Specialty Tracks (Spring Term)
During the second term, M.S. in Commerce students embark on a carefully crafted sequence of courses that allow 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 15 credit hours.
The Financial Services Track emphasizes specific business knowledge and skills required for management in the financial services environment.
Advanced Corporate Finance (3 credit hours) sharpens corporate valuation and corporate financing skills in a wide variety of cases and contexts. It is intended to extend the theoretical knowledge gained in financial management to numerous applied settings, including mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, capital structure decisions, and leveraged buyout/ private equity investments.
Customer Equity Management (2 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 (3 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 will give special attention to models for structuring and valuing derivative securities.
Markets and Financial Advisors (3 credit hours) covers the topics of financial engineering and security design, security issuance, structured finance, risk management, and corporate governance. Pre-requisites: Restricted to M.S. in Commerce students.
Seeking Authenticity and Thinking As a Leader (1 credit hour) continues from the fall term. The course aids students in leveraging their non-business academic background, and provides guidance on integrating across the functional areas in the master's program. Students will be positioned to formulate a personal brand toward a career best suited for them.
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.
Customer Equity Management (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 to 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.
Seeking Authenticity and Thinking As a Leader (1 credit hour) continues from the fall term. The course aids students in leveraging their non-business academic background, and provides guidance on integrating across the functional areas in the master's program. Students will be positioned to formulate a personal brand toward a career best suited for them.