Elective Course Descriptions
The elective courses are your chance to customize your Capital MBA! You choose if you want to concentrate in a specific area (e.g. finance or marketing). You choose if you want to take an elective at the same time as a core course. You choose if you want to take a condensed elective that meets during the day for four Fridays. It is all up to you!
The Capital MBA offers electives every trimester. Some electives are offered every year. Others are developed and offered in response to students’ and employers’ evolving interests.
MBA 799 - Research Paper/Project
This course provides an opportunity for Capital MBA students to investigate a problem or issue in depth. It is the responsibility of the student to contact an instructor and receive approval for the project/paper prior to the start of the semester. Meeting dates and times are by arrangement with the instructor. The study concludes with a written report that is the basis for assigning the final letter grade.
INSTRUCTOR - Determined by student CREDIT HOURS - 1 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Every Trimester
MBA 802 - Brand Management
This course focuses on advanced marketing strategy. We examine the theories and practices that successful companies are using to attain competitive advantage in the current environment of hypercompetition and customer power.
INSTRUCTOR - D. Swaddling/D. Schwantes CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Summer
MBA 804 - Marketing Research
This course helps marketing managers and business owners avoid the pitfalls of illdefined or poorly executed marketing research and to assure them that they are getting the most out of their research budgets. Moreover, they will become knowledgeable users of marketing research whether they originate it or use an outside supplier.
INSTRUCTOR - D. Schwantes CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Fall
MBA 809 - High Impact Leadership
In this course, you'll explore your personal leadership style and learn new tools to help you expand your skills. Your guide will be the Leadership Development Profile (LDP), an assessment tool that focuses on the relationship between patterns of action and the internal assumptions that drive your behavior.
INSTRUCTOR - M. Metcalf CREDIT HOURS - 3 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Fall
MBA 813 - Marketing Communications
This elective course is intended for students desiring a deeper study of the communication elements in the marketing mix. Topics include promotional strategy, advertising, public relations, sales promotion and direct marketing. Attention will be given to both message development, as well as media selection, to achieve the desired marketing communications objectives.
INSTRUCTOR - D. Schwantes CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Fall
MBA 814 - Marketing Consulting
This course provides students with a practical understanding of independent consulting. Students gain an understanding of how to start an independent consulting business. Beyond a general understanding of independent consulting, students conduct a consulting project on a marketing - related topic with a real client.
INSTRUCTOR - L. Dailey CREDIT HOURS - 3 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Spring
MBA 815 - Consumer Behavior/Focus Groups
This course provides students with insight into consumer behavior and qualitative research. We will examine the consumer decision-making process. Furthermore, we gain experience with qualitative research methods, specifically focus groups.
INSTRUCTOR - L. Dailey CREDIT HOURS - 3 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Summer
MBA 819 - Entrepreneurship
This course gives you a real taste of what it takes to be an entrepreneur. You will be coached as you get your new venture idea or concept on paper and pitch it to capital sources, serial entrepreneurs and C-level decision makers.
INSTRUCTOR - W. Hill CREDIT HOURS - 3 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Spring
MBA 824 - Real Estate Investment
This course provides a comprehensive approach to the study of real estate as an investment opportunity. A wide variety of real estate topics and principles are explored. Students meet with commercial and residential real estate professionals.
INSTRUCTOR - R. Weiler CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Fall
MBA 825 - Investment Management
This course investigates securities investments and related management activities. Topics include investing in stocks, mutual funds, bonds and derivatives. Both theoretical concepts and practical methodologies are discussed. This focuses on security analysis and asset management for institutional portfolios.
INSTRUCTOR - E. Zanner CREDIT HOURS - 3 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Fall
MBA 826 - Business Tax Planning
This course focuses on the federal income taxation of businesses, particularly corporate and partnership taxation under Subchapters C and K, respectively, and Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code.
INSTRUCTOR - S. Martin CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Spring
MBA 827 - Commercial Bank Management - Financial Institutions
This course provides an overview of how commercial banks and similar financial institutions operate. Students learn how banks gather deposits, make loans, manage their assets and liabilities, and provide other financial services. Related topics will include bank mergers, analysis of bank financial performance, and future trends in banking.
INSTRUCTOR - H. Whitney CREDIT HOURS - 3 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Spring
MBA 828 - Financial Markets and Instruments
This course introduces students to the financial instruments available for investment purposes and exposes students to the markets in which they trade. The first half of the course highlights these instruments and markets. The second half includes a mandatory field trip to Chicago to observe financial markets and the players in action. There will be an additional charge covering air fare, hotel, and some meals.
INSTRUCTOR - H. Whitney CREDIT HOURS - 3 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Summer
MBA 836 - Project Management
This introductory course addresses both the technical and behavioral aspects of managing projects. Students learn the fundamentals of planning, scheduling, organizing and controlling projects. Exercises provide hands-on experience with Microsoft Project software. In addition, the course covers related human resources and behavioral topics, such as project organization structures and managerial styles.
INSTRUCTOR - B. Greenfield CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Spring
MBA 837 - Total Rewards
Participants are introduced to the total rewards model and each of its components. Emphasis is given to the five elements of total rewards: compensation, benefits, work-life, performance and recognition, and development and career opportunities.
INSTRUCTOR - D. Thompson CREDIT HOURS - 3 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Spring
MBA 838 - Financial Case Analysis The goal of this class is to develop an understanding of the nature of the financial decision and policy options faced by managers in realistic corporate settings and to develop an appreciation of how finance theory can be applied in practice. Candidates will develop the skill to interpret financial information to address a variety of financial issues, identify problems and opportunities, undertake analysis and formulate policy recommendations.
INSTRUCTOR - Roychoudhury CREDIT HOURS - 3 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Spring
MBA 839 - Persuasive Marketing
Students will explore persuasive strategies in marketing communications as well as face-to-face sales, including the modern scientific and psychological basis of persuasion and influence. The course will focus on the development and application of effective persuasive marketing strategies in marketing and sales opportunities, as well as their implications for marketing generally. The outcomes of this course will be obtained through the use of case studies, active learning and independent research, assigned readings, class discussions and short writing assignments.
INSTRUCTOR – S. Iannarino CREDIT HOURS – 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Fall
MBA 844 - High Performance Teams
In this course, you'll explore your own leadership style and how it impacts your team. To inspire team members to achieve a shared vision, a creative leader must capture their collective imagination. You'll learn to create a shared vision, involve key stakeholders, and build a foundation of trust that fosters true collaboration.
INSTRUCTOR - S. Marks CREDIT HOURS - 1 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Fall
MBA 847 - Organizational Influence
This course focuses on influencing with integrity and exercising leadership at all levels of the organization. Influence revolves around flexibility and flexibility requires knowledge of your impact. The class offers a combination of scholarly research and "hands on" practical learning.
INSTRUCTOR - D. Thompson CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Spring
MBA 848 - Strategic Work/Life Effectiveness
This course explores issues associated with work/life effectiveness from both the individual and organizational perspectives. Total compensation, organizational culture, employee recruitment and retention are only some of the areas impacted by work/life issues.
INSTRUCTOR - D. Thompson CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Summer
MBA 851 - Advanced Spreadsheet Analysis and Databases
This course provides you with an opportunity to advance your ability to effectively use spreadsheets and databases. We will include advanced windowing and preference operations; advanced file operations and data interchange; advanced functions; macro commands and customization.
INSTRUCTOR - TBA CREDIT HOURS - 3 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Spring
MBA 853 - Employment Law Essentials for Managers
This course focuses on the key aspects of workplace law. Classes will include in¬class case studies, discussion of live workplace situations shared by students themselves, and scenario analyses integrating the multiple and complex areas of workplace law. You will develop a deep appreciation of the legal issues that every manager must be familiar with in order to become successful.
INSTRUCTOR - S. Keyes CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Summer
MBA 859 - Conflict & Negotiations
This course helps you better understand conflict management and negotiations in a variety of settings. Through regular role plays followed by debriefing sessions students learn how to effectively negotiate.
INSTRUCTOR - S. Peck CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Summer
MBA 863 - Organizational Transformation
This course will give you the tools you need to plan and manage a business transformation. We will spend 2 class sessions using a change management simulation. Each student will then select a real business situation to use for the balance of the class that they would like to transform. This situation will serve as the foundation for a change plan the student will create and implement based on the materials we cover in the class. The final outcome of the course will be a solid understanding of the change management and transformation process along with a tangible plan that can be executed during or after the class.
INSTRUCTOR – M. Metcalf, 2 CREDIT HOURS, OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Spring
MBA 869 - Selected Issues in Corporate Governance
This course deals with the issues and risks facing a corporation's board of directors and officers. This includes regulations, significant court cases and liabilities affecting the directors and officers, as well as The Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. Additionally, various other governance issues will be discussed. It is possible that issues associated with not for profit boards will also be explored
This course deals with the issues and risks facing a corporation's board of directors and officers. This includes regulations, significant court cases and liabilities affecting the directors and officers, as well as The Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. Additionally, various other governance issues will be discussed. It is possible that issues associated with not for profit boards will also be explored
INSTRUCTOR - K. Hinze CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Summer
MBA 870 - Global Business
This course will at first provide an introductory discussion of the political, social and cultural determinants of international business. We will then analyze major ideas, strategies, concepts, institutions and (current as well as past) events that comprise the global business environment. We will study according to the Socratic method, use case studies and gain knowledge from guest speakers.
INSTRUCTOR – S. Perry Credit Hours – 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Spring
MBA 875 - Fundamentals of Lean Six Sigma
Students will learn the fundaments of the DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) methodology to eliminate waste, reduce defect levels and improve process performance. Project selection, project chartering and project leadership techniques will be covered. Additionally, students will apply Lean management techniques and the basic Six Sigma process improvement tools to projects in their work environments. Basic statistical problem solving techniques may be covered as time permits.
INSTRUCTOR - T. Jostes CREDIT HOURS - 3 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Fall
MBA 876-Financial Modeling with Excel
This course uses Microsoft Excel in solving common financial models. We address four major areas in finance – Corporate Finance, Portfolio Management, Fixed Income and Risk Management. Students learn how to design and construct financial models for analyzing a variety of decision problems facing today’s financial managers and professionals. Students learn how to use a variety of Microsoft Excel tools and techniques, such as financial and statistical functions, what-if scenarios, one-and two-way input tables, pivot tables, probability analysis, optimization, regression analysis and Monte Carlo simulations.
Prerequisites MBA 611 and MBA 720; Special requirements – students should bring their laptops to class.
INSTRUCTOR – S. Roychoudhury CREDIT HOURS – 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Fall
MBA 877-Managing Risk and Realizing Opportunity
Managing risk is critical for an organization’s survival and long-term viability. This course provides an executive-level, qualitative framework for comprehensively assessing risk and its implications for organizations and individuals. All business professionals, not just those with risk management job descriptions, have an important role to play in how their organizations address current and emerging risks.
The course outcomes are based on class participation, assigned readings, case studies, and independent research; one class presentation; and one short paper.
INSTRUCTOR – S. Woerner CREDIT HOURS – 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY – Fall
MBA 880-Communication for Managers
This course offers managers an opportunity to develop a solid foundation of communication skills critical to effective leadership and management. Topics will include interpersonal communication effectiveness, change management/communication, developing and executing communication strategies, audience analysis, coaching, and an opportunity to further develop presentation skills.
INSTRUCTOR - C. Gade CREDIT HOURS - 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY - Fall
MBA 887 - Management in Governmental and Not-for-Profit Sectors
Effectively managing government and not-for-profit organizations requires management, reporting and financial tracking skills that are significantly different from those needed in for-profit firms. Management in Governmental and Not-for-Profit Sectors provides a broad introduction to public administration topics with a focus on the differences in managing government and not-for-profit versus for-profit organizations. The course explores the unique characteristics of leadership and organizational theory, ethics and financial management in the context of the not for profit sectors.
INSTRUCTOR – T. Lazofson CREDIT HOURS – 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY – Summer
MBA 888 - Social Media Marketing
Students will explore Social Media Marketing with an emphasis on identifying the rule-sets that are currently being developed by businesses--and consumers--in real time; understanding how these rule-sets, strategies, and tactics are changing the way marketing organizations interact and engage with their customers and prospective customers; identifying the tools currently being used and evaluating their usefulness to a marketing strategy overall; identifying the risks and rewards of using social media; and identifying how social media marketing fits into an overall Marketing plan and strategy.
INSTRUCTOR – S. IANNARINO CREDIT HOURS – 2 OFFERED POTENTIALLY – Spring