Master of Business Administration
CURRICULUM
36 CREDITS TOTAL
(3 – ENTRY, 6 – TOOLS, 21 – CORE, 1.5 – CAPSTONE ANALYSIS, 4.5 – ELECTIVES)
ENTRY COURSE (3 CREDITS)
BUS 791 The Strategic Context of the Organization (3 cr.)
TOOLS COURSES (6 CREDITS)
BUS 700 Financial Reporting for Executives (1.5 cr.)
ECON 704 Managerial Economics (1.5 cr.)
BUS 798 Business Communications (1.5 cr.)
BUS 712 Data-Driven Decision Making (1.5 cr.)
CORE COURSES (21 CREDITS)
BUS 731 Financial Management (3 cr.)
BUS 741 Operations & Process Management (3 cr.)
BUS 752 Cost Management (3 cr.)
BUS 754 Information Systems in Organizations (3 cr.)
BUS 761 Human Resource Management (3 cr.)
BUS 771 Marketing Strategy (3 cr.)
BUS 794 Strategic Management (3 cr.)
CAPSTONE ANALYSIS (1.5 CREDITS)
BUS 799 Capstone Analysis of Organizations (1.5 cr.)
ELECTIVE COURSES (4.5 CREDITS)
Elective credits allow you to customize your education by selecting from a variety of available courses. Contact the College of Business Graduate Programs Office at cobgrad@uwosh.edu for a full list of electives.
OPTIONAL – EMPHASES (9 CREDITS)
Emphases options are available in Health Care Management, Human Resource Management, International Business (currently unavailable), Marketing and Project Management.
Nine total credits are required to earn an emphasis. *Elective coursework (4.5 cr.) may be applied to the emphasis requirement.
Course Descriptions
Entry and Tools Course Descriptions
Below you will find brief descriptions for MBA courses. Please email cobgrad@uwosh.edu if you need a copy of a syllabus.
- BUS 700 Financial Reporting – 1.5 credits
Strategic decision-making is an ongoing process that involves creating strategies to achieve goals and altering strategies based on observed outcomes. This course is designed to facilitate an understanding of financial accounting concepts through their application in financial statement analysis and the strategic decision-making process. - BUS 712 Data-Driven Decision Making – 1.5 credits
An accelerated exposure to the fundamental statistical techniques essential to management decision-making, including descriptive statistics, basic probability, frequency distributions, inference, estimation, confidence intervals, basic hypothesis testing and introduction to forecasting.
- BUS 791 The Strategic Context of the Organization – 3 credits
- Too often managers think of organizations as consisting of a series of independent silos. Each silo optimizing their performance, often at the cost of overall organizational performance. Using strategic planning as the context, the objective of this course is to help you understand: how each functional area contributes to planning, to plan implementation, why all functional areas are interdependent and why thinking at the organizational level- in addition to the functional level – is essential to maximize organization performance and to the enhancement of your career. Learn to appreciate and utilize, not be frustrated by the diversity in perspectives associated with the functional areas in business.
BUS 798 Business Communications – 1.5 credits
This course introduces students to best practices in business communication to help them learn and develop skills to communicate more effectively and persuasively in both written and spoken business communication. This includes learning to organize and write informative and persuasive business messages, to construct effective arguments using accurate and compelling rhetorical relationships, to understand and use style techniques to structure efficient prose and presentations, and to incorporate elements of logic, character, and emotions to enhance credibility and efficiency in all forms of business communication. This course emphasizes and provides opportunities to practice these communication skills in a variety of common business settings including when negotiating, working within or managing work teams, working with others in different cultures, writing formal and informal documents, and giving formal presentations.
ECON 704 Managerial Economics – 1.5 credits- This course is designed to teach you the underlying philosophy of business. Economics is a way of strategic thinking. Applying economic analysis to a wide array of business problems and decisions can be used to increase your company’s profitability. Our presentation of economic concepts provides a language and a system of logic for organizing ideas relevant to the business world. The economic way of thinking and organizing information underlies all of the other business disciplines, from finance to marketing to HR. Success or failure in business depends on the position of the firm and the management of its resources. Economics teaches us to think systematically and strategically about achieving competitive advantage through the management of firm resources. This includes decision making under uncertainty, costs, pricing, market analysis, and strategic interactions with competitors.
Core & Capstone Course Descriptions
- Below you will find brief descriptions for MBA courses. Please email cobgrad@uwosh.edu if you need a copy of a syllabus.
- BUS 731 Financial Management – 3 credits
A financial approach to business management with an emphasis on decision-making within the firm. The course examines the financial theory and techniques of analysis underlying the management of assets and financing a business unit.
BUS 741 Operations & Process Management – 3 credits
The operations (production) function of organizations is studied for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing systems (services). The primary focus is on the management of processes used to provide quality goods and services. Topics include the following: operations planning and scheduling; supply chain management; determining and classifying core processes; managing processes; material requirements planning (MPR) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP); forecasting; inventory management; just-in-time (JIT); project management; product, service and process design; quality improvement; manufacturing strategies; and location decisions. - BUS 752 Cost Management – 3 credits
Cost Management focuses on the use of quantitative methods to access costs and benefits to support strategic decision making. The quantitative toolkit includes concepts of capacity and utilization, traditional and modern methods of cost assignment, present value analysis of relevant cash flows, and real options. Students integrate the results of quantitative analyses with considerations of strategic fit, employee relations, community relations, and supplier/customer relations to develop action plans and recommendations.
BUS 754 Information Systems in Organizations – 3 credits
In this course, we will explore the intersection of business and information systems – how are business decisions and strategies influenced by our increasingly digital and interconnected world? How do new and emerging technologies influence the competitive landscapes in various industries? The course has two objectives: first, to understand the relationship between information technology and business strategy and second, to understand effective management of the IT function within the organization.
BUS 761 Human Resources Management – 3 credits - This course is designed to provide non-human resources managers with the skills necessary to successfully manage human resources. The course recognizes the growing need for managers, supervisors, team leaders and the typical employee to understand the core competencies of human resources. The course emphasizes the relationship between human resources strategy and business strategy with a focus on the role human resources management plays in supporting the implementation of business objectives.
BUS 771 Marketing Strategy – 3 credits - Integrated approaches to planning and implementing marketing strategies and tactics. Emphasis is on use of marketing information systems, modeling and quantitative techniques in the identification and exploitation of environmental opportunities and on formulation of strategies in product development, physical distribution and channel management, marketing communication and pricing.
BUS 794 Strategic Management – 3 credits- This course is intended to be a capstone experience which provides students the opportunity to apply the concepts and techniques they have learned throughout the MBA program. It is also intended to expose students to new thinking on strategy and special contexts for strategic choice and implementation. There will be a heavy emphasis on experiential activities. The need to effectively integrate material from a variety of courses will be critical to success in this course.
BUS 799 Capstone Analysis of Organizations – 1.5 credits
Through written and oral case analysis, you will demonstrate your mastery of the UW Oshkosh MBA Program Learning Objectives. You will also revisit work from throughout the program and form connections among the various functional disciplines to develop integrated solutions to organizational dilemmas.
Elective Course Descriptions
Below you will find brief descriptions for MBA courses. Please email cobgrad@uwosh.edu if you need a copy of a syllabus.
BUS 694 International Business Study Tour – 1.5 – 3 credits (repeatable to a maximum of six credits) [Prereq: full standing admission, completion of all foundation courses and consent of instructor] In an increasingly interconnected and global world, an understanding of international business and economic issues is very important. The College of Business seeks to promote international awareness and global study as part of its vision. We are proud to offer students short-term study abroad opportunities in Europe, South America and China. Study tour opportunities are listed on the Class Schedules page as BUS 694 and on the Office of International Education’s website. Contact the MBA Office at cobgrad@uwosh.edu for additional information.
Requirements for study tours include: (1) travel to various countries directed by business faculty members to provide students direct contact with economic and business issues in other societies; (2) reading background material; (3) attendance at classes; (4) participating in field lectures; (5) writing a report and/ or other assignments. For graduate credit, an additional research assignment, paper or project is also required.
BUS 709 Topics in Accounting – 3 credits
Current Topics in Accounting will cover a set of selected current and relevant topics that are either not covered or not covered in depth in regular courses but are of interest to graduate business students. This course may be repeated as different topics will be covered in different terms. Topics are listed below:
-
- 709 Topic: Tax Impact of Business Decisions – 1.5 credits
This course introduces the student to an overall framework for evaluating the impact taxes have on business decisions. While the course concentrates on the impact of federal income taxes, the concepts are general and can apply to a variety of taxing jurisdictions. Syllabus available upon request by email: cobgrad@uwosh.edu
BUS 733 Money and Capital Markets – 3 credits
Identification and analysis of principal suppliers and users of funds in financial markets. Topics include domestic and international market structure, intermediary functions of institutions and the impact of monetary and fiscal policies.BUS 735 Current Topics in Finance – 1-3 credits
Current Topics in Finance will cover a set of selected current and relevant topics that are either not covered or not covered in-depth in regular courses but are of interest to graduate business students. This course may be repeated because different topics will be covered in different semesters. Topics are listed below:- 735 Topic: Risk Management – 1.5 credits
This course is an introduction to the fastest-growing areas in finance: derivative securities. As such, this course is divided into futures, options, swaps, exotic options and financial engineering. Emphasis will be placed on equity instruments although short- and long-term interest-bearing instruments will also be discussed. There will be group projects involving trading. The goal is to provide the student with a working knowledge of the basic types of derivatives and their uses, review the basic trading strategies and finally, to expose the student to some of the exotic derivatives that exist.
- 735 Topics: Financial Statement Analysis – 2 credits
This course is an analysis and interpretation of financial statements. Skills taught include: how to interpret financial statements, analyze cash flows, evaluate earnings quality, uncover hidden assets and liabilities and forecasting financial statements.
- 735 Topic: Incorporation of Exchange Rates in Strategic Decision-making – 1.5 credits
Students will acquire competency with the terminology, strategies and practices needed to interact with confidence in business settings that require working within the global currency market. - 735 Topic: Mutual Fund Investing – 1 credit
The course will introduce mutual funds including organizational structure, categories of mutual funds, fund characteristics and fees. Criteria for selecting mutual funds and criteria for selecting categories of mutual funds will be discussed. Asset allocation models will be reviewed and employed to develop investment portfolios composed of multiple mutual funds consistent with demographic characteristics of the investor. Assessment of mutual fund and portfolio performance will be presented.
BUS 758 Project Management – 1.5 credits
The course examines project management from a theoretical/ practitioner perspective. The course will be organized along four major phases of the project management process: 1) Project Selection and Definition; 2) Project Planning; 3) Project Execution and Control and 4) Project Closing. Students will examine key outcomes, documents and techniques available for successfully managing the challenges of each phase. Specific topics covered will include: project selection and scope definition, work breakdown structures and statements of work, project scheduling, project team selection and development and strengths and weaknesses of various project management tools.BUS 759 Advanced Topics in Project Management – 1.5 credits
This course is oriented toward the more experienced project manager and/ or those who supervise project managers. The focus of the course will be to address current topics in the field of project management and assess whether or not and how they should be addressed in organizations. Course topics will vary depending on currency of and level of interest in the topic and may include: 1) Critical Chain Project Management; 2) The role of a project office and how to develop one in your organization or 3) Capturing knowledge from individual projects for use throughout the organization.BUS 760 Project Execution and Control – 1.5 credits
The primary focus of this course is to identify and manage challenges commonly seen during projects after the project baseline has been approved. The course also covers the topics within the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) not addressed in BUS 758. Some of the topics covered include project risk management, project cost management, project communications management, vendor management, project quality management, project change management and project termination. Since there is now a 35-hour professional education requirement before you can sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam, this course is particularly recommended for those who have completed BUS 758 and are interested in pursuing the Project Management Institute’s PMP certification.BUS 762 Organizational Reward Systems – 1.5 credits (Prerequisite: Business 761 and the completion of all Foundation requirements. Enrollment limited to Graduate Business students (GBUS) or department consent.) This course covers topics related to the use of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards in organizations. Specific topics include: organizational reward systems, motivational theories, wage surveys, job evaluation, performance appraisal, merit pay, supplemental compensation, non-monetary compensation and safety. Designed for those individuals working, or planning on working, in human resource management or general management.
BUS 763 Employee Relations – 1.5 credits
Prerequisite: Bus 761 and the completion of all Foundation requirements.
When it comes to the workplace, balancing the interests of employers and employees presents a significant societal challenge. What are the rights and responsibilities of these parties? How do they resolve workplace conflicts? What role should the government play in this relationship? This course addresses the relationship between employers and employees, sometimes called labor-management relations, industrial relations or employee relations. We will study the development of the employment relationship in the U.S., the legal framework and theories relevant to labor-management relations. Our focus is on both union and nonunion settings however special consideration of issues, terms and strategies of the unionized environment are discussed. From 2011 protests in Madison to the 2013 Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh, we will discuss how employee relations concepts relate to current events of the day.BUS 764 Agile Project Management – 1.5 credits
Prerequisite: None
This course will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the principles, processes, and practices of agile project management. Throughout the class, you will gain an understanding of the drivers behind agility in project management and learn techniques for initiating, planning and executing on projects using agile methodologies. That understanding will be through studying agile project management in general as well as specific frameworks at different levels of an organization.
BUS 766 Project Portfolio Management – 1.5 credits
This course focuses on managing a multi-project environment at both the strategic and tactical levels. Strategic-level multi-project management includes issues such as project selection/ prioritization, project portfolio management, resource allocation and project sequencing. Tactical-level multi-project management includes issues associated with the individual project manager and their efforts to manage multiple projects via time management, schedule and resource integration and project prioritization. Because of the management-level orientation of the course, the final week of the class will be devoted to educating/ selling senior managers on the value and benefits of project management tools and methodologies for their organization.BUS 767 Advanced Human Resources Topics – 1-3 credits (Prereq: BUS 761 for some courses, if required it will be noted on the appropriate semester course detail page)
This course covers special topics in human resources management and is intended for students already in, or preparing for, positions in the human resources management profession. Topics to be addressed include, but are not limited to: employee relations in non-union and unionized organizations, the strategic role of human resources management as a competitive asset and the role of the human resources department in setting and implementing strategy, impact of teams on human resources management, need for and use of human resources information systems. Other topics which may be addressed include current legal developments, role of human resources professionals in safety management systems and the role of human resources professionals in managing change. Topics include:- 767 Topic: Current Topics in Employee Relations – 1.5 credits
This course explores the implications of the Obama administration for human resource management with particular focus on the employee relations arena. Beginning with a review of key problems and concerns in employee relations/ human resources, we will consider proposed legislative changes addressing these issues. Examples of the topics that will be discussed are: a possible ban on employer-required arbitration agreements, changes to the National Labor Relations Act that would facilitate union organizing and an extension on the statute of limitations for pay discrimination. BUS 761 and/ or prior experience in HR will be helpful in taking this course but is not required.
- 767 Topic: Employee Training and Development – 2 credits This course focuses on: (1) Human resource development’s role in maintaining an organization’s competitive position, (2) Identification of training needs, (3) Transferring training to the workplace, (4) Training assessment.
BUS 769 Seminar in Management Topics – 1-3 credits
This seminar will cover contemporary problems, philosophies and techniques in the field. This seminar will provide an opportunity to study in-depth issues and developments of particular concern to students, faculty and the business community. Some of the topics include:- 769 Topic: Business Process Simulation – 2 credits
Computer simulation is a very powerful, yet very flexible modeling tool. This course will establish basic proficiency in simulation model development, verification, validation and analysis. Proper statistical analysis and interpretation of simulation results will be emphasized. Special attention will be placed on the simulation of manufacturing systems and service delivery systems.
- 769 Topic: Business in East Asia – 1.5 credits
This course provides perspective on businesses in Japan, South Korea and China by looking at the historical backgrounds of each market and examining how those backgrounds impact present economic and business relations. Students focus on understanding each country’s business practices and learn strategies to build successful East Asian partnerships and succeed in businesses in East Asia.
- 769 Topic: Business and Ethics – 1.5 credits
Does a company have any obligation to help solve social problems such as poverty, pollution and urban decay? What ethical responsibilities should a multinational corporation assume in foreign countries? What obligation does a manufacturer have to the consumer with respect to product defects and safety? These are just a few of the issues that make the study of business ethics important and challenging. This course examines economic activity using ethics as a framework.
- 769 Topic: Classic & Contemporary Literature in Business – 1.5 credits
This class takes the student on a reflective tour of a classic business book and three others that address contemporary business issues. The course is designed to be a discussion group similar to a book club, in which instructor and students critically review the authors’ comments in light of their experiences and other sources. The course will: 1) provide students exposure to the historical development of business practices in the United States, 2) allow students to cultivate critical and creative thinking skills through focused reflection, integration of ideas, projection of trends, lateral thinking and informal discussion and debate on current issues in business and 3) require students to think about the implications of the opinions of the authors and the class members on the topics covered in the readings.
- 769 Topic: Introduction to Financial Fraud – 1.5 credits
This course provides an introduction to fraud. Fraudulent financial reporting and misappropriation of assets are major problems for businesses of all sizes. Knowledge about how fraud is committed and how to spot the potential for fraud are valuable for managers at all levels.
- 769 Topic: The Role of the CEO: Conversations with CEOs – 1.5 credits
What does it take to become a CEO, and what is life like in the role of the CEO in public and private organizations? This course helps students understand and appreciate the answers to these questions. The approach will be for students to do research about the role of the CEO and to have a series of interactive class discussions with CEOs from a range of organizations throughout Northeastern Wisconsin. Along with focusing on the leadership development of CEOs, the course will examine the actions, decision processes, philosophies, management styles, powers and value systems of the selected leaders. Further, the course will take a look at how the CEOs work to build corporate cultures, grow their organizations and deal with crisis situations. Students will be required to develop and present self-development plans focused on achieving specific leadership roles.
- 769 Topic: Corporate Venturing – 1.5 credits
This course examines how organizations effectively create new businesses and foster innovation. It focuses on the process through which organizations turn a good idea into a viable business. Students will learn how to encourage entrepreneurship, identify opportunities, locate potential new business within the firm, select the right managers and set up planning processes.
- 769 Topic: E-Business Fundamentals for Managers – 1.5 credits
This course provides an overview of the fast-growing Internet-based economy and the important role of electronic business in modern corporations. It poses the question, from the point of view of a manager, “How may e-business contribute to the operational, tactical and strategic goals of an organization?” Topics covered in this course include developing e-business ideas, exploring e-business models, formulating e-business plans, building organizational e-business infrastructure and utilizing e-business tools. Examples of innovative real-life e-business implementations will be used to illustrate these concepts.
- 769 Topic: E-Business Website Development – 1.5 credits
This course examines the design factors and development process of an effective e-business website from a practical viewpoint. It is built on a web-mediated communication model, e-business websites are viewed as tools to facilitate intra-organizational communication (e.g. knowledge management networks), inter-organizational cooperation (e.g. supply chain management) and extra-organizational relationship (e.g. customer relationship management and marketing). To provide a more realistic understanding of the concepts, students will have the opportunity to learn basic skills in developing a simple e-business website.
- 769 Topic: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) – 1.5 credits
ERP implementations have been a significant business effort for the past ten years. This course describes the principal functions of ERP software and emphasizes the business impacts of such systems, especially the supply-chain and customer effects. Topics include the history of enterprise systems, their connection to business process re-engineering, their technology requirements, system implementation alternatives and the multiple security requirements involved with enterprise systems.
- 769 Topic: Fundamental Methods of Forecasting – 1 credit
The ability to forecast data, which becomes available at regular intervals, is very important in the business environment. With the power of modern computers it is possible to carry out effective short-term (one or two periods ahead) forecasts using methods studied in the context of a short course. The course will be heavily weighted toward applied work rather than the mathematical theory behind the methods. Students will have a portfolio of forecasts at the end of the course to demonstrate competence.
- 769 Topic: Fundamentals of Health Information Technology Management – 2 credits
This course provides an introduction to the dynamic world of management of information technology in health care. A description of information processing, the content and evolution of healthcare information systems and the current and future methodologies being employed to acquire and manage information are discussed.
- 769 Topic: Health Care Finance and Economics – 2 credits
Health care requires individuals in leadership roles who understand how to effectively manage the financial performance of an organization. They need to recognize both the economic factors that influence decisions and the financial systems that drive performance. This course will help students understand how factors such as government intervention in health care, the organization of health insurance markets and health care reform influence financial decision making in the health care arena. - 769 Topic: Introduction to Assurance Services – 1 credit
Assurance services pervade the business world. They add credibility and reliability to information used in a broad set of decisions. This course helps students identify situations in which assurance services are necessary, evaluate different types of assurance services and assess the quality of assurance services companies and investment funds provide.
- 769 Topic: Managing Technology in Turbulent Times – 2 credits
The intent of this course is to show the synergy that exists between the introduction of technologies into an organization and the shift in management strategy and decision-making that is essential to receive full value from the technology investment. While MIS management is generally responsible for the technology acquisition and operating decisions, functional management needs to understand the application, impact and value of the various technologies to their operating units. The course will include exercises that look at financial, organizational, personnel and marketplace issues.
- 769 Topic: Selling Ideas at Work – 1.5 credits
This course provides students with an understanding of how business people make decisions. It teaches students to utilize developed skills (listening, nonverbals, adapting, planning, presenting, responding to objections, obtaining commitment and follow through) to sell ideas at work to both individuals and to groups.
- 769 Topic: Work-Family Issues in Contemporary Times – 1 credit
This course will critically examine and analyze issues of work and family life from both employee and employer perspectives.
- 769 Topic: Managing Stress in the Workplace – 1 credit
The purpose of this course is to help students develop skills needed to reduce stress in the workplace. The course focuses on the real causes of stress (environmental factors) rather than approaches that target individual employees. Students will learn how to identify stressors in the workplace environment and how to work with associates to deal with them in a way that benefits everyone.
- 769 Topic: Communicating for Success: Writing For Results – 1 credit
The purpose of this course is to enhance workplace communication skills. The isolated academic context in which students first learned to write is likely much different than the professional context in which they communicate now. In this course, students will take their writing skills to the next level as they briefly review the foundational theories that inform organizational communication and apply practical strategies to writing effective routine, negative news, and persuasive messages for their specific audiences. Using an organization with which they are/were affiliated as a reference, they will engage in discussions regarding communication in the workplace and offer their own writing samples for critique from fellow students and from the instructor. While written communication is the primary focus, many of the strategies can be applied to oral communication as well.
- 769 Topic: Sustainability and Organizational Management – 1.5 credits
This course is designed to introduce students to the interrelationship between business and the natural environment; specifically, it examines the impact of the environment on business and the consequences of daily and long-term business decisions on the environment. This is a hands-on course in which you will be required to do much introspection, reading and group discussion. Students will also conduct a major outside project.
- 709 Topic: Tax Impact of Business Decisions – 1.5 credits
-
- 769 Topic: Contract Law for Managers – 2 credits
This course emphasizes using the law in ethical managerial decision-making. It examines contract law, sales law and law in e-commerce. - 769 Topic: Health Care Organization and Delivery – 2 credits
This course provides a foundational understanding of our complex health system, from basic organization and management of the system to an exploration of the relationships between cost, quality and access in the context of system improvement and health care reform. Students will take a policy perspective as they explore influential factors on health care resource challenges such as paying for care, supplying an adequate workforce and application of technology to healthcare advances. They will also explore the various competing goals, priorities and perspectives of the many participants in the health care arena. We will consider perspectives across the care continuum, from prevention to end-of-life care.
- 769 Topic: Health Care Human Resources & Organizations – 2 credits
The guiding question for this course is: how can we maximize human resources to improve the quality of health care? A unique feature of this course is its emphasis on complex adaptive systems (CAS). Recognition of CAS principles is critically important for success in health care settings, as health systems fit the notion of complex systems very well. This is emphasized throughout the course, guiding students’ thinking about change, motivation, teams and other concepts.
- 769 Topic: Contract Law for Managers – 2 credits
-
- 769 Topic: Information System Security – 2 credits
Today’s manager must understand the issues, technologies and techniques for security and risk management. Students will discuss system vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies and will identify security-related personnel issues and training and education requirements. They will understand the legal and ethical issues surrounding security management and be able to develop and implement security procedures and processes.
- 769 Topic: Information System Security – 2 credits
-
- 769 Topic: Intro to the Law, Management and Marketing of Nonprofits and NGOs – 1 credit
The 3 week course will provide a substantive introduction to the key principles and practical challenges in the law, management and marketing of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
- 769 Topic: Intro to the Law, Management and Marketing of Nonprofits and NGOs – 1 credit
-
- 769 Topic: Supply Chain Management – 2 credits
This course covers terminologies, concepts, and tools involved in managing supply chain operations, emphasizing qualitative and quantitative tools used in managerial decision making. Topics include Supply Chain Strategy, Supplier Management, Inventory Management, Distribution, and Logistics.
- 769 Topic: Supply Chain Management – 2 credits
-
- 769 Topic: Communicating for Success: Speak, Engage, Lead – 1 credit
The purpose of this course is to enhance students’ workplace communication skills. Students and their organizations will benefit as students apply practical strategies to oral and interpersonal communication contexts for nearly any audience. Using their current organizations (or organization of their choice) as a reference, students will engage in discussions regarding communication in the workplace and offer their own samples for critique from other students and from the instructor. Oral and interpersonal communication are the focus of the course, but many of the strategies are ones that are discussed in MBA 773 (the written communication course) well, making these two courses complementary but not necessarily sequential or dependent on completion of the other. The course also includes a brief review of the foundational theories that inform oral and interpersonal communication.
- 769 Topic: Communicating for Success: Speak, Engage, Lead – 1 credit
-
- 769 Topic: Quantitative Business Analysis – 1.5 credits
This course focuses on applied quantitative business analysis and uses Microsoft Excel. The course covers problem-solving concepts and techniques, plus effective presentation of analysis results. Critical thinking and analytical problem solving will be stressed throughout the course. Exercises for the course reflect a variety of business disciplines.While students will learn to use Excel, this is not an Excel Course. The course only covers Excel functions that apply to analysis objectives. Excel has other capabilities that are beyond the scope of this class.
BUS 774 Seminar in Marketing Topics – 1-3 credits (Prereq: periodically BUS 771 or consent of instructor) Current issues and developments will be discussed in-depth on a major topic in marketing. The focus will be on the theories and their managerial implications.
- 774 Seminar: Regional Trade Agreements and Multinational Corporations – 1.5 credits This course introduces students to issues related to regional trade agreements, also commonly referred to as trading blocs, such as the impetus to their formation, the degree to which parties equally benefit from their participation and the impact of these agreements on global trade. Special attention will be given to regional trade agreements in the Americas, Asia and Europe. Finally, this course will examine how regional trade agreements might affect Multinational Corporations (MNCs).
- 769 Topic: Quantitative Business Analysis – 1.5 credits
-
- 774 Seminar: Strategies and Tactics of Pricing- 2 credits
This course presents a framework for evaluating pricing decisions. The framework is structured around marketing’s three Cs: customers, competitors and costs. From a customer perspective, the course examines issues such as economic value, price sensitivity, psychological biases, fairness and segmentation. From a competitive perspective, it examines price wars, cooperative and opportunistic pricing, price leadership and differentiation/ augmentation. From a cost perspective, it focuses on issues such as cost behavior, relevant costs and allocation issues. Pricing is examined in a variety of contexts, including business-to-business markets, consumer goods markets, services and nonprofit companies.
BUS 777 Consumer Behavior – 1.5 credits
How do we make sense of consumer decision-making when there are many variables to consider? More specifically, how are we, as managers, to create a sound marketing plan given consumer diversity and decision-making? This class will help students understand how and why consumers behave as they do. Students will delve into their own attitudes, motivations and purchase behavior to derive insight. They will learn about the pervasive consumer behavior theories developed primarily in marketing and psychology. And, using this information, students will attempt to predict how consumers will respond to a variety of marketing activities.BUS 788 Personal and Professional Development – 1.5 credits
This course helps students identify their own personal and professional goals, develop strategies to achieve them and encourage others they work with to do likewise. Topics covered in this course include developing self-awareness, determining values and priorities, career management and developing skill in coaching and mentoring. The course is conducted in such a way that students are expected to be co-coaches and co-mentors for each other. To help students gain greater familiarity with each other and to help the peer coaching process, students will work through a variety of problem-solving exercises during class time.A primary outcome of this course is a personal development plan that students can use to pursue their professional goals during and after their time in the MBA program.BUS 790 Organizational Leadership and Change – 1.5 credits
This course explores leadership and change within organizational settings. Concepts, theories, skills and applications are addressed in the areas of leadership, motivation, types of change and the process of change. Leadership and change management are applied in diagnosing and solving problems related to change at all levels (individual, team and organization). Organizational features such as strategy, structure, processes, technology and culture are treated as targets of change and as contingency factors for other types of change.BUS 792 International Business – 1.5 credits
This course will analyze the increasing impact international business has on our domestic well-being and stress the significant rewards which can accrue from the penetration of international markets. Both the challenges and risks of international business activities will be discussed. The student will be provided with both the conceptual and analytical tools to better capitalize on opportunities and avoid the pitfalls encountered in the international arena.BUS 793 Business Environments: Law, Regulations and Ethics – 1.5 credits
This course involves a study of public laws, government regulations and the influence of ethics on business. A course objective is to prepare students to recognize problem areas and engage in legal and ethical analysis to manage risk. The course generally examines business ethics and social responsibility, dispute resolution, duties and liabilities of managers and their organizations to their stakeholders, administrative law, securities regulation, antitrust law, employment and diversity regulation, environmental regulation, product liability, consumer protection and the regulation of international trade.BUS 796 Independent Study in Business Administration – 1-3 credits
An independent study will provide students with an opportunity for study in areas of special interest. No more than 6 credits of independent study coursework can apply towards the MBA degree. Prerequisites: Completion of foundation or entry and tools courses and full standing status. Before registration, a College of Business Graduate Independent Study Form must be filed with the MBA Program Office. An Independent Study Proposal (equivalent to a syllabus) will be prepared by student and instructor. - 774 Seminar: Strategies and Tactics of Pricing- 2 credits
Emphases (optional)
Emphases currently available in the MBA Program include: Health Care Management, Human Resource Management, International Business (currently unavailable), Marketing and Project Management.
Characteristics of the emphases include:
- Emphases consist of nine elective credits. *Elective coursework (4.5 cr.) may be applied to the emphasis requirement.
- The nine credits of electives comprising an emphasis will be offered in a three-year period of time in-person or online in order to satisfy student needs for timely offerings.
- The UW Oshkosh MBA Program collaborates with two MBA programs in the UW System forming the UW System MBA Consortium, a fully online MBA program: UW-Eau Claire and UW-LaCrosse. Most of the online electives offered are taught by the MBA Consortium.
- The emphasis in healthcare management was developed in cooperation with the UW Oshkosh Master in Public Administration Program.
- An emphasis will be recognized on the student’s transcript.
- Emphases can be completed either before or after graduation. Please talk to your advisor about timeline requirements.
Emphasis in Health Care Management
Take nine credits from the following courses:
- BUS 769 Health Information Technology Management (2)
- BUS 769 Health Care Finance & Economics (2)
- BUS 769 Health Care Organization & Delivery (2)
- BUS 769 Health Care Human Resources & Organizations (2)
- BUS 793 Law, Regulations & Ethics (1.5)
- MPA 729 Health Care Agency Organization and Management (3)
- MPA 762 Health Care Administration Law (3)
- MPA 773 Health Care Policy (3)
Emphasis in Human Resource Management
Take nine credits from the following courses:
- BUS 762 Organizational Reward Systems (1.5)
- BUS 763 Employee Relations (1.5)
- BUS 767 Advanced Human Resources Topics (1-3)
- BUS 767 Employee Training and Organizational Development (2)
- BUS 769 Business & Ethics (1.5)
- BUS 769 Work-Family Issues in Contemporary Times (1)
- BUS 769 Health Care Organization and Delivery (2)
- BUS 769 Health Care HR and Organizations (2)
- BUS 769 Conversations with CEOs (1.5)
- BUS 694 International Business Study Tour (project must be HR-related) (1.5 or 3)
- BUS 793 Law, Regulations & Ethics (1.5)
- MPA 742 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector (3)
Emphasis in International Business
Currently unavailable
Take nine credits from the following courses:
- BUS 769 Business and Ethics (1.5)
- BUS 694 International Study Tour (1-3) [can be taken multiple times as long as destinations are different]
- BUS 735 Incorporation of Exchange Rates (1.5)
- BUS 774 Regional Trade Agreements & Multinational Corporations (1.5)
- BUS 774 Strategies & Tactics of Pricing (2)
- BUS 792 International Business (1.5)
- BUS 793 Law, Regulations, & Ethics (1.5)
Note: If you do not go on an international study tour it is difficult to earn an emphasis in International Business.
Emphasis in Marketing
Take nine credits from the following courses:
- BUS 774 Seminar in Marketing Topics (1.5 – 3)
- BUS 774 Regional Trade Agreements & Multinational Corporations (1.5)
- BUS 774 Strategies & Tactics of Pricing (2)
- BUS 777 Consumer Behavior (1.5)
- BUS 769 Corporate Venturing (project/paper must be marketing-related) (1.5)
- BUS 769 Business & Ethics (1.5)
- BUS 769 Selling Ideas at Work (project/paper must be marketing-related) (1.5)
- BUS 758 Project Management (project/paper must be marketing-related) (1.5)
- BUS 759 Advanced Project Management (project/paper must be marketing-related) (1.5)
- BUS 694 International Business Study Tour (project must be marketing-related) (1.5 or 3)
Emphasis in Project Management
In today’s world of shrinking timelines and increasing complexity, projects are playing a key role across industries, professions and settings. The project management emphasis provides students with the knowledge and tools to successfully manage those projects. Through the courses in the emphasis students will learn how to effectively define, evaluate, guide and lead projects from ideation to implementation.
Required (3 cr):
- BUS 758 Project Management (1.5)
- BUS 760 Project Execution and Control (1.5)
Take at least 3 cr from the following:
- BUS 759 Advanced Topics in Project Management (1.5)
- BUS 764 Agile Project Management (1.5)
- BUS 766 Project Portfolio Management (1.5)
- BUS 769 Quantitative Business Analysis (1.5)
Take at least 3 credits from the following:
- BUS 769 Corporate Venturing (1.5)
- BUS 769 Managing Technology in Turbulent Times (2)
- BUS 790 Organizational Leadership & Change (1.5)
- BUS 769 Fundamentals of Health Information Technology Management (2)
- BUS 769 Contract Law for Managers (2)
- BUS 769 ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) (1.5)
- BUS 759 Advanced Topics in Project Management (1.5) *
- BUS 764 Agile Project Management (1.5) *
- BUS 766 Project Portfolio Management (1.5) *
- BUS 769 Quantitative Business Analysis (1.5) *
*Can be taken if not taken above