The Master of Business Administration program offers a broad set of business management tools while also allowing students a choice of concentration in order to tailor their degrees to fit their careers and learning goals. The program curriculum prepares working professionals to become effective decision-makers and managers in a world increasingly affected by globalization, technology and ethical challenges. It is designed for working professionals from a wide range of backgrounds who wish to advance or enhance their business careers.
Students who have not had courses in certain fields of study may be required to take additional coursework as a prerequisite for completing some of the concentrations.
The Master of Business Administration program will use basic computer literacy skills (such as word processing and use of spreadsheets) that will be expected in the workplace. Students entering the program are expected to have a basic knowledge of MS Office or equivalent.
The Master of Business Administration program is an exciting educational option for students looking to increase their understanding, advance their careers and expand their opportunities in the world of business.
(See Note below regarding study requirements for North Carolina and Pennsylvania students.)
Required Courses
Required Courses
| ACC 556 | Financial Accounting for Managers | |
| BUS 520 | Leadership and Organizational Behavior | |
| BUS 599 | Strategic Management | |
| COM 510 | Business Communications | |
| ECO 550 | Managerial Economics and Globalization | |
| FIN 534 | Financial Management | |
| LEG 500 | Law, Ethics and Corporate Governance | |
| BUS 512 | Data-Driven Decision Making for Leaders | |
| MKT 500 | Marketing Management | |
| Graduate Elective from a concentration component in the Master of Business Administration | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 45.0 |
Optional Concentration Component
Students may earn a Master of Business Administration with concentration by completing one of the following concentrations listed below. For students electing to complete a concentration, a course from the chosen concentration will satisfy the Graduate Elective requirement in the program core. Once students satisfactorily complete the two remaining concentration courses they will have completed 12 total courses and earned a total of 54.0 total quarter credit hours.
Accounting Concentration
The Accounting Concentration reviews foundational accounting principles from the perspective of a business manager. Students will acquire skills and knowledge in cost accounting, organizational tax research and planning, and financial reporting and analysis. Students will be prepared to interpret accounting data to inform business decisions about organizational challenges.
| ACC 560 | Cost Accounting | |
| ACC 565 | Organizational Tax Research and Planning | |
| ACC 573 | Financial Reporting and Analysis | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Acquisition Concentration
The Acquisition Concentration evaluates the foundational elements of contract management from the perspective of general business and government. The concepts of government acquisitions, business strategies and proposals, and government contract law will be reviewed. Students will be able to evaluate the unique requirements and expectations of the federal government acquisition and contraction system to determine their impact on a business.
| BUS 501 | Government Acquisition | |
| BUS 505 | Business Strategies and Proposals | |
| LEG 505 | Government Contract Law | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems Management Concentration*
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems Management Concentration is designed to provide professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage and optimize AI systems within organizations. The program focuses on AI strategies to enhance systems performance and capabilities, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of AI technologies, their implementation, and the management principles required to drive successful AI initiatives. This concentration is suitable for individuals who are interested in the intersection of AI and business strategies.
| CIS 509 | Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence Systems Management | |
| CIS 543 | AI Strategy for Performance Optimization | |
| CIS 548 | AI for Innovation and Strategic Decision-Making | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Business Data Concentration
The Business Data Concentration assesses organizational data needs to drive business decisions and business process development. Concepts covered include understanding business data, business data and decisions, and operational data. Students will be able to conduct business analyses using current industry trends and data sets to solve business problems.
| DAT 500 | Understanding Business Data | |
| DAT 510 | Business Data and Decisions | |
| DAT 520 | Operational Data | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Cybersecurity Management Concentration*
The Cybersecurity Management Concentration applies current and emerging security management best practices to protect computing environments and reduce risk to organizations. Concepts reviewed include information systems for decision-making, theories of security management, IT risk management, and identifying and responding to cybercrimes. Students will be able to develop information technology strategies and mitigate the risk of cybercrimes to improve quality, timeliness and competitive advantage for organizations.
| CIS 500 | Information Systems for Decision-Making | |
| OR | |
| CIS 502 | Theories of Security Management | |
| CIS 527 | IT Risk Management | |
| CIS 552 | Cybercrime Techniques and Response | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Digital Entrepreneurship Concentration*
The Digital Entrepreneurship Concentration presents the foundational knowledge of small businesses. Students will learn fundamental knowledge of managing a start-up organization, digital aspects of business operations, and the technology and product management needed to be successful in a business environment.
| BUS 523 | High Growth Digital Startup Management | |
| BUS 543 | Digital Business Operations | |
| BUS 553 | Technology and Product Management | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
*Digital Entrepreneurship: This concentration is only available online.
Finance Concentration
The Finance Concentration provides students the knowledge to formulate financial management strategies for a firm’s operations in global markets. The elements of international finance, advanced corporate finance and corporate investment analysis are discussed. Students should be prepared to evaluate capital investments and structure to minimize risks and maximize rewards for a firm. Students will also be able to apply analytical techniques and models to inform investment decisions.
| FIN 535 | International Finance | |
| FIN 540 | Advanced Corporate Finance | |
| FIN 550 | Corporate Investment Analysis | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Global Management Concentration**
The Global Management Concentration applies management theories and practices to organizations operating in global markets. Students will learn global business management techniques and practices, how to formulate global strategy and global marketing management principles. Student should be prepared to create global operations strategies to achieve a competitive advantage within international business environments.
| MGT 510 | Global Business Management | |
| BUS 536 | Global Strategy | |
| MKT 515 | Global Marketing Management | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
*Global Management: This concentration is not offered at on-ground campuses in Maryland or Mississippi. It is only available online in Maryland and Mississippi.
Health Services Administration Concentration
The Health Services Administration Concentration reviews the principles and practices of administration in a healthcare services setting. Students will learn how to manage a healthcare business; the policies, laws, and ethics of working in the healthcare industry; and how to properly manage the financial side of a profitable healthcare organization. Students will be prepared for careers in the administration and management of the healthcare organizations.
| HSA 501 | Management in Healthcare | |
| HSA 515 | Healthcare Policy, Law and Ethics | |
| HSA 525 | Health Financial Management | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Human Resource Management Concentration
The Human Resource Management Concentration explores the fundamental practices of human resources from an organizational management perspective. Students will learn the foundations and strategic perspective of human resource management along with how to effectively manage change within an organization. Students will be prepared for careers that require fundamental human resource knowledge.
| HRM 500 | Human Resource Management Foundations | |
| HRM 530 | Strategic Human Resource Management | |
| HRM 560 | Managing Organizational Change | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Management Concentration
The Management Concentration of the MBA program emphasizes the foundations of management including management principles and practices of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Students will learn the interactions of the functional aspects of business from the operations perspective, explore the concepts and applications of sustainable business, and evaluate the strategic aspects of human resource management. Students are presented the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to make effective business decisions.
| BUS 515 | Operations Management | |
| BUS 521 | Entrepreneurship and Innovation | |
| OR | |
| HRM 530 | Strategic Human Resource Management | |
| MGT 500 | Modern Management | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Marketing Concentration
The Marketing Concentration enables students to create marketing strategies that lead to a competitive advantage in the current global marketplace. Students will acquire knowledge and skills in global marketing management, social media marketing and consumer behavior. Students will be prepared to develop marketing approaches that consider the impact of consumer behavior.
| MKT 515 | Global Marketing Management | |
| MKT 520 | Social Media Marketing | |
| MKT 510 | Consumer Behavior | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Professional Studies Concentration**
The Professional Studies Concentration provides students the opportunity to create a custom learning experience in business. Students will be able to choose three courses from the portfolio of MBA concentration courses that they feel best fit their learning needs. Students also have the option of taking the BUS 595 Business Experience through Workplace Learning course as one of their three courses in this concentration. Through the choice of three additional graduate courses, students will be able to acquire skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in their chosen career within the business environment.
These courses are selected in consultation with a dean or coach. Courses may be selected from graduate-level courses in developing a curriculum that meets students' educational and professional needs. Students are responsible for fulfilling any prerequisites associated with the graduate courses selected in the program.
**Professional Studies: This concentration is called the MBA Graduate Elective in North Carolina.
Project Management Concentration
The Project Management Concentration applies the fundamentals of the project management process to an organizational project. Students will learn the skills and knowledge of the project management process including determining project cost, effective project scheduling and sequencing, and quality management to ensure successful project delivery. Students will also learn how to identify and mitigate project risk through the project management process.
| BUS 517 | Project Management | |
| BUS 518 | Project Management Leadership | |
| BUS 519 | Project Risk Management | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Public Administration Concentration
The Public Administration Concentration provides opportunities for students to evaluate public policies and programs using quantitative analysis skills. Topics covered include modern public administration, public budgeting and finance, policy analysis and program evaluation, and public personnel management. Students will be prepared to apply organizational and management practices to ensure efficiency and accountability within public and non-profit organizations.
| PAD 500 | Modern Public Administration: Managing Public and Nonprofit Organizations | |
| PAD 505 | Public Budgeting and Finance | |
| PAD 530 | Public Personnel Management | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Sales Concentration***
The Sales Concentration provides the opportunity to refine one's knowledge and skills in sales. Through the process of identifying trends through ongoing customer and market research, students will better understand the sales process, strategy and communications. Students will be prepared to build a targeted sales strategy that leverages appropriate inputs from key internal and external stakeholders.
***Sales: The Sales concentration is not available in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
All courses are 4.5 quarter credit hours.