Business and Professional Communication Degree

Students develop their knowledge of fundamental business functions and processes, including management of human capital, marketing, operations, and finance, applying this knowledge to realistic business problems in a variety of organizational settings. These business problems address ethical, economic, social, and other environmental factors that impact the creation of value for customers, markets, and society, both domestically and globally. Emphasis is placed on developing effective strategic decision making and communication skills. MBA 500 Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Emphasis is placed on understanding reported financial information used to assess a company’s current performance, future risks, and business opportunities. Students develop skills necessary to understand the performance impact on financial statements and how economic events such as operating activities, corporate investments, and financing transactions affect the three main financial statements - the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. Cross-listed with MSF 520 MBA 520 Prerequisite: Graduate standing

This course focuses on the human and structural aspects of organizational management at the individual, group, and organization levels. Students assess, evaluate and apply evidence-based management practices and theory that can lead to tangible organizational performance outcomes, such as increased job satisfaction and organizational commitment, increased revenue and profits, improved motivation and conflict resolution techniques, greater work-life balance, and enhanced leadership effectiveness. Prerequisite: MBA 500 Prerequisites for MSM program only: MSM 500, MSM 510, MSM 520, MSM 610, MSM 620, and MSM 630.

Students integrate classical marketing theory with innovative marketing techniques and tactics to support a firm’s overall marketing and business strategies. Students will learn how to assess, select and integrate digital technologies, analytical approaches, and social media in concert with a firm’s overall marketing strategy. Prerequisite: MBA 500 Prerequisites for MSM program only: MSM 500, MSM 510, MSM 520, MSM 610, MSM 620, and MSM 630.

This course focuses on the fundamentals of telecommunications including data, voice, image, and video formats. Coverage includes the concepts, models, architectures, protocols, standards, and security for the design, implementation, and management of digital networks. Emphasis is on the IT infrastructure to serve organizational needs in a rapidly changing competitive and technological environment.

This course focuses on the architecture and security associated with cloud computing. Emphasis in placed on key drivers which lead to cloud computing adoption and issues associated with cloud computing governance. Additional topics will include infrastructure security, identity and access management, cloud services, data security and storage, and auditing and compliance. Prerequisites: Graduate Standing

This course is designed to provide and in-depth exploration of an information technology application development and administration perspectives of operating systems, networks, and distributed computing systems. The course is designed to familiarize and provide a strong technical background to students with the issues involved with the design and implementation of modern day operating systems and to explain the systems principals that are used in the design of all computing systems. Operating system concepts of hardware components, operating system structures, process management, memory management, file systems, protection and security are presented. The concepts in this course are not limited to any particular operating system or hardware platform.

This course addresses the complex and unique issues related to effectively managing projects in an Information Technology context. Focus is placed on processes, teams, technology, and global project management. The course is grounded on the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) principles. Students will prepare project management deliverables based on actual problems provided within various business sectors and industries. The course provides students with an understanding of the problems inherent in managing integration, scope, schedule, cost, quality, human resources, communications, risk, procurement, and stakeholders.

This course addresses the complex and unique issues related to effectively managing projects in an Information Technology context. Focus is placed on processes, teams, technology, and global project management. The course is grounded on the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) principles. Students will prepare project management deliverables based on actual problems provided within various business sectors and industries. The course provides students with an understanding of the problems inherent in managing integration, scope, schedule, cost, quality, human resources, communications, risk, procurement, and stakeholders.

This course is designed to teach the importance of risk management in projects and provide information about the tools needed to effectively assess and monitor risks throughout the project lifecycle. Emphasis is placed on managing risks associated with project changes and risks associated with information technology projects. Topics covered include recurring issues that lead to failure in IT projects, methods for addressing recurring issues, and assessing risk impact. Prerequisite: CIS 433 or CIS 633 or acceptance into the Master of Project Management (MPM) degree program.

This course explores communication and leadership techniques in order to equip project managers with the skills they need to deal effectively with issues relating to resources, stakeholders, global teams, and changing technology. Topics covered will include learning how to manage conflict, creating a positive team environment, running effective meetings, and managing successful projects. Prerequisite: CIS 433 or CIS 633 or acceptance into the Master of Project Management (MPM) degree program.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of relevant topics in the area of global project management. Topics include characteristics of global and virtual workplaces, challenges and issues in global project management, methods and tools for effective global project management, and managing virtual teams. Students will engage in a virtual group project in order to experience key aspects of project management in a way that simulates real project management in a global organization. Prerequisite: CIS 433 or CIS 633 or acceptance into the Masters in Project Management Program (MPM)

This course is designed to explain the process of gathering requirements with emphasis on the successful management of requirements and its relationship to project success. Topics covered include requirements gathering techniques, identifying success criteria, and common reasons for project failure. Prerequisite: CIS 433 or CIS 633 or acceptance into the Master of Project Management (MPM) degree program.

This course describes the various functional areas within the Human Resources field as well as applicable employment laws. Functional areas addressed include: Talent Management (i.e. Recruitment/Selection and Training/Development), Organizational Behavior, Employee/Labor Relations, Health and Safety and Total Rewards (i.e. Compensation and Benefit Administration). Areas of employment law covered will include: Equal Employment Opportunity, Employment/Labor Relations, Health and Safety and Compensation/Benefits related laws. Human Resource metrics and evaluation will also be introduced in this course. *It is recommended that this course is taken prior to other HR related courses.

This course examines the roles of compensation and benefit management theory and practice within the field of Human Resources. This includes detailed examination of the different components of Total Rewards, including: job evaluation, internal/external equity, base/incentive pay, voluntary/mandated benefits, trends and applicable employment laws. Evaluating the effectiveness of these functions by utilizing applicable Human Resource metrics will also be addressed in this course. *It is recommended that students complete BA 603 prior to taking this course.

This course is designed for students who desire to understand and master the intricacies associated with the recruitment and selection of human resources and practices including: employment branding, legal and regulatory factors affecting selection practices, recruitment strategy, evaluation and practices to ensure equal employment opportunity. Other topics addressed in this course include: training design/delivery/strategy, performance management, employee engagement, and career management. Evaluating the effectiveness of these functions by utilizing applicable Human Resource metrics will also be addressed in this course. *It is recommended that students complete BA 603 prior to taking this course.

This course focuses on the human and structural aspects of organizational management at the individual, group, and organization levels. Students assess, evaluate and apply evidence-based management practices and theory that can lead to tangible organizational performance outcomes, such as increased job satisfaction and organizational commitment, increased revenue and profits, improved motivation and conflict resolution techniques, greater work-life balance, and enhanced leadership effectiveness. Prerequisite: MBA 500 Prerequisites for MSM program only: MSM 500, MSM 510, MSM 520, MSM 610, MSM 620, and MSM 630.

Examines in comparative perspective the intelligence communities of various important states around the globe, including both allies and adversaries of the U.S.

This course defines, analyzes, and compares foreign policies across the globe. The materials review internal and external factors that influence and complicate the formation of foreign policy as well as consider the various norms and theories that exist about foreign policy construction within the global environment. Finally, numerous case studies are examined in terms of divergence and variety across states and regions. This course is designed to make students familiar with the foreign-policy thinking of countries that are both allied with and adversarial to the United States.

This course examines the various and diverse forms, philosophies, and political arguments made around the globe for going against American policy and interest. It will analyze the different theoretical approaches used to study anti-Americanism and delve into the various international and domestic factors impacting the phenomenon.

This course examines the Greater Middle East (from Morocco to Iran) to expose the issues of democratization, gender relations, and political/economic reform. The material reviews various democratization projects occurring throughout the region, comparing and contrasting strengths and weaknesses, while drawing general conclusions about democracy in the Middle East writ large. The complex and evolving role of women in this process, from the political, economic, and cultural perspectives, is emphasized and used to ascertain future potential trajectories. Theoretical and philosophical debates about Islam, democracy, and civil liberties are investigated.