, multilevel managerial and leadership integrity challenges that corporations face today.
MBA-710 Understanding World Class Clusters
MBA students only
3.00
This first-semester MBA course introduces students to the topic of world-class clusters as a multi-level phenomenon. Beginning from the macro level of analysis and proceeding to the micro level, the course covers a panoply of concepts and frameworks for understanding why world-class clusters emerge at specific locations in the first place and then regularly succeed in transforming themselves to keep up with and even lead the pace of change in their respective industries. In the group projects that they conduct for this course, students are expected to emulate the characteristics of high-powered teams found in world-class clusters: the course thus begins with conceptual understanding of world-class clusters and then proceeds to have students emulate the behavior that can be observed in world-class clusters.
Core Courses (15 credits)
May be waived.
MBA-615 Economics
1.50
This course introduces the basic tools and concepts of microeconomics (2 classes) for supply and demand analysis; for consumer market behavior; and for production, cost, and pricing decisions in different market structures. Greater emphasis (4 to 5 classes) in the course is on the macroeconomic topics of national economic performance, the economic role of government and fiscal and monetary policy, and the banking and financial system in the current economic environment. The course is intended for MBA students who have no recent academic background in economics.
MBA-625 Managerial Statistics
1.50
This course emphasizes the importance of basic concepts in probability and statistics for managerial decision making with a strong emphasis on practical application. Students will learn basic data analysis, random variables and probability distributions, sampling distributions, interval estimation, hypothesis testing and regression. MS Excel will be used throughout the course. Numerous examples are chosen from quality control applications, finance, marketing and Management to illustrate the managerial value of applying sound statistical techniques to the analysis of operational data.
MBA-635 Operations Management: Design and Analysis
MBA-625 or SBS-604 or ISOM-631 (may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course provides students with Operations Management concepts, techniques, and tools to design, analyze, and improve operational capabilities in any organization. Students will understand and analyze common OM decisions on managing inputs (materials, information, finances, and human resources) and processes to deliver desirable outcomes to customers. Topics covered include operations strategy, process analysis, quality management and lean operations, capacity analysis, inventory management, product development, supply chain management, project management, revenue management and pricing, decision analysis, and forecasting. Software tools used may include MS Excel, MS Visio, and MS Project. This course will contain experiential learning components related to Boston's world-class industries, which may include guest lectures, simulation exercises, and/or visits to local organizations.
MBA-640 Corporate Financial Reporting and Control
3.00
This course deals with the structure and information content of the three principal financial statements of profit-directed companies, namely the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. It develops skill in using accounting information to analyze the performance and financial condition of a company, and to facilitate decision making, planning and budgeting, and performance appraisal in a managerial context. This course also contains an experiential component by offering guided inquiry and real company cases.
MBA-650 Value Based Financial Management
1 course from each of the following groups: MBA-615 or SBS-603; MBA-625, SBS-604, or ISOM-631; MBA-640 or ACCT-800; These courses may be taken prior to or concurrently with MBA-650.
3.00
This course introduces the basic principles of corporate finance. The main focus is on fundamental principles such as time value of money, asset valuation, and risk and return tradeoff. Topics to be covered also include cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure.
MBA-660 Marketing: the Challenge of Managing Value
3.00
At its core, marketing is about providing consumer value. The practice of doing this is changing constantly-driven by rapid and far-reaching changes in technology; globalization; and the evolution of consumer values, practices, and lifestyles. This course will present themes, theories, and trends that are critical for: 1. understanding the business of creating, capturing and sustaining value; 2. introducing students to the global, consumer, and technological realities of marketing in the 21st Century; and 3. providing students with a sound foundation to explore marketing in further depth in upper-level elective courses. This course also contains an experiential component. .
Understand Business Fundamentals (9 credits)
MBA-721 Collaborate
3.00
This course teaches students critical thinking and problem solving skills in the context of two essential ingredients of collaboration: leading people and teams, and managing projects. Students will learn concepts and processes that support building and launching high performing teams that can manage complex projects efficiently and effectively. Students will collaborate experientially to solve problems facing Boston's world-class industry clusters.
MBA-730 Innovate: Entrepreneurial Thinking, IT, And Business Law
3.00
This course introduces students to three essential ingredients of innovation: Entrepreneurial Thinking, Information Technology in an Age of Disruption, and Law as Framework. Entrepreneurial thinking is a critical element in the creation, growth, and sustainability of an organization. In new ventures, entrepreneurs drive innovation with limited resources and within a flat organization. Information technology, strategically selected and implemented, can provide a significant, competitive advantage. Students will survey the increasingly complex, evolving, and highly competitive business environment in which ethical, legal, economic, and regulatory forces are continuously reshaping the global marketplace both to create and limit competitive opportunities. This course will contain experiential components, relating to Boston's world-class industries.
MBA-740 Immerse- Travel Seminar
3.00
The Immersion course provides an opportunity for students to link their program work to hands-on experience and visits to real-life global companies. The highly experiential, intensive course combines classroom learning with a direct business and cultural experience. Students will work in teams directly for a client or several clients, solving real challenges, using their analytical skills, knowledge, and experience to develop feasible solutions. Required for all MBA students, the course will be offered globally or nationally to accommodate a variety of student needs.
Healthcare Specialized Courses (15 credits)
HLTH-705 Health Systems I: Healthcare in the U.S.
3.00
This course explores the origins, components, organization, and operation of the U.S. health system. It prepares students for subsequent healthcare administration courses that delve more deeply into key aspects of the health system. Topics include major current health and health system issues; the history and trends underlying those issues; and the organizations, professions, laws and policies, patients and consumers, payers and other aspects of the health system. Learning activities focus on the relationships among the many parts of the health system.
HLTH-720 Health Systems Ii: Economics, Law, and Policy
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701)
3.00
Builds on Health Systems I: Healthcare in the U.S. by examining the system through the lenses of economics, law, and policy. In order for students to be better prepared to help their organizations adapt effectively to opportunities and constraints presented by the environments in which they operate, they must be able to analyze and evaluate current and evolving healthcare markets, laws and public policies, payment methods, mechanisms for bearing and sharing financial risk, and their impact on healthcare business models and organizational models.
HLTH-740 Healthcare Management and Human Resources
3.00
Develops students' knowledge and skills to enable them to engage more effectively with the human side of healthcare organizations. The course examines forces that shape healthcare organizations, and it draws on management theory and practice to explore topics including: governance and control; strategy; organizational structures, tasks and positions; culture and ethics; teamwork; communication; planning; decision making and problem solving; and managing people and performance in clinical and support services. The course also covers operational aspects of human resources planning and management, including recruiting, retaining and managing human resources; cultural competence and diversity management.
HLTH-805 Big Data and Analytics for Health and Healthcare
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701), and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812 or MBA-625 or SBS-604)
3.00
Introduces students to the new science of analytics in the context of the health and healthcare sectors. Building on the "Evidence-Based Healthcare Management" Foundation course, this course further develops students'competencies in seeking and analyzing data, and presenting findings. Analytics drives innovative solutions through its use of data science, information technology, and deep knowledge of a particular industry sector. This course focuses on applications in population health, community health, business intelligence, and behavior change. Students will have establish competency in obtaining information from multiple data sources, analyzing metrics, applying analytic tools, using systems thinking to frame and solve problems, evaluating the pros and cons of various analytics approaches, and creating solutions through the use of case narratives, use cases, and client presentations.
HLTH-810 Quality, Patient Safety, and Patient Experience
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701), and HLTH-707 (or HLTH-812 or MBA-625 or SBS-604)
3.00
The "production" of healthcare is a service of significant personal and social consequence and the quality of that service is high on the agenda of every healthcare leader. A number of trends in the industry are interacting to provide both new challenges and new opportunities for managers in the areas of healthcare quality, patient safety and patient experience. Among those trends are new ways of organizing and delivering services, new technologies, the growth of consumerism and patient-centered care, and new standards and expectations. This course builds on Foundation and Core Level 1 courses as it focuses on the complexities and processes of assuring quality performance in healthcare organizations. Among the topics covered in this course are: creating a culture of safety; establishing and sustaining organizational alignment; quality/safety implications for accreditation and regulatory compliance; and measuring and improving the patient experience.
Healthcare Specialized Electives (6 credits)
Choose two (2) courses (6 credits) from the following approved electives.
HLTH-807 Innovation: The Future of Healthcare
3.00
Introduces students to a wide range of current innovations as well as innovations that are expected in the future. The course builds students' skills to anticipate, adopt and manage innovation in healthcare. It covers innovation in the organization and delivery of healthcare services as well as in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and healthcare information technology. In particular, the course explores how innovation happens -- i.e., how players across the healthcare industry create, identify, pursue, and support or impede opportunities for innovation.
HLTH-815 Ambulatory and Primary Care
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701)
3.00
This course prepares students to plan, lead, manage and improve primary care and other ambulatory patient care services ("APC") toward achieving the "Triple Aim" of better population health, better patient care and lower cost. The course covers a range of APC services including physician practices, community health centers, ambulatory surgery, retail clinics, behavioral health and dental care. Students who complete the course will be able to understand and analyze: key structures and processes of APC services and their effects on the Triple Aim; key APC contexts including regulatory, reimbursement, technological and professional; and important industry trends related to APC. Specific topics include organizational structure and governance; workforce and staffing; facilities and licensure; emerging business models; performance measurement; relationship between primary care and public health; and emerging practice models including the patient-centered medical home.
HLTH-842 Global Health
HLTH-705 (or HLTH-701)
3.00
The health and wellbeing of people throughout the world are challenged by many factors. To highlight those factors and what is being done to address them, this course focuses on global health problems and needs, including those related to infectious and chronic diseases, injuries, mental illness and substance abuse, and complex emergencies such as natural disasters and war, with particular attention to women, children and families. It also review critical global health-related policy issues such as poverty, population growth, the food and nutrition crisis, water wars, environmental degradation and climate change. Among the assignments, students write papers on specific global health problems and needs and identify healthcare and health-related organizations and financial resources in selected countries that are addressing the problems and needs. The course closes by examining the challenges of how to prioritize the deployment of scarce resources and mobilize citizens, governments and for-profit and non-profit organizations to enhance people's health and wellbeing and save civilization.
HLTH-855 Advanced Quality, Patient Safety, and Performance Improvement
HLTH-810 (or HLTH-831)
3.00
Builds student competencies in the improvement and assurance of the quality and safety of healthcare services. This course builds on the principles, concepts, tools, and analytic methods addressed in the pre-requisite Core II course, HLTH-810. Among the topics explored are: creating a culture of safety; establishing and sustaining organizational alignment; quality/safety implications for accreditation and regulatory compliance; measuring and improving the patient experience; mistake-proofing the design process; and principles and strategies to improve reliability. The course will provide the foundation for students to conduct a sophisticated performance improvement project by learning how to classify medical errors, establish cutting-edge concepts in leadership and teamwork, and apply reliability principles to performance improvement in complex systems.
HLTH-880 Directed Individual Study
Take HLTH-705
1.00- 3.00
This is a student-initiated directed study project. The student and faculty advisor must concur on a written proposal and final report, and the project must be approved by the Dean of Academic Affairs prior to registration.
Construct the Big Picture (7 credits)
MBA-745 Contextualizing Values Based Decision Making
Take MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-721, MBA-730, and SBS-700
1.00
This course involves synthesizing and applying the content from Values Based Decision Making through two deliverables, both of which require reflection on the MBA experience. Students will consider the external clients they have worked with in their client oriented classes and the MBA curriculum through an ethical lens. They will focus on identifying organization-based ethical issues and values, applying ethical frameworks to analyze them, and making an argument as leaders or managers for an ethical solution. This course will offer application and synthesis, taught towards the end, allowing students to creatively apply ethical perspectives to what they learned in the MBA.
MBA-750 Building Global Connections
MBA students only. SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of the global business environment in a way specifically relevant to innovation in world-class clusters. The course has a three-part format: 1. global business fundamentals; 2. opportunity recognition, validation and planning; and 3. experiential term group project in the elaboration of a proposed innovation. Global business fundamentals include the complexities of operating in the international economic environment, the theory and practice of trade, the global integration and local responsiveness of the multinational firm, the internationalization decision of firms, as well as the different modes of entry.
MBA-760 World Class Strategies
SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
Students engage in a variety of learning activities, such as case studies, computer simulations, examinations, project reports, and most especially, experiential exercises involving competition. Students will develop a multi-functional general management perspective. The course is designed to help students integrate and apply their knowledge and techniques learned in the core courses of the MBA program into an overall view of the firm, evaluate the environment, and speculate on the future direction of the organization. Students will also learn about the principal concepts, frameworks, and techniques of strategic management, they will develop the capacity for strategic thinking, and they will examine the organizational and environmental contexts in which strategic management unfolds. This course will make extensive use of experiential activities and projects designed to get students to experience the dynamics of competition right in the classroom.
Lead and Implement Change (3 credits)
Must be taken as late in the program as possible.
MBA-770 Leading and Implementing Change
MBA students only. SBS-700 MBA-701 MBA-710 MBA-615 MBA-625 MBA-635 MBA-640 MBA-650 MBA-660 MBA-720(or MBA-721) MBA-730 MBA-745 MBA-750 MBA-760 (MBA-745, MBA-750 and MBA-760 may be taken concurrently with MBA-770)
3.00
The final course in the MBA curriculum ties together the integral components of the four industry clusters, strategy and business fundamentals to the experience of leading change. Students experience the change process personally through a simulation. Students then apply their learning to an applied project based in one of the four clusters that is team-based, client-focused, grounded in research, and integrates MBA concepts as required with a final presentation to a live client. As part of understanding change, students will also evaluate the wider societal impacts of the business change. Finally, students reflect on their MBA program in total, revisiting their career plan and vision. This course uses multiple approaches, defining, understanding and experiencing the strategic value of change at the organizational, team, and individual levels.
Waiver Policy
MBA Core courses (MBA-615, MBA-625, MBA-635, MBA-640, MBA-650 and MBA-660) may be waived. Required MBA Courses (SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-721, MBA-730, MBA-740, MBA-745, MBA-750, MBA-760 and MBA-770) cannot be waived.
To waive a core course, a student must successfully complete equivalent academic coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven (7) years prior to MBA/Health matriculation. To waive a healthcare specialized course, a student must successfully complete equivalent courses at the undergraduate/graduate level in the three (3) years prior to MBA/Health matriculation. Courses for consideration must be a grade of "B" or better and official transcripts provided (with English Translation, if applicable).
All waiver requests are evaluated upon a student’s acceptance into the MBA/Health Program and are waived during the student’s first semester. Students may also elect to take a proficiency exam, for a fee, to gain a waiver. Proficiency exams must be taken in the first semester and are administered on the Boston campus. All MBA/Health students must complete a minimum of 45 graduate credits in the Sawyer Business School.
Transfer Credit Policy
Courses may be considered for transfer to the Healthcare specialized courses at the graduate level in the three (3) years prior to MBA/Health matriculation. Courses for consideration must be a grade of "B" or better and official transcripts provided (with English translation, if applicable).
Students Who Leave Boston Before Their Degree is Complete
Occasionally, Suffolk MBA/Health students must leave the Boston area having not yet completed their degree. The Sawyer Business School has several options available to insure completion of the Suffolk MBA/Health. You may be able to transfer in six (6) credits of elective courses from an AACSB-accredited MBA close to your new place of residence. Courses must be pre-approved by Suffolk’s Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs and have a grade of "B" or better.
A student who leaves the area may also be able to complete all or a portion of their Suffolk MBA/Health degree on a part-time basis online.
MBA Nonprofit Archive 2020-2021
This specialized MBA degree prepares business leaders with focused skills in finance, accounting, strategic management, marketing, and information systems for the nonprofit sector.
MBA Nonprofit Curriculum
18-24 Courses
45-60 Credits
Program length:
- Full-time in as few as 12 months
- Part-time in as few as 24 months
Contextualize: From Boston to the World (5 credits)
Must be taken as early in the program as possible.
MBA-701 Values Based Decision Making
MBA students only
1.00
This course teaches students ethical frameworks to lead and manage organizations that go beyond the standard legal compliance and risk management approaches, and that embrace the more inclusive principles of sustainability and corporate responsibility. This course will set forth the fundamentals of managerial ethics and will prepare students for the complex, multilevel managerial and leadership integrity challenges that corporations face today.
MBA-710 Understanding World Class Clusters
MBA students only
3.00
This first-semester MBA course introduces students to the topic of world-class clusters as a multi-level phenomenon. Beginning from the macro level of analysis and proceeding to the micro level, the course covers a panoply of concepts and frameworks for understanding why world-class clusters emerge at specific locations in the first place and then regularly succeed in transforming themselves to keep up with and even lead the pace of change in their respective industries. In the group projects that they conduct for this course, students are expected to emulate the characteristics of high-powered teams found in world-class clusters: the course thus begins with conceptual understanding of world-class clusters and then proceeds to have students emulate the behavior that can be observed in world-class clusters.
SBS-700 Unlocking Your Professional Potential
1.00
SBS-700 is the first required course in Suffolk's graduate programs. The course is based on the precepts of experiential learning. Based on the idea that people learn best by participating in meaningful activities this course provides you with the opportunity to identify your strengths, interests, values, vision, and capabilities, and identify next steps to leverage your program and realize your professional goals.
Core Courses (15 credits)
May be waived.
MBA-615 Economics
1.50
This course introduces the basic tools and concepts of microeconomics (2 classes) for supply and demand analysis; for consumer market behavior; and for production, cost, and pricing decisions in different market structures. Greater emphasis (4 to 5 classes) in the course is on the macroeconomic topics of national economic performance, the economic role of government and fiscal and monetary policy, and the banking and financial system in the current economic environment. The course is intended for MBA students who have no recent academic background in economics.
MBA-625 Managerial Statistics
1.50
This course emphasizes the importance of basic concepts in probability and statistics for managerial decision making with a strong emphasis on practical application. Students will learn basic data analysis, random variables and probability distributions, sampling distributions, interval estimation, hypothesis testing and regression. MS Excel will be used throughout the course. Numerous examples are chosen from quality control applications, finance, marketing and Management to illustrate the managerial value of applying sound statistical techniques to the analysis of operational data.
MBA-635 Operations Management: Design and Analysis
MBA-625 or SBS-604 or ISOM-631 (may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course provides students with Operations Management concepts, techniques, and tools to design, analyze, and improve operational capabilities in any organization. Students will understand and analyze common OM decisions on managing inputs (materials, information, finances, and human resources) and processes to deliver desirable outcomes to customers. Topics covered include operations strategy, process analysis, quality management and lean operations, capacity analysis, inventory management, product development, supply chain management, project management, revenue management and pricing, decision analysis, and forecasting. Software tools used may include MS Excel, MS Visio, and MS Project. This course will contain experiential learning components related to Boston's world-class industries, which may include guest lectures, simulation exercises, and/or visits to local organizations.
MBA-640 Corporate Financial Reporting and Control
3.00
This course deals with the structure and information content of the three principal financial statements of profit-directed companies, namely the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. It develops skill in using accounting information to analyze the performance and financial condition of a company, and to facilitate decision making, planning and budgeting, and performance appraisal in a managerial context. This course also contains an experiential component by offering guided inquiry and real company cases.
MBA-650 Value Based Financial Management
1 course from each of the following groups: MBA-615 or SBS-603; MBA-625, SBS-604, or ISOM-631; MBA-640 or ACCT-800; These courses may be taken prior to or concurrently with MBA-650.
3.00
This course introduces the basic principles of corporate finance. The main focus is on fundamental principles such as time value of money, asset valuation, and risk and return tradeoff. Topics to be covered also include cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure.
MBA-660 Marketing: the Challenge of Managing Value
3.00
At its core, marketing is about providing consumer value. The practice of doing this is changing constantly-driven by rapid and far-reaching changes in technology; globalization; and the evolution of consumer values, practices, and lifestyles. This course will present themes, theories, and trends that are critical for: 1. understanding the business of creating, capturing and sustaining value; 2. introducing students to the global, consumer, and technological realities of marketing in the 21st Century; and 3. providing students with a sound foundation to explore marketing in further depth in upper-level elective courses. This course also contains an experiential component. .
Understand Business Fundamentals (9 credits)
MBA-721 Collaborate
3.00
This course teaches students critical thinking and problem solving skills in the context of two essential ingredients of collaboration: leading people and teams, and managing projects. Students will learn concepts and processes that support building and launching high performing teams that can manage complex projects efficiently and effectively. Students will collaborate experientially to solve problems facing Boston's world-class industry clusters.
MBA-730 Innovate: Entrepreneurial Thinking, IT, And Business Law
3.00
This course introduces students to three essential ingredients of innovation: Entrepreneurial Thinking, Information Technology in an Age of Disruption, and Law as Framework. Entrepreneurial thinking is a critical element in the creation, growth, and sustainability of an organization. In new ventures, entrepreneurs drive innovation with limited resources and within a flat organization. Information technology, strategically selected and implemented, can provide a significant, competitive advantage. Students will survey the increasingly complex, evolving, and highly competitive business environment in which ethical, legal, economic, and regulatory forces are continuously reshaping the global marketplace both to create and limit competitive opportunities. This course will contain experiential components, relating to Boston's world-class industries.
MBA-740 Immerse- Travel Seminar
3.00
The Immersion course provides an opportunity for students to link their program work to hands-on experience and visits to real-life global companies. The highly experiential, intensive course combines classroom learning with a direct business and cultural experience. Students will work in teams directly for a client or several clients, solving real challenges, using their analytical skills, knowledge, and experience to develop feasible solutions. Required for all MBA students, the course will be offered globally or nationally to accommodate a variety of student needs.
Nonprofit Specialized Courses (21 credits)
Choose 7 courses from the following:
P.AD-814 Collaborative Public Management
3.00
Examination of patterns of intergovernmental operations and administration. Special emphasis on changing techniques of intergovernmental management and emerging patterns of intergovernmental relations. Issues such as regionalism, program mandates, and resource management will be explored.
P.AD-815 Nonprofit Management
3.00
The primary focus will be on understanding the operational and strategic leadership aspects of managing mission driven, public service organizations. Specific emphasis will be placed on nonprofit corporations, including coursework that explores the legal, structural, and operational issues that are particular to such organizations.
P.AD-819 Grant Writing and Management
3.00
PAD 819 covers both grant seeking and grant writing. Students, individually, or in teams work with a nonprofit or government organization to develop a project idea and prepare a Master Grant Proposal and a Grant Application to be submitted to a most-likely-to-fund grant maker. Classes focus on step-by-step grant writing & grant seeking process, and the instructor also consults with student-grant writers individually and via Blackboard.
P.AD-828 Public Service Communication
3.00
Students develop techniques and directives related to communication processing. Both interpersonal communication and electronic information flow will be examined. Communication skills, styles, and strategies will be stressed through use of all media. Students will also analyze the theory and practice of public service marketing in relation to the administration of multiple sectors including private, public, nonprofit and health care by looking at innovative public service products and services.
P.AD-839 Leadership and Decision Making in Action
3.00
Students learn effective approaches to leadership by examining leadership models, styles, and strategies. Emphasis is placed on the values and ethics of successful managerial leadership in public, private, and nonprofit sectors
P.AD-847 Nonprofit Financial Management
3.00
This course is designed to build financial management skills for students who wish to start or advance nonprofit management careers and for students who are likely to interact with nonprofits, through grants, contracts, or partnerships. The course focuses on the effective allocation of resources to programs which, in turn, have been designed to achieve the strategic goals of a nonprofit organization. From this point of view, financial management is not a disconnected management function, but an integral part of what managers do to fulfill as nonprofit organization's mission. Basic financial management knowledge and skills - including financial analysis, budgeting, full-cost accounting, pricing services, performance measurement, control of operations and financial reporting are taught within the context of the organization's strategic goals.
P.AD-848 Nonprofit Law and Ethics
3.00
This course provides a practical framework for understanding the legal and ethical challenges continually faced by nonprofit human and social service organizations. Students learn about the various levels of legal influence, including federal, state, and city, as well as the "internal" laws of the corporation, and will explore the impact these laws can have on the day-to-day operation of the nonprofit organization. Students develop a methodology for identifying issues that can trigger a legal response and processes for best protecting their organizations, their clients, and themselves.
P.AD-849 Revenue Strategies for Nonprofits
3.00
This course provides an in-depth look at today's philanthropic trends, patterns, and best practices in fundraising techniques.
Construct the Big Picture (7 credits)
MBA-745 Contextualizing Values Based Decision Making
Take MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-721, MBA-730, and SBS-700
1.00
This course involves synthesizing and applying the content from Values Based Decision Making through two deliverables, both of which require reflection on the MBA experience. Students will consider the external clients they have worked with in their client oriented classes and the MBA curriculum through an ethical lens. They will focus on identifying organization-based ethical issues and values, applying ethical frameworks to analyze them, and making an argument as leaders or managers for an ethical solution. This course will offer application and synthesis, taught towards the end, allowing students to creatively apply ethical perspectives to what they learned in the MBA.
MBA-750 Building Global Connections
MBA students only. SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of the global business environment in a way specifically relevant to innovation in world-class clusters. The course has a three-part format: 1. global business fundamentals; 2. opportunity recognition, validation and planning; and 3. experiential term group project in the elaboration of a proposed innovation. Global business fundamentals include the complexities of operating in the international economic environment, the theory and practice of trade, the global integration and local responsiveness of the multinational firm, the internationalization decision of firms, as well as the different modes of entry.
MBA-760 World Class Strategies
SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-710, MBA-615(or SBS-603), MBA-625(or SBS-604), MBA-635, MBA-640(or ACCT-800,) MBA-650, MBA-660, MBA-720(or MBA-721), MBA-730, and MBA-745(may be taken concurrently)
3.00
Students engage in a variety of learning activities, such as case studies, computer simulations, examinations, project reports, and most especially, experiential exercises involving competition. Students will develop a multi-functional general management perspective. The course is designed to help students integrate and apply their knowledge and techniques learned in the core courses of the MBA program into an overall view of the firm, evaluate the environment, and speculate on the future direction of the organization. Students will also learn about the principal concepts, frameworks, and techniques of strategic management, they will develop the capacity for strategic thinking, and they will examine the organizational and environmental contexts in which strategic management unfolds. This course will make extensive use of experiential activities and projects designed to get students to experience the dynamics of competition right in the classroom.
Lead and Implement Change (3 credits)
Must be taken as late in the program as possible.
MBA-770 Leading and Implementing Change
MBA students only. SBS-700 MBA-701 MBA-710 MBA-615 MBA-625 MBA-635 MBA-640 MBA-650 MBA-660 MBA-720(or MBA-721) MBA-730 MBA-745 MBA-750 MBA-760 (MBA-745, MBA-750 and MBA-760 may be taken concurrently with MBA-770)
3.00
The final course in the MBA curriculum ties together the integral components of the four industry clusters, strategy and business fundamentals to the experience of leading change. Students experience the change process personally through a simulation. Students then apply their learning to an applied project based in one of the four clusters that is team-based, client-focused, grounded in research, and integrates MBA concepts as required with a final presentation to a live client. As part of understanding change, students will also evaluate the wider societal impacts of the business change. Finally, students reflect on their MBA program in total, revisiting their career plan and vision. This course uses multiple approaches, defining, understanding and experiencing the strategic value of change at the organizational, team, and individual levels.
Waiver Policy
Core courses may be waived. Required MBA courses (SBS-700, MBA-701, MBA-721, MBA-730, MBA-740, MBA-745, MBA-750, MBA-760 and MBA-770) cannot be waived.
To waive a core course, a student must successfully complete equivalent academic coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven (7) years prior to MBA/Nonprofit matriculation, with a grade of "B" or better, and provide official transcripts (with English translations, if applicable).
All waiver requests are evaluated upon a student's acceptance into the MBA/Nonprofit program and are waived during the student's first semester. A student receives credit for each course waived, thereby reducing the total number of courses for the MBA/Nonprofit degree. Students may also elect to take a proficiency exam, for a fee, to gain a waiver. Proficiency exams must be taken in the first semester and are administered on the Boston campus. All MBA/Nonprofit students must complete a minimum of 45 graduate credits in the Sawyer Business School.
Transfer Policy
Six (6) credits of MBA elective courses, taken at the graduate level from an AACSB-accredited graduate program in business, may be transferred if the credits do not apply to a previously completed degree. Transfer credits must have an earned grade of "B" or better and be taken within seven (7) years prior to entering the Suffolk MBA/Nonprofit programs. Transfer credits apply only to electives. Official transcripts must be provided (with English translations, if applicable).
Students Who Leave Boston Before Their Degree is Complete
Occasionally, Suffolk MBA students must leave the Boston area having not yet completed their degree. The Business School has several options available to insure completion of the Suffolk MBA. You may be able to transfer in six (6) credits of elective courses from an AACSB-accredited MBA close to your new place of residence. Courses must be pre-approved by Suffolk’s assistant dean of graduate programs and have a grade of "B" or better.
Students who leave the area may also be able to complete their Suffolk MBA on a part-time basis online. Nonprofit courses are only offered on the Boston campus.
Transfer Credits from the Moakley Center for Public Management's Certificate Programs to the MBA
Students who have completed a certificate program through the Suffolk University Moakley Center for Public Management may have an opportunity to reduce credit requirements to an SBS graduate degree program (MBA, MMS, MSA, MST, MHA, MSBA, or MSM). All course waivers and/or transfers varies by program and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the respective SBS Graduate Programs Office.
In order for a course to be considered, it must meet the following criteria: must have an SBS graduate program course equivalent; received a grade of "B" or better; and successfully completed the certificate prior to enrolling in the SBS graduate degree program.
Graduate Certificate in Business Fundamentals Archive 2020-2021
Graduate Certificate in Business Fundamentals Curriculum
6 Courses
15 Credits
Program Length:
Part-time in as few as 9 months
Required Courses (15 credits)
MBA-615 Economics
1.50
This course introduces the basic tools and concepts of microeconomics (2 classes) for supply and demand analysis; for consumer market behavior; and for production, cost, and pricing decisions in different market structures. Greater emphasis (4 to 5 classes) in the course is on the macroeconomic topics of national economic performance, the economic role of government and fiscal and monetary policy, and the banking and financial system in the current economic environment. The course is intended for MBA students who have no recent academic background in economics.
MBA-625 Managerial Statistics
1.50
This course emphasizes the importance of basic concepts in probability and statistics for managerial decision making with a strong emphasis on practical application. Students will learn basic data analysis, random variables and probability distributions, sampling distributions, interval estimation, hypothesis testing and regression. MS Excel will be used throughout the course. Numerous examples are chosen from quality control applications, finance, marketing and Management to illustrate the managerial value of applying sound statistical techniques to the analysis of operational data.
MBA-635 Operations Management: Design and Analysis
MBA-625 or SBS-604 or ISOM-631 (may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course provides students with Operations Management concepts, techniques, and tools to design, analyze, and improve operational capabilities in any organization. Students will understand and analyze common OM decisions on managing inputs (materials, information, finances, and human resources) and processes to deliver desirable outcomes to customers. Topics covered include operations strategy, process analysis, quality management and lean operations, capacity analysis, inventory management, product development, supply chain management, project management, revenue management and pricing, decision analysis, and forecasting. Software tools used may include MS Excel, MS Visio, and MS Project. This course will contain experiential learning components related to Boston's world-class industries, which may include guest lectures, simulation exercises, and/or visits to local organizations.
MBA-640 Corporate Financial Reporting and Control
3.00
This course deals with the structure and information content of the three principal financial statements of profit-directed companies, namely the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. It develops skill in using accounting information to analyze the performance and financial condition of a company, and to facilitate decision making, planning and budgeting, and performance appraisal in a managerial context. This course also contains an experiential component by offering guided inquiry and real company cases.
MBA-650 Value Based Financial Management
1 course from each of the following groups: MBA-615 or SBS-603; MBA-625, SBS-604, or ISOM-631; MBA-640 or ACCT-800; These courses may be taken prior to or concurrently with MBA-650.
3.00
This course introduces the basic principles of corporate finance. The main focus is on fundamental principles such as time value of money, asset valuation, and risk and return tradeoff. Topics to be covered also include cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure.
MBA-660 Marketing: the Challenge of Managing Value
3.00
At its core, marketing is about providing consumer value. The practice of doing this is changing constantly-driven by rapid and far-reaching changes in technology; globalization; and the evolution of consumer values, practices, and lifestyles. This course will present themes, theories, and trends that are critical for: 1. understanding the business of creating, capturing and sustaining value; 2. introducing students to the global, consumer, and technological realities of marketing in the 21st Century; and 3. providing students with a sound foundation to explore marketing in further depth in upper-level elective courses. This course also contains an experiential component. .
Course Substitution Policy
To substitute a graduate business fundamentals certificate course with an approved elective, a student must have successfully completed equivalent academic coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven years prior to GCBF matriculation, with a grade of "B" or better, and provide official transcripts (with English translation, if applicable). A maximum of 3 credits of coursework can be substituted.
Candidates who apply within one year of completing their graduate certificate will have applicable courses applied to a Sawyer Business School (SBS) graduate degree program in the same discipline as the certificate as long as a grade of "B" or better was earned in that course.
Candidates who apply to a degree program, different from their certificate program's discipline area or beyond one year, will have coursework evaluated on a case by case basis for relevancy, current degree requirements and current Sawyer Business School waiver and transfer policies.
Graduate Certificate in Business Fundamentals Online Archive 2020-2021
Graduate Certificate in Business Fundamentals Online Curriculum
15 Credits
Program Length:
Part-time in as few as 9 months
Required Courses (15 credits)
MBA-615 Economics
1.50
This course introduces the basic tools and concepts of microeconomics (2 classes) for supply and demand analysis; for consumer market behavior; and for production, cost, and pricing decisions in different market structures. Greater emphasis (4 to 5 classes) in the course is on the macroeconomic topics of national economic performance, the economic role of government and fiscal and monetary policy, and the banking and financial system in the current economic environment. The course is intended for MBA students who have no recent academic background in economics.
MBA-625 Managerial Statistics
1.50
This course emphasizes the importance of basic concepts in probability and statistics for managerial decision making with a strong emphasis on practical application. Students will learn basic data analysis, random variables and probability distributions, sampling distributions, interval estimation, hypothesis testing and regression. MS Excel will be used throughout the course. Numerous examples are chosen from quality control applications, finance, marketing and Management to illustrate the managerial value of applying sound statistical techniques to the analysis of operational data.
MBA-635 Operations Management: Design and Analysis
MBA-625 or SBS-604 or ISOM-631 (may be taken concurrently)
3.00
This course provides students with Operations Management concepts, techniques, and tools to design, analyze, and improve operational capabilities in any organization. Students will understand and analyze common OM decisions on managing inputs (materials, information, finances, and human resources) and processes to deliver desirable outcomes to customers. Topics covered include operations strategy, process analysis, quality management and lean operations, capacity analysis, inventory management, product development, supply chain management, project management, revenue management and pricing, decision analysis, and forecasting. Software tools used may include MS Excel, MS Visio, and MS Project. This course will contain experiential learning components related to Boston's world-class industries, which may include guest lectures, simulation exercises, and/or visits to local organizations.
MBA-640 Corporate Financial Reporting and Control
3.00
This course deals with the structure and information content of the three principal financial statements of profit-directed companies, namely the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. It develops skill in using accounting information to analyze the performance and financial condition of a company, and to facilitate decision making, planning and budgeting, and performance appraisal in a managerial context. This course also contains an experiential component by offering guided inquiry and real company cases.
MBA-650 Value Based Financial Management
1 course from each of the following groups: MBA-615 or SBS-603; MBA-625, SBS-604, or ISOM-631; MBA-640 or ACCT-800; These courses may be taken prior to or concurrently with MBA-650.
3.00
This course introduces the basic principles of corporate finance. The main focus is on fundamental principles such as time value of money, asset valuation, and risk and return tradeoff. Topics to be covered also include cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure.
MBA-660 Marketing: the Challenge of Managing Value
3.00
At its core, marketing is about providing consumer value. The practice of doing this is changing constantly-driven by rapid and far-reaching changes in technology; globalization; and the evolution of consumer values, practices, and lifestyles. This course will present themes, theories, and trends that are critical for: 1. understanding the business of creating, capturing and sustaining value; 2. introducing students to the global, consumer, and technological realities of marketing in the 21st Century; and 3. providing students with a sound foundation to explore marketing in further depth in upper-level elective courses. This course also contains an experiential component. .
Course Substitution Policy
To substitute a graduate business fundamentals certificate course with an approved elective, a student must have successfully completed equivalent academic coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven years prior to GCBF matriculation, with a grade of "B" or better, and provide official transcripts (with English translation, if applicable). A maximum of 3 credits of coursework can be substituted.
Candidates who apply within one year of completing their graduate certificate will have applicable courses applied to a Sawyer Business School (SBS) graduate degree program in the same discipline as the certificate as long as a grade of "B" or better was earned in that course.
Candidates who apply to a degree program, different from their certificate program's discipline area or beyond one year, will have coursework evaluated on a case by case basis for relevancy, current degree requirements and current Sawyer Business School waiver and transfer policies.
Dual Degree with JD Archive 2020-2021
The MBA is available as a Dual Degree with the Juris Doctor.
View the MBA/JD Dual Degree Curriculum.
Dual Degree with MSA Archive 2020-2021
The MBA is available as a Dual Degree with the Master of Accounting.
View the MBA/MSA Dual Degree Curriculum.
Dual Degree with MSBA Archive 2020-2021
The MBA is available as a Dual Degree with the Master of Science in Business Analytics.
View the MSBA/MBA Dual Degree Curriculum.
Dual Degree with MSF Archive 2020-2021
The MBA is available as a Dual Degree with the Master of Science in Finance.
View theMBA/MSF Dual Degree Curriculum.
Dual Degree with MSM Archive 2020-2021
The MBA is available as a Dual Degree with the Master of Marketing.
View the MBA/MSM Dual Degree Curriculum.
Dual Degree with MST Archive 2020-2021
The MBA is available as a Dual Degree with the Master of Taxation.
View the MBA/MST Dual Degree Curriculum.