Courses offered

BUAD 600 MBA Springboard (1 credit)

This course will introduce students to SNC’s value-based MBA experience and outline the expectations of the program. In addition, students participate in an assessment of their soft skill proficiency and personnel management decision making. Working with the instructor, students develop an Individual Development Plan to focus their path through the MBA program. The instructor will provide feedback and specific tactics to help improve the areas in need of development. Finally, students will be provided an introduction/refresher on the use of spreadsheets to support managerial decision-making. This course is offered twice per year and should be taken as early as possible in the MBA program.

BUAD 601 Macroeconomics for Business Managers (2 credits)

This course provides students with an introduction to the macroeconomic variables that managers should understand in order to assess changes in the business environment. Further, it examines major models of how the economy functions with the intent of informing managers of how monetary and fiscal policy will impact the overall economy and, in turn, their businesses.

BUAD 602 Microeconomics for Business Managers (2 credits)

Microeconomics is the study of individuals, households and firms’ behavior in decision making and allocation of resources. This course provides students with an introduction to applied microeconomics for business decision-making. It considers how markets function and how the government may interfere in the market. It also informs how businesses make decisions related to production and cost in the short and long run, and determine prices.

BUAD 606 Managerial Accounting for Decision Makers (2 credits)

This course applies accounting and finance theories to support primarily internal business decision-making processes. Participants learn how to evaluate various business decisions using relevant quantitative and qualitative statements and reports of managerial accounting information. Prerequisites: BUAD 650

BUAD 610 Business Ethics and Values-Based Leadership (2 credits)

This course examines the roles played by values and ethics in the many decisions faced by business organizations. Participants examine how their values are determined and how values inform responsible behavior in organizations. Further, the course analyzes the role of firms in promoting sustainability in the communities in which they operate.

BUAD 628 Foundation Tools for Business Analytics (2 credits)

This course explores how business analytics combines domain knowledge, statistics and technology to make data-driven business decisions for solving business problems. Students are introduced to a four-step business analytic process involving: getting data, preparing data, analyzing data and communicating results to improve business performance. Online tutorials and exercises apply various tools (spreadsheet, database SQL, Tableau, Power BI and R-Studio) for making data-driven decisions.

BUAD 629 Business Statistics and Analysis (2 credits)

This course will apply statistical techniques such as summarization, inference, clustering, principal component analysis and regression to make data-driven business decisions for solving business problems. Students will be expected to apply these techniques using software packages such as Excel, Tableau, Power BI and R. Prerequisites: BUAD 628

BUAD 631 Leading People and Teams (2 credits)

Contemporary organizations are increasingly reliant on teams to innovate and implement creative solutions to complex problems. This course is designed to improve participants’ effectiveness as leaders by introducing concepts for understanding and leading both individuals and teams in organizations. Participants are exposed to leading-edge research and are given an opportunity to practice some of the principles introduced through discussions and exercises.

BUAD 632 Managing Human Resources (2 credits)

This course develops an understanding of how human resource management practices influence organizational success and how general managers acquire the skills needed in order to successfully manage their people. This course draws on economics, psychology, sociology and legal issues to inform students about job analysis, human resource planning, recruiting, selecting, training, evaluating and compensating employees in order to develop and maintain a highly committed and high-performing workforce.

BUAD 633 Managing Operations and Supply Chains (2 credits)

This course focuses on how to use operations and systems to gain strategic advantage. Participants examine transforming inputs into outputs and using information to improve that transformation – the keys to a firm’s success, from manufacturers managing their supply chain to service providers.

BUAD 650 Financial Valuation Principles (2 credits)

This course emphasizes the knowledge, skills and tools necessary for financial decision-making. Topics include the time value of money, the determinants of interest rates, the valuation of financial assets, the risk-return relationship, and the basics of financial planning and capital structure.

BUAD 651 Financial Management (2 credits)

This course provides an overview of the financial management aspects of business organizations, emphasizing case analysis. Topics include evaluation of performance through financial-statement analysis, capital-budgeting analysis, working capital management and dividend policy. Prerequisites: BUAD 650

BUAD 670 Marketing Management (2 credits)

This course takes a strategic and analytical approach to the study of consumers, products and markets. Attention focuses on the recognition of opportunities, the development of marketing strategies and the design of an effective marketing mix both for consumer and business markets. Work with simulations makes participants aware of the financial impact of marketing strategies.

BUAD 685 Strategic Management Capstone (4 credits)

Managers make significant strategic decisions as part of their jobs as they seek to grow a business. Such decisions may include developing and introducing a new product or process, acquiring another firm, responding to a competitor or to a crisis, forming a strategic alliance, or entering a new market. These decisions are complex and must take all business functions (finance, marketing, management and operations) into consideration. The strategic management process considers the basic direction and goals of an organization, the environment (social, political, technological, economic and global factors), industry and market structure, and organizational resources and capabilities. This course serves as a capstone experience and emphasizes the development and successful implementation of strategy in different types of firms across industries. Case analyses, live business projects and a business simulation are used as learning vehicles. Prerequisites: BUAD 601, 602, 606, 629, 631, 633, 651 and 670

BUAD 603 Predictive Analytics with Regression Analysis (2 credits)

This course extends concepts from regression modeling to the core business task of predictive analytics. The course focuses on ordinary least squares and diagnostics, and it may introduce other estimation techniques. Participants are expected to apply these techniques using statistical software packages such as R to make data-driven business decisions.

BUAD 604 Time Series Analysis (2 credits)

This course focuses on topics in advanced econometric time series analysis. Topics will include incorporating lags optimally, stationarity and co-integration, simultaneous models, pooling data, and systems of equations. Participants apply these techniques using statistical software packages such as R to make data-driven business decisions. Prerequisite: BUAD 603

BUAD 611 Humanistic Leadership (2 credits)

The changing nature of work in the 21st century is driving "the reconfiguration of jobs to leverage uniquely human skills: empathy, social and emotional intelligence, the ability to set context and define business problems." In addition, in a society where the workforce is increasingly dispersed, diverse, and mobile, traditional command and control styles of leadership no longer have the impact that is needed for long-term organizational success.

In this course we will examine the philosophy of Humanistic Leadership; a people-oriented, values driven approach to leadership that centers on enhanced self-awareness, honors human dignity, calls for increased collaboration and trust among stakeholders, and encourages systems thinking to support personal and organizational success.

Topics that will be explored include: Emotional Intelligence, Authentic Confidence, Adaptive Leadership, personal mission and vision, communication styles and listening.

BUAD 612 Building Inclusive Workplaces (2 credits)

This course develops an understanding of practices for engaging in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work. Drawing on sociology, history, and women's and gender studies, this course introduces participants to a range of issues related to race, gender, sexuality and other axes of identity. This course offers tools to engage employees in complex conversations around identity, while offering practical tools for creating equitable and inclusive workplaces where a diverse range of professionals can thrive.

BUAD 615 Entrepreneurship (2 credits)

This course develops passionate, motivated entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is a way of thinking and acting; it is a practice, integrated with theory, that can be learned and applied in any organizational setting. This course helps participants grow already-formed ideas, and those without ideas learn how to identify opportunities and act on them. All participants learn to create and build their ventures and discover how business ideas fit into the broader society. This course is based on the theme “act, learn, build,” therefore, class sessions are active learning experiences. Participants acquire an understanding of the entrepreneurial method, a practice of opportunity recognition, resource gathering and team building, all driven by business methodologies in idea generation, feasibility analysis and business plan creation. This course helps participants re-evaluate their own views of entrepreneurship within the framework of entrepreneurial thinking and putting this mindset into action.

BUAD 616 Collaborative Innovation and Design (2 credits)

This course explores the concept of design thinking, a proven, systematic approach for developing solutions using creative problem-solving techniques. Starting with a foundation of understanding unmet customer needs and then applying a structured framework for innovation, organizations substantially enhance the chances for new products and services success. Participants learn the basic concepts that drive design thinking and people-centric design as well as how to translate unmet needs into ideas and prototypes, analyze the economics of innovation, and apply informed decision making.

BUAD 630 Data Visualization (2 credits)

In an ever-changing world where business leaders are beginning to rely more and more on data for decision-making, the role of data presentation and visualization are becoming increasingly important. This course helps participants understand how humans process data and information. Participants also will gain a better understanding of data literacy and learn to effectively design visualizations to convey truth and meaning using data-based evidence. This course prepares participants to construct high-quality visualizations via the understanding of different types of data relationships, such as distributions, correlations, time, parts of a whole, spatial mapping and ranking. This is a practical, hands-on course; participants use Tableau and R to construct high-quality visualizations and dashboards to better inform business leaders in the managerial decision-making process.

BUAD 637 Leading Change (2 credits)

This course prepares innovative leaders for putting fresh ideas to work and to do so responsibly. It examines the skills and tools required to be a transformational leader. Participants explore how successful leaders influence groups, understand behavior, and lead people toward the achievement and realization of the organizational vision. Prerequisite: BUAD 631

BUAD 640 Business Communication (2 credits)

This course is designed to develop the participant's communication skills by applying principles of communication science and the psychology of persuasion in a contemporary business setting. Crafting messages that are not only effective, but also ethical, is of foremost concern in this course. Communication strategies with which leaders can appeal to audiences both internal and external to their organization will be explored. A variety of message forms will be considered and rehearsed, including oral presentations, traditional written discourse, and digital messaging.

BUAD 641 Project Management (2 credits)

The dynamic business climate, insufficient employee/champion engagement, and less than stellar project success rate has necessitated updated Project Management practices. This course will offer transformational Project Management concepts essential for today's fast-paced project economy. We will navigate the necessary soft skills of high-level PM leadership, insights into valuable communication practices, proper identification of all stakeholders, and beneficial decision-making skillsets. Each graduate candidate will be responsible for developing their own project to learn first-hand about the foundational project framework to increase the likelihood of project success.

BUAD 671 Integrated Marketing Promotions (2 credits)

This course offers a hands-on approach to business models and proposals. Firms enrolled in the Green Bay Packers Protégé-Mentor Program grant access to participants in return for advice. This advice will be an integration of formal marketing concepts participants have already been exposed to in BUAD 670. Through a combination of class discussion, individual and group work, participants establish an understanding of how a particular firm faced with challenges needs to adapt in order to succeed. This course’s overriding perspective is entrepreneurial and marketing-centric, with participants applying core management concepts from the marketing field, including value-proposition development, target marketing assessment and strategic response. The course is specifically designed for participants who have a keen interest in strategic formulation and in being a contributing member on a consulting team. The primary work output is a group-developed marketing plan, with week-to-week efforts (both individual and group-based) forming the foundation of the final report. Prerequisite: BUAD 670

BUAD 684 Negotiation (2 credits)

This course focuses on the concepts, theories and practices of negotiation. Class activities are experiential in nature, and participants are required to be both reflective and analytical in a diverse set of contexts. Topics covered include negotiation from the context of developing one’s style, power, persuasion, and how diverse contexts such as culture and gender impact negotiation.

BUAD 686 Nonprofit Management (2 credits)

This course focuses on the fundamental differences between managing a mission-driven enterprise compared to a profit-driven company. The course begins by exploring the sector - examining what makes nonprofits unique, the history of the nonprofit sector, the theoretical underpinnings for its existence, and its scope and impact on society. In addition, the course will then examine governance and accountability of nonprofit boards, funding challenges, program evaluation, the role of nonprofits in policymaking, and the unique aspects of nonprofit finance. Throughout, students will examine real world examples and review the theories and practices that apply to them. Students will leave the course with a greater awareness of the role of nonprofits in society as well as the essential skills in leading a nonprofit.

BUAD 689 Special Topics (2 credits)

This course will cover a variety of timely or specialized business-related topics. As a result, course content varies. Contact the MBA Director for current course descriptions and prerequisites. Students may repeat this course under different topics.

BUAD 689 Special Topics: Leadership and Happiness (2 credits)

This course is the "study" of the science of happiness drawn from many diverse cultures from different places and times. Through reading and conversation, this course will provide students and opportunity to think deeply about the nature of happiness, the conditions that are necessary for happiness to flourish, and the responsibility of leaders to create those conditions.

BUAD 689 Special Topics: Media for Organization Leaders (2 credits) 

This course is designed to help leaders understand the role of media in their organizational operations. Topics will include: media relations, social media in the workplace, the use of video in constructing a narrative, and crisis communications. Students will develop a better understanding of how media works and how an organization can leverage media to its advantage.

BUAD 689 Special Topics: Small Group Communication (2 credits)

This course is designed to facilitate learning of the theory and practice of small group communication in personal and professional contexts. Students will explore group and team topics such as such as norms, roles, cohesion, groupthink, conflict management, computer-mediated group communication, listening/feedback, and decision-making/problem-solving. The course provides an analytical framework to help students more efficiently analyze, understand, and facilitate small group experiences.