MBA Course Descriptions

The MBA is a 15-month cohort program comprised of 12 total courses. Students take one course at a time, and each course is approximately 4 weeks in length. The following is a sample of Pacific's MBA offerings. Specific course schedule may vary year-to-year.

BUS 501 Statistical Analysis and Thinking in Business

The practical applications of statistics and the analysis of data to make meaningful organizational decisions. Topics include probability, sampling, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression analysis and quality improvement.

BUS 502 Financial and Managerial Accounting

Accounting concepts and procedures used in preparation of corporate financial statements: balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows. Measurement of reporting choices within Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Foundations of corporate financial statement analysis. Study use of accounting data in managing businesses by applying techniques for product costing, planning, control, and performance evaluation. Topics include: CVP analysis; variable, absorption, job, activity-based and standard costing; budgeting; responsibility accounting; capital budgeting.

BUS 503 Economics for Managers

A survey of both microeconomics (the study of individual and organizational decision-making), and macroeconomics, which investigates national and international concerns. Economic theory will be complemented by practical applications and discussions of current policy issues affecting business.

BUS 505 Organizational Behavior, Diversity & Leadership

Intensive examination of behavioral science research and theory as a basis for understanding, managing and changing organizations. The course emphasizes effective management with diverse individuals.

BUS 508 Global Enterprise and International Management

Strategies for entering new international markets and managing international operations. Discussion of cultural differences, regional economic integration and emerging markets.

BUS 509 Operations & Supply Chain Management

A managerial level examination of operations strategy with emphasis on application of quantitative models as guides to managerial decision-making. Includes project management, product and service design, Just-In-Time (lean systems), mass customization, and systems thinking.

BUS 510 Marketing Management

Analysis of the marketing effort and decision-making process in private, not-for-profit and public institutions. Normative models for decision-making in different marketing situations. Analytical tools available for appraising, diagnosing, organizing, planning and implementing

BUS 511 Corporate Financial Management

The finance function and its relation to other functions of a firm. Topics include: analysis and budgeting of funds, management of current assets, financing short-term and intermediate-term needs, planning long-term debt policy and capital structure, capital costs and budgeting, dividend policy, valuation, mergers and acquisition.

market plans. Analysis of economic, social and political forces leading to change in the market place. Development of concepts useful in evaluating marketing situations, including those in the international setting.

BUS 520 Marketing Research and Communications

This course introduces the study of research, data analysis and application to business and marketing challenges while combining effective communication processes for dissemination and reporting. While addressing research techniques, topics will include primary and secondary marketing research methodologies, communication strategies, case analysis, and the statistical evaluation of data sets. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate qualitative and quantitative work from existing case studies.

BUS 524 Technology and Innovation Management

An introduction to the study of technology and innovation management, including the phenomena of technology and the integral role it plays in the competitive development and growth of businesses. This course will focus on understanding the managerial aspects of technology in business organizations and how technology is critical in fostering competitive advantage. Case studies will be used to provide students with an overview of corporate strategy as it relates to technology and innovation strategy. Case studies will emphasize the importance of developing, achieving and sustaining a technology based competitive advantage.

BUS 527 Applied Investment Management

Active management of funds allocated by numerous institutional investors. Encompasses investment policy statement (portfolio objectives, constraints, benchmarks, reports), performance evaluation/attribution, analysis (economic, industry, company), valuation, recommendations, portfolio rebalancing, trade execution, ethics of money management.

BUS 530 Advertising and Promotion

Examination of advertising and promotion principles from an integrated marketing communications perspective. Topics include consumer and market analysis, creative strategy, media selection, promotional budgeting, campaign evaluation, and agency relations. This course will provide a theoretical foundation for making effective advertising and promotion decisions. Students will gain an understanding of the role of advertising and promotions as it relates to other marketing functions such as branding and pricing, strategic advantages of an integrated marketing communication campaign as well as an understanding of the advertising industry and the social environment in which it operates.

BUS 545 Entrepreneurial Finance

This course examines the elements of entrepreneurial cash flow management, budget management, and financial risk management. The course addresses questions such as: how much money can and should be raised; when should it be raised and from whom; what is a reasonable valuation of the company; how to budget the use of capital and making dynamic adjustments; and how to control the financial risk of the operations.

BUS 551 Managing Today’s Organizations: HR’s 360-degree view

This course explores the interpersonal dimensions of effective managerial behavior at the individual and team level. Topics include: the new world of work, cross-cultural management, diversity, talent management, performance management, motivation, and team dynamics. Students learn to increase organizational effectiveness by better managing themselves, other individuals, teams and stakeholders of the organization. Students also learn to diagnose and analyze individual and group behavior from different theoretical perspectives, including strategic, political and cultural, and to prescribe appropriate courses of managerial action.

BUS 598 Strategic Management

The application of strategic management concepts, principles and techniques through case analyses. Draws upon professional experience and concepts learned in other functional areas to develop a general management perspective and the ability to impact organizational direction and performance.