Course Descriptions
Foundation Courses
Students who have not completed undergraduate course work in business may be required
to complete the foundation courses as part of their MBA studies. Students pursuing
the Cyber Defense concentration with no education or certificates in the field of
information security may be required to complete the foundation in cyber defense course.
Please contact McKendree University for additional information at inquiry@mckendree.edu.
MBA 501 FOUNDATIONS OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE (3)
This course is designed to provide students with the necessary tools to make financial and other business decisions on the basis of critical evaluation and analysis of the accounting information presented in an organization’s financial statements. The course emphasizes a fundamental working knowledge of underlying accounting concepts, the valuation of debt and equity securities, and the analysis of risk and return trade-offs. Prerequisite: Admission to the MBA program.
MBA 502 ECONOMICS FOR MANAGERS (3)
This course focuses on an analysis of decision making in an individual and organizational
context.
The course includes production possibilities, exchange theory, supply, demand, equilibrium,
production, cost and pricing with an emphasis on marginal decision making. Some attention
is given to macroeconomic data sources and the structure of the macro economy. Prerequisite:
Admission to the MBA program.
MBA 503 MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS (3)
A course introducing students to the management of an organization and how the organization achieves its strategic goals. In this course, the strategic goals are examined from the perspective of the management and marketing operations in a global business environment. Topics may include: the functions of management, team development, target market definition and analysis, buyer behavior, competitor analysis, the role of marketing research, strategic planning, and the use of information systems and the Internet for decision making. Prerequisite: Admission to the MBA program.
MBA 504 QUANTITATIVE AND STATISTICAL TOOLS (3)
A survey of quantitative and statistical business tools such as breakeven analysis, basic financial measures and forecasting. The course will also address fundamentals of descriptive and inferential statistics, the use of statistics in decision-making, and the assembly and interpretation of data. Emphasis is on using these methods rather than theoretical background. Prerequisite: Admission to the MBA program.
MBA 570 FOUNDATIONS IN CYBER DEFENSE (3)
This course introduces the foundational concepts in cyber defense. Students in this course will be introduced to basic programming and scripting languages such as Powershell and Python, foundational networking strategies, topology, and configuration, the principles of data flow and communications technology, the framework of General Data Protection Regulation, and the legal and ethical environment of cyber defense.
MBA Courses
MBA 621 ACCOUNTING FOR MANAGERS (3)
This course is designed to provide guidance for managers regarding the integration of business strategy and accounting information. Examples include applying accounting principles to management compensation in a way that is consistent with company strategy, quantitatively assessing qualitative information through the Balanced Scorecard technique, and including information and objectives in budgets that encourage specific behavior that is congruent with the organization’s long term goals. These methods of communicating accounting information to increase coordination and cooperation within a company are addressed through a variety of readings, case studies, and class projects. Prerequisite: Completion of MBA 501 or equivalent.
MBA 622 ECONOMICS OF THE FIRM (3)
This course centers on the application of microeconomic concepts to managerial issues. The course includes tools such as equilibrium analysis, elasticity, optimization, production theory, opportunity cost, cost theory, and pricing. Problems, cases, and analysis will be stressed. Prerequisite: Six credits of undergraduate economics or MBA 502 or equivalent.
MBA 623 BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS AND APPLICATIONS (3)
Business success results in part from proper control of resources and performance, which is driven by information gathering and assessment. Students will learn methods for planning, data analysis, and communications of results in applied business research. Students will utilize these skills in a team research project on a regional organization or issue. Prerequisite: MBA 504 or equivalent.
MBA 625 LEGAL ISSUES FOR MANAGERS (3)
A topics course intended to acquaint students with important legal issues facing the business community. Topics such as the following will be considered: corporate governance, business structures, torts, tort reform, operation of the legal system, role of inside and outside counsel, securities regulation, employment law, consumer debt/bankruptcy, and government regulation. Prerequisite: Admission to the MBA program or permission of the instructor.
MBA 630 PEOPLE MANAGEMENT (3)
This course provides an overview of the core functions of human resources. This is followed by in-depth coverage of employment and labor law, diversity management, job analysis and design, staffing, recruitment and retention, and total rewards as a means of leveraging organizational success through human capital optimization.
MBA 631 CORPORATE FINANCE (3)
This course examines the major decisions facing corporate financial managers. These include risk and return trade-offs, capital budgeting, corporate financing, capital structure, new equity issues, options, debt financing, risk management, mergers and corporate governance. Prerequisite: MBA 501 or equivalent.
MBA 632 INVESTMENTS AND FINANCIAL MARKETS (3)
This course presents the financial theory and quantitative analytical tools necessary for making investment decisions and for understanding how stock, bond, and option prices are determined. Topics covered include the term structure of interest rates, portfolio choice, mean-variance analysis, models of risk and return, market efficiency, the capital asset pricing model, arbitrage pricing theory, the Fama-French three-factor model, bond pricing, mortgage-backed securities, swaps, futures, options, and money-manager performance. Prerequisite: MBA 501 or equivalent.
MBA 633 MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS (3)
This course covers elements of the acquisition process including strategic orientation, analysis and valuation, transaction structuring, operational integration, and post-merger management. The goal of this course is to help students gain an understanding of the role that mergers and acquisitions play within the context of corporate strategy, and the essential elements of successful mergers and acquisitions. Prerequisite: MBA 631.
MBA 634 FINANCIAL TAXATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING (3)
The course will explore the implications of taxation on corporate strategy and policy, specifically as it applies to the context of various corporate decisions, such as organizational structuring, mergers and acquisitions, corporate investment, and compensation. Students will gain an understanding of general taxation regulations and how they interact with corporate-level, business-unit-level, and functional-level strategies of corporations. Prerequisite: MBA 631.
MBA 636 LEADING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE (3)
The course takes a meso-level approach toward the development of key human resource leader skills and behaviors. The course includes comprehensive content on change management behaviors, select HR organizational development practices, the role of internal human resource consultants, managing individuals vs. teams, leveraging performance appraisal results, and training and development functions. Students will complete a variety of self-assessments and evaluate leader effectiveness through a multimedia case covering a contested merger.
MBA 637 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND REPORTING (3)
This course presents a practical framework for analyzing a corporation from a financial perspective. Students will gain proficiency in analyzing various financial statements for the purposes of performance analysis, strategic planning and forecasting, financial compliance, and reporting. Students will understand the implications of these topics, not only as they relate to the organizational context, but also as they relate to and interact with the broader economic context.
MBA 641 ELECTRONIC COMMERCE (3)
This course is designed to provide an orientation to the field of electronic commerce. Course topics include marketing issues such as the electronic marketing value chain, attracting customers and satisfying their needs and wants through interactive marketing. Technical topics include the Internet and web technologies, e-commerce system design, cryptography and Internet security, payment systems, and secure transaction processing. The course focuses on business requirements for electronic commerce and examines fundamental design issues for both business-to-business and business-to-consumer applications and their implications for the information industry. Prerequisite: MBA 503 or equivalent.
MBA 642 CUSTOMERS AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE (3)
This course introduces the student to the concepts of creating customer value and satisfaction; positioning for competitive advantage; consumer markets, business markets and buyer behavior; marketing research and information systems; and the role of marketing in the strategic planning process. An understanding of the theoretical and applied aspects of marketing knowledge sharpens a student’s analytical skills for critical thinking and enables him/her to communicate effectively. Prerequisite: MBA 503 or equivalent.
MBA 643 DIGITAL MARKETING (3)
This course explores the evolution of marketing that has accompanied evolutions in information technology. Specifically, students will learn how the Internet has influenced all elements of marketing-management process including marketing research, opportunity and industry analysis, segmentation and targeting, and marketing-mix (4 Ps) development. Students will also learn best practices for delivering value by leveraging technology and the Internet to identify potential product/market development opportunities, to refine the segmentation process, to develop and improve supply chains and distribution channels, to develop and communicate an effective marketing message to the target market. Prerequisite: MBA 642.
MBA 644 BUSINESS TO BUSINESS MARKETING (3)
This course will highlight the similarities of Business-to-Business (B2B) marketing to Business-to-Consumer (B2C) marketing. The focus will be on discussion of the unique nature and characteristics of the B2B marketing environment that works with a different buying behavior, buying cycle, and marketing mix. In addition, this course provides a tool to measure B2B performance.
MBA 645 SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING (3)
This course expands on the topic of digital marketing by exploring the impact of social media on the ways that people interact with one another, especially within the context of the consumer decision process. Students will explore the intersection of social media with the traditional framework of marketing, and they will learn best practices for leveraging social media to enhance the firm's strategic marketing goals. Prerequisite: MBA 642.
MBA 646 MARKETING ANALYTICS (3)
This course presents a framework for analyzing data in the opportunity/market analysis process, as well as key performance factors (kpf) and key performance indicators (kpi) within the overall marketing process. Students will also develop an understanding of the strategic implications of data related to a firm's Paid Media, Earned Media, and Owned Media results. Prerequisites: MBA 643, 645.
MBA 651 GLOBAL ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT (3)
This course is a study of the influence of culture, economics, industry, regulation, and strategy on the management and structure of the international firm. Major topics such as technology control, outsourcing, and strategic alliances will be addressed by comparative evaluation of international organizations. Prerequisite: MBA 503 or the equivalent.
MBA 652 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR (3)
Individual and group behavior in the organization setting is investigated in this course. The principles of organizational behavior are studied with a focus on application. Topics covered will include but are not limited to: motivation, teamwork and group behavior, employee participation, job enrichment, job design, communications, diversity, decision making, change, and conflict resolution. Prerequisite: none.
MBA 653 STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT AND ETHICS (3)
The stakeholder management model posits that organizations can simultaneously pursue corporate social responsibility and financial success. Topics include the impact of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations on company ethics programs, legitimacy, stakeholder relations, public policy issues, and ethical decision-making models. The course will utilize a case-study approach. Prerequisite: MBA 503 or equivalent.
MBA 661 CORPORATE STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP (3)
This capstone course requires students to integrate and apply previous MBA courses to executive decision-making and leadership. Themes such as the leader-manager dichotomy, charismatic and transformational leadership, groupthink, and the cult of personality will be explored from potential links with leadership style and organizational performance. Students will apply the strategic management process and entrepreneurial approaches for business financing in preparing a business plan and presenting this plan to external reviewers. Prerequisite: MBA 651 and completion of at least 27 hours of MBA core courses.
MBA 662 STRATEGIC HR AND GLOBALIZATION (3)
This course takes a comprehensive approach that illustrates the strategic role of human resources in guiding organizational success. Human resource’s roles in facilitating globalization, ethical compliance and CSR, metrics, and workforce planning are addressed. Emphasis is placed on risk management and the use of technologies and e-resources to accomplish organizational goals. Complex, integrative human resource cases will be used extensively.
MBA 670 ADVANCED CONCEPTS IN CYBER DEFENSE (3)
This course explores the macro view of the landscapes of information security and cyber defense. Students in this course expand on such topics as network management, General Data Protection Regulation,the legal/ ethical environment of cyber defense, and risk management. Students will also gain an understanding of confidentiality, integrity, and the accountability (CIA) triad model of creating information security policies in an organization.
MBA 672 CYBER SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATION AND ANALYSIS (3)
This course introduces students to the latest technology and evidenced-based practices related to cyber systems needs assessment, systems requirements planning, systems and architecture development, and secure provisioning from a risk-management perspective. Students will also gain an understanding of the principles of software assurance and establishing a robust environment for planning, evaluating and ensuring the technical and functional characteristics of information systems.
MBA 674 CYBER THREAT ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE (3)
This course helps students understand the importance of identifying, analyzing, and mitigating threats to information systems and/or networks. Students will learn the best practices for cyber defense infrastructure support, vulnerability assessment and management, cyber Investigation, event management, and incident response from framework perspective of security information event management.
MBA 676 CYBER DEFENSE MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP (3)
This course helps students understand the executive management perspective of cyber defense. In this course, students will learn the principles related to executing decision-making authority, as well as establishing vision and direction for and organization’s cyber defense. Students will also learn best practices for developing policy, plans, and strategy in compliance with laws and regulations, and in support of cyber defense activities.
McKendree University
701 College Road
Lebanon, IL 62254
(618) 537-6576
inquiry@mckendree.edu
