Curriculum
14-19 Courses
36-49.5 Credits
Program Length:
Part-time in as few as 20 months
Contextualize: from Boston to the World (5 credits)
Must be taken as early in the program as possible.
| MBA-701 | Values Based Decision Making | 1 |
| MBA-710 | Understanding World Class Clusters | 3 |
| SBS-700 | Unlocking Your Professional Potential | 1 |
Core Courses (13.5 credits)
May be waived.
| MBA-625 | Managerial Statistics | 1.5 |
| MBA-635 | Operations Management: Design and Analysis | 3 |
| MBA-640 | Corporate Financial Reporting and Control | 3 |
| MBA-650 | Value Based Financial Management | 3 |
| MBA-660 | Marketing: the Challenge of Managing Value | 3 |
Understand Business Fundamentals (9 credits)
*Online MBA students take MBA-741 but have the option of taking MBA-740 for an additional fee.
Construct the Big Picture (7 credits)
| MBA-745 | Contextualizing Values Based Decision Making | 1 |
| MBA-750 | Building Global Connections | 3 |
| MBA-760 | World Class Strategies | 3 |
Lead and Implement Change (3 credits)
Must be taken as late in the program as possible.
| MBA-770 | Leading and Implementing Change | 3 |
MBA Electives (12 credits)
The curriculum requires four courses (12 credits) of MBA electives, or an option of completing a three course (9 credit) concentration with an open 3 credit MBA elective. At least one elective must be an approved analytics course. The courses must be taken within the Sawyer Business School and be 800 level or above. A select number of 700 level Healthcare and Nonprofit electives are acceptable. The schedule of when elective courses are offered varies by semester.
SBS 920 SBS Graduate Internship is designed for students interested in completing an internship, not for credit. Students must consult with the MBA Advisor for guidance on how to be considered for this option.
Approved Analytics Courses
At least one elective must be an approved analytics course.
| ACCT-824 | Big Data and Financial Statement Analytics | 3 |
| HLTH-805 | Big Data Strategies for Health and Healthcare | 3 |
| ISOM-730 | Python for Business Analytics | 3 |
| ISOM-801 | Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel | 3 |
| ISOM-821 | Data Management and Modeling | 3 |
| ISOM-835 | Predictive Analytics | 3 |
| ISOM-845 | Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, and Storytelling | 3 |
Accounting
| ACCT-800 | Graduate Financial Accounting I | 3 |
| ACCT-801 | Graduate Financial Accounting II | 3 |
| ACCT-802 | Graduate Financial Accounting III | 3 |
| ACCT-804 | Cost and Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT-805 | Auditing and Assurance Services | 3 |
| ACCT-806 | Fraud Examination | 3 |
| ACCT-824 | Big Data and Financial Statement Analytics | 3 |
| ACCT-861 | Leadership in the Financial Professions | 3 |
| ACCT-865 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| ACCT-871 | Not-For-Profit and Governmental Accounting | 3 |
| ACIB-872 | International Accounting | 3 |
Business Law and Ethics
Entrepreneurship
| MGES-843 | Business Opportunities Using Design Thinking and Biomimicry | 3 |
Finance and Managerial Economics
| FIN-800 | Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation | 3 |
| FIN-808 | General Theory in Corporate Finance | 3 |
| FIN-810 | Investment Analysis | 3 |
NOTE: The approved FIN Electives (above) are part of the General Finance Concentration online.
Healthcare Administration
| HLTH-705 | Health Systems I: Healthcare in the U.S. | 3 |
| HLTH-707 | Evidence-Based Healthcare Management | 3 |
| HLTH-710 | Healthcare Accounting and Financial Management | 3 |
| HLTH-720 | Health Systems II: Economics, Law, and Policy | 3 |
| HLTH-730 | Healthcare Operations Management and Performance Improvement | 3 |
| HLTH-740 | Healthcare Management and Human Resources | 3 |
| HLTH-805 | Big Data Strategies for Health and Healthcare | 3 |
| HLTH-810 | Quality, Patient Safety, and Patient Experience | 3 |
| HLTH-840 | Innovation and Strategic Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| HLTH-842 | Global Health | 3 |
Independent Study
A student-initiated directed study project, generally for three credit hours and completed within one quarter or semester. The student and faculty advisor must concur on a written proposal and final report, and the proposal must be approved by the Office of the Dean prior to registration.
| SBS-910 | Directed Independent Study | 1-3 |
Information Systems and Operation Management
| ISOM-631 | Data Analytics with SAS Base | 3 |
| ISOM-730 | Python for Business Analytics | 3 |
| ISOM-801 | Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel | 3 |
| ISOM-821 | Data Management and Modeling | 3 |
| ISOM-825 | Enterprise Data Management | 3 |
| ISOM-827 | Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence | 3 |
| ISOM-835 | Predictive Analytics | 3 |
| ISOM-840 | Security and Privacy | 3 |
| ISOM-845 | Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, and Storytelling | 3 |
| ISOM-861 | Project Management: Gaining Competitive Advantage | 3 |
International Business
Marketing
| MKIB-819 | Global Perspectives in Consumer Marketing | 3 |
Organizational Behavior
| MGOB-835 | Managing Difficult People at Work | 3 |
Strategic Management
Taxation
| TAX-801 | Federal Taxation of Income | 3 |
| TAX-862 | Taxation of Corporations | 3 |
| TAX-863 | Taxation of Pass-Through Entities | 3 |
Waiver Policy
Core courses may be waived. Required MBA Courses (SBS 700, MBA 701, MBA 721, MBA 730, MBA 740, MBA 745, MBA 750, MBA 760 and MBA 770) cannot be waived.
To waive a core course, a student must successfully complete equivalent academic coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven (7) years prior to MBA matriculation, “B” or better, and provide official transcripts (with English translations, if applicable).
All waiver requests are evaluated upon a student’s acceptance into the MBA Program and are waived during the student’s first semester. Students may also elect to take a proficiency exam, for a fee, to gain a waiver. Proficiency exams must be taken in the first semester and are administered on the Boston campus only, with prior arrangements. All MBA students must complete a minimum of 36 graduate credits in the Sawyer Business School.
Transfer Policy
Six (6) credits of elective courses, taken at the graduate level from an AACSB-accredited graduate program in business, may be transferred if the credits do not apply to a previously completed degree. Transfer credits must have an earned grade of "B" or better and be taken within seven (7) years prior to entering the Suffolk MBA programs. Transfer credits apply only to electives.
Transfer Credits from the Moakley Center for Public Management's Certificate Programs
Students who have completed a certificate program through the Suffolk University Moakley Center for Public Management may have an opportunity to reduce credit requirements to an SBS graduate degree program (MBA, MMS, MSA, MST, MHA, MSBA, or MSM). All course waivers and/or transfers varies by program and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the respective SBS Graduate Programs Office.
In order for a course to be considered, the following criteria must be met: must have an SBS graduate program course equivalent; received a grade of "B" or better, and successfully completed the certificate prior to enrolling in the SBS graduate degree program.
Applicants must also meet the admission standards for the SBS graduate degree program to which they are applying.
MBA Online Concentrations
Online MBA concentrations include: Accounting Principles, Business Intelligence, General Finance or Health Sector Management. The schedule of when courses within a concentration are offered varies by semester.
Students who declare a concentration must submit an SBS Graduate Program Concentration Request Form. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor before they declare a concentration.
The concentration appears on the transcript, not the diploma.
Accounting Principles Concentration
Note: If a student has not taken or waived MBA 640 they can count either ACCT 800 or ACCT 804 in place of MBA 640 and choose an additional course from the elective list.
Required Courses (6 credits)
| ACCT-800 | Graduate Financial Accounting I | 3 |
| ACCT-804 | Cost and Managerial Accounting | 3 |
Elective Course (1 course, 3 credits)
Choose one elective from the following list:
| ACCT-801 | Graduate Financial Accounting II | 3 |
| ACCT-805 | Auditing and Assurance Services | 3 |
| TAX-801 | Federal Taxation of Income | 3 |
Business Intelligence Concentration
Required Courses (6 credits)
| ISOM-821 | Data Management and Modeling | 3 |
| ISOM-845 | Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, and Storytelling | 3 |
Elective Course (1 course, 3 credits)
Choose one elective from the following list:
| ISOM-801 | Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel | 3 |
| ISOM-825 | Enterprise Data Management | 3 |
| ISOM-840 | Security and Privacy | 3 |
Corporate Accounting and Finance Concentration
Required Course (3 credits)
| ACCT-824 | Big Data and Financial Statement Analytics | 3 |
Elective courses (2 course, 6 credits)
Choose 1 course from the following:
Choose 1 course from the following list:
| ISOM-801 | Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel | 3 |
| ISOM-825 | Enterprise Data Management | 3 |
| ISOM-827 | Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence | 3 |
| ISOM-845 | Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, and Storytelling | 3 |
Forensic Accounting Concentration
Required Courses (9 credits)
General Finance Concentration
Required Courses (9 credits)
| FIN-800 | Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation | 3 |
| FIN-808 | General Theory in Corporate Finance | 3 |
| FIN-810 | Investment Analysis | 3 |
Health Sector Management Concentration
Required Courses (6 credits)
Required Courses:
| HLTH-705 | Health Systems I: Healthcare in the U.S. | 3 |
| HLTH-805 | Big Data Strategies for Health and Healthcare | 3 |
Required Elective (1 course, 3 credits)
Choose 1 elective of the following courses:
| HLTH-707 | Evidence-Based Healthcare Management | 3 |
| HLTH-810 | Quality, Patient Safety, and Patient Experience | 3 |
Learning Goals and Objectives
| Learning Goals |
Learning Objectives |
Be able to effectively communicate in oral form.
(Oral Communication) |
1. Organize the presentation effectively
2. Deliver the presentation with attention to volume, clarity, grammatical correctness and precision
3. Develop the topic
4. Communicate with the audience
5. Use communication aids effectively
6. Summarize the presentation |
Be able to effectively communicate in written form.
(Written Communication) |
1. Develop a topic with supporting details
2. Organize written communication effectively and logically
3. Use correct word choice and effective sentence structure
4. Employ normal conventions of spelling and grammar
5. Provide examples and supporting evidence
6. Communicate accurate quantitative information |
Be able to effectively apply analytical and critical reasoning skills to solve organizational challenges.
(Analytical Reasoning) |
1. Identifies the problem and related issues
2. Identify key assumptions
3. Generates salient alternatives
4. Examine the evidence and source of evidence
5. Identify conclusions, implications, and consequences |
Effectively articulate the role of ethics in management.
(Ethics) |
1. Identify conflicts of interests and pressures that could lead to unethical conduct
2. Understand what kinds of questions are helpful to ask oneself when confronting an ethical dilemma
3. Demonstrate the ability to identify and take into account the interests of different stakeholders
4. Understand how business strategies that facilitate “doing good” can be made consistent with profitability
5. Understand that what is legal may not always be ethical and that what is ethical may sometimes not be legal
6. Appreciate that ethical norms vary across different countries and cultures |
Indicate an understanding of how culture, economic and political issues differ across countries.
(Global Awareness) |
1. Articulate fundamental challenges of global business
2. Analyze financial impacts of operating a global business
3. Apply the analysis to global management situation
4. Identify challenges of an international workforce
5. Demonstrate cultural awareness of external constituents |