Graduate course description

Accounting Fundamentals - ACC 514 3 Credits (foundation course)
A study of accounting concepts,  methods and their significance to management. This course does not require previous accounting knowledge.

Marketing Management MKG 605 3 Credits (core course)
Students gain knowledge of marketing management by learning to think strategically and developing marketing plans by aligning marketing initiatives with market opportunities. During the course, students are required to develop marketing plans through the use of case study analyses.

Global Economics -ECO 607 3 Credits (core course)
This course examines the function of the economy and the role of the firm in the economy. The course underlines the macro-economic principles in order to understand domestic and international policy issues, international trade policies and economic growth.

Leadership and Organization Behavior - MGT 610 3 Credits (core course)
Students study a range of important variables that affect the behaviour of people inside an organization including leadership styles, the process of effective management, interpersonal communication skills, motivation, effective presentations and organization design, as well as the dynamics of conflicts in organizations. This course involves a high degree of participation and project work with adult learning techniques such as action learning and learning contracts.

Cross-Cultural Negotiations NEG 615 3 Credits (core course)
In this course students develop negotiating strategies and tactics applicable in a global setting. The interrelationship between culture, communication and business is analyzed and appropriate approaches formulated.

Introduction to Finance FIN 509 3 Credits (foundation course)
This course introduces students to the basic tools of financial analysis. It develops an understanding of capital budgeting and risk analysis, cash flow and cost of capital, dividend policy, internal financing and leverage. It describes innovative methods in the use of capital markets, such as hedging with derivatives and related instruments.

Managing Information and Technology MGT 606 3 Credits (core course)
Information management is a core component of most firms’ infrastructure; it is the intellectual capital of responsible management. Information and technology have the potential, when planned and managed properly, to improve productivity and maximize investments. Students will be introduced to emerging IT technologies and applications and will have to create an information technology strategy aligned to a firm’s business strategy using cross-disciplinary methods.

Global Entrepreneurship and Venture Initiation MGT 666 3 Credits
The course objective is to develop a pragmatic knowledge-base for some of the primary factors that lead toward the creation of a successful business. Creating a viable business plan is a key component that will be studied. Considerable time is allocated to understanding many key aspects of being a successful entrepreneur, highlighting selected characteristics underlying that success such as management, marketing, finance and strategic planning.

World Trade and International Finance FIN 611 3 Credits (core course)
Trade and global governance, the contribution of the different players to the construction of a coherent multilateral system and the interaction between trade and sustainable development will be the course topics. Students will be introduced to international finance such as exchange rate systems, macroeconomic stability and international capital markets.

Principles of Corporate Finance - FIN 510 3 Credits
Principles of Corporate Finance is intended to familiarize MBA students with principlesof corporate finance and investment decisions. It develops students' understanding of fundamental topics in modern corporate world such as cost of  capital, financial valuation, investments, risk-return, trade-offs and optimization of capital structure. The theory is presented in decision-making context which motivates students and equips them with practical tools for financial decision making and valuation, the skills they will reuqie in their future careers.

International Business BUS 699 3 Credits (capstone course)
International Business is the capstone course to assess the student learning and knowledge acquired in the MIB program. The course will incorporate the functional aspects of Finance, Marketing, Human Recourses, Law, Economics, and Communications in the area of International Business. It will evaluate the knowledge acquired to ascertain the student’s responsiveness to successful business within an international context. Understanding of cultural and language differences will be utilized in the context of international business. The course will also contain key international trade theories, international business entry strategies, and foreign exchange markets including how to raise capital in the international marketplace.

International Marketing MKG 667 3 Credits (core course)
The objective of this course is to provide a clear comprehension on how Business and in particular the Function of Marketing is influenced by the Globalization and the Macroeconomic aspects. Students will learn to devise an International Marketing plan taking into account the overall international economic situation, the growing interaction of governments, international institutions, the global legal environment, the different cultures, etc. It emphasizes the challenges the international marketer is facing today in dealing with the complexity of internationalization and the transparency of the  modern technologies. (This course will be coupled by the course International Business.)

Operations and Project Management MGT 657 3 Credits (core course)
This course introduces students to the practices, concepts and techniques used in operations within manufacturing and service organizations. Topics include product and process design, demand forecasting, production and work-force planning and quality control.

Quantitative Methods in Business QMB 513 3 Credits (foundation course)
This course will explore business applications of quantitative techniques, including forecasting and applications of linear regression and correlation.

Strategic Management MGT 620 3 Credits (core course)
Strategic management is formulating, implementing and evaluating cross-functional decisions that will enable an organization to achieve its objectives. It is the process of specifying the company’s objectives, developing policies and plans to achieve these objectives, and allocating resources to implement the policies and plans. Strategic management combines the activities of the various functional areas of a business to achieve organizational objectives. It is the highest level of managerial activity, usually formulated by the Board of Directors and performed by the organization's CEO and executive team. Strategic management techniques can be viewed as bottom-up, top-down, or collaborative processes. The overall vision and mission of the company is part of strategic management.
The formal plan associated with strategic management is the Strategy or Strategic Plan.

Business Policy - BUS 698 3 Credits (capstone course)
This course examines the objectives and strategies of senior management for the attainment of corporate goals. The course takes an interdisciplinary and strategic approach to the firm’s corporate policy. The interrelationship between the policies of international firms and the global business environment is analyzed. Emphasis is given to understanding the influence of the framework and issues of strategic decisions on the overall performance of the firm.

International Commercial Law LAW 659 3 Credits (core course)
Focusing on both private and public law, the course is designed to familiarize students with the legal framework of international trade and investment. Students acquire a fundamental knowledge of commercial law, trade finance, direct investment and franchising, country risk analysis, regional trade agreements, intellectual property laws, and licensing.
Particular attention is given to basic contract drafting and to analytical and problem solving skills in the context of special projects which are undertaken individually or in small teams.

Corporate Social Responsibility BUS 650 3 Credits (core course)
This course examines CRS issues from the perspective of different aspects of corporate operations including strategy, accounting, finance, economics, entrepreneurship, marketing, organizational behavior and operations management, It includes lectures, case studies and student research projects and presentations.

Communication and Media Theory COM 636 3 Credits (Foundation course)
This course covers communication and media models, the history of communications media, an overview of different broadcasting systems and the social roles they play, the institutional and political framework through which the media operate, their cultural and economic roles, and the technology of communication and media.

The Press: Ideology and Bias – COM 652 3 Credits (core course)
The importance of the press has developed with the globalization of press coverage and worldwide concern for the unequal information flow between and among countries. This course examines the historic role of the press, the role of ideology in culture, the possibilities and methods in which bias may play a role in news reports, and the artificially constructed reality of such reports.

Multimedia and Internet COM 653 3 Credits (core course)
This course addresses the issue of multimedia project management through analysis and practical training in delivering multimedia content. Basic principles of multimedia (interactivity, navigation, guided discovery, animation) are discussed and implemented in the form of individual projects. The course introduces the students to the multimedia learning environment through a series of workshops, each dedicated to one of the core issues of multimedia production: wiki and website design, blogs and podcasts, video editing and flash animation.

Intercultural Communication – COM 654 3 Credits (core course)
This course introduces students to the concepts and practices that underpin communication in the modern, multicultural environment. Students examine the interplay between their own cultural background and their ability to communicate with others. Emphasis is placed on the ability to understand cultural differences in communicating with others in the workplace or social setting - key elements of globalisation and the changing social-political landscape.

Communication Mangement – COM 656 3 Credits (core course)

In this course, students will be introduced to the key concepts related to managing communication programs in the workplace. The course focuses on topics such as corporate image, identity and reputation, community relation, corporate social responsibility, issues management, crisis management, public affairs and internal communication.

Communication Research and Planning MA 658 3 Credits (research course)
Students are introduced to an analysis of public relations theory and practice and guided on the planning and evaluation of public relations and communication programs. During the course, students develop an academic and practical insight into best practices in corporate and marketing communication.

Executive Communication COM 621 3 Credits (core course)
The essential element for a successful executive or manager is the ability to effectively communicate his or her ideas, persuade others of the viability of those ideas, and direct and delegate authority in a manner that motivates, rather than alienates subordinates. This
course gives students a controlled environment in which to practice and develop these skills. Students examine interpersonal communication, business writing, public presentations, and are expected to make persuasive and informative oral presentations.

Media and Communication - COM 698 3 Credits (capstone course)
During their final trimester, students plan, design and present a communication project that puts into practice the communication and media theory, processes and techniques that they have studied during the MA program. The project is supported by a series of workshops on researching and managing communication projects.

International Trade Organizations - TRA 615 3 Credits
This course focuses on international economic relations and trade organizations. It reveals challenges and limits for the nation-state to manage international affairs alone. The course evaluates specialized international organizations (WTO, UNCTAD, ICC, World Bank, IMF, WIPO) and examines their achievements in promoting global governance. The course discusses regional trade areas and arrangement worldwide (NAFTA, MERCOSUR, APEC, ASEAN, ECOWAS).

Luxury Brand Management LUX 671 3 Credits (concentration course)
The course provides the overview of the entire luxury goods management process, from brand DNA definition to product distribution on markets. Focusing on the luxury consumer, the course examines brand strategy, competition, markets needs and specificities, product launching and manufacturing, communication, distribution. Using well-established brands (in watches and jewellery mainly, in haute-couture and fashion, perfumes and cosmetics, automotives), the course seeks to define the concept of luxury brand management by exploring the origins, history, and trends of luxury production and distribution. Using the case study and project based learning approach, the course examines ways in which strategic thinking, creativity and business skills are integrated in the successful luxury goods firm.

Luxury Goods Marketing Seminar LUX 672 3 Credits (concentration course)
The course follows the overview of the entire luxury goods industry and services sector. It seeks to define the luxury brand approach to build image and visibility for its end-consumers by exploring the different aspects of its marketing, its sales and its industry. Renowned guest speakers from the industry will be invited for an event, which is part of the course, and will elaborate on the different strategies applied in fashion, jewellery, perfumes, hospitality, transport, and the Swiss watch industry.

Legal Principles of the Luxury Industry  LUX 674 3 Credits 
In this course, students will learn about the international luxury industry and how the relevant legal principles apply. With a focus and brand protection, cases and exercises will illustrate legal issues as broad as international licensing, trademark law, negociations and contracts, and franchising. The course covers the theory and practice of all key legal aspects relevant to the luxury market including contractual issues, intellectual property, licensing, global financing and payment mechanisms.

Strategic Financial Management FIN 635 3 Credits

Financial management focus on financial management strategies and their effects on various organizations. The close relationship between investment banking and capital budgeting in a company, investment appraisal, strategic finance and risk management are examined.

Financial Modeling Seminar  FIN 677 3 Credits

A concentrated three-day module which examines the potential of financial modeling. The first two days use existing models, in both the "Excel" and  Proprietary Modeling software and seeks to develop skills in the use of  sensitivity analysis. Day three provides actual model-building experience using  "Excel" software. Prerequisite: Introductin to Finance (GBA 510)

Risk Management - FIN 678 3 Credits
This course examines the wide variety of risks and uncertainties that business organizations face. Special attention is given to two specific areas: the treatment of risk in capital investment decisions, and techniques for managing market - related risks in commodities, currencies, money and capital markets. The course is designed to be as practical as possible, with the contribution of a number of outside experts. Prerequisites: Introduction to Finance (GBA 510), International Finance (MBA 665)

International Investment Management FIN 679 3 Credits (concentration course)
The course introduces students to the financial issues facing corporations making International investment decisions. It covers international monetary environment, international investment and market equilibrium, equity and bond investment. Prerequisite:
Introduction to Finance (GBA 510).

Advertising and Sales Promotion MKG 681 3 Credits
Applies advertising and sales promotion theories, the most visible elements of the promotion function, to the achievement of marketing management goals. Topics include: objectives, targets, budgets, media, themes, measurement and research. Students prepare advertising plans for existing or new businesses. Prerequisite: Marketing Management (MBA 605)

Strategic Marketing Planning  MKG 683 3 Credits
The course explains the responsibilities of the product/brand manager, with a focus on planning. Covers control systems and problems encountered during execution. Students are required to prepare feasible marketing plans. Prerequisites: Marketing Management (MBA 605)

Marketing of Technology Based - Products  MKG 684 3 Credits
The purpose of this course is to address the issues and problems faced by marketing managers in the design, development, commercialization and management of technology based-products. Prerequisites: Marketing Management (MBA 605)

Economic Diplomacy TRA 624 3 Credits

This course introduces students to the tools of economic policy and standard setting organizations. It develops an understanding of economic resources and trade relations as a policy objective. The course discusses how states conduct their economic relations, how they make decisions domestically, how they interact with non-state actors and engage in multilateral negotiations.

International Trade Promotion Strategies TRA 630 3 Credits
The course provides students with the knowledge of how to promote business interests of national trade promotion agencies, non-government organizations, trade associations, chambers of commerce and TNCs. It focuses on trade promotion and role of the major international trade organizations in setting policy and standards that govern global trade.

International Trade Policy TRA 620 3 Credits
The course addresses trade related issues in respect to economic development and growth, regional cooperation and interdependence among economies. It focuses on trade agreements, custom unions, economic sanctions and trade protection policies. 

Future Trade Issues TRA 698 3 Credits (capstone course)
This course focuses on interaction between states, international organizations and non state actors on trade related issues. Trends of selected global issues such as natural resources and environment, intellectual property rights and WTO perspective are examined. 

Trade Statistics  TRA 618 3 Credits
The course introduces students to statistical theory and its application to econometric models. It provides students with analytical tools to understand and analyze international economics and trade related issues by using statistics and econometrics. 

Foreign Policy POL 630 3 Credits
The course deals with domestic and external factors affecting the formulation of foreign policy and national security. It examines major political events after 1989 and policy making conceived and practiced by nation states. The course aims to integrate theory and policy making, diplomacy and strategy while focusing on foreign policy and national security.

The United Nation Systems  POL 632 3 Credits
This course gives a general overview of the United Nations system and specialized international organizations. It reviews the history of the UN and examines decision-making processes especially within the General Assembly and the Security Council. The course explores the strengths and weaknesses of the UN system and multilateral diplomacy in regulating relations between sovereign nation states. Students will debate on future perspectives of the UN system, on the concept of the collective security and UNSC reform. 

Future Issues in International Relations  POL 698 3 Credits (capstone course)
International relations have changed since the end of the Cold War in 1989 and September 11, 2001. This course identifies the crucial political issues today on the national, regional and transnational levels. It examines current dynamics and assesses their possible future trends. Topics under consideration include security, the environment, the economy, migration, religion and the information society on a global scale. 

Geoeconomics POL 610 3 Credits

This course explores the impact of geoeconomics strategies of state and non-state actors in international relations. It examines European, US and East-Asian competitive intelligence, trade and economic interests at stake. The course addresses the issue of information operations and disinformation strategies, enforcement or destabilization of the nation state and state support to strategic industrial sectors through economic diplomacy. The relations between the state, corporate sector and civil society are examined in the form of case studies.

European Union POL 620 3 Credits

This course focuses on European integration process, institutions and decision-making and explores the role of Europe in world politics. Prominent points of debate include sovereignty, federalism and monetary union as well as trade environmental, enlargement and defense policies.