Online MBA 2023-2025

Advising

You are able to view your progress by running a Degree Progress Report in your MyNIU account. Each semester, we encourage you to discuss your schedule options prior to enrolling in your courses. Advising may be via e-mail, over the phone, or via virtual session through Microsoft Teams. Students can schedule an appointment by emailing mbaadvisor@niu.edu or 815-753-1264.

Textbooks

Textbooks can be purchased through your preferred source. If you would like to purchase your textbooks from NIU go to the A-Z index and select B for the Bookstore website: bkstr.com/niustore

Select BOOKS and you may do a search to see what books are required for your class. Options are New and Used, Rent or Buy. After you have secured the correct ISBN number, you can purchase books from the NIU bookstore or your preferred vendor. Make sure you purchase the correct edition and check the vendors return policy. Do not wait for textbook information to appear in Blackboard as faculty use Blackboard at their discretion and may only populate it a few days before class starts.

Course Load

All courses are 100% online and will allow students some flexibility to extend the program to fit their individual needs.

Program Requirements

Phase I* —

ACCY 505 Financial Accounting Concepts

FINA 505 Fundamentals of Financial Management

MKTG 505 Graduate Survey of Marketing

MGMT 505 Principles of Management

OMIS 505 Principles of Operations Management

OMIS 507 Business Information Systems

OMIS 524 Business Statistics

* Note: Courses may be waived based on undergraduate coursework and equivalents taken at an accredited university

Phase II —

ACCY 640 Financial Statements Analysis (3)

FINA 607 Financial Analysis (3)

MGMT 635 Management of Individuals, Teams, and Organizations (3)

MGMT 672 Strategic Management and Policy (3)

MKTG 654 Marketing Management (3)

OMIS 680 Global Supply Chain Management (3)

OMIS 697 Digital Transformation Strategy (3)

MGMT 655 Change Management (3)

MGMT 647 International Management (3)

MGMT 627 Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation (3)

Total: 30 semester hours

Course Descriptions

Phase One Required Courses

ACCY 505 — Financial Accounting

Concepts

Introduction to the nature, uses, and limitations of financial accounting information. Financial accounting concepts presented from the viewpoint of the user. Problems and cases used to emphasize the kinds of financial accounting information relevant for decision making. Open to students with fewer than 6 semester hours in accounting, or by consent of department. A student may not receive credit for both ACCY 206 and ACCY 505. Credits: 2

FINA 505 — Fundamentals of Financial Management

For graduate students with little formal background in finance. Financial theory and activities connected with the organization and operation of a business enterprise. Relationship of these financial activities to other aspects of business administration. Financial planning and control, working capital considerations, capital budgeting, sources and use of funds, valuation of enterprise, and the financial environment in which the firm operates.

Prerequisites & Notes: PRQ: ACCY 505 and OMIS 524, or consent of department. Credits: 2 (Must be completed within the last five years prior to admission to the program).

MGMT 505 — Principles of Management

Introduction to the role of manager in interaction with superiors, subordinates, associates, and staff; theories of leading, organizing, planning, and controlling; and skills in communicating, coordinating, and directing. Credits: 2

MKTG 505 — Graduate Survey of Marketing

Comprehensive survey of marketing functions, institutions, policies, and problems designed specifically to serve the needs of graduate students with no previous formal marketing education. Credits: 2

OMIS 505 — Principles of Operations Management

Examination of the issues, problems, and possible solutions for operations managers in the manufacturing and service environments. Topics include product planning, facility location, process design, capacity planning, quality management, inventory management, and operations planning and control systems. Students may not receive credit for OMIS 505 if credit was previously received for either UBUS 310 or OMIS 338. A student must earn a grade of C or better in a business statistics course prior to enrollment.

Credits: 2

OMIS 507 — Business Information Systems

Introduction to business information systems concepts, uses, and issues, including functional management information systems, end-user computing, technology, platforms, and systems analysis and design. Emphasis on the effective utilization of information system technology by business professionals. Students may not receive credit for OMIS 507 if credit was previously received for OMIS 351. Credits: 2

OMIS 524 — Business Statistics

Descriptive statistics: probability, random variables, and probability distributions; sampling and sampling distributions; estimation and hypothesis testing; simple regression and correlation analysis. Applications to industry and business. Students may not receive credit for OMIS 524 if credit was previously received for UBUS 223. A student must earn a grade of C or better in a college algebra course prior to enrollment. Credits: 2

Course Descriptions

Phase Two Required Courses

MGMT 635 — Managing Individuals, Teams, and Organizations

Identifying, understanding, and managing individual and group behavior in organizational settings. Topics include motivation, teamwork, culture, leadership, and other concepts that influence individual, group, and organizational effectiveness.

Credits: 3

OMIS 680 — Global Supply Chain Management

Examination of concepts, issues, and methodologies related to design and administration of supply chain systems. Emphasis on executivelevel decision making and the impact of supply chain management on organizational performance. Includes supply chain strategy, strategic alliances, supplier and customer relationships, use of technology, and the integration of logistical operations in the attainment of organizational objectives in a global competitive environment.

Credits: 3

FINA 607 — Financial Analysis

Analysis of current and future financial position that serves as the foundation for decision making by creditors, managers, and owners. Includes ratio analysis, sources and uses of funds, operating and financial leverage, capital budgeting under risk and uncertainty, the cost of capital, and the financial structure. A problem-oriented course, but cases and readings may be utilized. Credits: 3

MKTG 654 — Marketing Management

Analysis of the strategic marketing problems confronting managers in the evaluation of marketing opportunities, selection of target markets, development of marketing strategies, planning of marketing tactics, and implementation and control of the marketing effort. Credits: 3

OMIS 697 — Digital Transformation Strategy

Study of issues related to the digital transformation of modern organizations. Emphasis on strategic thinking and alignment of information technology with business objectives. Models and techniques of strategic information management illustrated through case studies. Credits: 3

MGMT 672 — Strategic Management and Policy

Capstone course to develop strategic thinking skills necessary to identify strategic issues, analyze key internal and external factors influencing firm performance, develop strategic alternatives, and identify critical implementation issues. Integrates functional knowledge, behavioral and ethical concepts, and analytical tools for effective formulation and implementation of strategies and policies. Must be taken in final semester or last 9 semester hours of master’s program. Credits: 3

ACCY 640 — Financial Statements Analysis

Analysis and interpretation of financial reports with particular reference to the construction of statements, the meaning of accounts, ratios, and other evaluating indices. Credits: 3

MGMT 655 — Change Management

Study of approaches and responses to various levels of change, diagnostic tools, intervention strategies, and individual and organizational factors that create support for or resistance to change. Application of diagnostic tools and development of customized plan for an organization. Credits: 3

MGMT 647 — International Management

Identifying, understanding, and managing the cultural components of organizational and business dynamics present in global business enterprises. Focus on strategic issues involved in international expansion, international competition, international organizational relationships, and international human resource utilization. Credits: 3

MGMT 627 — Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation

Identifying, understanding and developing the methods and skills used to recognize entrepreneurial opportunities and develop innovative solutions. Topics include theories of creativity, enterprise idea generation and evaluation, and other concepts, models, and techniques used to identify and evaluate new venture opportunities, innovations, and entrepreneurial solutions. Credits: 3