Master of Business Administration
Accounting
- ACCT 0601 Financial Accounting 3 cr. hrs.
This course introduces the accounting cycle from recording financial transactions to the preparation and analysis of financial statements. The course emphasizes the uses of the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows.
- ACCT B601 Financial Accounting 3 cr. hrs.
See ACCT 0601.
- ACCT B800 Accounting Theory 3 cr. hrs.
This course provides an overview of the theoretical issues (rather than numerical detail) of current as well as proposed authoritative accounting pronouncements.
- ACCT B825 Estate and Gift Taxation 3 cr. hrs.
This course is concerned with planning and managing federal estate and gift problems and opportunities. The perspectives of a variety of parties are considered. The parties are: decedents, fiduciaries, estates, trusts, beneficiaries, donors, and donees. Topics include asset valuations, income, deductions, exemptions, credits, transfers, etc.
- ACCT B830 Personal Financial Planning for the Professional Planner 3 cr. hrs.
This course is the study of personal financial planning including goal setting, cash budgeting, planning for insurance needs, retirement planning, tax planning, investment, and estate planning. The course requires an integration of the various types of planning with client goals. The course makes use of forecasts, computer models, and macroeconomic data. The emphasis is on planning for the professional planner who has a diversified clientele.
Prerequisites: a working knowledge of present value concepts is assumed. This should not be the first M.B.A. course taken, and a background in any of the following will be helpful: Accounting, Tax, Insurance, Investments.
- ACCT B835 Global Tools for Management Accounting 3 cr. hrs.
This course is designed to assist the student in understanding the emerging changes in management accounting tools, both here and abroad. Because accounting is a service function, discussions will focus on the value of service to managers, ethical business behavior, and clear communications in financial reporting.
- ACCT B840 Corporate Taxation 3 cr. hrs.
This course covers concepts and methods of determining corporate federal tax liability. Topics include ordinary income, capital gains and losses, net operating loss, reorganizations, contemporary problems in corporate taxation, and tax research.
- ACCT B893 Special Topics in Accounting 3 cr. hrs.
Current issues and problems will be researched and discussed.
- ACCT B897 Accounting Internship 1 – 3 cr. hrs.
See description in College of Business Administration section.
- ACCT B899 Independent Study in Accounting 3 cr. hrs.
See description in College of Business Administration section.
Business Administration
- BA 0601 Commercial Law 2 cr. hrs.
This course surveys the U.S. legal system in various areas relating to commerce and private commercial transactions. Topics include contracts, sales, property, forms of business organizations, antitrust law, and environmental law.
- BA 0705 Business Ethics 3 cr. hrs.
The purpose of this course is to explore the meaning of business ethics and discuss the relevance of ethics to management decision making. Ethical theories and concepts such as justice, rights, equality, and responsibility will be examined at the beginning of the course, then specific ethical problems facing the business organization and its relationship to employees, consumers, and society will be discussed.
- BA B705 Business Ethics 3 cr. hrs.
See BA 0705.
- BA 0710 Individual and Corporate Entrepreneurship 3 cr. hrs.
The purpose of this course is to relate and integrate the student’s academic and professional experience through the analysis of an independent/corporate new venture start-up. The course will take a systems approach to problems which are confronted in developing a new business over time. Students will develop skills needed to lead entrepreneurial projects by combining analytical skills with intuition and creative problem solving techniques.
Prerequisite: FIN B601.
- BA B710 Individual and Corporate Entrepreneurship 3 cr. hrs.
See BA 0710.
- BA 0715 Management Control and Decision Making 3 cr. hrs.
This course discusses management control and decision making from the information provided by management information systems. Course topics include discussion of basic management information systems, cost systems, cost-volume-profit analysis, long- and short-term decision problems, and an introduction to strategic cost management topics.
Prerequisite: MGT B601, MGT B611, FIN B601.
- BA B715 Management Control and Decision Making 3 cr. hrs.
See BA 0715.
- BA B735 Introduction to Quality Management 3 cr. hrs.
This course is intended to assist the graduate student in developing an understanding of an ability to apply some of the tools and techniques of total quality management (TQM) as practiced today by world-class organizations which must compete for customers by offering ever-higher levels of quality in the products and services provided. The course offers an introduction of the major philosophies of quality management/continuous improvement, including those of Deming, Juran, and Crosby. Japanese approaches to quality management are also covered.
Prerequisites: MGT B601, B611, MKT B601.
- BA B795 Community Service 0 cr. hrs.
This involves 30 hours of volunteer work (without compensation) that must be completed in a not-for-profit setting located in the greater metropolitan New Orleans community. The organization is chosen by the M.B.A. director.
- BA B810 Management of Environmental Issues 3 cr. hrs.
This course will deal with environmental issues from a management perspective by focusing on how environmental issues impact the corporation and on policy responses of corporations to these issues. Global issues such as ozone depletion, acid rain, and the greenhouse effect will be covered, as well as the more traditional issues of air and water pollution, pesticide usage, and hazardous waste disposal and cleanup. The importance of these issues to the corporation and society will be stressed.
- BA B835 Advanced Tools for Quality Management 3 cr. hrs.
This course teaches advanced tools used in quality management, not covered in other courses, to M.B.A. students. After completing this course, the student will be prepared to apply these advanced tools in any organization that has already begun implementing the principles of quality management. A variety of the newer tools and techniques will be covered, including benchmarking, Hoshin planning, theory of constraints, and design of experiments.
Prerequisite: BA B735 or approval of instructor.
- BA B840 Process and Systems Management 3 cr. hrs.
This course discusses business process improvement concepts and introduces tools to study and improve existing process, design new processes, or make radical process changes through reengineering or reinvention. The focus is on continuous improvement of the process through a variety of advanced quality management and planning tools. Through a combination of readings, class discussions, and exercises, students will learn to use these tools to bring about a process for organizational changes.
Prerequisite: BA B735 or approval of instructor.
- BA B845 Quality Standards and Assessment 3 cr. hrs.
This course thoroughly covers the major quality standards: Malcolm Baldrige Award, ISO 9000, and ISO 14000. Other standards are discussed as well. Managerial assessment procedures are learned, with special consideration given to confidentiality and ethics.
Prerequisite: BA B735 or approval of instructor.
- BA 0850 Global Strategy 3 cr. hrs.
This course integrates the student’s academic and professional experiences with the purpose of enhancing her/his capacity to formulate and implement successful global strategies. Its basic methods are discussion of cases and a project. The cases focus on the skills, knowledge, and expertise appropriate to a leader’s role, functions, and expected contributions to the corporation and society at large. As a result, students will enhance their capacity to (1) creatively identify alternative courses of action, (2) objectively and thoroughly assess these options’ pros and cons, and (3) convincingly argue and support their conclusions and recommendations. The project has two components. In the first, team members identify key factors shaping the future structure and competitive behavior of a global industry; and in the second, each student does a strategic audit of a company within this industry, with the purpose of presenting and defending strategic recommendations to the company’s board of directors.
Prerequisites: BA B710, MGT B725, MKT B735, FIN B700.
- BA B850 Global Strategy 3 cr. hrs.
See BA 0850.
- BA 0855 Business Analysis 2 cr. hrs.
Students compete by running businesses within the same industry over a ten-year period. This is achieved through the use of an international business simulation exercise. Each firm seeks to achieve its strategic goals through implementation of policies in human resources, finance, marketing, management, operations, and other areas. The results of these decisions are influenced by the economic, political, legal, social, technological, and competitive environments in which they must operate.
- BA B893 Special Topics in Business Administration 3 cr. hrs.
Current issues and problems will be researched and discussed in a seminar.
- BA B897 Internship in Business Administration 1 – 3 cr. hrs.
See description in College of Business Administration section.
- BA B899 Independent Study in Business Administration
See description in College of Business Administration section.
Decision Science
- DECS 0601 Statistics 2 cr. hrs.
This course introduces the statistical methods which have found wide application in business. Topics covered include descriptive statistics, probability concepts and distributions, estimation, hypothesis tests, contingency tables, analysis of variance, simple and multiple regression analysis, and decision theory. Business applications and extensive use of microcomputer statistical software, including spread sheets, are an integral part of the course.
- DECS B601 Statistics 2 cr. hrs.
See DECS 0601.
- DECS B899 Independent Study in Decision Science 3 cr. hrs.
See description in College of Business Administration section.
Economics
- ECON 0600 Economic Analysis 3 cr. hrs.
This course is an intense study of the principles of economics, including opportunity costs, demand, prices, transactions costs, taxes, and trade policy. Also discussed are Classical, Keynesian, Monetarist, Real Business Cycle, and Austrian theories and international business cycles.
- ECON B601 Microeconomics 3 cr. hrs.
The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of the microeconomic analysis of the coordination of human actions through markets, organizations, and governments. Topics include opportunity costs, demand, supply, prices, transaction costs, taxes, and trade policy.
- ECON B602 Macroeconomics 2 cr. hrs.
The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of the macroeconomic consequences of the systematic discoordination of humans’ actions, and the nature and causes of business cycles. Topics include Classical, Keynesian, Monetarist, Real Business Cycle, and Austrian theories and international business cycles.
Prerequisite: ECON B601.
- ECON B810 International Economics 3 cr. hrs.
This course considers exchange rate systems; adjustments in international disequilibrium situations; relationships among rates exchange, inflation, interest, and unemployment; and domestic and international economic policies. It also considers various theories of competitive advantages in international trade, the nature and effects of commercial policies, and international economic integration.
Prerequisite: ECON B602.
- ECON B815 Pricing Strategies 3 cr. hrs.
Pricing is one of the most important decision areas in business. Pricing is also a very complex and difficult decision. This course will focus on the role of pricing in business and marketing strategy and on how to price effectively. Consideration will be given to analyzing and influencing the environment within which pricing decisions are made and to the roles of organizational objectives, demand, costs, competition, and legal and ethical constraints in determining price.
Prerequisites: ECON B601 and MKT B601.
- ECON B893 Special Topics in Economics 3 cr. hrs.
Current issues and problems will be researched and discussed.
- ECON B897 Internship in Economics 1 – 3 cr. hrs.
See description in College of Business Administration section.
- ECON B899 Independent Study in Economics 3 cr. hrs.
See description in College of Business Administration section.
Finance
- FIN 0601 Financial Management 2 cr. hrs.
This course introduces the principles of financial analysis and management of a business. Students learn how to think in terms of the present values of alternatives so that they can choose the proper course of action to follow. The effects of time and uncertainty on business decisions, especially in the selection of assets and the raising of funds for asset purchases, are studied. Students learn how the unencumbered system of financial markets and firms allocates scarce resources to benefit consumers. Analysis of alternative courses of action in terms of a system of cash flows is covered.
Prerequisite: ACCT B601.
- FIN B601 Financial Management 2 cr. hrs.
A more intensive treatment of the material covered in FIN 0601.
- FIN B700 Advanced Financial Management 3 cr. hrs.
This course advances the graduate student’s knowledge and comprehension of financial management by providing a deeper understanding of the theory, practice, and application of the principles of business finance. The course emphasizes the application of financial theory by giving the student a framework analyzing and recommending alternative solutions to business financial problems. Case analysis will be used.
Prerequisite: FIN B601.
- FIN B800 Management of Financial Institutions 3 cr. hrs.
This course analyzes management policies of financial institutions, including asset, liability, and capital management. Various risks faced by financial institutions will be studied along with detailed analysis of the tools used to measure and manage these risks in the financial services industry.
- FIN B805 Investments 3 cr. hrs.
All investments have the dimensions of risk and expected return. Students study the flow of funds in the economy which leads to the term structure of interest rates underlying investment; they learn how to analyze and forecast interest rates and their effects on the values of securities; they compute anticipated and realized rates of return; and they learn portfolio theory, which explains how the risk borne by the investor affects the rate of return he/she requires on a stock. Fundamental analysis of publicly-traded securities is a major portion of the course, and students forecast the earnings and dividends of firms and study how these fundamental factors affect the stock price. The functioning of financial markets, and their efficiency, is also explored.
- FIN B810 International Finance 3 cr. hrs.
This course examines common financial problems faced by business firms engaged in international trade or investment. A significant portion of the course is devoted to a study of the environment within which international financial decisions are made, with particular emphasis on the market for foreign exchange. Topics include the international economic environment, foreign exchange markets, factors influencing exchange rates, measurement and management of foreign exchange risks, financing international trade, foreign financing alternatives, direct foreign investment, and political risk analysis.
- FIN B820 Financial Statement Analysis 3 cr. hrs.
Lenders or investors who can determine the truth regarding the recent financial management of the firm and make more accurate predictions regarding its financial future are more successful. This course teaches techniques of analysis to uncover the events which have been hidden by the financial statements. The course focuses on the financial decisions the firm has made and its financial condition, as revealed by the financial statements, and on forecasting pro-forma financial statements which reflect alternative possible courses of action. Students learn to discover funds flows, construct and interpret financial ratios, understand operating and financial leverage, analyze growth and its effects, predict bankruptcy, and prepare pro-forma statements.
- FIN B893 Special Topics in Finance 3 cr. hrs.
Current issues and problems will be researched and discussed.
- FIN B897 Internship in Finance 1 – 3 cr. hrs.
See description in College of Business Administration section.
- FIN B899 Independent Study in Finance 3 cr. hrs.
See description in College of Business Administration section.
Legal Studies
- LGST B893 Special Topics in Legal Studies 3 cr. hrs.
Selected topics are examined.
- LGST B899 Independent Study in Legal Studies 3 cr. hrs.
See description in College of Business Administration section.
Management
- MGT 0601 Management and Organizational Behavior 2 cr. hrs.
This course assists students in becoming effective organizational members and managers. We explore ways of how to understand individual, impersonal, and group behavior within organizations, as well as the interplay of human, technological, and structural factors.
- MGT B601 Management and Organizational Behavior 3 cr. hrs.
A more intensive treatment of the material covered in MGT 0601.
- MGT 0605 Managerial Communication 2 cr. hrs.
The purpose of this course is to improve the abilities of managers to communicate effectively throughout their organization. The course will improve the participants’ communication skills by requiring them to make effective presentations (individually, in groups, and using the latest software packages), analyze case studies, conduct a communication audit on an existing New Orleans company, and explore contemporary business trends and issues.
- MGT B605 Managerial Communication 3 cr. hrs.
A refined treatment of the material covered in MGT 0605.
- MGT 0610 Human Resource Management 2 cr. hrs.
Human Resource Management analyzes the management of human resources in organizations. Topics include legal aspects of employment policies, selection, placement, training, compensation, employee appraisal and development, safety and health, benefits and services.
- MGT B610 Human Resource Management 2 cr. hrs.
See MGT 0610.
- MGT 0611 Operations Management 2 cr. hrs.
This course studies the planning, implementing, and monitoring of an operations system for continuous improvement. The course goal is to provide a better understanding of how managers can develop and manage high performance operations. The important issues involved in designing and managing the integrative system that transforms resources into goods and services satisfying customers’ needs are addressed. The participants’ ability to utilize the organization’s technical and human resources effectively and efficiently are developed.
Prerequisite: DECS B601.
- MGT B611 Operations Management 2 cr. hrs.
See MGT 0611.
- MGT 0725 Leadership Dynamics 2 cr. hrs.
This course is a study of the interactions that exist between people, especially in the context of organizations. In particular, it examines two important processes in organizations: leadership and team-building. Topics include the roles of context and followers in the emergence of leaders, exercise of power, ethical issues faced by leaders, influence, diversity, team influences on beliefs and perceptions, the development of teams and team norms, conformity and deviance in teams, team decision making, and designing teams for effective performance and decision making. Other related issues associated with human behavior in organizations, including coaching, conflict resolution, negotiation, and empowerment, will also be studied.
Prerequisites: MGT B601, MGT B605.
- MGT B725 Leadership Dynamics 3 cr. hrs.
A more intensive treatment of the material covered in MGT 0725.
MGT 0730 Innovation and Technology Management 3 cr. hrs.
This course is concerned with linking the technological and business worlds through the product development and commercialization process. It is the low cost, high quality, or fast delivery of new products that provides competitive advantage in today’s marketplace. To achieve such competitive advantage, an integrative paradigm is needed. It requires incorporating the research and development of science and technology, the management of technology and innovation commercialization, with the management of people affected by technology. This course is designed as an intensive computer usage course.
Prerequisites: MGT B611, FIN B601.
- MGT B611 Operations Management 2 cr. hrs.
See MGT 0611.
- MGT 0725 Leadership Dynamics 2 cr. hrs.
This course is a study of the interactions that exist between people, especially in the context of organizations. In particular, it examines two important processes in organizations: leadership and team-building. Topics include the roles of context and followers in the emergence of leaders, exercise of power, ethical issues faced by leaders, influence, diversity, team influences on beliefs and perceptions, the development of teams and team norms, conformity and deviance in teams, team decision making, and designing teams for effective performance and decision making. Other related issues associated with human behavior in organizations, including coaching, conflict resolution, negotiation, and empowerment, will also be studied.
Prerequisites: MGT B601, MGT B605.
- MGT B725 Leadership Dynamics 3 cr. hrs.
A more intensive treatment of the material covered in MGT 0725.
MGT 0730 Innovation and Technology Management 3 cr. hrs.
This course is concerned with linking the technological and business worlds through the product development and commercialization process. It is the low cost, high quality, or fast delivery of new products that provides competitive advantage in today’s marketplace. To achieve such competitive advantage, an integrative paradigm is needed. It requires incorporating the research and development of science and technology, the management of technology and innovation commercialization, with the management of people affected by technology. This course is designed as an intensive computer usage course.
Prerequisites: MGT B611, FIN B601.
- MGT B730 Innovation and Technology Management 3 cr. hrs.
See MGT 0730.
- MGT 0815 Cross-cultural Management 3 cr. hrs.
This course prepares managers to solve strategic business and work-group problems that arise from cross-cultural differences. Such problems can be seen in discord over task assignments, low levels of productivity in internationally mixed teams, difficulties in transferring management or production practices to overseas units, and unrealistic expectations at the personal, work-group, and business-unit levels. We divide the course
- into thirds that examine (1) the meaning of culture, (2) the culture’s impact on management practices, and (3) how to manage cultural differences. There is some reading that is more theoretical but many cases emphasize the practical side of dealing with international cultural differences.
- MGT B815 Cross-cultural Management 3 cr. hrs.
See MGT 0815.
- MGT B820 Future of the Americas 3 cr. hrs.
This managerial-oriented graduate seminar examines the strategic responses of both Latin American- and United States-based companies to the opportunities and challenges emerging from the profound social, political, and economic changes in Latin America, and to the impact on the region’s relations with North America. Students gain a better understanding of (1) the leading organizations, institutions, coordinating mechanisms, and processes affecting businesses in the Americas; (2) the key differences in managerial practices and strategies of firms operating in Louisiana and in the United States of America; and (3) the limits, validity, and applicability to Louisiana of managerial models developed in the United States of America. Students discuss readings and cases, interact with a number of local and foreign guest speakers from the academic and business worlds, and complete individual projects.
- MGT B893 Special Topics in Management 3 cr. hrs.
Current issues and problems will be researched and discussed.
- MGT B897 Internship in Management 1 – 3 cr. hrs.
See description in College of Business Administration section.
- MGT B899 Independent Study in Management 3 cr. hrs.
See description in College of Business Administration section.
Marketing
- MKT 0601 Marketing Management 2 cr. hrs.
This course acquaints the student with the nature and scope of modern marketing management and strategy. It outlines the areas in which decisions are made in developing marketing plans and implementing marketing activities at all levels of production and distribution.
MKT B601 Marketing Management 2 cr. hrs.
See MKT 0601.
- MKT B715 Cases in Marketing Strategy 3 cr. hrs.
This course acquaints the student with the nature and scope of marketing strategy. It outlines how marketing strategies are formed based on detailed market analysis. Students will learn how to approach marketing problems from different perspectives.
- MKT 0735 New Product Design and Marketing 3 cr. hrs.
This course covers the process of designing a new product or service and the processes of marketing that product or service. Important concepts covered are decreasing cycle time; determining opportunities; determining customer needs; translating needs into requirements; estimating sales potential; and setting price, distribution, and promotion strategies. Applied projects will be an important element of this course.
Prerequisites: FIN B601, MGT B611, MKT B601.
- MKT B735 New Product Design and Marketing 3 cr. hrs.
See MKT 0735.