Skip to content

Graduate Programs

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

REQUEST INFO
APPLY NOW
spgs discount
Contacts for
more information
Admissions Counselors
Melissa Smith
SPGS Enrollment Manager
913-971-3809
Robert Stoddard
Admissions Counselor
913-971-3826
Natalie Craig
Admissions Counselor
913-971-3805
Ana Dunn
Admission Counselor
913-971-3803

MBA Stackable certificates

MBA CORE (12HRS.)

This course will focus upon the factors that make graduate adult students successful when attempting to balance the time commitments and demands of work, family, church, and community obligations with weekly MBA course requirements. Students will master Moodle proficiencies in order to effectively navigate the learning management system and other MNU technologies. Students will also have a hands-on experience with various online library research tools and resources that they will need when completing projects and papers for course requirements. A portion of this course will also be devoted to building the cohort community as students will spend the next 20 months together on their MBA learning journey.

This course examines ethical theories as they relate to various contemporary issues in business. Conceptual models for improving the clarity and consistency of ethical judgment in business settings are addressed. Special consideration is given to the application of Christian ethical principles to decision-making.

This course examines how information systems and technology tools can be used to create value and to better achieve both organizational objectives and individual productivity. The course examines the disruptive nature of many of the new and developing technologies. It also considers conditions needed for technology to be accepted and utilized within organizations. The course looks at technology from both an internal and external communication perspective. From an internal perspective, students will learn some of the best practices of utilizing existing and developing technologies for internal communication, collaboration, and productivity. From an external perspective, students will learn some of the best practices of utilizing the developing technologies for building stronger connections and relationships with customers.

This course provides an application of economic theory to problems of the organization. Applicable microeconomics topics are explored. Emphasis is on the use of economic information in decision-making.

In this course students will learn about data collection and analysis techniques and acquire knowledge of statistical methods appropriate for the analysis of organizational data. The concepts learned in this course should help students to identify opportunities in which business analytics can be used to improve individual, team, and organizational performance and support important decisions. Business analytics is an integral part of modern management, and this course uses applied projects to equip them with the foundation needed to understand and apply these methods to drive value.

CERTIFICATE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION STRATEGIES

This course examines the issues involved in organizing and operating start-up businesses and new ventures, as well as the role of marketing in today’s organization. Attention is given to the ethical, social, and economic problems faced by entrepreneurs and marketing managers.

This course focuses on the legal environment of business, which includes governmental regulation of business, private actions such as torts, contracts, employment law, and labor law. The ability to research laws related to the student’s area of interest is emphasized. The relationship of the legal system to ethics is explored.

This capstone course focuses on the strategic decisions and planning processes that shape future of the organization. Students will utilize techniques for defining the basic purpose and objectives of an enterprise, for analyzing competitors and industries, and for matching organization strengths with environmental opportunities. Various perspectives to strategic thinking are explored and applications such as vision and mission are examined at both the organizational and personal levels.

This course focuses on accounting as the language of business and explores the information that is communicated by financial statements and other accounting reports. The course also will include financial management topics such as cash flow planning, budgeting, and working capital management. Emphasis will be placed on the use of financial information for decision making. This course will also provide a foundation for students as they prepare a business plan in the Entrepreneurship course.
Plus one of the 12 credit hour certificates below to complete the 36-hour Degree

Certificate in Human Resource Management (12 Hrs.)

This course focuses on the concept of leadership in organizations. The complexity of the structural, political, symbolic, and human resource issues in applying a framework for analyzing leadership in organizations is analyzed. Emphasis is placed on building skills for modeling an authentic voice for leadership using effective presentation skills.

Research shows that emotional intelligence is much more powerful than IQ (and technical expertise) in determining who emerges as an effective manager/leader. IQ (and technical expertise) are threshold or baseline competencies that help you to get in the door, but alone they do not make you a star (performer). Emotional Intelligence can. Although most conflicts are best resolved at the lowest level, there are occasions when a good mediator can effectively intercede and minimize the chances of the conflict escalating or losing an otherwise good employee. And there are times when—in order to resolve a conflict—you need to have a crucial conversation (e.g., where opinions vary, and emotions and stakes are high). How do you prepare for a crucial conversation? This course is a living laboratory where students can safely practice applying all these concepts/skills.

This course examines the various factors that impact human and organizational performance as well as the structural and environmental forces influencing the change management process within the organizations. Issues studied include root causes of performance problems, cost effective interventions, strategies for the management of planned change, resistance to change, the role of change agents, intervention strategies and team development.

An overview of the major functions of human resources, including equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, assessing and maximizing the job-person match, managing performance, recruitment, selection and staffing, employee development, compensation, incentives and benefits administration, work design and labor unions. Emphasis will be placed on the transactional and transformational nature of strategic HRM (e.g., legal issues, ethical implications and practical applications related to organizational strategy and effectiveness).

Certificate in Healthcare Administration (12 Hrs.)

Examines laws associated with healthcare facility operations in the 21st century including those that directly impact governing boards, physicians, directors/administrators, investors, and the public. Methods to assure compliance with corporate auditing accountability regulations, financial disclosures, investor protection statutes, anti-kickback laws, healthcare provider self-referral, and governing board legal responsibilities are explored. Investigates Omnibus Reconciliation Acts; their content and stipulations affecting the provision of healthcare.
Introduces the concept of a strategic plan and the importance of linking this with an organization’s mission and ethos. Basic principles associated with program, project, and service line fiscal management, price-setting, budget preparation, return on investment, cost-benefit analysis, managed care contracting, and value-based purchasing are discussed and applied. Emphasis is placed on acquiring a financial vocabulary to communicate with various stakeholders. Financial reports such as balance sheets, budget forms, and expense reports are studied and formulated.
Integrates the concepts of outcomes management and research as the basis to improve the quality and effectiveness of health care organizations. Program evaluation, performance improvement, and other methods of measuring outcomes are examined for their utility within the health care setting. Systematic approaches for analyzing and evaluating processes of care delivery and their impact on client populations, organizational processes, and communities are considered. National quality data bases and national benchmarking is explored. Accreditation and/or regulatory requirements will be presented. Through readings, projects, and various interactions students develop an informed basis for leading quality improvement efforts in various healthcare settings.
Analyzes leadership roles in relation to decision-making with emphases on human resource management. Evidence-based staffing models are developed for the purpose of projecting and accurately documenting human resource requirements. Interviewing, hiring, orientation, and competency rubrics are examined and developed while the guidelines and statutes governing these human resource issues are explored. Conceptual aspects of control, problem solving/decision-making, effective communication, conflict resolution, progressive disciplinary action, delegation, and team building are applied to a variety of situational contexts.

Certificate in Informatics (12 Hrs.)

A study of computer hardware and operating system software as it relates to the CIS professional. Systems networking is introduced. Rudimentary programming concepts are introduced using the Python or a similar interpreted programming language.
An introduction to development of computer applications using rapid developmental tools such as Visual Basic. Emphasis on designing and managing graphical user interfaces, procedures, file management, debugging, and testing. Prerequisite: INSY 6103 IT Fundamentals or permission of CIS Program Director

A study of the analysis and design of computer information systems, with emphasis on software design using UML and agile development.

Prerequisite: INSY 6103 IT Fundamentals or permission of CIS Program Director

A course that explores various computer information systems applications in accounting, management, marketing, finance, and business administration. Computer information systems analysis, design, and utilization including information as a resource, hardware/software concepts, data communications, database concepts, systems development, and general systems concepts.

Certificate in Business Data Analytics (12 Hrs.)

This course is an introduction to data mining fundamentals and algorithms. Students will develop an appreciation for data preparation and transformation, an understanding of the data requirements for the various algorithms and learn when it is appropriate to use which algorithm. This is a project-based course where students take their business problem through a data mining methodology. Specific topics may include Distance/Similarity Measurement, Anomaly Detection, and Association, Classification, Clustering, and Pattern Algorithms. Prerequisite: MGMT 6603 Business Analytics for Decision Making, and INSY 6103 IT Fundamentals or permission of CIS Program Director

The course will introduce the core concepts of machine learning, with an emphasis on the computational, statistical and mathematical foundations of the field. We will study models for both supervised learning and unsupervised learning, introducing these models alongside foundational machine learning concepts, such as maximum likelihood estimation, regularization, information theory, and gradient-based optimization. The course concludes with a brief introduction to neural networks and deep learning.

Prerequisite: MGMT 6603 Business Analytics for Decision Making, and INSY 6103 IT Fundamentals or permission of CIS Program Director

Study of database management concepts and techniques. Emphasis on data modeling using relational data models. Discussion and application of SQL to develop and query databases. Additional topics include database administration on common database platforms such as Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL. Remote data access and management using client-server, distributed, and Internet-hosted databases.

Prerequisite: INSY 6103 Information Technology Fundamentals or permission of CIS Program Director

In this course students will learn about data collection and analysis techniques and acquire knowledge of statistical methods appropriate for the analysis of organizational data. The concepts learned in this course should help students to identify opportunities in which business analytics can be used to improve individual, team, and organizational performance and support important decisions. Business analytics is an integral part of modern management, and this course uses applied projects to equip them with the foundation needed to understand and apply these methods to drive value.

*This course is also part of the MBA Core. Students seeking this certificate as part of the full degree will work with Program Chair to select an approved elective in place of this course in order to avoid duplication.