General Management
Students in the General Management concentration gain from the study of a wide body of knowledge including finance, human resources, accounting, and strategic studies. Graduates are well rounded in their understanding of business and are prepared for careers in a wide variety of functional areas. Students should also note that while normally 51 credit hours are required to complete the Niagara University MBA, the school will consider student's academic record in deciding the total number of course hours required to complete the program.
Please consult with the MBA office prior to registration to determine if there are courses from your previous academic experience which the university may substitute for some or all of the prerequisite courses. Learn More
Course Curriculum
Prerequisite Courses - 18 Credit Hours
- ACC 505: Financial and Management Accounting
- MGT 515: Analysis of Quantitative Data
- MGT 560: Law and Business Ethics
- ECO 525: Economics for Managers
- MGT 565: Communications for Executives
- MGT 570: Management Principles
Credit Hours: 3.00
This course covers fundamental concepts and procedures of financial and management accounting for business decisions. Financial accounting provides information primarily for external decision makers such as investors, creditors, suppliers, and government agencies. Management accounting serves the needs of managers to fulfill organizational objectives. Case studies will illustrate accounting and ethical issues. Topics include generally accepted accounting principles, international accounting standards, financial accounting procedures, financial reporting, inventory and depreciation methods, and cost analysis.
Credit Hours: 3.00
The course focuses on the following topics (1) graphical and arithmetic description of data, (2) the use of computer software in solving statistical problems, (3) the theory of probability, (4) probability distributions and sampling distributions, and (5) estimation and hypothesis testing.
Credit Hours: 3.00
This course combines the regulatory and political foundations upon which businesses operate in the United States and Canada, as well as the ethical implications of business decisions. Ethical theories will be explored. These theories are solidified via their application to practical business decision making, including concerns for fair treatment, social justice, the environment, and consumer protection. Strategies for dealing with the unethical organization are offered as well as processes for developing ethical behavior and firm social responsibility. The course delves into the legal environment in which businesses operate as well as a basic understanding of solving problems using legal rules. This includes the sources and origins of law, the court system, the constitution, torts, administrative agencies, and consumer law.
Credit Hours: 3.00
This course is a prerequisite course for ECO 621. The intent is to develop the basic tools of economic analysis. The microeconomic component of the course examines decision making by the individual economic unit, addressing such topics as demand and supply, price and output determination, cost behavior, profit maximization, and competition. The macroeconomic component examines models to explain: national output, inflation, and unemployment; and how fiscal and monetary policies stabilize the economy.
Credit Hours: 3.00
An examination of the process of communication within the business enterprise and an analysis of its basic components. The presentation will include report writing, meeting leadership skills, and effective speaking and listening skills. All this is done within the appropriate technological framework, including PowerPoint and associated software.
Credit Hours: 3.00
This course presents a detailed introduction to the theory and practice of management. Instruction in managerial functions of planning, organizing, leading and controlling draws from many disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences including sociology, psychology, political science, and communications. The course stresses the theoretical underpinnings of business strategy, the planning process, and its application to other functional areas of management. This course examines management from various theoretical perspectives stressing application to the real world and using practical examples for clarity. Topics studied include theories of management, decision making, leadership, communication, motivation, group dynamics, organizational design and strategic planning.
Core Courses - 18 Credit Hours
- ACC 601: Strategic Accounting Analysis and Planning
- MGT 611: Advanced Quantitative Methods
- MKG 631: Strategic Marketing
- FIN 641: Corporate Financial Policy I
- MGT 651: Strategic MIS
- MGT 670: People In Organizations
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: ACC 505, MGT 515
An advanced core course in strategic accounting which focuses on the interpretation and analysis of accounting information for business decisions. Case studies will be used to illustrate strategic decision processes. International accounting issues will be addressed. Topics include financial statement analysis, cash flow, case studies in budgeting, total quality management, activity-based management, target costing, job-order cost systems cost allocation methods, and variable costing.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: MGT 515
This course stresses practical applications of statistics in business. Topics covered include analysis of variance, nonparametric statistics, chi-square, simple and multiple regression, time series analysis, statistical forecasting, model building, and statistical process control. Each student is required to complete a project using statistical methods in solving a realistic business problem.
Credit Hours: 3.00
This advanced marketing course aims to avail the students with marketing tools and concepts to engage in strategic marketing planning. Students learn about the marketing concept, value creation and the development, implementation and control of the strategic plan.
Credit Hours: 3.00
Using a balanced approach of theory and application, this class focuses on the analytical techniques involved in financial planning and decision-making in the firm. Primary emphasis is placed on the importance of strategic investment and financing choices and the logic behind these critical decisions made by the financial manager. Case method will be used to apply principles developed in managerial finance to situations involving financial planning, valuation, capital budgeting risk analysis, and cost of capital.
Credit Hours: 3.00
This course provides knowledge of how information technology impacts upon effective management activities, especially in the area of strategic decision making. Topics include organizational information system design, management control of information technology, strategic and competitive aspects of information technology, social issues, and the globalization of information technology.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: MGT 570
This course provides today’s managers with the background and skills necessary to lead and motivate an increasingly diverse, team-based work force. Topics include the structuring of effective teams, leading and participating in teams, communicating with and motivating others, and recognizing and valuing individual differences. Using current theories from the social and behavioral sciences, students are provided with negotiation and conflict resolution techniques that will enable effective conflict management with employees and other organizational stakeholders. The course also requires working cooperatively in effective teams, which is an important element of the Niagara University MBA program. It is also a requirement of all managers in private, public and nonprofit organizations. This course is designed to provide teamwork experience and team building basics to MBA students.
Restricted Elective - 3 Credit Hours (Choose One)
- MGT 673: Production & Operations Management
- MGT 674: Strategic Supply Chain Management
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: MGT 515, MGT 611
This course provides a management overview of the planning, coordinating and executing of all activities that create goods and services. Topics include productivity, demand and capacity planning, quality measurement systems, network analysis, supply chain interface and production related information technologies.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: MGT 515, MGT 611
This course is designed to view the supply chain from a strategic perspective so that purchasing, materials management, and transportation logistics can be leveraged for competitive advantage. Specific topics include supply chain re-engineering, improving customer service, inventory management, outsourcing, supplier certification, supplier/buyer ethical considerations, and global procurement issues.
Concentration Courses - 9 Credit Hours (Choose Three)
- ACC 603: Advanced Accounting Theory
- ACC 604: Advanced Auditing
- ACC 602: Advanced Business Tax Strategy
- FIN 644: Investments
- FIN 645: International Finance
- ECO 621: Global Economic Perspective
- MGT 675: Strategic Human Resource Management
- MGT 677: Organizational Development
- MGT 678: Labor and Industrial Relations
- MGT 676: International Management
- MKG 632: Product and Marketing Communication Strategy
- MKG 633: Marketing Engineering
- MKG 634: Global Marketing
- MPH 663 Management and Policy in Healthcare Organizations
- MPH 664 Financial and Managerial Accounting in Healthcare Organizations
- MPH 668 Strategic Management in Healthcare Organizations
- FIN 643: Corporate Financial Policy II
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: ACC 505, ACC 601
This course explores the underlying concepts of financial accounting theory and its application to current accounting practice. Standards of the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) are emphasized. Topics include the conceptual framework of accounting, financial accounting and reporting standards, and the rationale for generally accepted accounting standards. Research into the development of accounting theory is included.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: ACC 505, ACC 601
An advanced course in audit theory and practice, covering auditing concepts and procedures, audit research, computer auditing, and Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) audits. Computerized audit problems and case studies illustrate audit concepts and practice.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: ACC 505, ACC 601
This course begins with an overview of business taxation in the U.S., and international tax planning issues. This foundation serves as a basis for the development of business tax strategies for successful competition in the global marketplace. Research and case studies of international tax issues are explored. Topics include tax planning and administration, choice and tax implications of business entities, international tax principles, wealth management, and ethical issues.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: FIN 641
This course deals with the theories, analysis, and management of fixed income and equity securities in a global capital market. The emphasis is on the application of finance, economics, accounting and statistics to the valuation of the aggregate stock market, alternative industries, asset pricing models, and portfolio management.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: ACC 505, FIN 641
The focus of this course is on the international financial environment in which business firms operate and in which financial service providers compete. Attention is given to foreign direct investment, risk analysis, capital budgeting, international banking, and portfolio management. In addition advanced topics such as international taxation, currency, and interest rate risk management/ The material presented will assist in the understanding of global management, international banking operations, and international financial institutions.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: ECO 525
This course examines the interdependence of economies to explain macroeconomic developments in a global context. Models are developed to explain Gross Domestic Product, unemployment, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, and how economic policy at the national level is impacted by economic policy and economic conditions abroad. This course examines capital markets, foreign exchange markets, and labor markets in both a national and international context. Case studies and current economic developments are examined in a global perspective.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: MGT 570, MGT 670
The course studies human resource practices and their impact on firms’ competitive advantage and corporate structure. This nexus is specifically studied as it relates to costing human resources, environmental scanning, mergers and acquisitions, and the internationalization of HRM. The importance of human resource planning to strategic choice, staffing, compensating, and employee and labor relations are also addressed. The student is taught skills for maximizing firm objectives via appropriate human resource practices.
Credit Hours: 3.00
This course considers organizational development as a process of planned change to improve an organization’s problem-solving skills, creativity, innovation, and its overall effectiveness within a changing and complex environment. Students will study intervention strategies to help individuals and organizations achieve their goals.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: MGT 570, MGT 670
A survey of industrial relations issues confronting management and the economy. Attention is focused on developments in both unionized and non-unionized business firms. Topics include the history, development, structures and process of the labor movements. Attention is directed at union organizing, collective bargaining, dispute resolution, and grievance handling. Instruction is theory based with practical applications All material is presented in its environmental context including, the economy, the legal system, and societal values. The pedagogy includes negotiation and grievance case studies.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: MGT 570
An overview of the ideas, concepts, institutions, and policies that influence the effective operation of firms engaged in international business. The course evaluates the importance of economic, socio-cultural, political, and legal variables of successfully operating in a global marketplace. In addition, the course examines structures, leadership styles, motivation strategies, and communication channels appropriate for the transnational firm. Topics of contemporary significance including: developing economies, entrepreneurship, regional trading blocs, international human resource management, and the shift from planned to market based economies are also presented.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: MKG 631
Products are crucial to the achievement of strategic objectives within the organization and they can and should be managed to optimize their performance. This course is designed to avail students of the best approaches to marketing management decisions in the areas of product management, product development and integrated marketing communication.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: MKG 631
An advanced marketing class which integrates concepts, analytic marketing techniques, marketing models, and computer decision models in making marketing management decisions. It applies marketing science methodologies to areas of product strategy, integrated marketing communication, sales force and channel design, consumer choice, and pricing strategy.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: MKG 631
This course aims to provide an understanding of the issues, contextual factors, mechanisms and organizational processes central to successfully establishing and maintaining an effective global marketing strategy. It aims to provide students with opportunities to enhance their strategic decision making skills for global market success.
Credit Hours: 3.00
This course examines the legislative process and patterns of health legislation. Students analyze the issues and political processes involved in the current health legislation and health legislative proposals at the national and state levels. Upon completion, students will develop an in-depth understanding of the persistent issues facing the healthcare system, the law and its application to the industry, and be able to think critically about current and future issues in healthcare management.
Credit Hours: 3.00
Healthcare institutions, both profit and not-for-profit are under significant pressure to contain costs and improve the quality of services and products. Today's complex environment places greater emphasis on the financial implications of both managerial and clinical decisions. This course is intended to provide students with an understanding of the principles and theory of both managerial accounting and financial management in healthcare organizations. Upon completion, students will also have a good overview of the current and historical healthcare financial issues.
Credit Hours: 3.00
This course integrates theory in business administration and healthcare administration using the strategic management framework. Students completing this course will have an ability to evaluate the strategic planning options and processes that healthcare organizations must employ to insure viability and success as they adapt to the changes in the environmental, regulatory and competitive healthcare industry, determine the impact of health policy on the strategic planning and management process of healthcare organizations and analyze the management of providing effective services in a healthcare delivery system with limited resources. Principles and methods of strategic planning in the healthcare environment will be addressed through readings, cases, and research.
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: FIN 641
This is an advanced course emphasizing capital market theory, risk management and financial planning. Through study of the theory and case discussion, the course applies many of the analytical techniques studied in FIN 641.
Additional Electives - 9 Credit Hours (Optional)
- MGT 681: Study Abroad
- MGT 682: MBA Special Topics/Consulting Projects
- MGT 683 MBA Co-op
Credit Hours: 3.00
Credit Hours: 3.00
Credit Hours: 3.00
Capstone Course - 3 Credit Hours
- MGT 691 Business Research Strategy and Planning
Credit Hours: 3.00 / Pre Requisites: Final Course. All other prerequisites must be completed before enrollment in this course is allowed
This capstone course synthesizes the knowledge gained in the functional areas of the firm to enable the student to formulate business decisions and policies. The course uses techniques of research developed throughout the program to analyze comprehensive business problems. A major component of the course is a special project requiring a practical exercise in strategic planning.