Rockhurst University | Learning, Leadership and Service in the Jesuit Tradition

The revised part-time evening Master's in Business Administration (MBA) program will require students to take 24 hours of graduate education coursework which will form the core of the program. The student will then choose 6 additional hours of elective coursework for a total of 30 credit hours to earn the degree. All students must take the following courses as the core of the program:

• Compass Learning Community, MG 6110 (1 credit hour)
• Managerial Communications, BUS 6000 (2 credit hours)
• Competitive Analysis, EC 6300 (2 credit hours)
• *Financial Analysis, ACFN 6110 (2 credit hours)
• Global Markets, BUS 6100 (2 credit hours)
• Financial Strategy & Decision Making, ACFN 6310 (2 credit hours)
• Leadership & Organizational Behavior, MG 6310 (2 credit hours)
• Marketing Strategy, MK 6410 (2 credit hours)
• Corporate Social Responsibility, BUS 6110 (2 credit hours)
• Professional Development: Contemplation in Action, MG 6410 (2 credit hours)
• MBA Capstone, MG 6490 (3 credit hours)

* Accounting students are waived from Financial Analysis, ACFN 6110, but must take Corporate Law for Managers, BUS 6400 (2 credit hours), in lieu of ACFN 6110 to meet requirements for the CPA Exam.

In addition to the core courses listed above, students must select one 2 credit-hour course from the list below:

• Project Management, MG 6320
  Or
• Business Intelligence, BUS 6300 
  Or
• Supply Chain and Logistics Management, BUS 6310

The student pursing the MBA degree must also choose 6 additional hours of elective credit for the 30-hour degree.

The student pursing a concentration within the MBA will take 8 prescribed credit hours outside of the core. Elective hours may be counted towards the concentration.

Course Descriptions

MG 6110. Compass Learning Community (1 credit hour) This course provides an orientation to Rockhurst, Helzberg School of Management and the MBA program. The distinct traditions, values and principles of Jesuit education are discussed in light of their connection to the MBA program. Students will receive an introduction to adult learning theory, personal development, business ethics and team. Students will complete a number of assessment instruments and begin assignments that will continue to be developed and engaged in subsequent courses. Prerequisite: This course must be taken during the first semester of the program.

BUS 6000. Managerial Communications (2 credit hours) To explore the various techniques, instruments, processes, and styles employed by leaders to communicate effectively within organizations. Students write, give oral presentations, and learn how to employ electronic media effectively. Exercises employ numerous real or simulated business situations that require communication in different styles, using a variety of forms and methods. This course is designed to provide an introductory experience and orientation to the MBA and establish common communication protocols, determine critical self-awareness profiles, and identify the Rockhurst themes that will be applied throughout the program.

EC 6300. Competitive Analysis (2 credit hours) Competitive Analysis applies economic concepts and ideas to the student of firm and industry performance. It draws upon a number of analytical tools such as strategic mapping, survival analysis, game theory, and transaction cost economics to examine how and why firms and markets perform and evolve. It examines a number of issues including the "make vs. buy" decision process, cooperation vs. competition, changing vertical and horizontal boundaries, and internal vs. external analysis and lead to competitive advantage. Prerequisites: An undergraduate course in microeconomics and a course in macroeconomics and a course in statistics.

ACFN 6110. Financial Analysis (2 credit hours) A practical, activity-based course involving the definition, creation, interpretation, and evaluation of financial statements, including effects of key financial decisions, construction of financial metrics, application of basic valuation tools, and determination of relevant costs for decision making.

BUS 6100. Global Markets (2 credit hours) This course focuses on two broad themes: the globalization of production and the globalization of markets. At the core of this class is the study of the Multinational Enterprise. Participants will develop an understanding of the key cultural, legal, political, financial, and economic forces that shape how firms enter new markets and how firms manage their increasingly complex supply chains. Students will focus on issues in cross cultural management and strategic entry into foreign markets. Prerequisites: An undergraduate course in microeconomics and a course in macroeconomics OR EC 4550.

ACFN 6310. Financial Strategy and Decision Making (2 credit hours) An applied course involving the use of accounting information, financial metrics and strategies, and valuation principles to describe and analyze business problems and facilitate managerial decision making. Students are expected to effectively communicate financial results, and identify ethical issues in financial decision making and reporting. Prerequisite: ACFN 6110 Financial Analysis.

MG 6310. Leadership and Organizational Behavior (2 credit hours) Course increases students' awareness of organizational processes and practices, including leadership, management, motivation, morale, group dynamics, interpersonal communications, conflict, and group problem-solving. The course provides conceptual insights and behavioral skills needed for successful leadership of continuous improvement in individual, team, and organizational performance.

MK 6410. Marketing Strategy (2 credit hours) This strategic marketing course is designed to give you practice in the design, implementation, and control of marketing strategies. It is an operationally oriented course in which the application and not the definition, of marketing concepts, principles, and methods are important. In addition, the integration of the major decision areas of marketing will be stressed rather than the sequential discussion of these subjects. Prerequisites: BUS 6000 Managerial Communication, EC 6300 Competitive Analysis, BUS 6100 Global Markets, ACFN 6110 Financial Analysis.

BUS 6110. Corporate Social Responsibility (2 credit hours) Corporate Social Responsibility is the formation and stewardship of policies and processes that lead to a culture of good decision making. The scope of these decisions impact both the very functioning of the company and its constituencies and the society in which the firm exists. Stakeholder analysis plays an important role in the course not only in examination of internal business decisions and processes, but also externally in understanding, anticipating, and incorporating impacts and responses from social, governmental, and environmental actors into decision making. Prerequisites: ACFN 6110 Financial Analysis, EC 6300 Competitive Analysis, BUS 6100 Global Markets.

MG 6410. Professional Development: Contemplation in Action (2 credit hours) A course which demonstrates and documents the broad variety of academic, experiential and application-based learning experiences the student has had across the MBA program, and assesses the growth each student has attained as a result of the journey, and points them toward the future as they graduate. At the beginning of the MBA program, students are assigned a "Passport" of activities to be completed prior to the culminating activities of this course. These "Passport" activities may include: content-based workshops; assessment instrumentation to prepare students for personal and professional success in the modern workplace; one-on-one leadership coaching; mentoring; and, career management. The portfolio is developed throughout each semester of the MBA program, and is finalized and evaluated as a "Professional Development Presentation Portfolio" during this final course. Prerequisites: MG 6410 is normally taken concurrently with (or can be taken directly after) the Business Capstone MG 6490. As such, all prerequisites for MG 6490 must be met prior to enrolling in MG 6410.

BUS 6330. Corporate Law for Managers (2 credit hours) Course focuses on law as it affects the corporation and other business enterprises. The topics include the formation of various business enterprises, the rules of agency, shareholder rights and liabilities, securities regulations, bankruptcy and an overview of government regulation. Where appropriate, the connections between ethics and law are explored.

MG 6490. MBA Capstone (3 credit hours) In this capstone experience students integrate and apply learnings gained in mentoring, self-assessment and the more functionally based courses in their MBA program. Key processes include integrative case study, classroom practitioner interactions, consultative team projects, the leadership credo event, and, focus on the dynamics of organizational change and strategy implementation. Summative learning assessment is accomplished through completion of integrative writing assignments and assessment of team projects by a panel of faculty and business practitioners. This course should be taken within the last semester of the program.

MG 6320. Project Management (2 credit hours) This course introduces students to the process of project management that includes planning, implementation, progress measurement and performance, results and evaluation. Students will learn the knowledge, skills and technical tools for identifying project requirements, establishing project objectives and scheduling, balancing constraints and resources, and considering the needs and expectations of key stakeholders. Students will learn the trade-offs and balance of project scope, resources and schedule and will learn how to compose an effective project management team. Producing project documentation, such as scope, requirements, design, and testing documentation. Prerequisite: ACFN 6110 Financial Analysis.

BUS 6300. Business Intelligence (2 credit hours) Business leaders must have the ability to collect and interpret information concerning customers, suppliers, competitors, and make decisions that affect their company's performance. Business intelligence is a set of methodologies, processes, architectures, and technologies that transform raw data into meaningful and useful information used to enable more effective strategic, tactical, and operational insights and decision-making with an emphasis on knowledge management. Using the case study approach in combination with contemporary software tools, students will apply the concepts of business process analysis, quality control and improvement, performance monitoring through performance dashboards and balanced scorecards and process simulation.  Prerequisite: ACFN 6110 Financial Analysis.

BUS 6310. Supply Chain and Logistics Management (2 credit hours) Supply chain management examines the complex array of interactions between suppliers and customers regarding goods, services, and information. Rapid changes in globalization and electronic commerce continually shape these supplier-customer interactions. Topics in this class include value chain analyses, supply chain analytics, logistics and transportation, supplier relationships, and information technology. Prerequisite: ACFN 6110 Financial Analysis.