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Full-Time MBA CurriculumDevoted to the mission of "elevating the professional potential of highly-qualified students through a rigorous researched-based curriculum and experiential learning," the MBA program utilizes a curriculum rivaling the best programs throughout the country. Fundamental business skills, theories and models are taught in a series of core classes, designed to provide a mastery of key business skills that can be used throughout one’s career. As the core curriculum comes to an end, the program is customizable with eight concentrations and numerous real-world learning opportunities.
Curriculum Guide (PDF)
Sample Schedule (PDF) Core Curriculum - 27-Credit Hours
Designed as the foundation of the Full-Time MBA option, the core curriculum is a structured set of classes. Most core classes are offered in an eight-week format encompassing traditional lectures, case discussions and group project work. Completed in lock-step, this group of courses is vital for enhancing critical thinking, creative problem solving and professional interpersonal skills development. These are the skills necessary for success at any level and throughout one’s career. Core Course DescriptionsFoundation Core Classes: 19 credit hours Ethical Decision Making in Business (2 Credit Hours)This course is designed to provide students with: a grounding in the psychological and philosophical foundations of business ethics; the ability to recognize ethical problems; an exposure to many of the ethically sensitive issues facing corporations and managers today in each of the functional areas of business (management, accounting, finance, information systems, and marketing); and the tools for analyzing and reaching closure on ethical problems. Financial accounting provides information to decision-makers external to the business, such as investors and lenders. The course describes the process through which economic information is captured, validated, and distributed externally in the form of financial statements. It also covers the contents of the major financial statements, focusing on how the various accounts are defined and measured and how the information can be used by external decision-makers. This course provides an overview of the problems associated with the financial management of business firms. The focus is on the practices followed by managers in raising and investing capital so as to maximize value. This course uses economic theory and methodology to understand and improve managerial decision making. The focus is on the role of markets in determining business and individual opportunities to create value, the behavior of individual markets reacting to supply and demand forces, and the consequences of alternative market structures and business policies. Course content includes demand, production, cost analysis, supply and demand analysis, price and non-price modes of competition, market structure, and economic efficiency. This course focuses on economic, social, and political trends in the global environment and examines their implications for national and regional competitiveness. Extensive use will be made of guest speakers from other departments and local companies. Flexibility in format is required to accommodate instructional methods that will include lectures, discussions, cases, and simulations. This course examines the marketing function of the firm, primarily from a managerial perspective. The topics examined include: marketing concepts, segmentation, and decisions related to positioning, products, pricing, distribution, and promotion. This course focuses on human behavior in organizations. It helps the student learn to think systematically and critically about organizations, to appreciate knowledge building in the organization sciences, and to apply that knowledge in the work setting. Topics covered may include: individual differences and motivation, work and group design, leading and decision making, organization design and culture, and organization change and development. A series of workshops for graduate business students which provide foundation and supplemental skill development in such areas as computer usage, business writing, career development, communications, presentations, negotiations, ethical behavior, and market-based thinking. A seminar workshop focusing on presentation skills. Over the two-day course, students will be critiqued on both prepared and impromptu presentations. An introduction to data gathering and analysis with an emphasis on problem solving for decision making and process improvement in a business setting. The role of numerical data in the understanding of business problems and in the evaluation of planned improvements is studied, along with the study of variation commonly occurring in business processes and methods of reducing this variation. Statistical software is used to supplement data analysis and aid in the problem solving. Strategic Management has as its primary objective the development of an understanding of the role of general management from both a conceptual and operating standpoint. The course is based on the strategic management framework emphasizing the evaluation of an organization’s strategic situation and the formulation of viable alternative strategies required to deal with the challenges facing the organization. Environmental Core Classes: Choose 1 of 2 (2 credit hours) Global Economic Environment of Business (2 Credit Hours)This course uses economic theory to explain how business functions in a global context. Throughout the course, the impact of the global economic environment on business decision making and performance is emphasized. Students will learn the ways in which government monetary and fiscal and regulatory policies affect global markets and firm performance. A course focused on understanding legal rights and duties and ethical responsibilities in the business environment and identifying and addressing legal risks in business decision making. This is an introductory course which includes an overview of several foundational areas of law that are highly relevant to business. Breadth Core Classes: Choose 3 of 4 (6 credit hours) Human Resources Management (2 Credit Hours)The purpose of this course is to equip managers to create a sustainable competitive advantage through strategic investment in human resources. The management of human resources - people and their human capital - is approached from the perspective of the practicing manager as opposed to that of the human resources specialist. The major topics covered include staffing, training and development, performance management, compensation, and employee (labor-management) relations. Managerial accounting provides information to decision-makers within the business, such as supervisors and executives. The course describes the process through which economic information is captured and distributed internally as budgets and other reports. It also covers various uses of managerial accounting information for internal decision-making. These uses include planning for profitable operations, determining costs of products and services, and evaluating performance within an organization. This course provides a broad, managerial level introduction to fundamental information technology concepts and terminology and the application of those concepts in business organizations. It addresses a variety of topics including: the Internet; relational database theory; hardware, software, and networking concepts; the system development life cycle, project management; e-Business/e-Commerce; knowledge management; enterprise resource planning; and organizational considerations related to information systems. This course examines the business from an operations mindset. Topics covered include supplier relationships, quality, customer-focus, and manufacturing as a competitive advantage. A systems integration view will be stressed instead of a functional view. Employers seek out people who possess a mastery of at least one specific business area. One of the most impactful ways of developing a mastery is to earn a concentration. Concentration areas are attained through elective coursework and allow students to pursue specific career interests. Many concentrations can be obtained by studying twelve credit hours in a specific area. In addition to traditional elective courses, KU MBA students can also earn credit with experiential learning opportunities and study abroad programs. While new elective classes are added almost every semester, the availability of classes may vary by semester and location. Animal Health
The Master of Business Administration with an Animal Health concentration is a 48-credit-hour program designed particularly for candidates with Ph.D.’s in the sciences, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degrees. Participants across the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, including Bayer Health Care have joined or will soon join in this collaboration with the KU School of Business. Located within the world’s largest concentration of animal health organizations, this partnership combines facets of the animal health industry with an advanced business learning environment. Program participants will benefit from a customized curriculum designed to meet the needs of individuals seeking to combine a working knowledge of the animal health industry with business and management expertise. For more information about this program, including a curriculum guide, see the Animal Health Concentration page.
Businesses never come into existence as multi-national organizations. More than likely, they begin as an idea, a few people and a small amount of start-up capital. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentration offers a cross-functional group of classes targeted at starting and growing a new venture. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentration is supported by KU Entrepreneurship Programs. Concentration Requirements (12 credits)
download as pdfStudents must complete the following course: ENTR 895 New Venture Creation 4 credits
This advanced course emphasizes the competencies and skill sets required to identify and pursue different entrepreneurial opportunities. Specifically, focus will be directed against identifying and evaluating the business opportunity as well as entrepreneurial capabilities required for marketplace success. The importance of resource allocation via business plan analysis will be emphasized. Financing the new venture, sourcing and structuring the required deal capital will be studied. Finally, attention to managing rapid growth and exit strategies will be provided. Students will build an effective and comprehensive business plan to commercialize a new, live venture sourced from local business incubators. Business Plans will be submitted to one of several national intercollegiate business plan competitions. If accepted by the business plan competition, the student teams authoring the accepted business plan will be invited to attend and present the plan at an interesting location, all expenses paid.
Students must choose at least 8 credit hours among the following: BLAW 703 Legal Aspects of Business Organizations 3 credits
A course focused on the legal attributes of different forms of business organizations, such as partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. This course includes a study of the basic principles of agency law. It explores the rights and responsibilities of people and entities (such as partners, stockholders, directors, officers, contractors, employers, and employees) functioning in the organizational environment. Also considered are the interests of third parties, including the public, which brings into focus related topics, such as securities regulations, ethics, and corporate social responsibility. Not open to students with credit in BLAW 505.
Prerequisite: BLAW 301 or BLAW 701.
ENTR 895 Profitable Entrepreneurial Growth 2 credits
With the utilization of computer simulation, this course demonstrates the competitive advantages of disruptive innovation to the profitable entrepreneur. Case studies and significant in class discussion comprise the primary learning methods.
ENTR 895 Business Consulting 4 credits
The primary course objective is to provide an experiential learning opportunity that complements and leverages students' in-class experience in those areas of students' primary subject interest/concentration. Business Consulting will present students with real business challenges requireing real time analysis, consideration of practical alternative strategies, exploration of sales and profit implications of the selected strategy and delivery of a fully rationalized recommendation to real clients.
FIN 750 Entrepreneurial Finance I 2 credits
This course will focus on separating and identifying good opportunities from inferior opportunities. We will attempt to place a quantitative value on these opportunities by using different valuation techniques. Students will also study the next step in the entrepreneurial process: raising capital to take advantage of good opportunities. We will study the comparative advantages/disadvantages of funding the new venture via corporate venture capitalists and angels, as well as some innovative methods of venture financing, including venture leasing and venture debt.
FIN 751 Entrepreneurial Finance II 2 credits
This course is divided into three parts. Part I will focus on the private debt market and mezzanine financing. In Part II we will consider how small firms can use strategic alliance and joint venture to create value. Also, we will examine what government sources of funding are available to small firms. Finally, in Part III we will study the ways to harvest the ventures. More specifically, we will focus on IPOs, acquisitions and leveraged buyouts.
MGMT 725 Management of Technology I 2 credits
This course will focus on the role played by technology in the strategic management of firms, both in high-technology and low-technology industries. The use of technology as a major source of competitive advantage, both in terms of new products and processes, and the impact of technology on organizational forms will be discussed. The concept of technology strategy and the role of value creation will be elaborated. The course will make extensive use of cases to illustrate the key concepts.
MGMT 726 Management of Technology II 2 credits
This course will focus on the role of technology in management of operations of a company. Research and development, new product development, operations, and the linkages among them will be detailed. Key organizational issues such as business processes, core process designs, and organization of R&D and scientific laboratories will be discussed. Information technology as a source of organizational change and adoption will be summarized.
MKTG 702 New Product Management 3 credits
The course is designed to develop an understanding for the need of a disciplined process of development, and to follow the basic steps of opportunity identification, testing and implementation. It deals with the strategies, techniques, and methods used to develop and market a new product or service. The emphasis is on ‘learning by doing.’ The course will focus on the enhancement of innovative thinking, the identification and development of marketing opportunities, entry strategies, and developing the marketing mix for the new product.
Prerequisite: BUS 710 or BUS 711 or permission of the instructor.
For more information on the Entrepreneurship concentration, contact: Wally Meyer, wmeyerjr@ku.edu.
Finance impacts every business decision. The disciplined management of money can literally be the difference between a failed business and a successful one. In terms of outside validation, completion of the finance track should prepare a student to master Level I material of the Chartered Financial Analyst exam. Concentration Requirements (12 credits)
download as pdfThe Finance concentration offers a variety of courses covering three main tracks: General Finance- Four required credits of investments basics: FIN 705 and FIN 706.
- Four required credits of corporate finance basics: FIN 745 and FIN 746.
- Two credits of advanced investments from: ACCT 704, ACCT 705, FIN 730, FIN 740 and FIN 741.
- Two credits of advanced corporate finance from: FIN 725, FIN 735, DSCI 740 and FIN 895 (Mergers and Acquisitions).
- Four required credits of investments basics: FIN 705 and FIN 706.
- Six credits of advanced investments from: ACCT 704, ACCT 705, FIN 730, FIN 740 and FIN 741.
- Two credits of the student’s choosing from any finance courses.
- Four required credits of corporate finance basics: FIN 745 and FIN 746.
- Six credits of advanced corporate finance from: FIN 725, FIN 735, DSCI 740 and FIN 895 (Mergers and Acquisitions).
- Two credits of the student’s choosing from any finance courses.
Routinely offered electives include: ACCT 704 Financial Statement Presentation and Analysis I 2 credits ACCT 705 Financial Statement Presentation and Analysis II 2 credits FIN 705 Investment Theory 2 credits FIN 706 Investment Analysis 2 credits FIN 725 Business Valuation 3 credits FIN 730 Applied Portfolio Management 4 credits FIN 735 International Finance 3 credits FIN 740 Global Financial Risk Management I 2 credits FIN 741 Global Financial Risk Management II 2 credits FIN 745 Business Investing 2 credits FIN 746 Business Financing 2 credits DSCI 740 Risk Analysis 3 credits FIN 895 Mergers and Acquisitions 3 credits
Businesses are just ideas without talented employees. Managing the relationship between employees and the business is critical for success. The Human Resources concentration offers a selection of courses surrounding the selecting, hiring, training and compensating of employees. Concentration Requirements (12 credits) download as pdfMGMT 721 Management of Workfoce Diversity 3 credits MGMT 732 Recruiting and Selecting Effective Employees 2 credits MGMT 733 Advanced Methods for Selecting Employees 2 credits MGMT 734 Compensating and Rewarding Employees: Foundations 2 credits MGMT 735 Compensating and Rewarding Employees: Alternative Approaches 2 credits MGMT 736 Managing People: Applications and Skills 2 credits MGMT 737 Internal Labor Markets and Incentive Systems 2 credits MGMT 738 Training and Developing an Effective Workforce 2 credits MGMT 739 Career Development and Management 2 credits MGMT 740 Appraising and Managing Employee Performance 2 credits MGMT 741 International Human Resources Management 2 credits MGMT 742 Labor Markets and Human Capital 2 credits MGMT 743 Legal Environment for Managing Employees 2 credits For more information on the Human Resources concentration, contact: James Guthrie, jguthrie@ku.edu.
The management of technology is one of the most vital, but underappreciated areas of business. Seamlessly integrating technology with business processes takes a unique set of skills. The Information Systems concentration combines knowledge of database analysis, information technology, applications and systems theory with an understanding of business needs and practices. Concentration Requirements (12 credits) download as pdfStudents must complete the following three courses: IST 702 Systems Development 3 credits IST 704 Database Management 3 credits IST 706 Systems Analysis and Design 3 credits Students must choose one of the following to complete concentration requirements: IST 708 Strategic Information Systems Planning 3 credits IST 709 Business Computer Networking 3 credits IST 710 Developments in Software Technology 3 credits IST 712 Information Security 3 credits Students should consider coursework beyound minimum concentration requirements. Potential electives include: IST 730 IT Project Management 3 credits IST 895 Telecommunications Management 3 credits IST 895 Information Systems Consulting 3 credits IST 895 E-Commerce: An Integrated Perspective 1-5 credits IST 895 Web Development and Application 3 credits MGMT 725 Management of Technology I 2 credits MGMT 726 Management of Technology II 2 credits MKGT 710 Internet Marketing 3 credits EECS 603 Information Processing with C++ 3 credits EECS 663 Introduction to Communication Networks 3 credits EMGT 840 Systems Approach to Engineering 3 credits EMGT 844 Managing Software Development Projects 3 credits For more information on the Information Systems concentration, contact: Greg Freix, gfreix@ku.edu.
The truly great businesses provide their products and services to customers throughout the world. Their ability to adapt and solve business problems on a global scale depends on employees who can do the same. The International Business concentration analyzes a variety of business topics from an international perspective. In addition, study-abroad opportunities qualify as credit toward this concentration. Concentration Requirements (12 credits) download as pdfACCT 895 International Accounting 3 credits FIN 735 International Finance 3 credits FIN 740 Global Financial Risk Management I 2 credits FIN 741 Global Financial Risk Management II 2 credits IBUS 701 International Business 2 credits IBUS 702 International Business Strategy 2 credits IBUS 703 Developing and Implementing a China Strategy 2-3 credits IBUS 705 Doing Business in Europe: A French Perspective 2-3 credits IBUS 895 International Business Law 3 credits IBUS 895 Doing Business in Italy 3 credits MGMT 720 Comparative and Cross-Cultural Management 3 credits MGMT 741 International Human Resources Management 2 credits MGMT 746 Global Business Environment 2 credits MKGT 708 Global Marketing 3 credits For more information on the International Business concentration, contact: Melissa Birch, mhbirch@ku.edu.
To most people, management appears to be a simple concept. But as seasoned professionals know, management is quite complex. The Management concentration prepares students to address all forms of development and change throughout an organization. Concentration Requirements (12 credits) download as pdfMGMT 807 Ethical Decision-making in Business 2 credits MGMT 715 Management of Organizations 3 credits MGMT 716 Organizational Change and Development 3 credits MGMT 717 Organizational Problem Solving 3 credits MGMT 718 Organizational Design 3 credits MGMT 720 Comparative and Cross-cultural Management 3 credits MGMT 721 Management of Workforce Diversity 3 credits MGMT 723 Advanced Topics in Management of Organizations 2-5 credits MGMT 814 Behavoral Research Methods 4 credits Students should consider coursework beyound minimum concentration requirements. Potential electives include: BE 710 Organizational Economics 3 credits BE 712 Political Strategy for Managers 2 credits DSCI 746 Contemporary Issues in Operations Management 3 credits FIN 745 Business Investing 2 credits FIN 746 Business Financing 2 credits MKTG 702 New Product Management 3 credits MKTG 706 Strategic Marketing, Planning, and Decision-making 3 credits MGMT 724 Competitive Analysis and Strategy 2 credits MGMT 727 Strategy Implementation 2 credits MGMT 728 Corporate Restructuring 2 credits MGMT 736 Managing People: Applications and Skills 2 credits MGMT 748 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution 3 credits MGMT 749 Market-based Managment 3 credits For more information on the Management concentration, contact: Catherine Schwoerer, cschwoerer@ku.edu.
Every successful business has one thing in common - people want their products or services. It sounds simple, but managing the intricate relationships between the business and its customers is the role of marketing. The Marketing concentration offers a variety of courses in areas ranging from sales, distribution and pricing policy, marketing research, consumer behavior and new product management.
Concentration Requirements (12 credits) download as pdfMKTG 702 New Product Managment 3 credits MKTG 703 Consumer Behavior 3 credits MKTG 704 Marketing Research 3 credits MKTG 705 Marketing Communications 3 credits MKTG 706 Strategic Marketing, Planning, and Decision-making 3 credits MKTG 708 Global Marketing 3 credits MKTG 711 Pricing Strategies 3 credits MKTG 895 Return on Investment Driven Marketing 2 credits For more information on the Marketing concentration, contact: Kissan Joseph, kjoseph@ku.edu.
A successful business focuses on more than short-term success. The longterm growth of the business is critically important. The Strategic Management concentration empowers students with the abilities to plan for growth of a business on an executive level. Courses include the development and execution of various strategies for businesses of all sizes. Concentration Requirements (12 credits) download as pdfStudents must complete the following two courses: IBUS 702 International Business Strategy 2 credits MGMT 895 Corporate Strategy Students must choose among the following to complete concentration requirements: IBUS 701 International Business 2 credits MGMT 725 Management of Technology I 2 credits MGMT 726 Management of Technology II 2 credits MGMT 727 Strategy Implementation 2 credits BE 712 Political Strategies for Managers 2 credits BE 710 Organizational Economics 3 credits FIN 895 Mergers and Acquisitions 3 credits IBUS 895 Global Project Management 3 credits For more information on the Strategic Management concentration, contact: Vince Barker, vbarker@ku.edu.
The Masters Recruiting Office can answer all of your questions regarding program requirements. Contact them at bschoolgrad@ku.edu.
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