Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular term. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• QST BE 101: Introductory Microeconomics for Business and Strategy
  Business economics provides students with an intellectual framework for understanding how businesses work: how firms interact in markets, and how markets respond to regulation and policy. Business economics has a dual mission: it is both a social science that describes how markets function and a framework that provides practical guidance for business leaders. This course focuses on business-relevant questions of how markets and businesses interact to create and distribute value. The course takes a data-based, empirical approach to these questions and uses experiential learning and interactive activities to enhance students' applications of economics to BU business problems. The course describes how social value is created via innovation and economic growth and how social value can be destroyed through harmful externalities. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Critical Thinking, Ethical Reasoning, Social Inquiry I.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Social Inquiry I
• QST BE 102: Introduction to Macroeconomics for Business
  Pre-requisite: CASEC 101 or QSTBE 101. Sound business decision-making requires an understanding of the economic environment in which firms operate. It requires an understanding of key economic indicators, the role of economic institutions, and the mechanics of the macroeconomy,. This course builds upon the Business Economics course in Introductory Microeconomic for Business to introduce students to the economic theories and tools that enable a better understanding of national economic performance; the problems of recession, unemployment, and inflation; money creation, government spending, and taxation; economic policies for full employment and price stability; and international trade and payments, interpreted through the lens of business. The course takes a data-based, empirical approach to these questions and uses experiential learning and interactive activities to enhance students' applications of macroeconomics to business problems. Effective Spring 2026, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Social Inquiry I.
• QST BE 325: Strategy in the Health and Life Science Sector
  Undergraduate Pre-requisite: Sophomore standing. - This course examines the distinctive strategic and economic challenges that healthcare and life science firms face. It explores how innovators, providers, and insurers in the healthcare industry create and capture value. We will develop frameworks of competition specific to the healthcare industry. Public policy responds to the unique features of these markets, and we will examine how this generates new affects business opportunities. The course offers insights into the unique aspects of the U.S. healthcare system and how it compares globally. We explore questions such as: How does payment affect the types of drugs firms develop' How do insurers avoid expensive customers' Who is incentivized to offer high-quality health care' Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Social Inquiry II.
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  • Social Inquiry II
• QST BE 350: The Psychology of Decision Making: Implications for Business and Public Policy
  Undergraduate Pre-requisite: Sophomore standing. - We provide an introduction to how individuals make decisions, applying the tools of psychology and economics. We will learn to identify common mistakes and biases. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate their own decision- making ability and learn how to make improved decisions. We link each aspect of decision-making studied to current personal finance decision, business problem & public policy issue. This course will improve negotiation ability and prepare students to use social science data to support decisions. The course consists of cases, discussions, lectures & project. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Critical Thinking.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Social Inquiry II
• QST BE 720: Organizations, Markets, and Society
  Understanding and analyzing the core strategic decisions facing businesses in competitive markets. Students will examine how businesses achieve their fundamental goals given the need to produce goods and services efficiently and a market environment reflecting consumer preferences (demand) and the strategies and strengths of competitors. Students will develop analytic skills necessary for understanding core business models and how different models create value for the business as well as the larger society.
• QST BE 721: Economics and Management Decisions
  Graduate Pre-requisite: QST MO712 or MO713 (QST QM716 or QM717 recommended). The aim of the course is to present many of the decision problems managers face and to present the economic analysis they need to guide these decisions. Microeconomic tools are used to structure complicated decision problems about production, pricing, investment, and other strategic issues, address uncertainty through probabilistic forecasts and sequential decisions. An important part of the course is to develop an understanding of the external environment in which firms operate by analyzing the implications of market structure, macroeconomic developments and policy, and other forms of public policy toward business.
• QST BE 834: Macroeconomics in the Global Environment
  Macroeconomics is the study of the aggregate behavior of global market participants, i.e. consumers, firms, workers, governments, central banks, foreign investors. Decision making by investment bankers, product/sales managers, policy makers, or consumers inevitably rely on an understanding of the main forces driving GDP, inflation, unemployment, interest rates, and exchange rates. Consider these questions: 1. Should new consumer durable products be launched during recessions' 2. Are countries that experience high productivity growth good investment targets' 3. Will interest rates drop if the US government starts buying back its debt' 4. With significant liquidity demands by the US economy from the public sector, the household sector and businesses, what explains the low US interest rates' Are these factors expected to keep interest rates low also in the future' 5. Can the Euro boost productivity in Europe in the medium to long run and what are the competitiveness challenges for US businesses of such changes' 6. What are the economic effects of wars and how should they be financed' These and other issues will come up in the course. The main goal of this course is to provide a coherent framework that you can use to understand economic events as you confront them in your work environment.
• QST BE 845: Improving Your Decisions
  The main aim of Improving Your Decisions is to present many of the decision problems managers face and to identify the most effective ways to make sound decisions -- as well as the pitfalls, biases, and mistakes that should be avoided. A key element of the course is to present students with a series of decision challenges: What would you do' In other words, you must come to grips with actual decisions and defend your actions. The assigned readings also convey the most recent research findings in behavioral economics: how individuals and managers actually make decisions. The second half of the course centers on group decision making: how groups with common and not-so-common interests decide. The focus shifts from individual choices to group decisions that embody both competitive and cooperative elements.
• QST DS 906: Fundamentals of Research and the Philosophies of Science (previously MK912)
  This course introduces students to research. The class provides a brief introduction to the philosophy of science and debates about the nature of theory before diving thoroughly into different research methods. Students are exposed to research methods from their own and adjacent fields ranging from causal inference and experiments to qualitative research methods. The last part of the class introduces students to issues around diversity, ethics, and equity in research. As part of the class students will complete the introductory ethics modules that are required by the university. Students will be graded on their class participation, a research proposal which is due at the end of the class, and their feedback to other students on their research proposals.
• QST DS 911: Seminar in Macro Organizational Theory
  This doctoral-level course is an introduction to the major theoretical approaches and ongoing debates in organizational theory, an inter- disciplinary subject area that draws on several traditions, including economics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Organization theory aims to explain the origins, persistence, and disappearance of the organizations that are central to our society and daily life (e.g., firms, markets, governments, occupations, non-profit organizations, and more). We will start with the classics and then trace the history of ideas as the field has evolved to its present state. The purpose of this course is to provide a roadmap to navigate the terrain of organizational theory and guide students as they generate original research ideas. (Cross-listed as GRS SO716).
• QST DS 913: Experimental Design and Methods
  This course provides an introduction to research methodology applicable to marketing and other related fields. The course will survey the major research methodologies used in marketing and social psychology, and will focus on both theoretical and practical considerations of research methods. This is not a statistics course (though an introduction to basic principles is part of the course). The purpose of the course is to give students the background to choose the methods that are most appropriate for their area of study, helping them to anticipate the shortcomings and problems they will encounter executing their chosen methodologies, and to defend their methodological choices against criticism in their interactions with investigators from allied and not-so-allied disciplines.
• QST DS 919: Machine Learning Method for Social Science Research
  This course aims to introduce PhD students in Management to Machine Learning methods with an emphasis on their application in social science research. The first half of the course discusses popular predictive models (regression models, SVM, tree-based methods, etc) and related concepts. The second half discusses graphical models to develop and estimate probabilistic models. The course will have a set of programming/estimation assignments based on recent relevant papers and one final exam. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to spot a machine learning problem in their line of research, specify a model for it, and estimate and evaluate it.
• QST DS 921: Behavioral Science Writing Seminar
  BEHVL SCI WRTNG
• QST DS 925: Methods for Causal Inference in Strategy Research
  (Formerly SI 915) This course reviews tools and methods for drawing causal inferences from non-experimental data. The class emphasizes conceptual difficulties associated with establishing causality in observational settings, the strengths and weaknesses of statistical methods based on so-called natural experiments, and the practical problems that arise in the application of these tools. This course is designed to complement a traditional two-semester graduate sequence in econometrics.
• QST DS 929: Analytical Modeling for Business Research
  This course is designed to provide doctoral students in a business school with an introduction to analytical models so that they can access the theoretical literature and potentially develop new models for their own research. The course will introduce basic concepts in game theory (e.g., Nash Equilibrium, Perfect Bayesian Equilibrium) and classic models in industrial organization (e.g., pricing, distribution, competition, product differentiation, advertising) and behavioral economics (e.g., prospect theory, hyperbolic discounting). Students need to be comfortable with calculus and basic probability theory.
• QST DS 999: Doctoral Dissertation Study
  This 2-credit course is a requirement to maintain doctoral student status during the completion of your Comprehensive Exam, Dissertation Proposal Defense and ultimately, Dissertation Defense. Each department has its own section which are as follows: Accounting (A1); Finance/Economics (B1); Information Systems (C1); Strategy and Innovation (D1); Marketing (E1); Operations and Technology Management (F1); Management & Organizations (G1); and Mathematical Finance (M1).
• QST ES 090: Ascend Seminar
  The Ascend Seminar is designed to engage Questrom Ascend students in their own career exploration and development through company/industry exposure as well as timely professional development, leadership, and topics related to student success. Using the core values of a Questrom School of Business education as a foundation, the course will focus on preparing for a meaningful career and life, as well as building a professional network and community of Questrom students, faculty, staff, alumni, and corporate partners. This course is open only to those students who formally participate in the Questrom Ascend Fellowship.
• QST ES 110: Explore Your Career
  Questrom freshmen only. Required for all Questrom freshmen. This is the first in a series of required Questrom career management and skills development courses designed to equip students with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to explore career opportunities and build their career management capabilities. This first year class will focus on career exploration within the broader context and scope of business careers. Students will explore personal values, interests, and skills as the foundation for career management. They will learn skills for exploring traditional and emerging industries, organizations, and occupations that align with their business and career aspirations. They will learn and apply basic career search tools and techniques as they begin their careers as Questrom students.
• QST ES 210: Build Your Career Toolkit
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: QST ES110 - Builds upon ES110 to provide students with fundamental tools to assist them with individual career management. It is the second course in the Questrom's four year career management curriculum. Importantly, as sophomores, students will begin to chart their career path, work with The Feld Career Center (FCC), practice interviewing, develop a search strategy, and continue to build their personal "brand." 1 cr.
• QST ES 215: Explore Your Career and Build Your Toolkit
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. For Questrom students only, and CGS students inten ding to continue to Questrom. - Combines the content of ES110 and ES210. This is the first required Questrom career management and skills development course for students in their first semester as Questrom students who have not taken ES110. The course is designed to equip students with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to explore career opportunities and build their career management capabilities. This course focuses on career exploration within the broader context and scope of business careers. Students will explore personal values, interests, and skills as the foundation for career management. They will learn skills for exploring traditional and emerging industries, organizations, and occupations that align with their business and career aspirations. They will learn and apply basic career search tools and techniques, craft a strong resume and cover letter, develop a search strategy, practice interviewing and informational conversations, and begin to network with Questrom students and alumni.