Specialty Tracks (Spring Term)
During the second term, M.S. in Commerce students embark on a
carefully crafted sequence of courses that allows them to quickly
develop a functional area of expertise in either
Financial Services or
Marketing & Management. The focus is on developing the tools and
frameworks required in the area of concentration and on applying those
skills within a variety of business settings. Each track is composed of
a five-course sequence of 11 credit hours.
The Financial Services Track emphasizes specific business knowledge and skills required for management in the financial services environment.
- Intermediate Finance (2 credit hours) provides an in-depth understanding of the analytical and theoretical tools used in managing corporate finance, investments, financial institutions, and central banks. Particular emphasis is placed on international financial concerns.
- Advanced Corporate Finance (3 credit hours) focuses on applications of firm valuation and risk management techniques introduced during the first-semester core. Applications include mergers, acquisition, and restructuring transactions, as well as decisions regarding alternative capital acquisition strategies. In addition, the course reviews accounting, valuation, and risk management techniques specific to the financial services industry.
- Global Services Marketing (1.5 credit hours) covers the effective management of service quality and customer loyalty in global settings. The course examines market strategies for using customer relationship management to maximize the return on marketing expenditures and to enhance revenue performance and customer perceptions of service quality.
- Information Management for Financial Services (1.5 credit hours) covers key information management issues related to the marketing and delivery of services in the financial industry.
- Advanced Capital Markets (3 credit hours) introduces students to the global capital market environment, including the burgeoning over-the-counter markets for derivative securities, and to the valuation of capital market instruments. The valuation component of the course gives special attention to models for structuring and valuing derivative securities.
The Marketing & Management Track allows students to develop knowledge of markets as well as skills in planning, organizing, and executing business projects. The track is designed to lead students into a project-oriented work environment, including consulting, government, and nonprofit management.
- Brand Management (3 credit hours) exposes students to the process of developing, launching, and maintaining successful brands while leveraging strong brands across line extensions and categories.
- Leading, Motivating, and Managing Change (1.5 credit hours) covers key strategies and tactics for managing the successful introduction of change in organizations, emphasizing the role of leadership and motivation in effective change programs.
- Global Services Marketing (1.5 credit hours) covers the effective management of service quality and customer loyalty in global settings. The course examines market strategies for using customer relationship management to maximize the return on marketing expenditures and to enhance revenue performance and customer perceptions of service quality.
- Project Management (2 credit hours) covers the basic processes related to the management of projects in a global context, including integration management, management of global/virtual teams, scope management, estimation and scheduling, global sourcing, and vendor management.
- Consulting Management (3 credit hours) applies the core skills developed in the management concentration to consulting. The course emphasizes practical strategic and behavioral skills, with a focus on identifying, diagnosing, and resolving client issues. The course also introduces students to strategy, process, technology, and change-management methodologies and the dynamics of a consulting career.
Questions?
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