Introduction

This concentration has been developed for the Lamar University MBA Cohort Program. The cohort (team) model allows students to develop close working relationships with each other and develops team skills. By participating in various experiential learning experiences, this concentration prepares students on hands-on application of practical business skills to use in the workforce. Students will have a greater perspective of business and will enter the workforce with a stronger foundation in career strategy and leadership. Finally, this concentration prepares students for the intricacies of planning, launching and leading a new business. Students will have experiential learning experiences such as mentoring, career strategy workshops, distinguished speaker series, leadership development, study abroad, and FastTrac. (Available to all MBA students).

Sample Degree Plan

1st Fall Semester (9 hours)
ECON 5380 Environment of Business and Ethics (3)
FINC 5310 Financial Management (3)
BUSI 5310 Entrepreneurial Strategy (3)

Spring Semester (9 hours)
BUAL 5380 Managerial Decision Making (3)
ECON 5370 Managerial Economics (3)
BUSI 5320 Leadership, Negotiation, ADR and Organizational Change(3)

Summer I (6 hours)
ACCT 5370 Managerial Accounting (3)
BUSI 5360 Internship (3) or
BUSI 5370 Business Case Writing (3) or
BUSI 5380 Global Enrichment (3)

Summer II (3 hours)
MGMT 5360 Human Resource Management (3)

2nd Fall Semester (9 hours)
MGMT 5340 International Business (3)
MGMT 5380 Strategic Management (3)
MKTG 5310 Marketing Management (3)

Course Descriptions

BUSI 5310 Entrepreneurial Strategy (3)
Entrepreneurial Strategy exposes upper and graduate level business students to the principles of launching a new business. The course combines case analysis, profiling real entrepreneurs, and guest lectures from business owners and advisors in the region. The course will drive them to explore emerging opportunities in new existing markets in which a new venture could be launched. It will also expose students to feasibility analysis to determine success as well as the process of writing a business plan to execute the start-up venture in the market. While prior business background is not completely necessary, the course will help the student who has taken a variety of business courses coalesce the knowledge into a comprehensive plan to launch their own business.

BUSI 5320 Leadership, Negotiation, ADR and Organizational Change (3)
This course focuses on the development of negotiation and versatile leadership skills important in the effective management of change. Through role playing exercises, tapes, diagnostic tools, seminar discussion, selected reading, and cases students will learn theory and build skills necessary for meeting objectives and providing leadership in diverse groups and organizations.

Only one of the following two courses:

BULW 5330 Employment Law (3)
Historical interpretations and present provisions of regulations governing labor. Common law; state and federal statutes; Fair Labor Standards Act; Worker’s Compensation; Social Security; liability; United State Department of Labor; social legislation; fair employment practices.

MGMT 5360 Human Resource Management (3)
Review of the basic elements of employed performance, with analysis of the factors involved in employment, placement and personnel planning. This course blends theory and practice so the student may better understand the policies and procedures required for recruitment selection and personnel planning.

With prior approval from the MBA director, pick one of the three projects below to apply management principles and theory in a practical setting.

BUSI 5360 Internship (3)
Using an outside organization or one of the learning institutes within the College, the student must submit a paper with an analysis of their experiential learning, prepare an industry bibliography and write a paper summarizing the tasks and accomplishments encountered within the organization

BUSI 5370 Business Case Writing (3)
Write a case study with critical evaluation of an organization in action

BUSI 5380 Global Enrichment (3)
The global enrichment program allows students to increase their interest in other cultures, become less ethnocentric as they become aware of cultural differences, develop language skills within a cultural context and become more culturally sensitive and accepting. Students can make professional contacts, gain a sense of direction for their future career and gain a sense of responsibility in working on a project.

Downloadable Degree Plan

MBA - Entrepreneurship (Microsoft Excel Format)