Based on reasonable projections of faculty availability and appropriate curriculum considerations, the following courses can change as deemed necessary by Baker University to fulfill its role and mission. Students can finish the curriculum requirements in 18 to 20 months. Some students finish in 12. Students may take one or two courses at a time but must maintain a 3.50 grade point average if doubling up.
Pre-MBA Courses | 6 credit hours
MBA 500 Fundamentals of Business Administration
This course provides the knowledge, resources, and essential skills for success at the business graduate level. Students will demonstrate an understanding of common professional components (e.g., marketing, business finance, accounting, management, legal environment of business, economics, business ethics). (3 credits)
MBA 542 Business Data and Analysis.
This course provides students with the ability to comprehend, analyze, and solve business challenges by using data from internal and external sources. Students will apply the latest data analysis techniques to support effective organizational decision making across industries. (3 credits)
Foundational Courses | 9 credit hours
MBA 553 Marketing Management and Strategy
This course examines the issues facing today’s marketing managers in a dynamic competitive global environment. The course assesses responsive marketing strategies measured by industry-recognized key performance indicators. Students will explore the various contemporary functions of marketing and build competency for making effective decisions in the area of marketing management. (3 credits)
MBA 557 Accounting Applications for Managers
Students will examine and apply key financial and managerial accounting concepts necessary to effectively operate a business. Students will learn the importance of financial planning and control, and they will understand how costs behave and how to determine financial success. Students will be asked to interpret financial statements, formulate strategies for making sound financial decisions, and build the skills required to effectively evaluate and report business performance. (3 credits)
MBA 554 Managerial Finance
Students learn about methods for determining the optimal volume and composition of firm assets, liabilities, and equity in this course. The focus is on the theory and practice of capital budgeting and asset financing. (3 credits) Prerequisite MBA 557 Accounting Applications for Management
Core Curriculum | 9 Credit Hours
MBA 562 Economic Aspects of Business Decisions
Students will learn how to use economic concepts to make sound business decisions. The course focuses on determining product prices, minimizing organizational costs, and maximizing company profits. (3 credits)
MBA 580 Executive Leadership
This course presents a broad survey of theory, research, and the practical application of effective leadership in formal organizations. Students will examine the major perspectives on leadership and think critically to apply leadership concepts related to leading change, influencing others and organizations, as well as the dyadic relationships between leaders and followers. (3 credits)
MBA 595 Strategic Planning for Competitive Organizations
This course is the capstone of the MBA core. Students will go through the actual strategic planning processes of an organization to identify the firm’s present situation, internal and external competitive positions, financial health, and overall market standing. Students will learn how to formulate realistic and attainable short- and long-term strategies for achieving organizational objectives. (3 credits)
Finance Concentration Courses | 12 credit hours
FIN 510 Investments and Portfolio Management
In this course, students will investigate the complexities of investments, portfolio management, and security analysis. Students will manage an investment portfolio, distinguishing risk and return, diversification, and the impact of economic and market variables. Students will also examine how the stock market behaves during a financial crisis and build strategies for managing investments during crises. (3 credits)
FIN 520 Advanced International Finance
In this course, students examine the financial complexities of operating a multinational firm. The unique risks and opportunities presented in the international financial environment are analyzed, and the use of global markets as sources of financing are evaluated. Current issues in international finance are debated, as well as alternative solutions to address the strategic and financial challenges faced by multinational firms. (3 credits)
FIN 540 Strategic Corporate Finance
In this advanced course, students examine the financial operations of a business, with an emphasis on capital budgeting and cash flow. Students will also explore trend analysis and the ethical management of financial documents. (3 credits)
FIN 550 Integrated Financial Planning
Students create a financial plan that manages the entire spectrum of personal finance, from credit and insurance needs to estate and retirement planning. Students will develop an in-depth understanding of the impact of government requirements related to estate planning issues and assess the tax advantages that select investments possess. (3 credits)
Health Care Administration Concentration | 12 credit hours
HCA 520 Advanced Concepts of Health Care Administration
Students analyze organizational dynamics and complex operational and regulatory factors that must be aligned to ensure the highest quality care and greatest efficiency and cost effectiveness. Operational divisions, functions, and groups, including professional providers, care givers, and support services such as finance management, information services, human resources, plant services, and marketing are explored in relation to their integral value, purpose, function, and unique perspectives. Emphasis on the creation of an environment of continuous improvement and organizational adaptability and success are explored. Measures and benchmarks of success are integrated throughout the course. (3 credits)
HCA 540 Integrating Ethics in Health Care
Students explore the ethical components, dilemmas, and obligations in American health care organizations and systems. Specifically, ethical issues related to caregiving and bioethics, demographic trends, relationships among organizational professionals and staff, delivery models, securing and allocating scarce resources, ethical terminology, and technology are examined. Health care organizational ethics and obligations are analyzed, emphasizing the role of manager/leader in creating an ethical culture of care delivery and cost-effectiveness. Various ethical decision-making models are compared and applied to case scenarios while incorporating and using ethical terminology. (3 credits)
HCA 550 Managing Health Care Information Systems
Students focus on the increasing presence of and reliance on information technology and information systems in health care organizations and systems of all sizes and purposes. Today’s health care manager/leader must understand the use, types, benefits, and limitations of information technology on structure, processes, and work design. Infrastructure requirements and cost, security, and related regulation and law are reviewed. The selection and alignment of information management with organizational strategic planning to achieve high levels of performance are emphasized throughout. (3 credits)
HCA 560 Hospital Management
Hospital Management provides a framework for addressing management problems in hospitals and other health care organizations. By the end of the course, students will have been exposed to many management ideas, theories, and applications. (3 credits)
Human Resources Concentration | 12 credit hours
HRM 510 Advanced Employment Law
Students will investigate the legal and regulatory backdrop for the management of organizational human resources. Students will analyze how legislation and legal precedents guide employers’ actions and decisions and affect their relationships with their employees. (3 credits)
HRM 525 Managing Generational Differences
Students will examine the fundamental generational issues that occur in the workplace and the strategies to resolve them. Students will study the two-generation model and the four-generation model. Also, they will learn about the different generations and their common stereotypes. Some of the core concepts of this course include loyalty, work ethics, career development, and innovation. (3 credits)
HRM 540 International Human Resource Management
This course provides students with a robust understanding of international human resources practices and issues. Students will examine the challenges of international business and the role of human resources in worldwide organizations. Special attention is given to the differences between domestic and international policies, procedures, and strategies for effectively managing human resources in the global environment. (3 credits)
HRM 550 Transformative Employee Relations
Students will analyze and understand the factors that affect the relationship between employees and their employers and explore strategies for effectively managing this relationship. Students will study team dynamics, organizational culture, creativity, and problem solving. Students will focus on human resources’ role in fostering organizational ethics, justice, and the fair treatment of employees. (3 credits)
Strategic Management Concentration | 12 credit hours
STMG 515 Advanced Business Law
In this advanced study of business law, students will investigate the relationship between business and law by examining the impact of constitutional law, tort law, contract law, employment law, and antitrust law on business. Further, students will compare the legal requirements for creating different types of business organizations. (3 credits)
STMG 525 Business Global Environment
This course provides material describing the institutions and operations involved in international businesses. Students learn to adapt managerial policies and practices to the global business environment. (3 credits)
STMG 535 Managing and Developing Human Resources
This course offers advanced study of personnel management and development necessary for strategic organization sustainability and growth. Course topics will include selection, placement, training, compensation, incentives, performance evaluation, and counseling, with an emphasis on legal and practical issues. (3 credits)
STMG 595 Advanced Organization Management
This is the capstone course for the strategic management concentration. Students will integrate their academic and professional experiences to build strategies for organizational success. By presenting and discussing advanced strategic practices and management concepts, the course explores why some businesses prosper while others flounder in a competitive global marketplace. (3 credits)
