Full Time MBA Curriculum | Master of Business Administration

The MBA curriculum is designed to provide knowledge and skills through diverse yet complementary avenues:

The core courses establish a well-rounded base of business knowledge in 8 areas of accounting, economics, finance, marketing, operations, statistics, strategy and organizational behavior. Throughout these courses (24 credit hours) students will develop and enhance critical analytical, communication, and leadership skills. Students engage in independent and team learning for course assignments by working with a diverse student body and faculty.

Students can use the remaining four elective courses (12 credits) to tailor the RU MBA to meet individual career and academic interests. Tailoring your MBA provides the opportunity to enhance the core business concepts. By gaining a stronger expertise in concentrated areas by applying knowledge through global elective courses, applied projects, study abroad, and other tailored options.

Professional development opportunities are also available throughout each semester to prepare students for their future career goals. The programs accentuate leadership skills, job seeking and career development skills, networking, and additional topic areas that are beneficial to an MBA’s future career path.

The RU Graduate faculty have the option of using a +/- grading scale for all courses. The grading scale for each class will be communicated to the students during the first meeting of class.

The following core courses are required for all full-time and professional MBA students:

Course	Course Title	Overview	Prerequisites	Credit Hours
ACTG611	Accounting for Decision Making and Control	Emphasis on accounting data used by managers in decision making. The course uses a textbook and cases. Among topics covered are relevant cost identification in decision making, contribution margin approach and capital budgeting.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
MGNT621	Organizational Behavior and Managerial Skills	Studies behaviors of individuals and groups in work organizations from managerial view; applies the concepts, methods, and research findings of the behavioral sciences to the understanding of the causes of human performance, satisfaction and development in work organizations.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
ITEC623	Management Information Systems	Development and application of management information systems to organizations. Analysis of critical information flow in the context of an organizational system.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
MGNT624	Operations Management	A problem-solving course designed to help reduce uncertainty in the decision-making environment of operations and production in manufacturing and service firms of private and public sectors of the economy. Emphasis on employment of mathematical models for use and application in decision making in business.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
FINC631	Financial Management	Examines techniques and concepts used in modern business and the theoretical advances in the areas of asset management and capital structure planning. Topics include capital budgeting, working capital management, valuation, cost of capital, capital structure planning, dividend policy, option pricing, mergers and acquisitions. Problems and short cases used to enhance student skills in financial planning and decision making.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
MKTG641	Marketing Management	This course teaches students the art and science of selecting target markets and acquiring and maintaining profitable customers in a socially responsible and ethical manner. Case studies, experiential projects, simulations and marketing planning assignments may be used.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
ECON651	Managerial Economics	Study of selected topics in economic theory and their application to management problems. Topics include demand and supply, revenues, elasticity, production and cost, incremental decision making, market structure and pricing, and investment analysis. Elementary quantitative methods will be developed and utilized	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
MGNT685	Strategic Management	Integrates graduate business courses in a top level strategy development course. Emphasis on environmental analysis and decision making. A capstone course; must be taken during or after the term in which the last required MBA course is taken.	MBA status or permission of the instructor, ACTG611, FINC631, MGNT624, MKTG641 taken prior to or concurrently.	3

Tailoring your MBA

By tailoring the RU MBA to meet your unique interests, you are able to gain a stronger expertise in concentrated areas of interest. There are four different avenues to tailoring your MBA:

Global Electives: Students are able to choose from a range of global elective course offerings to build upon the principles covered in the core courses. Elective course offerings vary, but target industry trends, business needs, and student interests. All business electives will have an international or applied focus unless otherwise approved by the MBA Director.

Here is a sample of elective courses that have been offered based on student demand and interest:

Course	Course Title	Overview	Prerequisites	Credit Hours
FINC671	Special Topics in Finance	Examines topics of special interest in finance areas not covered in current graduate course offerings.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
MKTG612	Global Market Research	Provides MBA students an opportunity to participate in international market research. Students conduct an in-depth analysis of foreign markets to determine market potential and to develop strategies for Virginia firms to enter or expand specific markets.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
MKTG671	E-commerce Strategy	Learning Objectives: Primary – Develop an E-commerce plan, knowledge of E-commerce practices, application of knowledge of E-commerce practices. Secondary – problem solving, teamwork/collaboration, small group communication.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
MKTG673	Globalism, Capitalism, & “Flattened” Marketing	Issues of globalism and marketing in a flattening world: Trade, competition, culture and the effects on nations, organizations, and new business people.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
MGNT671	Applied Operations Management: A Case Study of the Wine Industry	The purpose of this course is to examine supply chain management and the use of operations management and apply it in depth to one industry, the wine industry. Students will obtain a deeper understanding of how operations management tools are used to make managerial decisions and improve competitiveness.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3
ECON695	Globalization, International Competitiveness, and Growth	The course will examine: (a) the empirical evidence of the relationships between the degree of globalization, global competitiveness, and economic growth; (b) the determinants of competitiveness and economic growth and development from the bottom-up perspective – that is, beginning with the firm; (c) the growing importance of emerging market and transitional economies in shaping the world economy; and (d) the role of public policy in facilitating a competitive environment. The course will explore not only theory and policy but also the critical role of institution for sustained improvements in competitiveness and growth.	MBA status or permission of the instructor.	3