Business Administration
This is an archived copy of the 2022-23 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ndsu.edu.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at North Dakota State University is a non-thesis, professional program structured to serve qualified students with undergraduate degrees in various fields. The program is designed to provide the student with an effective set of analytical skills, a broad view of the way organizations work, and an understanding of the functional areas of business. The NDSU program provides a generalized core curriculum along with a variety of elective options in areas such as business analytics, digital marketing and innovation, and leadership and managerial skills.
NDSU business faculty use a variety of teaching methods: case studies, group and individual projects, field research, computer applications, guest lecturers, student presentations, and discussion. Class interaction provides rich opportunity to network with professionals from a wide range of industries and countries. The student is able to acquire and improve problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills and apply these skills in business situations.
Financial Assistance
The College of Business offers financial assistance through a limited number of graduate assistantships and scholarships. Applicants must be admitted on a conditional or full-standing basis to be considered for either an assistantship or scholarship. In addition to a stipend, graduate assistants receive a graduate tuition waiver. Tuition waivers cover base tuition for NDSU graduate credits only. Students are responsible for differential tuition, student fees, and tuition for non-graduate level credits taken or Cooperative Education credits. Awards are offered on a competitive, case-by-case basis.
GMAT/GRE**
Individuals seeking admission to the MBA program may request a waiver of the GMAT/GRE requirement if they meet one of the following requirements:
- The applicant holds a terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., J.D., etc.).
- The applicant has a minimum of five (5) years of recent, post-bachelor’s, full-time, professional work experience, including managerial responsibilities.
Appropriate documentation (i.e. official transcript, resume) is required to be uploaded to the application file. It does not, however, guarantee a waiver. Applicants are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and waiver approval is determined at the discretion of the MBA program coordinator and/or director.
The total course requirements to complete the MBA degree will vary depending on the background of the student. An adequate background in the functional areas of business is necessary for all students.
Foundation course areas include accounting, economics, statistics, management, marketing, and finance. Based on previous course work, some or all of these courses may be waived.
Beyond the foundation course requirements, all students must complete 30 semester hours of graduate work. Graduate courses in the MBA program include the following eight required 2-credit core courses, along with 14 credits of approved electives.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MBA Core Courses (16 credits) | ||
MBA 701 | Strategic Cost Management | 2 |
MBA 702 | Advanced Financial Management | 2 |
MBA 703 | Advanced Organizational Behavior | 2 |
MBA 704 | Supply Chain and Operations Management | 2 |
MBA 705 | Strategic Marketing Management | 2 |
MBA 706 | Managing Information Resources | 2 |
MBA 707 | Microeconomics for Managers | 2 |
MBA 708 | Advanced Strategic Management | 2 |
MBA Elective Course Options (14 credits) | 14 | |
Advanced Investment Analysis | ||
Advanced Portfolio Management | ||
Financial Derivatives | ||
Financial Analysis and Valuation | ||
Creating and Marketing Innovations | ||
Marketing Analytics and Customer Intelligence | ||
Digital Marketing | ||
Integrated Marketing Communications | ||
Leading and Managing Teams | ||
Managerial Leadership: Essential Competencies | ||
Management Decision Making | ||
Negotiations | ||
Business Analytics Concepts | ||
Business Analytics Strategy | ||
Business Analytics Methods | ||
Any 700-level or higher course offered by the College of Business may be accepted as an elective for the MBA program. Select 600-level courses (FIN 610, FIN 620, FIN 630, FIN 640, and MGMT 630) may also be accepted as electives for the MBA program, so long as the student has not already earned credit for a 400-level equivalent course. | ||
Total Credits | 30 |
Business Analytics Graduate Certificate
Description
The Business Analytics Graduate Certificate equips working professionals with methodologies and analytical tools needed to analyze data available in modern organizations. Participants will learn to use advanced spreadsheet functionality, dashboard visualization tools, and report generators for descriptive analytics to understand and report on historical data. In addition, participants will use data mining and other advanced methodologies for predictive and prescriptive analytics to understand future trends.
Curriculum
The certificate requires 8 credits of study, comprised of the following four courses.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MBA 751 | Business Analytics Concepts | 2 |
MBA 752 | Business Analytics Strategy | 2 |
MBA 753 | Business Analytics Methods | 2 |
MBA 722 | Marketing Analytics and Customer Intelligence | 2 |
Leadership and Managerial Skills Graduate Certificate
Description
The Leadership and Managerial Skills Graduate Certificate is designed to help participants improve their skills relating to decision making, communicating, negotiating, working in teams, and leading. In addition to learning theoretical aspects of these areas, the courses in the certificate also provide opportunities for students to improve their “soft skills” relating to working with other people and organizations.
Curriculum
The certificate requires 8 credits of study, comprised of the following four courses.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MBA 731 | Leading and Managing Teams | 2 |
MBA 732 | Managerial Leadership: Essential Competencies | 2 |
MBA 733 | Management Decision Making | 2 |
MBA 734 | Negotiations | 2 |
Digital Marketing and Innovation Graduate Certificate
Description
The Digital Marketing and Innovation Graduate Certificate advances participants' knowledge and skill in areas such as marketing strategy, communication, and customer intelligence. Students learn about such topics as new product development, strategy analysis, search engine optimization, marketing analytics, integrated marketing communications, various media vehicles, and much more.
Curriculum
The certificate requires 8 credits of study, comprised of the following four courses.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MBA 721 | Creating and Marketing Innovations | 2 |
MBA 722 | Marketing Analytics and Customer Intelligence | 2 |
MBA 723 | Digital Marketing | 2 |
MBA 724 | Integrated Marketing Communications | 2 |
Somnath Banerjee, Ph.D.
University of Central Florida, 2015
Field: Marketing
Scott Beaulier, Ph.D.
George Mason University, 2004
Field: Economics
John Bitzan, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1997
Field: Economics
Linlin Chai, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 2016
Field: Marketing
Jun Chen, Ph.D.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2014
Field: Accounting & Information Systems
James W. Clifton, M.Acc.
University of North Dakota, 1988
Field: Accounting
Thomas D. Dowdell, Ph.D.
Temple University, 2004
Field: Accounting
Rajani Ganesh-Pillai, Ph.D.
University of Central Florida, 2009
Field: Marketing
Yongtao "David" Hong, Ph.D.
Drexel University, 2008
Field: Accounting
Huichi Huang, Ph.D.
Syracuse University, 2012
Field: Accounting
Fariz Huseynov, Ph.D.
University of Memphis, 2009
Field: Finance
Joseph M. Jones, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-Columbia, 1991
Field: Marketing
Derek Lehmberg, Ph.D.
University of Western Ontario, 2010
Field: Strategic Management
Joshua Marineau, Ph.D.
University of Kentucky, Lexington, 2012
Field: Organizational Behavior
Oudom Hean, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University, 2020
Filed: Economics
Supavich Pengnate, Ph.D.
Oklahoma State University, 2013
Field: Management Information Systems
Michael J. Peterson, Ph.D.
The University of Iowa, 2002
Field: Accounting
Tim O. Peterson, Ph.D.
Texas A&M University at College Station, 1988
Field: Management/Organizational Behavior
Frederick Riggins, Ph.D.
Carnegie Mellon University, 1994
Field: Management Information Systems
Clay Routledge, Ph.D.
University of Missouri–Columbia, 2005
Field: Management
Limin Zhang, Ph.D.
University of Arizona, 2005
Field: Management Information Systems
Courses
MBA 701. Strategic Cost Management. 2 Credits.
This course introduces managerial accounting for decision making and control in profit-directed organizations. It also defines product costing, budgetary control systems, and performance evaluation systems for planning, coordinating, and monitoring the performance of a business. Students will understand how modern organizations use managerial accounting to effectively plan and control operations and make sound business decisions. Prereq: Admission to MBA program.
MBA 702. Advanced Financial Management. 2 Credits.
In-depth coverage of concepts and decision-making tools in financial analysis, cost of capital, capital structure, capital budgeting, and dividend policy through analyzing competitive situations and developing strategic views of key financial dimensions. Prereq: Admission to MBA program.
MBA 703. Advanced Organizational Behavior. 2 Credits.
This course is intended to introduce you to the essentials of the most important organizational behavior concepts and principles through instruction, reading, cases, and experience. The course focuses on practical and useful information and skills which will aid you in managing and working in an organization. The course will use evidence-based research to examine and explore the relationship between individual, team, and organizational characteristics and individual outcomes.
Prereq: Admission to MBA program.
MBA 704. Supply Chain and Operations Management. 2 Credits.
Study of analysis and decision-making directed at creating, producing, and bringing goods and services to market under uncertain business conditions. Includes techniques from project management, supply chain management, quality management, inventory management, forecasting, and productions planning.
Prereq: Admission to MBA program.
MBA 705. Strategic Marketing Management. 2 Credits.
Focus on the conceptual framework, managerial approach and analysis of deploying marketing resources to communicate and deliver value. Prereq: Admission to MBA program.
MBA 706. Managing Information Resources. 2 Credits.
Managerial perspectives on the role of information resources in supporting organizational functions including the strategic use of information systems; use, design, and evaluation of information resources; use of information technologies for managerial decision making, and IT support of different and business functions. Prereq: Admission to the MBA program.
MBA 707. Microeconomics for Managers. 2 Credits.
This course will provide students with an understanding of microeconomic tools for managerial decision making. Students will learn how to use an understanding of economics to make better value maximization decisions for their company. Course topics will include supply/demand principles, demand elasticity and estimation, production and costs, market structure, strategic interaction, complex pricing problems, and decisions under risk. Prereq: Admission to MBA program.
MBA 708. Advanced Strategic Management. 2 Credits.
This course teaches from the perspective of top management, integrating functional business expertise into analysis of the firm's internal resources and capabilities with analysis of the external environment in which the firm competes, to enable formulation and implementation of company strategy. Prereq: MBA 701, MBA 702, MBA 703, MBA 704, MBA 705, MBA 706.
MBA 711. Advanced Investment Analysis. 2 Credits.
This course provides students with a fundamental understanding of investments and the theory and practice of financial valuation. Students will learn how to value a publicly listed company after identifying key internal and external investment factors. Students will deliver a detailed research recommendation on a stock investment idea. Students will use Bloomberg terminals in the Commodity Trading Lab to gain hands-on experience through valuation analysis and have the opportunity to participate in the Student Managed Investment Fund (Bison Fund). This course will also be useful for students who are planning to take the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exams. Prereq: Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 712. Advanced Portfolio Management. 2 Credits.
This course provides students with a fundamental understanding of investments and the theory and practice of modern portfolio management. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of portfolio construction and performance evaluation. Students will use Bloomberg terminals in the Commodity Trading Lab to gain hands-on experience through portfolio management and have the opportunity to participate in the Student Managed Investment Fund (Bison Fund). Students will deliver a written report and detailed presentation of their portfolio results. This course will also be useful for students who are planning to take the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exams. Prereq:Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 713. Financial Derivatives. 2 Credits.
This course is designed to enable students to understand the nature and functions of financial derivatives, including the various futures and options contracts. It covers the role of derivatives markets, the characteristics of derivative products, pricing methodology, and trading strategy of derivatives.
MBA 714. Financial Analysis and Valuation. 2 Credits.
The goal of this course is to develop MBA students' ability to use financial information and related disclosures to evaluate the underlying economics of a firm. This course covers the theory and practice of financial analysis and valuation, and particularly focuses on the analysis, interpretation and prediction of firm financial performance, such as profitability and risks, operating and non-operating cash flows, and management of strategic financing and investing. Prereq: Admission to the MBA program.
MBA 721. Creating and Marketing Innovations. 2 Credits.
This course focuses on creating and enhancing customer value though new products and services. Students will learn the value of new product strategy and new product development process from opportunity identification to launch. Prereq: Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 722. Marketing Analytics and Customer Intelligence. 2 Credits.
This course takes a very hands-on approach with customer intelligence and equips students with the marketing science understanding and techniques they need to solve real-world marketing challenges. This course uses a combination of lectures, cases, and exercises. Prereq: Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 723. Digital Marketing. 2 Credits.
This course focuses on understanding, managing and analyzing an organization's digital marketing strategy. Topics related to online business models, search engine optimization, paid search and display advertising, web analytics, email marketing, social media marketing and reputation management will be considered. Prereq: Admission to the MBA program.
MBA 724. Integrated Marketing Communications. 2 Credits.
This course focuses on marketing communications management in terms of strategy development, implementation, and evaluation. It examines the effects of changing environmental circumstance on integrated marketing communications and promotional strategy - budget allocation, messages, and media vehicles adopted. Prereq: Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 731. Leading and Managing Teams. 2 Credits.
This course is designed to prepare students to effectively develop, lead, and manage teams. We will examine and practice team development. We will examine critical team processes and how to manage these processes. We will have the opportunity to practice both the management skills and leadership skills necessary to have effective collaboration among team members. Prereq: Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 732. Managerial Leadership: Essential Competencies. 2 Credits.
This course is designed to prepare graduate students for the role of being a managerial leader. We will examine and practice the essential competencies such as creating a compelling purpose, role clarification inspiration/motivation, problem solving, team building needed as a manager and a leader. Prereq: Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 733. Management Decision Making. 2 Credits.
This course provides tools and experiences to allow managers to become more sophisticated and effective decision makers. It examines logical processes relating to decision making, but also incorporates behavioral and organizational aspects of decision making. Prereq: Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 734. Negotiations. 2 Credits.
This course is designed to provide practical negotiating knowledge primarily through hands-on experiential exercises. Topics covered are useful to the practicing manager and readings and lectures are designed to reinforce lessons learned during actual negotiations. Some of the topics covered: using agents in negotiation, establishing value, distributive and integrative bargaining, working across diverse contexts, and employing (and defending) against common negotiation tactics. Prereq: Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 735. Global Business. 2 Credits.
This course exposes students to economic, financial, marketing, and strategic views of international business to enable students to better understand the challenges and opportunities firms face competing in the global business arena. Prereq: Admission to the MBA program.
MBA 751. Business Analytics Concepts. 2 Credits.
This course covers important business data analytics concepts including data warehousing, OLAP, ETL, data mining, self-service business intelligence, and business reporting and visualization tools. It provides hands-on experience in the use of some popular data analytics software tools with a focus on aiding managerial decision-making across different business functional areas. Prereq: Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 752. Business Analytics Strategy. 2 Credits.
Case-based discussion course examining how data analytics impact organizations today and issues related to the development of an overall business data analytics organizational strategy. Topics include business data analytics in organizations and its impact on business functional areas, strategic use of data and information, ethical issues related to data collection and usage, social and legal implications of pervasive digitization, and management of intellectual property. Prereq: Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 753. Business Analytics Methods. 2 Credits.
This managerially-oriented course covers the use of analytic tools to generate predictive models such as logistic regression, decision trees, neural networks, and cluster analysis to generate deeper business insights in direct support of managerial decision making. Prereq: Admission in the MBA program or permission of the MBA program coordinator or MBA program director.
MBA 793. Individual Study/Tutorial. 1-5 Credits.
MBA 893. Individual Study/Tutorial. 1-5 Credits.