CONCENTRATIONS

MBA concentrations utilize elective coursework allowing students to focus and direct their academic program toward their professional interests. Areas of concentration include:

• Business Process Integration
• Corporate Finance
• Entrepreneurship
• Investment Management
• Management Information Systems
• Risk Management
• Supply Chain Management

The Corporate Finance concentration provides a rigorous set of courses designed to develop the skills and knowledge base necessary to prepare students for position in banking, industry and the consulting profession.

Employment in the area of corporate finance requires a core set of skills in financial modeling, the management of financing, investment and company risk, valuation, financial reporting and analysis and taxation.

Corporate Finance Coursework - 8 - 9 Hours

ENTREPRENEURSHIP [Top]
The Entrepreneurship Concentration helps to prepare graduates to operate their own venture, pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in established organizations and to evaluate the potential of a venture from an investor's perspective as well as a potential owner. Topics covered include:

Opportunity identification and analysis
Gathering resources, launching a business and managing growth
Determination of the individual skills needed to start an entrepreneurial venture
Conducting feasibility analyses
Development of sales and distribution structures
Long- and short-term investment decisions
Intellectual property assessment
Resources and the nature of financing entrepreneurial ventures
Designing and writing a quality business plan
Harvesting a business
Consulting projects with entrepreneurial firms

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS [Top]

The MIS concentration seeks to help students understand how information systems impact the performance of, and add value to organizations; and analyze and design computer-based information systems based on a thorough comprehension of business and technology theory and practice. This concentration is based on two guiding principles:

• Effective MIS knowledge requires a sound foundation of business and management knowledge. For example, designing, building, and implementing value-adding information systems require that project team members understand business strategy, industry structures, and organizational behavior as well as relevant functional, i.e., accounting, finance, marketing, production/operations, etc., knowledge domains.
  
• Effective MIS knowledge requires a strong base of theory and principles in programming, database, and analysis/design; a working knowledge of a broad range of information technologies; and, hands-on experience in applying these technical skills to problems in actual organizations.

Concentration Coursework - 8 Hours:

RISK MANAGEMENT [Top]

FIN 5322	Derivative securities and markets (prerequisite FIN 5302)
FIN 5332	Risk Management and Financial Engineering (prerequisite FIN 5322)
FIN 5713	Fixed Income Fund Management (prerequisite FIN 5302 & FIN 5312)
OR
FIN 5362	Fixed Income Fund Management (prerequisite FIN 5302 & FIN 5312)
And any one of the following
FIN 5342	Advanced Corporate Finance (prerequisite FIN 5312
FIN 5352	International Financial Management (prerequisite FIN 5302 & FIN 5312)

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT [Top]

This concentration, in conjunction with the Core MBA courses, will provide graduate students with a full appreciation of Supply Chain Management by integrating knowledge from the areas of logistics, operations management, marketing and marketing channels, finance, and business information systems.

Today's companies are looking for individuals with solid business skills, decision-making capabilities, and an understanding of the latest information technology developments. This sequence, with its emphasis on exposure to current best practices in business, will help to prepare MBA students to become leaders. The students will become familiar with leading logistics/supply chain operating practices, analysis methods, technology applications, and strategy development.

Supply Chain Management Coursework - 8 Hours: