Courses
Management
Check back on December 15th for Summer 2010 courses.
Courses in: | Metropolitan College | School of Management | Graduate School of Management
| Undergraduate Courses | Graduate Courses |
Introduction to Management
MET MG 301
A look at the management of an enterprise from the perspective of the chief executive officer. Covers the functions of organizing for successful management. Survey of theories and techniques. Examination of case studies. 4 cr.
Entrepreneurial Management: Starting, Innovating, and Managing Small-, Medium-, and Large-Sized Ventures
MET MG 410
Covers the four key elements of successful entrepreneurial management: choosing a business, organizing, financing, and marketing. Includes preparing a business plan, becoming an entrepreneur, raising venture capital, selling, negotiating, and building an effective organization. Topics given special consideration are the practice of innovation, the art of leadership, and how to relate talents to succeeding in an innovative managed venture and technology management. 4 cr.
Program and Project Management
MET MG 415
An examination of project management concepts, including organizational forms, planning and control techniques, and the role of the project manager. Develops the skills vital to effective management of multidisciplinary tasks through lectures, case studies, and business simulations. 4 cr.
Business in a Changing Society
MET MG 503
Prereq: advanced standing or consent of instructor. An examination of the management process and the social environment in which organizations operate, including a discussion of the manager's responsibilities to employees, customers, stockholders, and society. 4 cr.
Electronic Commerce and Web Design I
MET TM 448
The first course in a two course sequence. This course combines (1) the practical aspect of web design through the use of application software such as Dreamweaver to construct a commercial website with (2) a general overview of the marketing, supporting services, systems, security, and business strategy issues facing commercial enterprises. 4 cr.
Developing, Implementing, and Organizing for New Products and Services
MET TM 520
Addresses the specifics of new product and service development as well as the aspects of internal innovation and the use of technology to increase performance in small, medium, and large firms. Topics include generating and screening initial ideas; assessing user needs and interests; forecasting results; launching and/or improving products/services; and bringing innovation to commercial reality. 4 cr.
Business Communication for International Students
MET AD 501
Techniques for effective written and oral communications. This course is a special offering for student for whom English is a second language. Departmental approval required for non-MSAS students 4 cr.
Economic Sustainability, Development, and Competitiveness of a Tourist Destination
MET AD 657
This course allows the student to understand and learn how to develop and manage tourism destinations that have the capability to perform effectively in an increasingly competitive international marketplace in ways that are environmentally, socially, and culturally sustainable. Topics include: the evolving nature of competition and sustainability, dimensions of competitive destination and sustainable destination, the global macro-environment for tourism, the competitive micro-environment, core resources and attractors, supporting facilities, and destination policy, planning, and development. 4 cr.
Negotiations and Organizational Conflict Resolution
MET AD 725
A communications skills course designed to better understand the nature of conflict and its resolution through persuasion, collaboration, and negotiation. Students learn theories of interpersonal and organizational conflict and its resolution as applied to personal, corporate, historical, and political contexts. Students will assess their own styles, skills, and values, and develop techniques to better resolve disputes, achieve objectives, and exert influence. 4 cr.
Leadership in Management
MET AD 733
Provides a comprehensive overview of leadership skills and abilities through an examination of traditional and contemporary models of leadership. Students examine personal attitudes and perceptions as they relate to their leadership abilities and explore such areas as team building, motivation and reward. This course includes a weekend at the Boston University Sargent Center for Outdoor Education in New Hampshire from June 5-7. The program fee includes room and board for this weekend of experiential learning. 4 cr.
Sargent Center Overview
Learn more about the weekend lab sessions at the Boston University Sargent Center
Program and Project Management
MET AD 742
Examines concepts and applied techniques for cost-effective management of both long-term development programs and smaller short-term projects. Special focus on planning, controlling, and coordinating efforts of multiple individuals and/or working groups. 4 cr.
Competitive Strategies for Dynamic Environments
MET AD 745
Reviews the process whereby organizations establish and pursue goals within internal and external constraints, resources, and opportunities. Topics include strategy and tactics; the process of strategic choice and adjustment; resource assessment; environmental and competitor analysis; stakeholders and values; and strategy implementation, control, and valuation. 4 cr.
International Commerce: Middle East
MET AD 754
Explores the geopolitical environment of the Middle East and its interaction with business. This course integrates the cultural impact on trade via governments, economics systems, and local labor. 4 cr.
International Business Simulation
MET AD 773
Prereq: MET AC 630 and FI 631. Through the use of an international business simulation, students develop the ability to manage in the shifting international environment by integrating finance, strategy, and marketing skills to expand their company globally. By selling, exporting, or manufacturing in up to fourteen countries the simulation is intended to provide the student with a "real life" approach to international expansion, environmental stability, inflation and currency issues, financial operations, as well as international sales and manufacturing issues. The objective of the course is to offer an overview of the factors affecting global business operations in a stimulating learning environment that is enjoyable and challenging. Intensive course. 4 cr.
Politics, Public Relations, and Public Policy: The Boston Harbor Clean Up
MET AD 893
Offers a unique investigation of how business, advocate groups, environmentalists and government can affect the outcome of large projects through negotiation, regulatory process and interaction. Students gain insights into the legal, social, environmental, and historical context that led to the $4 billion dollar twenty-year project that took the Boston Harbor from a sewage infested environment to a swimmable national park. The instructor, Mr. Berman, has served as communication director and spokesman for Save the Harbor/Bay for over ten years. He is one of the region's foremost experts on the restoration as well as the flora and fauna of the Harbor area. Intensive course. 4 cr.
This course was featured in the BU Bridge: Learning about the Boston Harbor Cleanup from the waterway’s eyes, ears, and mouthpiece.
International Business Law
MET MG 721
Provides the student with an understanding of different legal systems as they relate to international business transactions. The course builds the analytical skills required to evaluate legal processes, law, and legislation-related events in international business dealings. 4 cr.
Mathematics for Management
MET OM 500
Provides an overview of fundamental mathematical concepts, with emphasis on the solution of word problems. Topics covered include quadratic equations, signed numbers, polynomials, graphs, roots and radicals, and basic concepts of differential and integral calculus. Prerequisite course which may not be used toward graduate credit. 2 cr.
UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
School of Management undergraduate courses will be held in two six-week terms or, in some cases, as noted, in one twelve-week term. Twelve-week courses meet May 19-August 7, 2009.
Non-SMG Boston University degree candidates: Permission is required for SMG courses. Beginning March 4, students should go to the SMG Undergraduate Program Office for permission. For more information, contact the SMG Undergraduate Program Office at 617-353-2650.
Visiting students can register online, by mail, or in person at the Summer Term office beginning March 4.
SMG students should register via the Student Link beginning March 4.
International Management Environment
SMG IM 345
Prereq: CAS EC 101, EC 102, and junior standing. Required for International Management concentrators. Deals with international economic theories and explores the intersection between theory and practice. Determinants of international trade and payments: international trade theory and policy and balance-of-payments accounting. Explores the implications of trade-promoting and trade-inhibiting institutions and practices: WTO, NAFTA, European Union, etc. Introduces cultural, political, and demographic issues for international managers. 4 cr.
Innovating with Information Technology
SMG IS 479
Prereq: SMG IS 323, junior standing. Surveys the organizational implementation, uses, and impacts of advanced information technology including decision support systems, management support systems, and expert systems. Includes a group project to design and develop a decision support system. 4 cr.
Introduction to Law
SMG LA 245
Prereq: sophomore standing. Sophomore requirement. This course is designed to provide a broad overview of the American judicial system and fundamental legal issues. The course examines dispute resolution, torts, contracts, criminal law, business organizations, employment law, intellectual property, and international law. The goal is to understand not only the basic rules of law but also the underlying social policies and ethical dilemmas. 4 cr.
Strategy and Policy
SMG MG 422
Prereq: SMG FE 323, IS 323, MK 323, OM 323, and senior standing. Senior requirement. SMG MG 422 is only offered for students graduating in September 2009. This course provides students with a powerful set of tools which will prepare them to analyze, formulate, and implement business unit and corporate-level strategy with the aim of attaining sustainable competitive advantage. MG 422 adopts the perspective of the general manager, challenging student knowledge in each functional area in the effort to create integrative strategies that serve the needs of shareholders, as well as other stakeholders inside and outside the company. The course includes conceptual readings, which elucidate the fundamental concepts and frameworks of strategic management, as well as case analyses, which enable students to apply their knowledge to real-world situations and managerial decisions. The course culminates with a final project, which requires student teams to perform a complete strategic analysis on a public company, considering its industry environment and dynamics, its strategic positioning and internal resources, and proposing a course of action for the firm to respond to its strategic challenges. 4 cr.
Introduction to Business
SMG SM 101
A broad introduction to the nature and activities of business enterprises within the United States economic and political framework. Course content introduces economic systems, essential elements of business organization, production, human resource management, marketing, finance, and risk management. Key objectives of the course are development of business vocabulary and a fundamental understanding of how businesses make money. 4 cr.
This course is intended for non-business majors. It may not be taken by SMG students for credit, nor can it be used by Boston University students toward the Business Administration minor. Non-SMG students may register for this course directly via the Student Link.
Probabilistic and Statistical Decision Making for Management
SMG SM 221
Prereq: CAS MA 120, SMG SM 121/122 or SMG SM 299, and sophomore standing. Sophomore requirement. Exposes students to the fundamentals of probability, decision analysis, and statistics, and their applications to business. Topics include probability, decision analysis, distributions, sampling, estimation, hypothesis testing, and chi-square. Please note that students may not receive credit for both SMG SM 221 and CAS EC 305. 6 cr.
Modeling Business Decisions and Market Outcomes
SMG SM 222
Prereq: SMG SM 221, CAS EC 101, and sophomore standing. Sophomore requirement. Examines the use of economic and statistical tools for making business decisions. Topics include optimization (including linear programming), multiple regression, demand modeling, cost modeling, industry analysis (including models of perfect competition, monopoly, and oligopoly), and game theory. The course emphasizes modeling with spreadsheets. 6 cr.
Management as a System (Intensive)
SMG SM 299
Required of all SMG students who did not enter as September freshmen and complete SMG SM 121/122. Prepares transfer students, from both inside and outside the Boston University community, for downstream coursework with the same level of skills and experience as those who matriculated at SMG from the beginning. Focuses on managerial functions and the relationships between those functions. The integration of perspectives is necessary to ensure that the individual student understands the complexity, challenge, and excitement of modern management in the global organization. Emphasis is placed on analytical skills, written analysis, oral presentation, teamwork, and learning. Students must register for two sections: lecture and discussion. 6 cr.
Charting Your Career Path
SMG SM 411
Open only to SMG students. Equips students with tools to become self-aware and market-ready when joining the work force, with a focus on résumé and cover letter development, research techniques, networking tips, and interviewing skills. 0.5 cr.
GRADUATE COURSES
Candidates for the MBA at Boston University are given first consideration for enrollment in the courses offered by the Graduate School of Management.
Students currently matriculated as candidates for other graduate degrees offered by Boston University (except Metropolitan College), visiting MBA students from other AACSB accredited institutions, and MBA alumni from GSM or another AACSB accredited institution may be granted permission to enroll on a space available basis, provided that they meet criteria established by the School of Management for registration as "cross enrolled students" and the student fills out the appropriate "cross enrollment application." All students must meet the prerequisites established for enrollment in advanced courses.
All registration for Summer Term courses must be done at the School of Management Graduate Programs Office, 595 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 104, before May 19 for classes taking place in the first half of the session, and before July 7 for classes taking place in the second half of the session.
GSM Summer 1 classes begin Monday, May 18 and end Monday, July 6. Summer 2 classes begin Tuesday, July 7 and end Monday, August 24. There will be no class sessions on Memorial Day (observed Monday, May 25), or Independence Day (observed Friday, July 3).
Executive Presentation
GSM ES 700
A presenter's delivery skills impact the audience's image of the presenter and the clarity of the message being communicated. A combination of lecture, discussion, and hands-on practice and simulation, this course is designed to help you exercise leadership through verbal communication. 1 cr.
Executive Written Communication
GSM ES 701
This course is a combination of lecture, discussion, and hands-on practice. It is designed to help you exercise leadership through writing and understand how strategies of written communication are an essential aspect of effective management, working relationships in the network era, and overall business strategy. 1 cr.
Managing Career Growth
GSM ES 707
The MBA is simply a step along the path of a career. It provides the skills and tools necessary to take many steps forward, but you must manage where those steps lead and how. Managing Career Growth will provide you the understanding of how to manage your own career going forward. The class will cover: Career self-assessment (interests, values and skills) - Networking and developmental relationships - Career management/advancement strategies - Developing your career marketing plan and professional portfolio. All with the purpose of providing a foundation to not only manage your next steps but continuously assess, network, market and manage yourself. You are indeed a business of one and you are the one responsible for managing that business. Students who took ES711, ES713, ES715, or ES717 may not take this course. 1 cr.
Asian Field Seminar
GSM IM 845
How do we prepare for the emerging opportunities and challenges that China’s economic development and Asia’s growing presence continue to create? This two-week seminar through six cities in China and Korea provides future global business leaders with an opportunity to contemplate answers to the above question. We visit companies (both multinational and local) competing in this dynamic market, meet governmental officials to hear about policies and implications, learn from local MBA professors about what they see our strengths and weaknesses are, participate in real market activities, and develop a global network of knowledge with local MBA students and BU alumni in the region. Through this process, students will deepen their understanding of the unique nature of opportunities and challenges in the region, become more comfortable with the myriad of cultural and communicational details, and explore professional opportunities located in the region. Permission required. Application available in the SMG Graduate Programs Office, Room 104. 3 or 4 cr.
European Field Seminar
GSM IM 851
Prereq: GSM OB 712/713, AC 710/711, FE 721/722, MK 723/724, QM 716/717, FE 727/730. The European Field Seminar gives students an appreciation of "competing in Europe." The European competitive landscape is changing rapidly. Three Boston-based class sessions introduce students to topics such as the history of the European Union, European Community Law, Member States, European Monetary Union and Competition Policy. During a two-week period, the class visits a variety of organizations in Europe to learn about relevant competition issues; students experience first-hand how firms are dealing with them (or should be dealing with them). The wide variety of sectors covered appeals to broad segments of the MBA population. Permission required. Application available in the SMG Graduate Programs Office, Room 104. 3 or 4 cr.
Global Social Enterprise Field Seminar — Brazil
GSM IM 852
Prereq: GSM OB 712, AC 710, QM 716, and FE 727. This intensive ten-day seminar provides students with a broad understanding of the ways in which business strategies can create value at the base of the economic pyramid. Students gain first hand experience of how businesses, NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and government are using models of social enterprise to address social and economic issues in the fields of health, education, and the environment in the context of an emerging market, in this case, Brazil. This study program includes extensive site visits throughout the country to social enterprises, multi-national firms, NGO ventures, and government organizations. Students also hear from a wide variety of Latin American specialists in topic areas. A broad range of topics is covered including: renewable energy, sustainable development, eco-tourism, new models for providing health and education services to underserved populations, social enterprise, micro-enterprise, corporate social responsibility, and public/private partnerships. The course consists of three pre-departure sessions focused on social enterprise, corporate social responsibility, and emerging markets. Students are also expected to select an individual research track of interest for the duration of the seminar. Permission required. Application available in the SMG Graduate Programs Office, Room 104. 3 or 4 cr.
Negotiations
GSM OB 853
Prereq: GSM OB 712/713. This course uses the theory and research on effective negotiating strategies to build students’ understanding of, and skills for, managing differences and negotiation situations. The course considers, among other topics, the issues of negotiating across functions, between levels, across national and cultural differences, over race and gender differences, and between organizations. Students examine: 1) problems of influence and self-defense in highly competitive "hardball" negotiations; and 2) the art of using differences for creative problem-solving and "mutual gain" outcomes. The emphasis is on developing practical skills for effective negotiations that can be applied to concrete situations. Students should be prepared to learn from their own experiences and practice in this course. 3 or 4 cr.
Managerial Decision-Making
GSM OB 860
Prereq: GSM OB 712/713. This course examines theoretical and practical aspects of decision-making. Using a combination of cases, exercises, and psychological and behavioral instruments, students learn to understand and manage decision making from various perspectives. An emphasis is placed on strategic decisions and crisis decisions in a wide variety of circumstances, including business decisions, personal decisions, and managerial decisions made during several different types of events. There is a detailed analysis of managerial decisions made during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Decisions are analyzed using several models, including rational choice, game theory, organizational and communications structure, context analysis, cognitive mapping, and several psychologically based theories. 3 or 4 cr.
Creating Value Through Operations and Technology
GSM OM 726
Prereq: GSM OB 712/713, AC 710/711, QM 716/717 (MK 723/724 and FE 721/722 recommended). This MBA core course is case-oriented and focuses on topics of use to managers in any environment: process analysis, process improvement, supply chain management, and strategic operations decision-making. The course emphasizes the importance of effectiveness and efficiency and evaluates the potential trade-offs between them. 4 cr.
Project Management
GSM OM 855
MSMBA students must take GSM OM 855 or IS 885 to fulfill their requirement. Projects are increasingly the way that work gets done in companies of all types and sizes. In this course you will learn the strategic dimensions of project management, including critical aspects of project selection, definition, planning, execution, and monitoring. Concepts and approaches for dealing with complexity, uncertainty, vague mandates, temporary staff, partners, stakeholders, dynamic risk, and time-critical deadlines are emphasized. Cases and readings cover a wide range of industry and organizational contexts. This course requires that students apply these topics and considerations to a real project of their choice either by analysis of publicly available information or direct field study. 3 or 4 cr.
Data Analysis for Managerial Decision-Making
GSM QM 717
Prereq: GSM OB 712/713. Managers deal with a large amount of information in quantitative form. Effective managers must understand the conditions under which quantitative techniques may be appropriately applied for decision-making. In this course, students develop skills in using the computer to examine and report data. The focus is on deriving meaning from particular data sets, and the use of statistical estimation, hypothesis testing, and regression/correlation analysis in decision-making. 4 cr.
Current Topics in Law and Ethics
GSM SP 700
Survey of contemporary issues in selected areas of law and ethics. We introduce pivotal areas of law, so that students begin to anticipate legal problems, analyze how to avoid them, and realize how legal principles can be employed to add value in their chosen fields. The subjects are torts, contracts, employment law, securities regulation and corporate governance. We expect that this overview of a few disciplines will encourage students to explore other legal topics relevant to their business interests. We also offer an analytic structure that enables students to identify ethical issues in business, analyze options, and make choices consistent with their own values. 2 cr.
Competition, Innovation, and Strategy
GSM SP 751
Prereq: GSM AC 710/711, MK 723/724, OB 712/713, OM 725/726. An integrative course designed to capitalize on your understanding of finance, operations management, marketing, and other functional issues. The course draws on a number of academic disciplines, especially economics, organization theory, and sociology, to build a fundamental understanding of how and why some firms achieve and sustain superior performance. We also study why some firms persistently generate returns that are lower than average. The course is analytically focused and requires that you evaluate both the external environment and the internal capabilities of organizations. Corporate diversification and global management are important topics that are also featured. GSM students only. 4 cr.
Inventing a Sustainable Future
GSM SP 847
At no other time in human history has one generation faced greater challenges or greater opportunities to shape the future of the planet and its 6.7 Billion inhabitants. “Inventing a Sustainable Future” provides an overview of global sustainability challenges while exposing participants to leading edge science and innovative technological developments and entrepreneurial opportunities in food, water, waste management, energy, transportation, health care, education, and urban development. Students will be asked to develop an integrative and pragmatic proposal for specific solutions to a particular problem, balancing both technological capabilities and economic impacts of solutions against customer needs and social/gov’t policy/regulatory issues and stakeholder issues. 3 or 4 cr.
Emerging Issues in Business Law
GSM SP 861
Introduces graduate business students to fundamentals of legal analysis by focusing on timely legal problems of particular interest to business. Students develop familiarity with substantive legal principles and leave the course with the ability to recognize legal issues, discuss them intelligently, and understand why the lawyers seem incapable of giving a simple answer. The course uses lectures to provide a common foundation of knowledge. It is primarily discussion based, using a question and answer format to engage students in the process of legal analysis. 3 or 4 cr.
Strategy Consulting
GSM SP 865
Prereq: GSM CD 710 or OB 710/711 or OB 712 or OB 713, AC 710/711, FE 727/730, QM 716/717. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of strategy consulting. We will explore dimensions of defining and understanding the strategy consulting assignment, client relationship-management, work methodology, value creation, and presentation and follow up. 3 or 4 cr.
