One-Year MBA (STEM Extension)
The top-ranked One-Year MBA program at Duquesne integrates sustainable business practices throughout the curriculum, and equips you with experiential learning and competitive expertise in just five semesters. When paired with a STEM certificate, this future-focused MBA degree connects you to a variety of business management careers including sustainable business development around the world.
STEM-Designated Option
A STEM-designated MBA highlights your technical skills and competence in a data-driven business world. Set yourself apart in the dynamic market of business professionals with a stackable Certificate in Analytics and Information Management or Supply Chain Management.
Students must begin their studies with their certificate courses, applying for and starting their coursework in a fall term. Following completion of fall semester and spring semester certificate courses, students will join the One-Year cohort for the summer term.
Program Information
A STEM-designated MBA highlights your technical skills and competence in a data-driven business world. Set yourself apart in the dynamic market of business professionals with a stackable Certificate in Analytics and Information Management or Supply Chain Management.
Program Type
Major
Degree
Master's
Duration
5 Semesters
Required Credit Hours
49.5
One-Year MBA + Graduate Certificate in Analytics & Information Management One-Year MBA + Graduate Certificate Supply Chain ManagementCurricula Details
Statistical and technical understanding is essential for the AIM professional. This
course focuses on creating a solid foundation of technical skills, which will be applied
in downstream courses. Topics will include programming concepts and logic, descriptive,
predictive and prescriptive statistics, and data storage techniques.
PR: None
Within the context of data analytics, this course teaches students to manage information
as a strategic asset with the potential to create significant business value. Students
will be exposed to various approaches to managing the capture, retention, and disposition
of information. Special emphasis will be placed on the legal/regulatory, ethical,
risk management, and cybersecurity requirements of managing information. Topics include
the role of information systems in an organization, information systems governance
(which is designed to ensure that IT investments create organizational value), data
governance (which seeks to ensure that organizational data meet the standards for
quality data), and strategies for identifying measurable sources of ROI.
PR: None
Modern organizations use database management systems to store their critical business
data. In this course, students learn to answer business questions using various data
retrieval, manipulation, and transformation tools. For instance, data retrieval for
most data-driven business applications relies on Structured Query Language (SQL) -
the international standard language for data manipulation and retrieval. To source
the data required by analytics projects, students will learn to utilize SQL along
with other data-related concepts and languages.
PR: None
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the science of getting computers to learn and solve
problems autonomously without being explicitly programmed (machine learning). In the
past decade, through machine learning, AI has given us self-driving cars, practical
speech recognition, effective web search, and a vastly improved understanding of the
human genome. Companies are increasingly applying AI technologies and techniques to
uncover new business insights and assist managers with making better informed and
timely decisions. This course will cover concepts and algorithms in artificial intelligence
with an emphasis on machine learning. Students will learn about the most fundamental
machine learning techniques, gain practice implementing them and applying them to
new problems.
PR: ISYS 610 with a minimum grade of C
E-commerce and social media have experienced rapid growth during the past decade.
Billions of users have been generating and sharing a variety of social content including
text, images, videos, and related metadata. Social media can be viewed as an indicator
reflecting different aspects of the society, and organizations can combine this with
their existing data to support organizational decision-making. In this course, students
will learn how to analyze behavioral data and apply the analyses to answer business
questions. Advanced regression techniques, network concepts, and social theories will
be covered throughout the course.
PR: ISYS 610 with a minimum grade of C
This course provides graduate business students with a deeper understanding of the
accounting cycle used in companies to produce both internal and external financial
information. Special emphasis is placed throughout the course on understanding, analyzing,
and interpreting financial statements and related information. Additionally, students
will be introduced to decision-making tools such as ratio analysis and challenged
to utilize them to critically evaluate financial information and make effective decisions.
The basics of corporate sustainability reporting will also be covered.
PR: Online Accounting Module
This course introduces students to the Palumbo Donahue School of Business' policy
on ethical behavior and provides students with basic ethical decision-making skills
necessary to recognize, evaluate and resolve ethical conflicts. Emphasis is on common
ethical challenges facing graduate students in the classroom and at work. This course
provides an analytical framework for students to use when grappling with sustainability-focused,
ethical dilemmas in subsequent core and elective courses in the graduate program and
in their professional business careers. An additional goal of this particular SMBA
course is to emphasize the link between ethics and sustainable development and the
challenges managers face to maintain a concern for both in the current business environment.
This course features a live problem-solving case project with a real-world client.
It introduces proven IDEO design thinking and project management methodologies while
trying theory to practice across the curriculum.
Aligned to Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), the course requires
you to interact with managers of business corporations and explore jointly effective
approaches to the ethical management of social, environmental, financial, and informational
resources. Students will interface with clients on three occasions: (1) at the outset
when the client presents the challenge and desired outcomes, (2) at mid-point to provide
a status report and ask questions about context, data and expectations; and (3) at
the end to present solutions to the client management team.
In this course, students represent Duquesne University as professional consultants,
and faculty will serve as managing directors of the engagement. With guidance and
coaching, students will audit and analyze the client's internal/external situation,
drivers and risks; identify problems and opportunities; evaluate return on investment
from alternative courses of action; and recommend solutions for short and long-term
prosperity. Individuals will develop skills in student teams as project managers,
researchers, analysts, writers, speakers, and peer coaches. Performance evaluation
includes 360-degree feedback from the client team, faculty, and peers.
The primary responsibility of all managers is to make decisions in situations in which
there are multiple competing objectives. This course introduces students to a set
of tools that can be applied to scenarios in a variety of business environments. It
also introduces and addresses the challenges of making decisions within the context
of complex business systems with multiple stakeholders and short and long-term social,
environmental, and economic consequences. Specifically, this set of tools will include
data summarization, data visualization, optimization methods, Monte Carlo simulation,
multi-criteria decision analysis, decision trees, and causal loop diagrams. The analysis
will be conducted using Excel, various Excel add-ins for advanced analytics, and causal
loop diagramming software. These analytical tools will be applied to scenarios that
include social, environmental, and economic considerations. Subsequent courses in
the program will utilize these analytical methods within their specific decision environments.
PR: Online Statistics Module material completed prior to GRBU 713
Strategic sustainability advances students' managerial skills for identifying, researching,
evaluating, and communicating innovative opportunities involving the efficient and
effective management of financial, environmental and social resources.
Building on our commitment to the Principles for Responsible Management Education
(PRME), and Global Compact, this course experience serves as a foundation for strategic
sustainability, models, and tools integration across the curriculum.
Students work individually and in teams to frame problems, research and develop training
seminars, and manage resources for assigned topics. The focus is inspiring innovation,
and creating competitive advantage - both short and long-term - for organizations.
Deliverables include presentations of mining training seminars to peers, life cycle
assessment, and enterprise strategic sustainability assessment, along with participation
in case analysis and class discussions while applying critical thinking to identify
productivity gains, cost savings, revenue increases, and profit growth when implementing
sustainable business practices.
The course is taught as a seminar where sharing learning, best practices, and sustainability
knowledge across teams and individuals enables all to gain insight into emerging issues
beyond the scope of a single entity. Students work within an integrated curriculum
to analyze internal/external situations, drivers and risks; to identify problems and
opportunities; to evaluate return on investment from alternative courses of action;
and to value both short and long-term prosperity. Students independently learn about,
apply, and reflect on proven models and methodologies while honing their skills as
researchers, analysts, writers, and speakers.
The course covers selected topics in microeconomics. It emphasizes the integration
of microeconomic theories and tools from a managerial perspective. The applied aspect
of the course comes from analyzing case studies and studying empirical evidence of
the theories. Topics include both traditional topics in microeconomics (quantitative
demand analysis, elasticities, production and cost, market structures, profit maximization),
in addition to advanced topics (game theory and pricing strategies). The presence
of production externalities results in economic, social, and environmental consequences.
As a result, it is important that social costs are compared to private costs.
PR: Online Economics Module
Financial Management is about the decisions firms make regarding (a) the acquisition
of business resources, both tangible and intangible, (b) the management of these resources,
and (C) the financing of their acquisition (i.e., how firms pay for them). In surveys
of Chief Financial Officers, an overwhelming majority cite corporate culture as the
single most important factor in creating value. The finance function is seen to promote
effective culture by exemplifying accountability, integrity, and transparency by providing
analytical tools for superior execution, and by focusing employees on long-term objectives.
Finance embodies important aspects of sustainability because it is based on objective
benefit/cost analysis with the goal of maximizing shareholder wealth while simultaneously
considering the impact of decisions on other stakeholders. It is nearly always the
case that what is good for stakeholders generally also results in long-term shareholder
wealth maximization. Through problem-solving and case analysis, students obtain a
sound foundation in the application of financial decision-making tools toward the
goal of optimizing the firm's long-run viability. Topics covered include valuation,
cost of capital, financial planning and forecasting, capital budgeting, risk and return,
and options and/or international corporate finance.
PR: Online Finance Module
This course advances students' skill sets for solving contemporary problems and managing
financial, social, and environmental resources - effectively and efficiently.
Building on readings and methodology from Sustainable Business Practices Project I
and our commitment to the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME),
this course offers a proving ground for applying theory and models from across the
curriculum. Taught as a seminar for sharing learning, best practices, and knowledge
across teams and clients, the course requires all students to examine issues beyond
their project scope and client concerns. Students work in teams to frame problems,
develop solution paths, and manage projects from conception to completion for an assigned
client. The focus is on improving processes, inspiring innovation, and creating competitive
advantage - both short and long term - for real-world organizations. Client deliverables
include a formal presentation to the client management team and an analytical report
with recommendations that will lead to productivity, gains, cost savings, revenue
increases, and profit growth when implemented by the client.
Students function as professional consultants, working closely with a client organization
to analyze internal/external situations, drivers and risks; to identify problems and
opportunities; to evaluate return on investment from alternative courses of action;
and to recommend solutions for short and long-term prosperity. Students apply proven
models and methodologies and hone their skills as project managers, researchers, analysts,
writers, speakers, and peer coaches.
This course introduces students to the operations of sourcing, planning, making, and
delivering high-quality goods and services through efficient transformation processes
that use labor, materials, information, and cast to increase value to the various
stakeholders. The transformation processes studied are scientific, ethical, sustainable,
socially acceptable and in line with the Global Compact's supply chain principles.
This course examines the ways in which leaders, managers, and employees can improve
employee performance and commitment - key factors underlying competitive organizations.
Guided by an examination of contemporary research and real-world cases, students will
develop the knowledge and tools needed to help them navigate the opportunities and
challenges inherent in managing themselves and others to generate enduring social
and financial value, while incorporating long-term sustainable business objectives
into the vision for the firm.
The social and financial pillars of the triple bottom line are central to the course,
which is focused on improving employee performance and commitment because doing so
not only creates internal social value but importantly provides the kind of organizational
differentiation that enables the creation of financial value. The environmental pillar
is brought into the course through cases.
This course examines the role of marketing in creating exchanges that satisfy consumer
and organizational objectives thereby creating value for the firm. This course focuses
on formulating and evaluating marketing strategies. Students learn how marketing mix
decisions - product, place, promotion, and price - are made as part of a cohesive
strategy. Contemporary concepts and theories will be presented with a focus on analytical
and financial models that will assist marketing managers in making better decisions.
Emerging perspectives on strategic sustainability, marketing management, and the impact
of digital media are also emphasized.
This course integrates themes from business strategy, technology and innovation management,
and entrepreneurship to help students acquire knowledge and skills needed to convert
entrepreneurship opportunities into strategic actions. Students will be exposed to
the corporate venturing/entrepreneurial process - from opportunity recognition and
evaluation to business planning and implementation. This course is structured to improve
students' strategic & entrepreneurial mindset with an emphasis on developing and leveraging
capabilities related to sustainability.
Building on the skills developed in prior courses in the program, this course helps
students obtain the knowledge and skills to lead organizational changes necessary
to create a sustainable enterprise. Students will focus on theories, concepts, and
applications that will allow them successfully initiate, analyze and implement organizational
changes in the context of sustainability issues. Students will be exposed to the following
change management and sustainability topics: change leadership processes, the skills
that leaders need to make positive change, barriers to change, tools to identify and
implement a sustainable business change, and the roles of the various participants
in the change process.
This course is presented in a series of seminars offering practicum experiences for
professional and career development designed to build a career management skill set
and core competencies. Invited industry experts and professional practitioners provide
students with enriching perspectives and opportunities for networking. The course
is designed to build a career management skill set that will assist the student in
obtaining a professional position upon graduation and as well as to be utilized throughout
the progression of his/her career.
This course is the capstone experience of our 12-month MBA Sustainable Business Practices
program - an opportunity to integrate learning from coursework, consulting, international
travel, and professional development on a systemic level. The course deliverable is
a strategic plan for mission-driven change. The focus is on innovation for competitive
or reputational advantage.
As part of this engagement, students will work directly with client personnel at their
offices, reporting to work on an agreed-to schedule. Students conduct primary research
to identify problems and opportunities and assess tolerance for change. Students analyze
internal/external drivers and risks relative to organizational vision and goals, applying
methodologies from across the curriculum, including first and second semester courses.
Curricula Details
Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the business process that had evolved from the integration
of traditional business disciplines of forecasting, demand planning, materials planning,
purchasing, production, operations management, transportation, inventory management,
warehousing, packaging, materials handling, customer service, and related information
systems. SCM focuses on efficient and effective customer satisfaction from the exchange
of goods, services, and information to complete the business transaction from supplier's
supplier to customer's customer. This course provides insight into the goals and best
practices of each business discipline included in the SCM process, and how these disciplines
integrate to ensure a competitive advantage and corporate success. Students will assess
industry-specific differences in managing the flow of materials, goods, services,
information, and cash via the processes, technologies, and facilities that link primary
suppliers through to ultimate customers for both services and product industries.
Attention is given to important interrelationships between supply chain management
and other corporate disciplines such as marketing, accounting, engineering, and financial
management. Interdisciplinary managerial concepts are presented to show how a focus
on the quality of service and product, and the integration of the supply chain processes
offer great potential for improving corporate profitability and creating a sustainable
competitive advantage.
PR: None
Information systems and technology enable SCM processes and operations to improve
productivity and link to internal/external business partners. This course will address
the strategy behind SCM systems development and integration and will be supported
by the systems and tools available in the SCM Center of Excellence. This course begins
with a review of the fundamentals of information systems and technology and progresses
to the role of ERP in enabling integration and visibility in SCM. The operational
and decision support systems that support the five facets of SCM; Plan, Source, Make,
Deliver, and Returns, will be reviewed from the perspective of the critical processes
of each. Elements of project management and system analysis and selection will be
discussed. Students will gain hands-on experience with SAP and various supply chain-related
applications, such as supply chain design and data visualization. The course will
provide students the opportunity to study, analyze, and observe information systems
and technology tools that enable inter-enterprise communications (i.e. Electronic
Data Interchange - EDI), collaboration (i.e Vendor Managed Inventory - VMI, and Collaborative
Planning Forecasting and Replenishment - CPFR), and enhanced data collection (i.e.
Radio Frequency Identification - RFID). In addition, decision support system such
as Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS), network optimization, Warehouse Management
System (WMS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS), etc. will be discussed. Hands-on
experience with some supply chain systems will be provided. This course supports the
program goals by enabling students to develop a working knowledge of the information
systems and technology required to efficiently and effectively manage internal supply
chain disciplines, integrate and collaborate with external business partners, and
make data-driven decisions.
PR or CO: SCMG 610 with a minimum grade of C
Supply chains generate large amounts of data; however, knowing how to extract critical
information for effective decision-making is critical to SCM success. This course
will introduce strategies and methods for developing meaningful business intelligence
and apply descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analysis to improve supply chain
decision-making.
PR or CO: SCMG 610 with a minimum grade of C
Having in place effective and efficient process improvement techniques can be a source
of competitive advantage for firms. This course covers different techniques and tools
that firms can use to become better problem solvers and to continuously improve their
operations and supply chains by applying the concepts of Lean and Six Sigma. Students
may earn a Six Sigma Green Belt Certification through Morestream, a Lean Six Sigma
Training Provider, after passing an exam and completing a supervised project.
PR or CO: SCMG 610 with a minimum grade of C
As consumers and the industries that serve them have grown in social and environmental
awareness, the focus on establishing sustainable supply chains has gained momentum.
In addition to being financially successful, corporations must be environmentally
and socially responsible. The strategic and operational decisions made to develop
efficient and effective supply chains with operations and trading partners around
the world shifts the primary responsibility for a sustainable business to supply chain
management. This course will address risk management, best practices for sustainable
supply chains, and the trending supply chain management responsibilities.
PR: SCMG 612 with a minimum grade of C
This course provides graduate business students with a deeper understanding of the
accounting cycle used in companies to produce both internal and external financial
information. Special emphasis is placed throughout the course on understanding. analyzing,
and interpreting financial statements related information. Additionally, students
will be introduced to decision-making tools such as ratio analysis and challenged
to utilize them to critically evaluate financial information and make effective decisions.
The basics of corporate sustainability reporting will also be covered.
PR: Online Accounting Module
In this course, students will learn how to apply statistical methods of inference,
produce and interpret statistics that attempt to answer typical business questions,
and use probability theory and statistical methods to draw conclusions. Students are
required to arrive having a working understanding of basic probability and statistics
up through and including hypothesis testing. Utilizing datasets that involve environmental,
social, and governance reporting (e.g. Bloomberg, Trucost), students measure the costs
versus benefits of different business strategies. As such, this course places heavy
emphasis on the application of statistical techniques to business problems and the
interpretation of results for a non-technical audience.
PR: Online Statistical Module
This course introduces students to the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business' policy
on ethical behavior and provides students with basic ethical decision-making skills
necessary to recognize, evaluate, and resolve ethical conflicts. Emphasis is on common
ethical challenges facing graduate students in the classroom and at work. This course
provides an analytical framework for students to use when grappling with sustainability-focused,
ethical dilemmas in subsequent core and elective courses in the graduate program and
in their professional business careers. An additional goal of this particular SMBA
course is the emphasize the link between ethics and sustainable development, and the
challenges managers face to maintain a concern for both in the current business environment.
This course features a live problem-solving case project with a real-world client.
It introduces proven IDEO design thinking and project management methodologies while
trying theory to practice across the curriculum.
Aligned to Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), this course requires
you to interact with managers of business corporations and explore jointly effective
approaches to the ethical management of social, environmental, financial, and informational
resources. Students will interface with clients on three occasions: (1) at the outset
when the client presents the challenge and desired outcomes, (2) at mid-point to provide
a status report and ask questions about context, data, and expectations; and (3) at
the end to present solutions to the client management team.
In this course, students represent Duquesne University as professional consultants,
and faculty will serve as managing directors of the engagement. With guidance and
coaching, students will audit and analyze the client's internal/external situation,
drivers and risks; identify problems and opportunities; evaluate return on investment
from alternative courses of action; and recommend solutions for short and long-term
prosperity. With student teams, individuals will develop skills as project managers,
researchers, analysts, writers, speakers, and peer coaches. Performance evaluation
includes 360-degree feedback from the client team, faculty, and peers.
Strategic sustainability advances students' managerial skills for identifying, researching,
evaluating, and communicating innovative opportunities involving the efficient and
effective management of financial, environmental, and social resources.
Building on our commitment to the Principles for Responsible Management Education
(PRME), and Global Compact, this course experience serves as a foundation for strategic
sustainability, models, and tools integration across the curriculum.
Students work individually, and in teams to frame problems, research and develop training
seminars, and manage resources for assigned topics. The focus is inspiring innovation,
and creating a competitive advantage - both short and long term - for organizations.
Deliverables include presentations of mini training seminars to peers, life cycle
assessment, and enterprise strategic sustainability assessment, along with participation
in case analysis, and class discussions while applying critical thinking to identify
productivity gains, cost savings, revenue increases, and profit growth when implementing
sustainable business practices.
The course is taught as a seminar where sharing learning, best practices, and sustainability
knowledge across teams and individuals enables all to gain insight into emerging issues
beyond the scope of a single entity. Students work within an integrated curriculum
to analyze internal/external situations, drivers and risks; to identify problems and
opportunities; to evaluate return on investment from alternative courses of action
and to value both short and long-term prosperity. Students independently learn about,
apply, and reflect on proven models and methodologies while honing their skills as
researchers, analysts, writers, and speakers.
This course covers selected topics in microeconomics. It emphasizes the integration
of microeconomic theories and tools from a managerial perspective. The applied aspect
of the course comes from analyzing case studies and studying empirical evidence of
the theories. Topics include both traditional topics in microeconomics (quantitative
demand analysis, elasticities, production and costs, market structures, and profit
maximization), in addition to advanced topics (game theory and pricing strategies).
PR or CO: STAT 510 with a minimum grade of C
Financial Management is about the decisions firms make regarding (a) the acquisition
of business resources, both tangible and intangible, (b) the management of these resources,
and (c) the financing of their acquisition (i.e. how firms pay for them). In surveys
of Chief Financial Officers, an overwhelming majority cite corporate culture as the
single most important factor in creating value. The Finance function is seen to promote
effective culture by exemplifying accountability, integrity, and transparency by providing
analytical tools for superior execution, and by focusing employees on long-term objectives.
Finance embodies important aspects of sustainability because it is based on objective
benefit/cost analysis with the goal of maximizing shareholder wealth while simultaneously
considering the impact of decisions on other stakeholders. It is nearly always the
case that what is good for stakeholders generally also results in long-term stakeholder
wealth maximization. Through problem-solving and case analysis, students obtain a
sound foundation in the application of financial decision-making tools toward the
goal of optimizing the firm's long-term viability. Topics covered include valuation,
cost of capital, financial planning and forecasting, capital budgeting, risk and return,
and options and/or international corporate finance.
PR: Online Finance Module
This course advances students' skill sets for solving contemporary problems and managing
financial, social, and environmental resources - effectively and efficiently.
Building on readings and methodology from Sustainable Business Practices Project I
and our commitment to the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME),
this course offers a proving ground for applying theory and models from across the
curriculum. Taught as a seminar for sharing learning, best practices, and knowledge
across teams and clients, the course requires all students to examine issues beyond
their project scope and client concerns. Students work in teams to frame problems,
develop solution paths, and manage projects from conception to completion for an assigned
client. the focus is on improving processes, inspiring innovation, and creating competitive
advantage - both short and long term - for real-world organizations. Client deliverables
include a formal presentation to the client management team and an analytical report
with recommendations that will lead to productivity gains, cost savings, revenue increases,
and profit growth when implemented by the client.
Students function as professional consultants, working closely with a client organization
to analyze internal/external situations, drivers and risks; to identify problems and
opportunities; to evaluate return on investment from alternative courses of action;
and to recommend solutions for short and long-term prosperity. Students apply proven
models and methodologies and hone their skills as project managers, researchers, analysts,
writers, speakers, and peer coaches.
This course examines the ways in which leaders, managers, and employees can improve
employee performance and commitment - key factors underlying competitive organizations.
Guided by an examination of contemporary research and real-world cases, students will
develop the knowledge and tools needed to help them navigate the opportunities and
challenges inherent in managing themselves and others to generate enduring social
and financial value while incorporating long-term sustainable business objectives
into the vision for the firm.
The social and financial pillars of the triple bottom line are central to the course,
which is focused on improving employee performance and commitment because doing so
not only creates internal social value but importantly provides the kind of organizational
differentiation that enables the creation of financial value. The environmental pillar
is brought into the course through cases.
This course examines the role of marketing in creating exchanges that satisfy consumer
and organizational objectives thereby creating value for the firm. The course focuses
on formulating and evaluating marketing strategies. Students learn how marketing mix
decisions - product, place, promotion, and price - are made as part of a cohesive
strategy. Contemporary concepts and theories will be presented with a focus on analytical
and financial models that will assist marketing managers in making better decisions.
Emerging perspectives on strategic sustainability, marketing management, and the impact
of digital media are also emphasized.
This course integrates themes from business strategy, technology and innovation management,
and entrepreneurship to help students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to convert
entrepreneurial opportunities into strategic actions. Students will be exposed to
the corporate venturing/entrepreneurial process - from opportunity recognition and
evaluation to business planning and implementation. This course is structured to improve
students' strategic & entrepreneurial mindset with an emphasis on developing and leveraging
capabilities related to sustainability.
Building on the skills developed in prior courses in the program, this course helps
students obtain the knowledge and skills to lead organizational changes necessary
to create a sustainable enterprise. Students will focus on theories, concepts, and
applications that will allow them to successfully initiate, analyze, and implement
organizational changes in the context of sustainability issues. Students will be exposed
to the following change management and sustainability topics: change leadership processes,
the skills that leaders need to make positive change, barriers to change, tools to
identify and implement a sustainable business change, and the roles of the various
participants in the change process.
This course is presented in a series of seminars offering practicum experiences for
professional and career development designed to build a career management skill set
and core competencies. Invited industry experts and professional practitioners provide
students with enriching perspectives and opportunities for networking. The course
is designed to build a career management skill set that will assist the student in
obtaining a professional position upon graduation and as well as to be utilized throughout
the progression of his/her career.
This course is the capstone experience of our 12-month MBA Sustainable Business Practices
program - an opportunity to integrate learning from coursework, consulting, international
travel, and professional development on a systematic level. The course deliverable
is a strategic plan for mission-driven change. Focus is on innovation for competitive
or reputational advantage.
As part of this engagement, students will work directly with client personnel at their
offices, reporting to work on an agreed-to schedule. Students conduct primary research
to identify problems and opportunities and assess tolerance for change. Students analyze
internal/external drivers and risks relative to organizational vision and goals, applying
methodologies from across the curriculum, including first and second semester courses.