The course is taken during the final quarter, although the planning for it by both the student and the faculty member directing the experience takes place well before the last quarter. Since the capstone experience is one related to the job, it must be tailored to the developmental needs of the MBA student in the work place. This course covers the transition to globalization of the world's economies. The course includes a discussion of the role of political and technological changes, the role of the nation state, the role of cultural differences, the role of population and resources, the role of locational choice and regional specialization, the nature and consequences of increasing specialization and interdependence, and theories of prices and comparative costs. Students learn the consequences of globalization to American firms and the American economy both internally and externally in business dealings with the rest of the world.
Special emphasis is given to regional economic integration.
This course introduces the student to the fundamental concepts of financial management. The topics covered are financial statement analysis, the term structure of interest rates, time value of money, risk and return, bond and stock valuation, capital budgeting, financing issues such as working capital policy, capital structure, cost of capital, dividend policy and related topics. This course provides an application of financial principles for management decision making with emphasis on the practical aspects of finance. Students will learn how to analyze a company, practice financial planning, and decide on various issues such as dividend policy, working capital policy and optimal financing alternatives. Students will also understand the loan evaluation process, the use of break-even analysis to set the price of a new product, various techniques used in capital budgeting investment decisions, and bankruptcy procedures, among other topics.