Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Business Administration Program
Overview
Assumption University’s Grenon School of Business offers several different MBA programs for both working professionals and recent graduates. These programs focus on real-world practice emphasizing value-based and responsible leadership. Students will develop expertise in various functions of an organization and how these functions work together to create value.
Learning Goals
- ethical leadership skills that enable graduates to develop principled approaches to inspiring, influencing, and guiding others
- an in-depth understanding of the concepts and theories, as well as technical and professional skills in the “core” areas of business
- critical thinking and communication skills that enable graduates to develop and articulate logical, coherent, and persuasive arguments; marshal supportive evidence; and distinguish fact from opinion;
- integration skills that enable graduates to make decisions based on multiple, often conflicting, perspectives; and
- a global perspective that enables graduates to identify, analyze and practice how best to manage when faced with difference.
Faculty
Laura Miller, MBA, DET
Interim Director, Grenon School of Business Programs
Assistant Professor of Management and Organizational Communication
Zachary Daniels, MBA, DBA
Shannon Housh, Ed.D.
Mike Lewis, Ph.D.
Youstina Masoud, Ph.D.
Bart Morrison, DBA
Brett Murphy-Hunt, Ed.D.
Kristen Quinn, MSA
Tyler Wasson, Ph.D.
Olivia Wu, CFA, Ph.D.
Jessica Zinger, Ph.D.
Programs of Study
Courses
MBA 599: Business Foundations
Credits 3“Business Foundations” equips new graduate management education students with the foundational knowledge needed to succeed in an online graduate-level business program. Through an engaging simulation, students navigate complex ethical dilemmas and competitive pressures in a business context, and they gain an understanding of the interconnectedness of business decisions. Beyond being introduced to the various functions within an organization, students also encounter orientation components that build essential online learning skills.
MBA 600: Business Ethics
Credits 3This course combines a theoretical analysis of moral principles and models for ethical decision making with a discussion of their practical application to business life in the 21st century. Guest lecturers, case studies, class discussion, and group projects and presentations all contribute to an examination of the relevant issues. This course recognizes Assumption College’s commitment to teaching ethics across the MBA curriculum and is designed to provide a framework for the further discussion of ethical issues that will arise in subsequent courses.
MBA 601: Organizational Behavior Leading Teams and Organizations
Credits 3This course presents organizational behavior theories essential to effective management and leadership. It is designed to familiarize students with foundational knowledge of human behavior, group dynamics, and organizational systems. It examines how the application of these theories can improve performance at the individual, group, and organizational levels. There is special emphasis placed on how to select and retain talent, build strong teams, and create outstanding work environments.
MBA 602: Marketing Decision Analysis
Credits 3This course is designed to help students integrate their knowledge of marketing into applied strategy for the firm as a whole. It requires creative thinking and problem-solving applied to analysis of situations as presented in cases and contemporary articles. The course covers areas such as marketing concept, target market identification, market research, consumer behavior and psychographics, product development, pricing, sales, promotion, distribution, international marketing, and comprehensive strategy development.
MBA 603: Financial Decision Analysis
Credits 3This course examines the financial strategy of the organization in terms of both external environmental factors such as inflation and taxation and internal constraints and events. It explores issues and practices in working-capital management, current-asset management, capital budgeting, long-term financing, and dividend policy, using the case method to emphasize key concepts.
MBA 604: Operations Decision Analysis
Credits 3This course examines the tools used and problems encountered in the development of strategy for the operations system in a profit-seeking or not-for-profit enterprise. Emphasis is placed on the operations of both service and manufacturing organizations. Topics include design/planning of the conversion system as well as the management and control of operations. It discusses the full range of quantitative methods used in the decision-making process, utilizing the case method of instruction to enhance the learning objectives. Computer approaches increase the effectiveness of decision making.
MBA 605: Accounting Decisions for Managers
Credits 3This course will focus on corporate decision-making skills for managers. It will involve the concepts and practices of managerial accounting, such as cost behavior, cost-volume-profit analysis, contribution margin reporting, profit planning, budgeting, performance analysis, and relevant costs for decision making.
MBA 700: Advanced Managerial Accounting
Credits 3This course focuses on information provided by management accounting systems to assist managers in their planning and control activities. It concentrates on using quantitative techniques and discussing management and cost accounting theory. Casework is assigned and extensive use of computer software is required.
MBA 701: Internal & Operational Auditing
Credits 3This course covers the concepts of internal and operational auditing, focusing on the internal auditor’s role as internal management consultant. In addition to teaching the techniques of internal, operational and IS systems auditing, the course encourages students to think like entrepreneurs as they perform audits. Specifically, the course covers the Institute of Internal Auditor’s Standards of Professional Practice, techniques for analyzing operational deficiencies, identifying sources of problems, measuring and evaluating the cost/benefits of changes and developing solutions. The course stresses effective communication for presenting audit results and recommendations. This course is intended for those interested in auditing and individuals expecting to assume managerial or control responsibilities.
MBA 702: Ethics & Professional Responsibilities for Accountants
Credits 3This course examines ethical decision-making and other professional responsibilities in the context of situations confronted by professional accountants. The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct is examined in depth, along with legal responsibilities. Cases are used to acquaint students with various types of ethically challenging situations, and the components of an ethical decision-making model are examined and emphasized.
MBA 703: Financial Aspects of Mergers
Credits 3This course covers the subject of mergers and acquisitions from several standpoints. Consideration is given to the characteristics of a merger candidate, valuation and pricing of the company, and methods of financing. The two major financial reporting approaches are covered as are opportunities for tax-free reorganization status. The course concludes with an examination of a major recent merger.
MBA 704: Tax Concepts for Managers
Credits 3This course is designed to enable the non-accounting specialist to recognize the important tax consequences of decisions made by managers, administrators, and others involved in business. The tax law and planning fundamentals applicable to many everyday business transactions are discussed and explored.
MBA 705: Corporate Financial Reporting
Credits 3This course provides students with an understanding of the current state of financial reporting practices and the manner in which corporate financial statements published in annual reports, prospectuses, and proxy statements influence our economic system. It is designed for students who wish to enhance their ability to understand and use corporate financial statements.
MBA 706: International Accounting & Taxation
Credits 3This course introduces the concepts of internal and external reporting associated with entities engaged in international business. The subject matter covers international accounting problems, analytical capabilities associated with international accounting policy issues and international taxation from two perspectives: (1) domestic operations owning foreign subsidiaries, and (2) foreign subsidiaries owning domestic subsidiaries. Familiarity with intermediate accounting or consolidation is helpful.
MBA 707: Human Resource Management
Credits 3This course explores the elements of supervision and leadership that are crucial factors in effective management. Using a case study format, it examines various approaches to job development/enrichment, evaluation, and supervision.
MBA 708: Labor Relations
Credits 3This course is designed to expose the student to labor-management relationship dynamics. The traditional topics of labor history, law, organizing, collective bargaining, contract administration, impasse, grievance, and arbitration are dealt with in depth. The course also explores contemporary issues, such as white collar unionism, changing trends in bargaining, union/management cooperation, union survival and others. The course is designed to appeal to practitioners from labor and management, and anyone else with an interest in the field.
MBA 709: International Management
Credits 3This course examines the issues confronting managers as they plan, organize, lead, and control global/transnational operations. The basic premise is that management of a multinational corporation differs in many ways from that of a firm doing business within the boundaries of one country. Case studies of multinational corporations provide an opportunity to learn problem analysis and decision making in this complex, rapidly changing international environment.
MBA 710: Business & Society
Credits 3This course explores the increasing impact of environmental events on the managerial decision-making process. Selected phenomena such as technology, inflation, energy, the changing international order, and governmental regulation are examined for impact on total organizational strategy formulation, implementation and control. It also investigates the changing relationships among management and other organizational stakeholders using the case method to develop analytic and action-oriented skills.
MBA 711: Small Business Management
Credits 3This course is designed for students who are interested in starting and successfully managing a small business. It explores in detail the sequence of events required to establish a business and develop plans/strategies for successful small business management. The course is interdisciplinary, dealing with issues from business law, management, marketing, finance, personnel, operations management, and other related areas. The method of instruction relies heavily on experiential exercise and simulation.
MBA 712: Special Topics Seminar
Credits 3This course is designed to provide a three-credit graduate elective course in contemporary topics and issues. Topics are chosen based on timelines, interest, and relevance to current business practice. Recent topics have included:
• Social Media Marketing
• Issues in Biotechnology
• Understanding & Responding to Current Workforce Trends
• Social Media Marketing
• Issues in Biotechnology
• Understanding & Responding to Current Workforce Trends
MBA 713: Business Research Seminar
Credits 3This course explores the realities of the market research process through application of theories and processes to actual or case situations. It concentrates on the relationship between research and the development of total marketing strategy. Students will demonstrate mastery of their knowledge of research concepts, and then complete cases of several types. At least one major project is conceived, executed, and analyzed.
MBA 715: International Marketing
Credits 3This course explores marketing across national boundaries and within foreign countries as well as the coordination of marketing in multiple international markets. Specific topics will include cultural diversity, marketing intelligence, entering foreign markets, product and product line policy, distribution, advertising/promotion, pricing, planning and controlling an international marketing organization. An appreciation will be developed for the ever-changing environment and the risks/opportunities that impact the field.
MBA 716: Promotional Strategy
Credits 3This course deals with the areas of advertising, sales promotion, media strategy, personal selling, direct marketing and public relations from the perspective of a strategic decision maker. Contemporary techniques and approaches to resolving informational gaps in marketing communications will be presented and discussed. Students will perform critical analyses of marketing communications’ situations as presented in business case scenarios and develop strategies which successfully differentiate products, services or ideas to potential consumers. Students are expected to design, produce, and present a complete marketing communications strategy for a specific consumer product, service or idea.
MBA 717: Strategies for Services Marketing
Credits 3This course examines the service provisioning paradigm from the perspective of managers responsible for tactical/strategic goals and planning horizons. It provides them with the requisite skill sets for business planning, decision making, and strategy formulation unique to the service sector. Topics addressed include: the behavior of the service consumer; marketing issues for service producers; the role of the service worker; service development; service pricing issues; marketing communications for services, and service delivery.
MBA 718: Management Information Systems
Credits 3This course focuses on the role of managing information in achieving strategic objectives, with special emphasis on evolving technological, application and organizational issues. This is accomplished by examining the organizational and technical foundations of the information systems and exploring the tools, techniques and approaches for building and managing effective information systems.
MBA 719: Advanced Information Systems Management
Credits 3This course deals with the management of information technology in today’s businesses. The strategic role of information systems (IS) requires effective management of those resources, closely integrated with other functional strategies. Emphasis will be on the strategic role of IS, managing the essential technologies, directing the development of systems, providing effective end-user computing and support systems and dealing with the people-related issues.
MBA 720: Purchasing & Supply Management:
Credits 3This course covers the principles of purchasing and supply management and is concerned with development and administration of policies, systems, and procedures related to acquiring, holding, and distributing materials.
MBA 721: Healthcare Project Management
Credits 3This course provides a comprehensive foundation for project management as it applies to healthcare operations and programs. Students examine how to plan and manage projects effectively within healthcare organizations. Topics covered will include planning, organizing, staffing, and leading teams to accomplish initiatives in a resource efficient manner. From the stage of project ideation through to completion, an overview of handling change, dealing with conflict and problem solving, is provided. Students will gain experience in setting and communicating project goals, planning and tracking progress, as well as facilitating commitment to broader organizational objectives.
MBA 722: Project Management
Credits 3This course examines how to plan and manage projects effectively. Project Management is concerned with the planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling of the organization’s resources for a specific time period to meet a particular set of one-time objectives. Students will learn: a) how to start with realistic project goals, to plan and track progress, and to use strategies for keeping projects on schedule; b) how to use scheduling tools such as GANTT, CPM/PERT and to utilize computer software in managing projects; c) the art of communicating on projects, handling agreements, creating teamwork, facilitating creativity, and leading people on project teams.
MBA 723: Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management
Credits 3This course examines the fundamentals of investment theory, markets and market forces. It will provide the student with an understanding of investment markets, the valuation of securities, and portfolio management strategies. The student will also be exposed to the techniques of aggregate market and company analysis. In addition, the course will provide a basic understanding of investment companies, stock options, warrants, and convertible securities, commodity futures, financial futures and international diversification.
MBA 724: International Corporate Finance
Credits 3This course is concerned with understanding the issues and the principles and techniques employed in financial decision making in an international business organization. Topics include foreign exchange markets and the international monetary system, foreign exchange risk management, financing internationally, direct foreign investment, and financial management of ongoing operations. In addition, an overview of international taxation and accounting issues is provided.
MBA 725: Managerial Economics
Credits 3This course covers micro- and macro-economic theory and their application to forecasting, production, budgeting, and government regulations in managerial decision-making.
MBA 726: Organizational Development & Change
Credits 3This course examines the process of change from individual, team and organizational perspectives. Because business environments are rapidly changing, managers need to improve their abilities to diagnose, implement and evaluate planned change. This course uses an experiential approach to develop the skills managers need to improve performance in changing organizations.
MBA 727: International Business (Doing Business in a Foreign Country)
Credits 3This course gives the graduate student exposure to specific issues associated with doing business outside the United States. The course takes up relevant economic, legal, cultural, business, trade, and related issues that are important to business interested in export from, import to, locations or expansion into the designated regions. The regional offerings are regularly rotated and students can take this course a maximum of twice.
MBA 728: Legal Frameworks of Business
Credits 3This course includes an examination of the sources of law that provide the legal framework for society in general and business relationships in particular, including national and state constitutions, legislative bodies, court systems, and administrative agencies. Contracts, agency, corporations, partnerships, the Universal Commercial Code (UCC) and consumer protection are covered as well.
MBA 729: Technical & Professional Communications
Credits 3This course in oral and written management communication emphasizes analysis of contexts; critical thinking processes; frameworks from planning, organizing and editing listening skills; and social/ethical perspectives. The course promotes teamwork and group interaction.
MBA 730: International Human Resources Management
Credits 3This course explores the impact and complexities that the process of internationalization has on the activities and policies of human resource management in terms of cultural, legal and functional differences.
MBA 731: Training & Development
Credits 3Using a systems approach and based on adult learning theory, this course teaches how to design, implement and evaluate formal organizational learning experiences that improve employees’ performance, skills, competencies, and knowledge and lead to the attainment of organizational human resource objectives.
MBA 732: Compensation & Benefits
Credits 3This course is designed to provide a comprehensive view of the design, development, and implementation of a “total compensation” program of both direct and indirect forms of compensation. It identifies issues in designing traditional and alternative reward strategies, administering retirement, health and deferred compensation plans as well as communication strategies for such an integrated compensation system.
MBA 734: Managing Diversity
Credits 3The changing composition of the workforce requires organizations to think of diversity as a business issue. This course examines and evaluates the role of diversity in the policies, practices, and strategies of organizational systems.
MBA 738: Organizational Communication
Credits 3Contemporary organizations are facing significant communication challenges. Increased worker diversity, globalization of business, technological developments, and increased business pressure to do more with less, are all major factors contributing to complex communication dynamics. This course will explore how these major factors affect communication theory and practice within organizations at the group and individual level.
MBA 739: Negotiation & Conflict Resolution
Credits 3This course is designed to assist the developing business professionals to learn negotiation theory and practice; to develop negotiation capabilities that include conflict resolution and peacemaking in both business and social settings; and to examine the skill sets required for business professionals to manage people and process programs in today’s complex multinational business settings.
MBA 741: Social Media Marketing
Credits 3This course will cover social media marketing, and how it works in conjunction with digital marketing and traditional marketing. The course highlights the importance of treating each social media channel as a unique marketing effort that will not be successful if implemented as a generic strategy across all social media channels. Students will learn the cornerstones of Social Media engagement; which includes but is not limited, to the rules of engagement, rules of ideal content, and rules of outstanding content. Project based work is assigned that require students to develop social media marketing strategies.
MBA 743: Leadership
Credits 3This course is structured to provide any MBA student a comprehensive view of leadership in business and society. It covers a variety of leadership paradigms, theories, and approaches. The overriding aim for the course is to create a “learning laboratory” for students that contain opportunities to understand their own approaches and styles to leadership as they relate to the theory and various applications. The course allows for exploration of related issues to leadership and utilizes group exercises and simulations, self-evaluations and teamwork.
MBA 745: Nonprofit Management
Credits 3This course will offer MBA level students the opportunity to examine various management functions in the context of the mission-based organization. The course will examine current theory as it applies to leadership, governance and the roles of staff, volunteers, and donors. Additional topics will include establishing partnerships and forming alliances, allocating resources, and involving staff and volunteers in organizational growth and transition.
MBA 750: Professional Practice & Mentoring
Credits 3This is an inter-disciplinary seminar course that introduces accelerated MBA students to professional practice in the fields of business. With a focus on individual goals and personal development, students will deepen their understanding about ways to strategically manage their careers. The course is designed to strengthen professional skills, enhance communication, and deepen reflective capacity. Students will complete a comprehensive self- assessment, become familiar with career planning tools and resources, and develop a mentoring plan. Through a series of interactive workshops, case discussions, feedback sessions, and written reflective assignments, this course prepares students to put professional skills to practice in their subsequent Professional Practicum and Internship courses.
MBA 751: Professional Practicum I
Credits 3This practicum course is designed to provide Accelerated MBA students with a valuable professional experience at a Greater Worcester business or nonprofit organization requiring a minimum of 20 hours per week. Students attend bi-monthly seminar/classroom sessions to share and analyze the learning and challenges in their internship experiences. Students are asked to develop proactive professional habits of mind, strengthen analytical skills, maintain positive mentoring relationships, and reflect on their overall internship performance in order to connect organizations, theory, and practice. Through a variety of guest lectures, panel discussions, and on-site visits, students are exposed to the power of networking and the importance of career management, while increasing their knowledge of managerial communications and human resources and the role that they play in understanding strategic business processes.
MBA 753: Professional Practicum II
Credits 3Like MBA 751 Professional Practicum I, this practicum course is designed to provide Accelerated MBA students with a valuable professional experience at a Greater Worcester business or nonprofit organizations requiring a minimum of 20 hours per week. It continues the student’s practicum experience from MBA 751, or gives the student a chance to explore a different work experience. Students attend bi-monthly seminar/classroom sessions to share and analyze the learning and challenges in their internship experiences. While students will continue to strengthen strategic communication skills, maintain positive mentoring relationships, and reflect on their overall internship performance and career goals, they will explore more advanced managerial topics such as culture, decision making, and negotiations. They will synthesize their learning and experiences in a final integrative project.
MBA 761: CPA Exam Review
Credits 3This course is designed to prepare students for the CPA Exam, leading to licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Students will use CPAexcel, a leader in computer-based review. Students will study Financial Accounting & Reporting, Regulation, Auditing & Attestation, and Business Environments & Concepts through online delivery of lectures, discussions, videos, and simulated exams. Students will have free continuing access to CPAexcel until they have successfully completed the entire CPA Exam.
MBA 762: Advanced Business Law
Credits 3This course is intended for students preparing to sit for the CPA Exam. It assumes that the student has a working knowledge of contract law. The course will develop that contract background as it relates to Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code, particularly as it relates to contract performance obligations and will follow with other Articles of the Code.
MBA 763: Internship
Credits 3This course is designed to provide student interns with a valuable experiential learning opportunity, and includes field-based training through a three month, full-time (40+ hours per week) internship with an accounting organization. Through online classes, students will analyze and apply organizational behavior and management concepts to their internship experiences and share these observations. Students assess their career competencies, organizational culture preferences, risk tolerances and supervisor/feedback requirements to determine their optimal career paths. They also conduct informational interviews with professionals in their career field. All students complete observation/reflection papers which document, analyze and apply organizational theory and tacit knowledge principles to their individual internship experiences.
MBA 764: Volunteer Inc. Tax Assistance
Credits 3This course will combine the study of low-income taxpayers with community service learning. Students will research individual tax credits targeted at low-income taxpayers as well as the return filing process. They will also become proficient with tax software. Students will apply their learning through the electronic preparation of tax returns for low-income Worcester residents.
MBA 765: Issues in Fraud Examination
Credits 3MBA 770: Ethical Leadership
Credits 3The purpose of this course is to critically examine and reflect on the ethical dimensions of decision making and performing the leadership role in organizations. Within this course, students use readings, their own experiences, and current events to examine actions leaders have taken and consequences faced when confronted with ethical dilemmas. Real-life ethical dilemmas will be used to enhance in-depth reasoning of the problem situation, and develop an action plan for solving and preventing similar problems at the organizational and societal levels. Key concepts include: cycle/process/criteria for analyzing and solving ethical dilemmas; approaches to ethical thinking and decision making; organizational ethics (people, culture, policies); social responsibility and the stakeholder approach; and common ethical dilemmas in specific settings/circumstances.
MBA 771: Corporate Social Responsibility
Credits 3Corporate social responsibility (CSR) deals with the impact of organizational activities on society and the environment. Presently, CSR has become an extremely important factor influencing the development of companies, their profits and brand image. Socially responsible organizations offer services and donations that support charitable activities, social actions, sustainability, wellness and disaster relief. This course takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the global social, ethical and environmental issues that historically and currently move organizations to adopt CSR practices. Topics include: the history of CSR thought, the CSR debate, management for sustainability, green management, social responsibility, social media, and social entrepreneurship.
MBA 775: Management and Supervision for Healthcare Professionals
Credits 3This course will provide an overview of basic management functions and the leadership skills necessary for effective healthcare supervision. Topics covered will span the vast knowledge and skill areas associated with effective healthcare business management and leadership.
MBA 776: A Systems Approach to Delivering Healthcare in America
Credits 3This course will take a systemic approach to healthcare delivery in the United States. An overview of healthcare delivery along with chronicling the evolution of healthcare delivery in the United States will be covered. The course will provide students with an understanding of the law, the legal system, and the policy-making process as it relates to healthcare. Individual and patient rights in healthcare and public health initiatives will be addressed in addition to public health institutions and systems. Critical policy issues and issues related to specific patient populations such as long-term care, medical technology, government health insurance programs, and health service financing will be addressed in this course. The course will culminate with a critical look at the future of healthcare and health-care delivery systems.
MBA 777: Critical Issues in Healthcare Ethics
Credits 3This course will address the significant and critical ethical issues evident in current healthcare practice and systems. The course will provide a strong foundation in the principles and theory in healthcare. Healthcare disparities will be addressed with a focus on populations with inadequate access to healthcare. Critical ethical issues related to healthcare will be identified and studied including areas such as physician-assisted death, domestic violence, human cloning and spirituality. Ethical considerations related to older adults such as long-term care and assisted living will be covered. The ethics of healthcare reform will be studied to look toward the future of healthcare and potential ethical issues.
MBA 790: Leading Organizational Development in Healthcare
Credits 3This course allows students to integrate and apply theories and frameworks from leadership and organizational development to improve healthcare organizations and operations. Students will identify a particular organizational issue in healthcare, conduct research, and develop a strategy and implementation plan using organizational development theories to improve the organization. In doing this, students will address real-world challenges in healthcare settings and focus on organizational development and effectiveness. This applied approach will prepare students to tackle real-world issues in healthcare organizations.
MBA 795: Management Practicum
Credits 3This course requires the student to selectively apply knowledge and analytic and decision- making skills acquired in prior courses to a field research project and the writing of a comprehensive case study. The project and case are based on a local organization in which the student is an employee or with which he or she is very familiar.
MBA 799: Independent Study
Credits 3This course has flexible structure that permits library/field investigation of topics, issues and problems of particular interest to the graduate business student. Students are allowed a maximum of two Independent Studies.
MBA 800: Business Strategy
Credits 3This course covers the practical tools and theoretical concepts that companies use to arrive at effective business strategies. The course is integrative and builds on students’ understanding of the functional areas of the firm including operations, finance, marketing, human resource management and organizational design. Through readings, case analysis, real world company strategy analysis, simulation, and discussion course participant will learn the processes, tactics and schemes for specific action that firms use to achieve their intended business objectives.