Business Administration (B A)

B A 1310. Introduction to Business.

This course introduces foundational concepts in business and surveys core functional areas including accounting, finance, economics, law, management, marketing, and information systems and analytics. It examines these areas both individually and as components of organizational strategy. Additional topics include globalization, leadership, artificial intelligence, professional expectations, and ethical and data-informed decision-making in business contexts. The course also considers how these functional areas interact within organizations to support planning, operations, and strategic objectives across different business environments.

B A 2310. Introduction to Business in a Global Environment.

This course introduces the modern business enterprise and emphasizes the interdependence of essential business functions within a global environment. It explores the growing complexity faced by multinational enterprises as they navigate an increasingly dynamic and unpredictable world. Students examine how cultural, political, and legal differences shape cross-border trade, investment, marketing, and management practices, as well as the structure of accounting and financial systems. The course provides a foundational understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in global business.

B A 3110. Professional Development I.

This course introduces professional expectations within the McCoy College of Business and examines processes related to career planning and development. Topics include self-assessment, career exploration, leadership, communication, and professional skill development. Students engage with activities related to career exploration, resume preparation, and interview techniques, along with strategies for professional communication and workplace readiness. Prerequisite: B A 1310 or B A 2310 with a "C" or better and a minimum 2.0 Overall GPA.

B A 3120. Professional Development II.

This course builds upon foundational concepts in career planning and development. A portion of the course is major-focused to address preparation for specific business roles. Topics include networking strategies, company and industry analysis, internship and job search techniques, interviewing practices, and negotiation methods. Students engage in applied activities that support the development of professional communication, career planning, and workplace readiness. Emphasis is placed on aligning individual skills and experiences with organizational expectations within a range of business contexts. Prerequisite: B A 3110 with a "C" or better and a minimum 2.0 Overall GPA.

B A 4300. Independent Study in Global Business.

This course is a study abroad experience that introduces students to the international business environment. Topics include cultural, political, social, economic, and regulatory factors that influence business operations across national contexts. Through site visits, field-based learning, and structured academic activities, students examine how organizations operate within different global settings. The course emphasizes comparative analysis of international markets and institutions, providing opportunities to observe and evaluate business practices across different countries.

B A 5100. Business Professional Development Seminar.

This course examines professional communication, presentation effectiveness, and professional presence in business contexts. It integrates academic content with structured, practice-based activities focused on communication strategies, presentation design, and professional interaction. Topics include development of presentation materials, delivery techniques, and evaluation of communication practices in organizational settings. The course incorporates iterative feedback and may be adapted to reflect current industry practices. Repeatable for credit under different topics.

B A 5110. Executive Coaching I.

This course provides Executive MBA students with sustained, individualized coaching experience to accelerate personal growth, leadership effectiveness, and strategic clarity. Each student is matched with a professional coach for regular sessions tailored to their goals and context.

B A 5111. Executive Coaching II.

This course provides Executive MBA students with sustained, individualized coaching experience to accelerate personal growth, leadership effectiveness, and strategic clarity. Each student is matched with a professional coach for regular sessions tailored to their goals and context.

B A 5250. Disruption, Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

This course equips students with the tools and mindset needed to expand businesses and uncover new avenues for growth. Students will explore multiple pathways for opportunity creation - including product innovation, business model innovation, and go-to-market (GTM) strategies - while learning to apply efficient frameworks that work across businesses of all sizes in competitive markets. The course emphasizes developing an entrepreneurial way of thinking, empowering students to recognize and seize business opportunities, adapt and learn from setbacks, and thrive in diverse professional settings.

B A 5351. Organizational Performance and Competitive Advantage.

This course examines the firm from an integrative perspective. A variety of organizational models and perspectives are incorporated to analyze the complexities of the firm, its environments, and its relationships with stakeholders. With a focus on conceptual understanding and application through case analysis, the course addresses strategic decision making under changing internal and external conditions.

B A 5360. MBA International Experience.

This course will focus on developing an understanding and analysis of issues related to business challenges in another country. It delves into the complexities of the global economy, including issues like international trade patterns, financial performance, capital flows, inequality, and the impact of international organizations. Students will gain first-hand experience with the business practices, culture and economy of another country. Corequisite: MGT 5313 with a grade of "C" or better.

B A 5396. Internship in Business Administration.

This course provides graduate business students with supervised, hands-on professional experience in a business environment. Students apply academic knowledge to real-world challenges while developing advanced managerial, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Through structured work assignments, reflective analysis, and performance evaluation, students examine organizational operations, assess decision-making processes, and enhance leadership, communication, and collaboration competencies. The course culminates in a comprehensive reflective report that integrates academic theory with professional practice, preparing students for advanced careers and responsible leadership roles. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

B A 5398. Independent Study in Business Administration.

This course enables graduate students to pursue a faculty-guided, independent study of a selected topic or applied area in business, emphasizing analytical inquiry and specialized learning beyond regularly offered courses. Students formulate a focused research or applied problem, review and synthesize relevant literature or data, and apply appropriate theories, models, or analytical tools to investigate the issue. The course emphasizes critical evaluation of evidence and effective communication of findings through written reports and/or presentations. With approval from the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, students may repeat the course to pursue additional distinct projects. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

B A 7199. Dissertation.

This course supports the completion of the doctoral dissertation through original research and scholarly writing in business administration under the direct supervision of a dissertation advisor. Students synthesize relevant literature, design rigorous research methods, and analyze data to address complex business problems. Emphasis is placed on developing a well-structured dissertation that clearly communicates research findings and scholarly contributions. Students also prepare to defend their work by critically evaluating and justifying research decisions and outcomes. Continuous enrollment is required during each long semester while conducting dissertation research.

B A 7299. Dissertation.

This course supports the completion of the doctoral dissertation through original research and scholarly writing in business administration under the direct supervision of a dissertation advisor. Students synthesize relevant literature, design rigorous research methods, and analyze data to address complex business problems. Emphasis is placed on developing a well-structured dissertation that clearly communicates research findings and scholarly contributions. Students also prepare to defend their work by critically evaluating and justifying research decisions and outcomes. Continuous enrollment is required during each long semester while conducting dissertation research.

B A 7301. Business Research Foundations.

This course introduces students to research design theory, methodology, and its application in empirical business research. It focuses on both theoretical comprehension of research methods and practical skills for conducting research. The primary aim is to equip students with essential knowledge and skills for designing and evaluating research projects. Topics taught include positivism vs. interpretivism, quantitative and qualitative research distinctions, critical research literature evaluation, formulating research questions, study design, and effective findings communication. This course lays the groundwork for students to conduct rigorous and impactful research within business administration.

B A 7302. Business Research Methods I.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to quantitative research methodologies, focusing on the application of statistical tools for construct measurement, sampling techniques, regression analysis, multivariate statistics, and structural equation modeling. Through a systematic exploration of these key areas, students will develop the skills necessary to analyze and interpret quantitative data. The course equips participants with the knowledge to apply these methods in various academic and professional fields, emphasizing the critical role of quantitative analysis in informed decision-making. Corequisite: B A 7301 with a grade of "B" or better.

B A 7303. Business Research Methods II.

This course introduces qualitative research methods, including case study, action research, ethnography, and grounded theory, for conducting applied business research. Students design and execute rigorous qualitative studies, employing best-practice data collection techniques and ethical protocols. Emphasis is placed on systematic coding, auditable analysis workflows, and evaluation using established reporting standards. Students analyze complex business phenomena, synthesize insights, and translate findings into actionable, practice-relevant recommendations for executive-level decision-making. The course strengthens critical thinking, methodological rigor, and the ability to communicate findings to diverse stakeholders. Prerequisite: B A 7301 and B A 7302 both with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7304. Business Analytics Research.

This course examines data-driven, evidence-based approaches to managerial decision-making in dynamic business environments. Students explore the design, implementation, and evaluation of diagnostic, descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics models. Emphasis is placed on translating complex data into analytical insights using contemporary analytical tools and methods. The course adopts an inquiry-based approach to assess model assumptions, performance, and limitations across diverse business contexts. Students engage with real-world datasets to develop, interpret, and communicate analytically grounded recommendations that support strategic and operational decisions. Prerequisite: B A 7301 and B A 7302 with grades "B" or better.

B A 7305. Applied Econometrics.

This course provides middle- and upper-level business professionals with a diverse set of econometric, statistical, and forecasting tools, enabling them to handle complex business problems and support business decision-making. The course applies a wide range of advanced statistical methods to explore patterns in empirical data and develop inferences and predictions. Emphasis is given to the proper use of econometric methodologies and the interpretation of estimation results. Topics include simple and multiple linear regressions, hypothesis testing, model diagnostics, discrete outcome models, time series analysis, and panel data models. Prerequisite: B A 7303 and B A 7304 and B A 7310 and B A 7311 all with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7306. Experimental Design and Survey Methods.

This course focuses on the methods and applications of survey, quasi-experimental, and experimental research through the design and testing of research models. Topics include construct development, latent and non-latent variables, hypothesis development, and research designs such as completely randomized, Latin square, and factorial designs. Additional topics include design with covariates, confounding, blocking, power analysis, mixed-effects models, statistical techniques for data analysis, interpretation of results, and ethical considerations, including the role of IRB approval in research. Prerequisite: B A 7303 and B A 7304 and B A 7310 and B A 7311 all with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7310. Organizational Theory and Group Dynamics.

This course examines the structure and behavioral dynamics of complex organizational systems, with emphasis on small groups. Students explore foundational theories, including systems theory and organizational behavior, and analyze stages of group development, power, influence, and conflict. The course addresses change management, group facilitation, and factors influencing team performance. Students also assess challenges in managing virtual and dispersed teams and integrate theoretical and applied research to examine organizational issues. Emphasis is placed on reflective leadership and evidence-based approaches to analyzing group effectiveness. Prerequisite: B A 7301 and B A 7302 both with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7311. Analysis of Corporate Policy.

This course examines the measurement and analysis of corporate operations through an integrated strategic lens. Students apply advanced systems theory, organizational design, and financial and operational frameworks to analyze corporate policies. Emphasis is placed on quantitative analysis, risk management, ESG integration, and governance structures. Through engagement with academic and practitioner research, students assess policy impacts on firm value, behavior, and performance, and develop data-informed research proposals related to corporate strategy and organizational outcomes. Prerequisite: B A 7301 and B A 7302 with grades "B" or better.

B A 7312. Global Business Issues.

This course provides a foundation for analyzing business operations in a global economic context. It integrates global economic and strategic perspectives to examine macroeconomic concepts and models used to analyze the global environment in which multinational enterprises operate. Topics include diversification, vertical integration, and global expansion. The course also assesses the role of technology, supply chains, and government policies in shaping economic and business conditions. Prerequisite: B A 7303 and B A 7304 and B A 7310 and B A 7311 all with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7313. Decision Making under Uncertainty.

This course examines decision-making under conditions of uncertainty. It introduces methods used by policymakers, managers, and analysts to support decisions involving risk and uncertainty. Students model complex business problems using analytical approaches such as inductive judgment, heuristics, inferential reasoning, decision trees, stochastic optimization, simulation, and dynamic optimization. Examples are drawn from industries including transportation, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and supply chain management to illustrate the application of decision-making methods. Prerequisite: B A 7303 and B A 7304 and B A 7310 and B A 7311 all with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7351. Research Seminar in Analytics.

This course immerses DBA students in applied research in analytics through engagement with scholars and industry practitioners. Students explore essential analytics concepts and tools and examine their application in business contexts. Emphasis is placed on identifying appropriate analytical approaches and evaluating the roles of descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics in decision-making. Through discussion of foundational research and applied examples, students develop the ability to implement and select analytical methods for analyzing business problems. Prerequisite: B A 7303 and B A 7304 and B A 7310 and B A 7311 all with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7353. Strategic Marketing Analysis and Applications.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of marketing strategy, focusing on marketing capabilities, branding, customer relationships, sales and channel management, and market performance. Students engage with foundational and emerging perspectives in the research literature and evaluate how theoretical constructs contribute to understanding strategic marketing issues. The course emphasizes critical analysis of research designs, methodological approaches, and analytical tools used in marketing scholarship. Students apply theory to organizational contexts, assess opportunities for future inquiry, and develop skills to interpret empirical findings in marketing research. Prerequisite: B A 7303 and B A 7304 and B A 7310 and B A 7311 all with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7354. Natural Language Processing in Business and Finance.

This course introduces Natural Language Processing (NLP) as an analytical approach for examining unstructured business and financial data. Students explore methods such as text classification, sentiment analysis, topic discovery, and language modeling to analyze content from earnings calls, financial reports, and market news. Emphasis is placed on the application of these methods in investment analysis, risk assessment, and corporate finance contexts. The course connects analytical techniques to business and financial applications, enabling students to work with language-based data in organizational and market environments. Prerequisite: B A 7303 and B A 7304 and B A 7310 and B A 7311 all with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7355. Accounting Analytics for Decision Making.

This course examines the use of data analytics in accounting-related decision making, with emphasis on complex business judgments and financial reporting processes. Students explore analytical approaches and develop an analytics perspective for addressing accounting contexts. Using relevant software tools, they apply statistical and analytical techniques to business data and interpret results. Topics include fraud detection, process mining for internal control evaluation, spatial modeling, and decision-tree analysis. The course emphasizes critical evaluation of analytical methods and their implications for accounting-related decisions. Prerequisite: B A 7303 and B A 7304 and B A 7310 and B A 7311 all with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7356. Human Resource Management Analytics.

This course provides a foundation for applied research in human resource analytics, focusing on the use of data and statistical models to examine human capital issues. Students apply analytical techniques to human resource management contexts and interpret results within organizational settings. Emphasis is placed on synthesizing data from multiple sources and evaluating analytical outcomes in human resource research. The course also examines conceptual and strategic issues relevant to human resource functions and organizational workforce dynamics. Prerequisite: B A 7303 and B A 7304 and B A 7310 and B A 7311 all with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7360. Dissertation Design and Proposal.

This course prepares DBA students to develop and present a dissertation proposal. Students formulate an original research question, analyze relevant literature to identify research gaps, and design appropriate methodologies to investigate the topic. Emphasis is placed on integrating theoretical frameworks with empirical evidence and managing the scholarly writing process. By the end of the course, students produce a comprehensive dissertation proposal outlining objectives, methods, and anticipated research contributions. A dissertation committee is also formed to guide the research. Prerequisite: B A 7301 and B A 7302 and B A 7303 and B A 7304 and B A 7305 and B A 7306 and B A 7310 and B A 7311 and B A 7312 and B A 7313 and 3 of the following: B A 7351 or B A 7353 or B A 7354 or B A 7355 or B A 7356 all with grades of "B" or better.

B A 7399. Dissertation.

This course supports the completion of the doctoral dissertation through original research and scholarly writing in business administration under the supervision of a dissertation advisor. Students synthesize relevant literature, design research methods, and analyze data within their chosen area of study. Emphasis is placed on developing a structured dissertation that presents research findings and contributions. Students also prepare to defend their work by evaluating and justifying research decisions and outcomes. Continuous enrollment is required during each long semester while conducting dissertation research.

B A 7599. Dissertation.

This course supports the completion of the doctoral dissertation through original research and scholarly writing in business administration under the supervision of a dissertation advisor. Students synthesize relevant literature, design research methods, and analyze data within their selected area of study. Emphasis is placed on developing a structured dissertation that presents research findings and contributions. Students also prepare to defend their work by evaluating and justifying research decisions and outcomes. Continuous enrollment is required during each long semester while conducting dissertation research.

B A 7699. Dissertation.

This course supports the completion of the doctoral dissertation through original research and scholarly writing in business administration under the supervision of a dissertation advisor. Students synthesize relevant literature, design research methods, and analyze data within a defined area of study. Emphasis is placed on developing a structured dissertation that presents research findings and contributions. Students also prepare to defend their work by evaluating and justifying research decisions and outcomes. Continuous enrollment is required during each long semester while conducting dissertation research.

B A 7999. Dissertation.

This course supports the completion of the doctoral dissertation through original research and scholarly writing in business administration under the supervision of a dissertation advisor. Students synthesize relevant literature, design research methods, and analyze data within a defined area of study. Emphasis is placed on developing a structured dissertation that presents research findings and contributions. Students also prepare to defend their work by evaluating and justifying research decisions and outcomes. Continuous enrollment is required during each long semester while conducting dissertation research.