Curriculum

Financial Accounting (ACCT 610)
This course provides a framework for understanding and using corporate financial statements. By the end of this course, you’ll understand how to read financial statements, explain what they mean and reconstruct economic events from published financial data. You’ll also learn how to take apart a set of financial statements and then put them back together again to suit your decision-making needs.

• “Even though I won’t be an accountant, the information is very important to know in any field.”

Business Analytics (SCMT 610)
This course focuses on basic analytical tools for structuring and solving business problems. You’ll delve into modeling and statistical analysis using forecasting, optimization, and Monte Carlo simulation.

• “Dr. Shetty took a lot of time to make sure each and every one of us understood the concepts. He was available 24/7.”
• “This course was intellectually challenging and really kept me on my toes. The teacher is...very caring, funny, and genuinely interested in each and every one of his student’s success. This is the highlight of my semester.”

Microfoundations of Business Behavior (MGMT 611)
This course provides a holistic view of business and how all stakeholders and functions interact. You’ll gain insight into how various legal, political, and social institutions can affect a business.

• “The professor really helped us get a good understanding of management from an economic perspective. The class also covered so many different aspects that it felt like a wholistic class.”
• “The theories are very interesting and mind-boggling.”

Marketing Management (MKTG 613)
This course explores the conditions that impact the marketing decisions of firms and consumers, with a heavy analytics focus. You’ll learn to evaluate buyer behavior, market segmentation, product positioning, and strategic challenges. You also will study the importance of balancing effectiveness and efficiency through the formulation, implementation, evaluation, and control of marketing mix programs directed at target segments. You will use data analytics tools such as JMP from SAS, which are extremely marketable to employers.

• “(I enjoy seeing) the joy and excitement in their (students’) eyes when they see that they can actually go back to their company with some useful knowledge on how to implement something new.” – Dr. Sridhar, who has received the MSI Young Scholar recognition and the American Marketing Association Varadarajan Award
• “This course was an excellent one for someone with no experience in marketing.”

Finance for the Professional I (FINC 612)
This course focuses on corporations’ investment and financing decisions. You’ll learn to apply four valuation methods (discounted cash flow analysis, dividend discount model, liquidation value of equity, and multiples) and comprehend four approaches to project selection (net present value, internal rate of return, payback, and discounted payback).

• “Dr. Bouwman lived up to her promise of making this class interesting, and I’m extremely appreciative.”
• “Honestly, this was my favorite class of the semester. I love that you incorporate how to use Excel and do not just assume that we have a working knowledge of the functions.”
• “We had lots of great class discussions that were very helpful in learning more about finance.

Operations Management (SCMT 614)
The course is based on the premise that any operating processes that take inputs (e.g. labor, capital, equipment, and materials) and transforms them into outputs of greater value to the organization or its customers, can be a significant source of competitive advantage for a firm. Through the course, you will understand the concepts, frameworks, and tools, and develop the intuition that enables an operating manager to craft a plan of action that results in a dynamic, distinctive marketplace advantage.

• “Incredible professor. I learned a ton and I was challenged in a way that I have grown as a student and as a professional. I am very appreciative of Dr. Oliva’s efforts and teachings.”
• “This course was a challenge, but in a different way than others. This course was very experiential and challenged us to stretch areas of our minds in ways we hadn’t done before.”

Business Communication (BUAD 620)
This course addresses effective communication in a business setting. You will develop your verbal and written communication skills through a series of team and individual assignments that involve practice, guided feedback, and reflection. The underlying theme of the course is that your improvement as a business communicator is based on developing your self-awareness, self-management, awareness of others, management of others, leadership, emotional and social intelligence, and executive presence.
BUSN 620 will be a staple throughout the program and a course you will take in all 3 semesters.

Leading People in Organizations (MGMT 614)
This course focuses on leadership, organizational behavior, and human resource management. This course is built on the premise that leaders who have high levels of self-awareness and consciously develop their own leadership abilities throughout their lifetime will become more effective and successful leaders. You’ll learn about organizational change processes, motivation, and group dynamics, as well as how to become an empowering leader who is able to achieve exceptional results through working with others.

• “I got a lot of best practices in leading organizations and also got opportunities to practice. We did a change simulation in class that helped me think through and remember the principles being taught in class.”
• “This course was very enlightening. I learned a lot. The lay-off exercise was very practical and applicable for the future. This is what I envisioned as an MBA class prior to coming to TAMU.”
• “What we learn in Leading People in Organization is important for shaping the leadership styles we go on to adopt.”

International Business Policy (MGMT 689)
This course provides a holistic view of the international business environment. You’ll assess the causes of globalization and analyze the implications of globalization on firm strategy, structure, and performance. You’ll also be asked to analyze the policy debates among countries, firms, unions, and other groups regarding the advantages and disadvantages of globalization. This course also reviews the impact of differences in natural cultures, legal systems, political structures, infrastructures, and regulatory frameworks in encouraging and constraining international business activity.

• “Dr. Pustay encouraged me to connect the dots between his course and other courses to see if I understand the concepts and then could apply it to real world situations.”
• “This course is relevant to any job, any industry, any business.”
• “This was an excellent course that really helped me understand business in a global context. This course was one of the first to really introduce the concept of external forces that businesses need to be aware of and Dr. Pustay did a phenomenal job imparting that knowledge to us.”

Management Accounting and Control (ACCT 620)
This course uses accounting to understand decision-making inside organizations, with applications towards innovation and technology as the leading examples.

• “This was by far the best class I have taken in this program. It allowed me to think about how a business is run and what cost drivers affect a company.”
• “I believe that while every company will operate differently, the ability to take the foundation laid (in this class) and expand on it will be really helpful. Great job at breaking things down into simplistic terms before really expanding on them.”
• “This course was very unique in that the focus was balanced between academia and real-world application….I believe this is a very effective method overall and should be incorporated more often in MBA programs.”
• “There was a good balance between quantitative material as well as connecting it to the firm-level strategic decisions. Tying in components of economics, technology, and innovation really added tremendous value to this course.”
• “Dr. Ray is a fantastic teacher and challenged our class to think outside the box on many occasions. He wanted us to think more about how to apply what we were learning to real-world scenarios than to just a classroom setting.”

Finance for the Professional II (FINC 613)
This course addresses advanced topics in domestic and international finance. You’ll also explore how psychological biases such as overconfidence, loss aversion, and limited attention distort the process of value maximization in financial markets.

• “Finance is not an easy course to understand, but I do feel that I am walking away with knowledge that I can apply towards my career and in my personal life.”
• “Dr. Medina was an excellent professor and took a keen interest in the learning of the students. I can say that for the first time, I regret not having taken the Finance track, because Dr. Medina definitely sparked my interest in finance. She is a gem of a teacher and I am going to remember the concepts of this class throughout my life.”

Strategic Management and Negotiations (MGMT 618)
This course focuses on exploring what makes firms successful through creating long-term shareholder value and managing firms to maintain that value. You will learn to analyze competitive advantage and make decisions related to key strategy and managerial issues. You also will study bargaining, negotiation, and settling of disputes.

• “Dr. Devers did an amazing job of explaining the concepts of strategy and negotiations in ways that were easy to understand, and really worked with us to make sure that we understood.”
• “You could tell that Dr. Devers really cares about her students and their learning. I thought it was very nice that she sent encouraging emails each week to the class letting us know what she thought of our progress and letting us know what to expect in the coming week.”
• “Overall, this course did a great job focusing on key aspects of corporate strategy and negotiations. For example, we consistently went over value proposition to make sure we understood the concept. The professor did a great job challenging us during class discussion and allowing us to challenge each other through open discussion and encouraging questions. I think the negotiations part of the course was especially useful….”

Business Communications (BUAD 620)
This course addresses effective communication in a business setting. You will develop your verbal and written communication skills through a series of team and individual assignments that involve practice, guided feedback, and reflection. The underlying theme of the course is that your improvement as a business communicator is based on developing your self-awareness, self-management, awareness of others, management of others, leadership, emotional and social intelligence, and executive presence.
BUSN 620 and Professor Krajicek will be a staple throughout the program and a course you will take in all 3 semesters.

• “Professor Krajicek provided a PRACTICAL educational foundation for communications and business. His approach to class and his instruction were great!”
• “Professor K definitely showed that he cared for his students and that they learned the skills needed. One-on-one sessions were very helpful and he showed that he cared very much about the student as a whole person.”

Investment Management (FINC 632)
This survey course will give you a strong analytical foundation in risk measurement and management, portfolio formation, and securities pricing.
You also will solve bond pricing problems as part of this course.

• “Dr. Dye was an amazing instructor and did an excellent job breaking down really complex material and making it understandable to someone without a finance background. This was easily my favorite course this semester.”
• “One of the greatest professors I’ve had in my academic career! Incredibly knowledgeable, yet explains concepts in an easily digestible way. Very patient with students who have lots of questions and need help. It’s very clear that Professor Dye cares about student learning.”

Services Marketing (MKTG 673)

This course prepares students to function as an effective executive in a services economy. You will study the nature and characteristics of service, the marketing implications of product intangibility, the improvement of service quality, and the drivers of sustainable success in service businesses.

• “I’ve been told that good chefs follow a recipe, but great chefs know when to alter it. Dr. Berry is like a great chef. He knows when to follow the syllabus and when to alter it for the benefit of the class. As a student, I very much enjoy when an instructor can artfully direct a class. This course was a genuine joy to be a part of.”
• “I understand how organizations can truly impact their sales (good or bad) depending on their level of service. Service and quality of service is vital to a company’s growth. I didn’t think it was as important before this course.”

Supply Chain Management (SCMT 616)

This course focuses on assessing the appropriate level of supply flexibility in a given industry and exploring strategies for economically increasing a firm’s supply flexibility. You will study the complexity of inter-firm and intra-firm coordinating when implementing programs such as e-collaboration, quick response, vendor-managed inventories, and strategic alliances.

• “This class is good for understanding the concept of supply chain and executing the knowledge through supply chain simulation games.”
• “The course provided a large amount of real-world examples through the practice problems and the two simulations.”

Capstone Consulting Project (BUAD 693)
This course allows you to apply your Full-Time MBA learning through a real-world consulting project. You and your team will develop solutions for a client facing a significant business problem.

• “The capstone project challenged me to work in a team setting, synthesizing a large amount of data and offering recommendations.”
• “This course provided us the opportunity to put everything into action. It was great to see how much we learned and the applications for all that we have learned.”
• “This was a challenging but fun semester. Dr. Marcantonio was an amazing help throughout the entire semester.”

Individual Leadership Development (BUAD 679)
This course deepens your awareness of who you are and how you’re perceived by others. You will understand your strengths, interests, and motivations and use this knowledge to evaluate your personal and professional aspirations. You will discover your authentic leadership capability and learn to adapt your behavior to bring out the best in others.

• “I absolutely love Dr. Marcantonio. This class helped me understand who I am as a person and what I need to do to become the best I can be.”
• “This course was invaluable to me. I walked away with a greater understanding of my personal leadership style and strengths.”
• “This course changed the way I work with other people. I now understand the power of appreciating individual differences and showing up as the leader my team needs me to be.”

Two Degree-Track Electives
These courses are based on your chosen Full-Time MBA track. Subject areas can include accounting, finance, data analytics, supply chain management, strategic management, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

Certificate Programs
You can delve deeper into a specific topic through completing an optional certificate program, which requires 9-12 additional credit hours. Mays offers the following certificate programs, which are included as an official designation on your transcript:

• Entrepreneurship and Technology Commercialization – This program provides a basic understanding of new business planning, intellectual property protection, and innovation in organizations.
• International Business – This program analyzes the global challenges faced by organizations. Students in this certificate program participate in a study-abroad program where they attend a Mays international partner school.
• Supply Chain Management – This program focuses on deepening your knowledge of supply chain management through the areas of operations management, business logistics, physical distribution, purchasing, channel management, information technology, and decision sciences.
• Advanced International Affairs – This program, which is offered through Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service, focuses on multi-disciplinary series of courses, such as intelligence, national security, diplomatic history, international business and government, geography and world systems, and international law.
• Public Health – This program, which is offered through Texas A&M’s School of Rural Public Health, offers an overview of the core functions and disciplines of public health as well as the knowledge and tools to lead public health interventions.
• Health Systems Management – This program is offered through Texas A&M’s School of Rural Public Health. Coursework focuses on key areas of health management, including policy, strategic planning and marketing, financial management, human resources management, information management systems, and quality evaluation and utilization management.