Curriculum and Concentrations

MBA505 GATEWAY EXPERIENCE (1 CREDIT)

Provides students with an introduction to the integrated nature of business. Introduces the idea of experiential learning and develops expectations for the graduate core courses. The course will involve a hands-on experiential group exercise. P/F grading basis.

MBA510 LEADERSHIP (3 CREDITS)

Explores the history, art, science, and practice of leadership in organizational settings. Such issues as leadership history, change, visioning, coaching followership, and socio-technical concerns will be covered. Emphasis will be placed upon merging theory and practice and personal leadership skill development. Prerequisites: MBA 505 must either be completed before taking MBA 510 or taking MBA 505 concurrently with MBA 510.(G)(3)

MBA515 LEGAL AND ETHICAL OPERATION OF BUSINESS (3 CREDITS)

A course designed for managers to operate an entity in compliance with the legal system in an ethical manner. The focus is on the practice of preventative law and managing operations in such a way as to take advantage of the safeguards that the legal system provides.

MBA520 MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING (3 CREDITS)

Application of managerial accounting concepts, techniques and issues, emphasizing uses of internal accounting information for decision making, planning or budgeting, and evaluation/control. Topics include alternative cost measurement, accumulation, allocation methods, or analysis techniques (job, process, just-in-time, standard, activity-based costing, cost behavior, cost-volume-profit analysis, contribution approach) that are relevant to various managerial decisions (production, pricing, etc.) and related issues (behavioral implications). Prerequisites: MBA 505 must either be completed before taking MBA 520 or taking MBA 505 concurrently with MBA 520.(G)(3)

MBA522 IMPACT PRACTICUM (2 CREDITS)

The Impact Practicum course is a field-based, experiential learning program designed to provide Butler MBA students with real-world knowledge of select business and industry clusters, and the opportunity to interact with business leaders and experts. The business practicum is intended to be highly experiential and engage successful community and business leaders and experts from economic development clusters. Students will draw on skills acquired in their core and elective courses, and supplemental readings, to engage in a three-day, industry-level business analysis/challenge competition. Working in teams, students will analyze the business task to identify potential paths to success and recommend a solution. 

MBA525 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS (3 CREDITS)

A course in applied microeconomics with an emphasis on business decision making. Topics include market analysis and price determination; examination of managerial response to changing demand, cost, and industry conditions. Prerequisites: MBA 505 must either be completed before taking MBA 525 or taking MBA 505 concurrently with MBA 525.(G)(3)

MBA530 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (3 CREDITS)

An analysis of the theory and practice of financial management, this course expands on the topics covered in MBA 430. In general, the course focuses on how firms properly acquire and invest funds in a corporate setting. Specific topics include capital budgeting, capital structure, dividend policy, derivatives, mergers and acquisitions, and bankruptcy. Prerequisites: MBA 505 must either be completed before taking MBA 530 or taking MBA 505 concurrently with MBA 530.(G)(3)

MBA535 MARKETING MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH METHODS (3 CREDITS)

An integrated course designed to provide the student with marketing management skills, basic research methodology skills, and a framework to make decisions in a marketing context. Marketing management content issues include: 1) buyer behavior, 2) market segmentation, targeting and positioning, and 3) management of the marketing mix. Research methodology topics include study design, data collection, and forecasting methods. Prerequisites: MBA 505 must either be completed before taking MBA 535 or taking MBA 505 concurrently with MBA 535.(G)(3)

MBA540 INTRODUCTION TO OPERATIONS AND SUPPLY CHAIN (3 CREDITS)

An introduction to the concepts and techniques of modern operations and supply chain management, and the role that information technology plays to inform the decisions of supply chain managers. The goal is to provide the students with a fundamental knowledge of the extension and impact of the decisions within and across supply chains, understanding the interconnectedness of processes and enterprises, information systems, logistics networks, risks and the importance of integration, and sustainability. Students will also learn about operations management, inventory control, data modeling, demand forecasting, project management, quality management, and others. Group presentations, class discussions, simulations, and case exercises will provide the vehicle for developing decision-making, communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills that are essential for managers. Prerequisites: MBA 505 must either be completed before taking MBA 540 or taking MBA 505 concurrently with MBA 540.(G)(3)

MBA542 THE ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET (3 CREDITS)

This course examines the nature of innovation and how the entrepreneurial mindset is leveraged to identify and exploit new market opportunities. Detailed attention is given to the entrepreneurial process and how it applies to the entrepreneur, the evolving company, and the established company. 

MBA545 INTEGRATED CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE (3 CREDITS)

Designed to serve as a capstone experience in the graduate program. This course reviews key concepts from the individual disciplines (accounting, finance, marketing, leadership, production) and integrates it with new material on strategic management. The perspective is from the point of view of a general manager, division head, or CEO who holds responsibility for shaping the direction and character of the organization. The approach relies heavily on in-depth case analysis and class discussion. Prerequisites: MBA degree-seeking status, MBA505, MBA510, MBA515, MBA520, MBA522, MBA525, MBA530, MBA535, MBA540, MBA542. (G)(3)

MBA558 PERSPECTIVES ON LEADERSHIP (2 CREDITS)

The objective of this seminar is to examine leadership approaches/styles in an experiential, in-depth manner. The course includes a highly engaged and participative exploration of both business and not-for-profit organization leadership, as well as a clarification of the students’ personal styles. Prerequisites: MBA510. (G)(2)

MBA568 ENTREPRENEURIAL FINANCE (3 CREDITS)

This course focuses on how entrepreneurs appropriately manage the financial aspects of potential business ventures. Specifically, how entrepreneurs evaluate and value attractive business opportunities, estimate the resources necessary to undertake such opportunities, secure resources on favorable terms, and manage financial resources. Key topic areas include: estimating capital requirements and risk, identifying and evaluating sources of capital, managing financial liquidity, performing business valuations, and understanding exit strategies. Prerequisites: MBA530 and MBA542. (G)(3)

MBA571 GLOBAL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE (2 CREDITS)*

This course introduces students to the business and cultural environments of a particular foreign country through pre-trip work, a short-term study trip, and the preparation of a reflective paper. Designed to serve as a 2-credit elective course, it may be counted towards any of the areas of concentration and satisfies the two G points MBA program requirement. Prerequisites: Completion of 7 hours of 500-level coursework. (G)(2)

* Course is not required, but is an alternative option to MBA522.

MBA584 NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (3 CREDITS)

This course focuses on the challenges and decisions new product managers face as they take ideas through the new product development process. Organizations need to create, develop, and market new products and services continually to compete effectively in a rapidly changing environment. The course provides and overview of new product development, with an emphasis on customer involvement and consideration throughout the process. It also provides detailed insights on such topics as new-product strategy, idea generation, idea selection and evaluation, concept development and testing, product development and testing, and market testing. Prerequisites: MBA535 and MBA542. (G)(3)