All managers are required to possess a basic understanding of financial concepts. This course is designed as an introduction to finance, accounting and economics. Students will learn the basic concepts of time-value of money, rates of return, basic financial statement analysis, recording of transactions, business conditions analysis, and cost/benefit analysis. Basic monetary, and fiscal policy will also be covered. Students will learn to think systematically about the current state of the economy and analyze the financial state of an organization.

This course will teach effective project management - how to get things done in organizations. Students will learn and apply behavioral and managerial approaches to plan and execute effective projects. This course examines the aspects of project risk, cost and schedule management.

It identifies the management processes required to ensure the project is completed within budget and on schedule. The focus is on the triple constraints of cost, scope and time. It is designed to provide the fundamental knowledge required to cost a project, develop a project plan, and allocate the necessary resources to manage a project. The course also establishes the means to analyze risks and opportunities within projects, and identifies methods for responding to risks. In addition, the course examines other aspects of managing product performance, including quality, human resources, communications, and procurement.

As goods and services are produced and distributed, they move through a set of inter-related operations or processes in order to match supply with demand. The design of these operations for strategic advantage, investment in improving their efficiency and effectiveness, and controlling these operations to meet performance objectives is the domain of Operations Strategy. The primary objective of this course is to provide students with an overview of this important functional area of business.

This course is designed to prepare students for leadership positions and to meet the ethical challenges facing modern business entities and nonprofit organizations. The course will introduce basic principles and frameworks of management and leadership as well as processes to address moral issues at every organizational level - personal, interpersonal, group, and system-wide.

Topics include organizational management principles; identifying personal mission and values; developing character; ethical perspectives; moral reasoning and decision-making formats; ethical organizational communication and influence; ethical group behavior and leadership; the creation of ethical organizational climates; and corporate social responsibility. Several aspects of personal style that are thought to be essential or helpful to effective performance will be addressed as well.

This course emphasizes legitimate and effective use of power to resolve conflicts and mobilize action through understanding the talent and self-interest of people involved in decision-making. This course prepares students to achieve organizational objectives through formal and informal channels.

Students will learn to achieve a goal by applying negotiation skills within the formal and informal structures of an organization. Other topics include coalitions, types of power, liaison roles, persuasion, strategies and dynamics of deal-making and practical skills necessary to win in range of business transactions.

This course provides students with opportunities to explore and develop analytical skills needed to navigate organizational frameworks, influence the direction of corporations, and direct planning efforts. The focus of the curriculum will be on using business cases to assess the strategic direction of organizations; identify and analyze their internal and external strengths and weaknesses; and formulate action plans. Elements from other courses in the MSM curriculum will be brought to bear in the analyses.

This course is about impacting the efficient operation of an organization by effectively managing its human resources. The most effective and successful organizations today find ways to motivate, train, compensate and challenge their employees. This is true for all organizations, whether they are manufacturing or service companies, large or small, profit or non-profit, domestic or international. Students will gain a contemporary understanding of managing operational and strategic issues in public and private organizations facing accelerated social, economic, and technological changes. Topics covered in this course include the principles and practices of: strategic human resources, equal opportunity and diversity, talent management, testing and selection, training and development, performance management, compensation, employee rights, employee safety, and organizational change.

MSM 554 is an online master’s level course designed to introduce non-HR majors to the principles and practices of human resource management in a practical, straightforward manner. The primary purpose of the course is to provide the student with a solid foundation in human resource management with an emphasis on what a practicing manager needs to know about managing human capital.

As we enter the twenty-first century, management experts continue to validate the assertion that it is the human asset, not the fixed asset, that will make the difference between successful and unsuccessful organizations. In this framework, MSM 554 addresses critical challenges facing human resource departments including: becoming an employer of choice, winning the war for talent, developing leaders, cultivating culture, and contributing as a strategic business partner.

This course is delivered in a synchronous remote format.

This course addresses improving skills critical to increasing organizational effectiveness and responding to the rapid pace of change in today's business environment. Students will explore fundamental areas necessary to leading effective individual, team and organizational change efforts. The focus is on uncovering the traps that create stress, waste resources, slow change efforts, or lead to outright failure, and discover how to lead, cope and win in the face of great change.

This course is delivered in a synchronous remote format.

This course prepares students for communication challenges in organizations. Topics examined include theories and strategies of communication, persuasion, and ethics. Students will develop presentation skills appropriate for an executive-level audience in terms of content, organization, delivery, and visuals. If a student is a confident presenter, skills are sharpened; if a student is uncomfortable speaking in public, skills and self-confidence are given a boost. Other topics include the role of perception in communication techniques, aligning communication to an audience, business justifications and the presentation of data.

This course is the culminating assessment of the Master of Science Management program and requires students to synthesize and apply core knowledge gained throughout the degree program and apply research skills to improve an organization. Students must complete a capstone experience: either individual research, capstone work-related project or an internship. This course presents opportunities for students to demonstrate an integrated understanding of sound business principles, legal and ethical standards, and best practices in management. Working in close consultation with the course instructor, students will formulate and defend a plan of action for the identified opportunity or problem and prepare a formal presentation of the completed project. The capstone experience typically is completed in the final semester before graduation.