Master of Science in Business Administration Focus Areas

Finance

Students learn the foundations and conduct in-depth analyses of tax accounting management and managerial accounting principles to gain the ability to make sound financial decisions as managers. Students will study financial reports, accounting statements, and various indices to interpret their impact on local, regional and national business financial decisions, investment strategies, the global economy and consumer confidence. Fiscal management knowledge is taught within the contexts of macro- and microeconomic viewpoints and national and international economic perspectives.

Information Technology

The rapidly changing business environment requires managers to understand the electronic marketplace and how to manage the information within it. Students will gain this knowledge by investigating how new technologies and managing IT systems can enable businesses to keep pace with ever-changing economic forecasts and changes within the workforce. Information technology theories, practices and systems that influence productivity, sales and development will be researched.

Human Resources

Human capital is essential to managing a successful business, but how is it measured? The human resources focus area investigates how employee performance and accountability, training and development, and retention practices can be aligned to assess human capital. Additionally, students will review ways to foster teamwork and clear communication, as well as effective hiring, employee training and professional development practices.

Marketing

The marketing component of the MBA program will allow students to investigate various aspects of sales and marketing, including the effectiveness of marketing concepts for product designs, promotions, sales account representations and targeted markets. Visual, statistical and analytical approaches will be used to determine marketing effectiveness.

Business Research

This focus area develops student's abilities to interpret research and proposals presented in visual, narrative and statistical formats, as well as their ability to create significant, persuasive articles. A comparison of how written versus graphic approaches and electronic versus print-copy formats influence they way concepts are presented and communicated will also be a key element.

Organizational Management

Analyses will be conducted of how ideas in an organization are exchanged through various communications and how manager's  interactions with various colleagues affect overall organizational operations. Investigations of effective collaboration in the workplace, how work groups of employees contribute to all phases of operations, and strategy development at the organizational level will all give students the insight needed to successfully manage an organization.

Entrepreneurship

Students will enhance their entrepreneurial skills through studying contemporary theories of motivation and persuasive communication and how these attributes can be successfully practiced in diverse work environments. Emphasis will be placed on developing independent, creative, strategic and critical thinking, as well as on strong leadership skills.