Electives

Accounting for Financial Planning and Analysis
This course focuses on the operational side of financial planning and analysis, including new product introduction, product costing, relevant costing decisions, and the systems and tools used to support a production environment. (2 units)

FP & A: Business Planning & Analytics
This course focuses on the operational side of financial planning and analysis, including new business planning, cost management, margin analysis, and performance management. (2 units)

Econometrics with R
Econometrics is the application of data analysis and statistics to economic and business questions. In this 2-unit course you will learn the basic conceptual foundations and tools of econometrics and apply them to real-world data. The key statistical technique used in this course is multiple linear regression, a powerful tool for estimating the impact of one or more hypothesized causal variables on an outcome of interest while controlling for other factors. These econometric tools will help you translate qualitative statements developed in theory into quantitative ones. (4 units)

Game Theory and Strategic Behavior
Studies theoretical concepts and tools for analyzing issues in the business environment such as conflict, bargaining, pretending and shirking in organizations and markets, agenda construction, and strategic commitment. Teaches game theoretical topics such as Nash-equilibrium, Sub game perfection, Bayesian Nash-equilibrium, Harsanyi transformation, commitment, and Perfect Bayesian Equilibrium. (4 units)

Alternative Investments
This is the first in a series of two courses that cover alternative investments. Alternative investments contrast to widely-held investments like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. This course covers how these investments are generally structured along with a closer study of a particular category, venture capital. (2 units)

Analytics for Finance (Panel Data)
This course covers key issues in panel data analysis, with an emphasis on their applications in empirical finance, especially empirical corporate finance. The course aims to introduce various econometric methods for analyzing panel data and develop core techniques to identify causal relations in the data. We will begin with the standard linear regressions, and extend to pooled, fixed effect, and random effect regression models, instrumental variables, differences-in-differences, and regression discontinuity. Students will be exposed to a broad range of applications in finance through reading academic papers and conducting their own empirical analysis. (2 units)

Applied Portfolio Management I
This course introduces the practical aspects of investment management. This is part one of a two-course sequence. The two proposed courses will provide students a framework to gain a detailed understanding of dynamics and factors affecting today’s investment managers. (2 units)

Applied Portfolio Management II
This course builds on the material covered in Applied Portfolio Management I and focuses on the practical aspects of portfolio performance evaluation and risk management. (2 units)

Business Valuation
Discusses implementing finance theory for valuation problems. Provides practical valuation tools for valuing a company and its securities. Covers valuation techniques including discounted cash-flow analysis, estimated cost of capital, market multiples, free-cash flow, and pro forma models. (4 units)

Challenges In Finance
This course goes over the techniques utilized in large scale corporate financial transactions. The course discusses the strategic use and value-add of each type of transaction, the appropriate context for using them, alternative implications, and valuation principles. (2 units)

Emerging Company Finance I
Covers financial topics most relevant to newly formed companies, with an emphasis on Silicon Valley-style startups that target large markets and raise outside capital. (2 units)

Emerging Company Finance II
This course focuses on the issues faced by start-up CFOs, and is directly relevant to entrepreneurs, founders and the early employees at start-ups who are evaluating, communicating, and implementing new business opportunities. (2 units)

Financial Engineering
Examines the design, valuation, and risk management of derivative securities (futures, options, etc.), including structured products. Includes topics on arbitrage theory, futures, equity options, bond options, credit derivatives, swaps, and currency derivatives. Mathematical modeling of derivatives, including implementation and applications in investments, corporate finance, and risk management. (4 units)

Financial Markets & Institutions
Analyzes the main functions of financial institutions such as commercial banks, investment banks, and insurance companies from the perspective of a corporate issuer, and reviews the recent developments in the financial service industry. Topics covered include payment processing systems, extension of credit to businesses and consumers, money management, investment banking and securities trading, and latest developments in the industry brought by new players using digital technologies and big data. Potential market size, product pricing, and profitability of the new players will be evaluated. (2 units)

International Financial Management
Studies financial issues specific to firms operating internationally. Examines the global financial environment, agency problems and corporate governance, international financial markets, exchange rate behavior, and corporate hedging decisions using currency options, currency futures, forward & cross-currency interest rate swaps by the multinational corporation (MNC) and understanding international parity relations. (4 units)

Intro to Fixed Income
This course provides an introduction to fixed income. It covers the valuation and application of basic fixed-income securities and an introduction to select credit derivatives. The main objective is to provide a foundation in the basic concepts and mathematics of these securities and their applications, holistically as it pertains to a means to (i) immunize investment portfolios; (ii) raise capital, and (iii) hedge attendant risks. (2 units)

Introduction to Time Series Analysis
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to forecasting methods used in time series analysis and presents enough information about each method so you will be able to use them sensibly. A wide range of topics are going to be covered, including basic concepts of time series, trends and seasonality, smoothing models, ARIMA models, as well as other advanced forecasting methods. Throughout the course, theoretical frameworks will be integrated with empirical analysis including multiple time series examples and cases. (2 units)

Investments
Investment knowledge is important to investment professionals, such as portfolio managers and financial advisers. They must know how to evaluate and select stocks, bonds, options, and other securities, and how to guide investors to fitting portfolios and good investment behavior. Investment knowledge is also important to all of us as individual investors. This course is centered on evidence-based knowledge of investments and investment behavior. It presents side by side standard and behavioral investment theory, evidence, and practice. These include analysis of wants and cognitive and emotional shortcuts and errors, portfolios, life-cycles of saving and spending, asset pricing, and market efficiency. These also include analysis of financial markets, such as stock exchanges, and securities such as stocks, bonds, options, and futures. (4 units)

Mathematical Finance
This course will comprise an immersion into the mathematics and models of modern finance, with an emphasis on conceptual and mathematical understanding, as well as building and implementing models. It will be technology dependent since computers are essential to solving problems in this field. (4 units)

Mergers & Acquisitions
Examines corporate governance and corporate restructurings. Emphasizes how corporate ownership, control, and organizational structures affect firm value. Other topics include valuing merger candidates, agency theory, and takeover regulation. Places a heavy emphasis on case projects and/or class presentations. (4 units)

Real Estate Finance
Focuses on the risks, practices, and problems particular to financing and investing in real property. Teaches the concepts and techniques necessary to analyze financial decisions embedded in property development and investment. (4 units)

Introduction to FinTech
FinTech has rapidly become a prevalent part of our vernacular, and an understanding of the evolution of traditional finance methods is an important part of a Finance majors arsenal. This course covers the evolution of traditional finance methods -- namely, the disruptions and innovations that have transformed: (i) how we access capital; (ii) how we allocate or invest capital; (iii) how we settle or transfer capital; and (iv) how we monitor and maintain the integrity of financial institutions and transactions. (2 units)

Big Data Modeling & Analytics
Learn to analyze a massive amount of data with distributed computations using Spark's high-level data transformations. This class will teach scalable approaches to process large amounts of text with MapReduce, Spark, and Amazon Athena (an interactive query service that makes it easy to analyze data in Amazon S3 using standard SQL) (4 units)

Dashboard with Tableau
This course enables you to transform data into persuasive dashboards that effectively inform and guide management actions. Dashboards are persuasive if they motivate actions in an intended audience. Dashboards are effective if they offer comprehensive and reliable information. This course introduces and discusses the fundamental design principles and technology of dashboards and allows you to design, implement, and critique dashboards. (2 units)

Deep Learning
Introduction to the topic of Deep Learning Neural Networks (DLNs), Linear Learning models using Logistic Regression, and adding hidden layers to create Deep Feed Forward Neural Networks. Detailed algorithms are used to train these networks using Stochastic Gradient Descent and the resulting algorithm called Backprop. Training processes of these networks are used with Tensor Flow tool and the MNIST and CIFAR-10 image data-sets. Some specialized DLN architectures including the following: (a) Convolutional Neural Networks (ConvNets), (b) Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), (c) Reinforcement Learning. Model parameter initialization, underfitting and overfitting are discussed as well as techniques such as Regularization. Issues such as the Vanishing Gradient problem that often cause problems during training are also discussed. (4 units)

Machine Learning with Finance
The course will prepare participants for more rigorous analysis of large data sets as well as introduce machine learning models and data analytics for business intelligence. The course will be a rigorous and broad treatment of AI, machine learning, and deep learning. The course will use both R and Python programming languages to undertake hands-on learning in ML. (4 units)

Machine Learning with Python
This course introduces participants to quantitative techniques and algorithms that are based on big and small data (numerical and textual). We also analyze theoretical models of big systems for prediction and optimization that are currently being used widely in business. It introduces topics that are often qualitative but that are now amenable to quantitative treatment. The course will prepare participants for more rigorous analysis of large data sets as well as introduce machine learning models and data analytics for business intelligence. (4 units)

Natural Language Processing
This course teaches students the fundamentals of Natural Language Processing (NLP). NLP has recently found several applications in business. There is now a foundation of content that students who wish to work in this field need to know and this course is aimed at providing students with a conceptual understanding of the field and its business applications, and a technical toolkit to implement NLP models. (4 units)

Prescriptive Analytics
This course helps participants understand the principles of optimization in business decisions and prepare computer based models from problem descriptions and determine optimal solutions using software tools. This course also prepares participants to interpret solutions to obtain insights regarding sensitivity to inputs, resource constraints, and their profitability impacts. (4 units)

Reinforcement Learning
The objective of this course is to provide an in-depth introduction to the topic of Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms. These algorithms are based on the theory of Dynamic Programming and Markov Decision Processes, which originated more than fifty years ago. (2 units)

Analysis, Design, and Management of Enterprise Platforms
Introduces the information technology infrastructures that enable within and across firm operations, and the competitive advantages that information technology can offer various firms. Focuses on how firms effectively utilize information technology resources in their business models and operations. (2 units)

Global Supply Chain
Global supply chains are the vitally important dynamic networks that connect people, information, processes and resources across the world involved in the production and services to customers. This course explores global supply chain relationships, transactions, channels and logistics infrastructure. Trends and challenges with respect to analytics, politics, economics and sustainability concerns in global supply chains are discussed. (2 units).

How Engineers, Business People and Lawyers Communicate With Each Other
Students from business, engineering, and law learn to understand each other's perspectives, speak each other's language, and work together effectively in a collaborative environment. Students from different schools will be organized into teams to work together on a simulated project involving a technological matter, such as privacy/security or IP. (2 units)

Supply Chain Finance
This course connects firms' supply chain management decisions to their financial decisions. The objective of this course is to interpret how financial performances are affected by supply chain decisions, understand different supply chain finance mechanisms, study risk management in the presence of supply chain finance, and describe new technologies related with supply chain finance. (2 units)

Supply Chain Management
Focuses on the key challenges and issues relating to design, analysis, and management of supply chains to gain competitive advantage. The goal of the course is to assess supply chain performance and improve execution by effectively managing inventory, capacity, logistics and supply chain relationships. Additional topics include the role of information technology in this context, supply chain network design, and managing supply chains in environments with product innovation and proliferation. (4 units)

Database Mgmt Sysytems: Fundamentals of SQL
This course aims to give an understanding of hands-on experience with the most widely used database tools. The objective of this course is to convey intermediate to advanced database concepts and to acquaint students with state-of-the-art software tools. The course will rely on classroom discussions, media articles and cases, as well as programming exercises and an integrative group project. Use of database software is required. A lab fee is required. Introduces database management and database management systems (DBMS). Teaches technical and managerial skills in database planning, analysis, logical design, physical design, implementation, and maintenance. Features hands-on training in database design, development, and implementation using relational DBMS software. Emphasizes designing and developing reliable databases to support organizational management. (2 units)

Critical Business Presentations
This course is designed to equip students with speaking and presenting skills in both formal and informal business settings. The class centers around weekly presentations on a variety of topics. Focus will be on learning to shape messages and presentations to different audiences and purposes. This two-unit course will afford an expansion of IDIS 3700 on effective presentation skills that should then be implemented into later coursework and workplace interactions. Business Communication theory, presentation practice and critique, interpersonal interaction in both traditional and social media forums, and conveying qualitative and quantitative information will serve as components of the course. (2 units)

Data Analytics - Python
Data science involves the application of scientific methodologies to extract understanding from and make predictions based on data sets from a broad range of sources. The objective of this course is to teach the programming skills relevant to data science. Students will learn the Python programming language, along with a complete set of open source tools for data science in Python, including the IPython Notebook, NumPy, Pandas, matplotlib, scikit-learn and many others. Students will learn skills such as importing data, cleaning and transforming data, algorithmic thinking, grouping and aggregation, visualization, time series, and statistical modeling/prediction. (4 units)

Global Business Perspectives
Through company sites and cultural visits, students learn to appreciate how business operates outside of the United States. Country visits are bracketed by class sessions and pre-work followed by project presentations. Content varies based on the expertise of the faculty and the country visited. Past locations include Germany, France, China, New Zealand, Brazil, and India. (4 units)

Women in Leadership
Presents the best practices of successful women technology leaders. Features a series of in-depth discussions and case studies where experts share the principles upon which they have created their businesses. Includes topics on vision, value creation, branding, product development and testing, recruitment and team building, management, financing, communication skills, networking, exit strategy and social impact. (2 units)

Challenges in Management
Moving an organization from where it is to where it needs to go is rarely easy, and many strategic change efforts fail. The fast-paced nature of today's competitive environments adds another layer of urgency and complexity. This course is designed to deepen your understanding of the strategic and tactical issues that a leader must prepare for in order to initiate and implement strategic change successfully.

Change Management: The Practice of Leadership
Investigates and examines priorities of exemplary leaders. Emphasizes developing conceptual understanding of the leadership process and on building leadership skills. Classes are often experiential and highly reflective, using written and video case studies. Some team assignments may be made. (4 units)

Coaching for Leadership Development
The focus of this course is on improving the students’ own leadership competencies as well as developing the skills required to coach others in developing their leadership abilities. Through lectures, field work, experiential exercises, readings, and reflective essays students will develop their facility and acumen in using a leadership operating system. The course provides a systematic opportunity to practice and receive feedback on their leadership behaviors through instrumented 360-degree feedback as well as peer coaching. The course is particularly relevant for those students who wish to broaden and build upon the knowledge and applications they were exposed to in MGMT 3000. (2 units)

Cultivating Inclusive Leadership
This class will be covering sensitive topics. Students who enroll should be ready to embrace opportunities to engage in difficult, challenging conversations. Active participation is required to do well in the class. Thanks to globalization, changing social norms, and growing acceptance of remote work, we are living in an increasingly diverse world. Our colleagues and customers differ in a variety of ways including race, religion, gender, sexuality, nationality, cognitive and physical abilities, beliefs, and age. Multiple studies have found that diversity in organizations is associated with financial growth, greater innovation, and enhanced alignment with needs of customers. But diversity only yields these benefits when the workplace is truly equitable and inclusive. While there are several challenges that inhibit inclusion, one of the most prevalent is unconscious bias. The key word is "unconscious". People who are truly committed to building an inclusive environment may inadvertently act in a way that is divisive. This course will focus on a subset of diverse characteristics: race and gender. We'll start with a demonstration of how Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) contribute to the success of organizations. After exploring then concept of implicit bias and our own biases, we'll study how the workplace can be experienced differently by underrepresented groups. Awareness is the beginning. The next step will be examining ways to increase diversity, improve equity and create inclusive work spaces -personally and organizationally. [2 units]

Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Innovation
This course looks at the practice of business innovation and entrepreneurship with an emphasis on how entrepreneurs recognize opportunities, communicate ideas, innovate, develop products, and build organizations. This course provides students with the skills, tools, and mindsets to enable them to discover other people's problems upon which entrepreneurial ventures may be built and to use their own creativity to generate solutions to these problems. The techniques and skills apply to both start-ups and established ventures. This course is an introductory course intended to provide a foundation regarding the role of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs in society and economy. As such, this class will explore what entrepreneurship means from several angles including how a person can be entrepreneurial in his or her own life - right now. This is an energized course about discovering entrepreneurship in and out of the firm. (4 units)

Innovation in Silicon Valley
The course focuses on the skills, practices and processes for evaluating and managing technology and innovation in fast paced environments. Students learn to apply human-centric design thinking to the innovation decision making processes. The course delivery is informed by foundational and emerging empirical work in innovation. The content complements that in other elective courses (product marketing, product development, and intellectual property, small business entrepreneurship) and core courses in strategy. (4 units)

Managing Teams and Projects
This course focuses on building and leading project teams in dynamic environments. The course covers tools and concepts for effective project management and techniques for creating high performing temporary teams. Students will assess team composition and team dynamics, and learn to intervene when conflict is unhealthy. Key practices for project planning, monitoring and controlling are examined, including an examination of common sources of project risks. (4 units)

Organizational Politics
Explores the use of influence and political skills in leadership and organizational decision-making. Emphasizes innovation and the politics of change. (2 units)

Social Benefit Entrepreneurship
Introduces students to social benefit entrepreneurship through readings, case study analysis, and participation in assessing business plans for existing social benefit ventures. Considers that social benefit entrepreneurship is the management and leadership of innovative social ventures that produce a social benefit and that these ventures typically innovate to produce products and/or services that help alleviate important social problems in areas such as economic development (poverty), health, equality, education, and environment. Emphasizes understanding management techniques for maximizing the financial sustainability and scalability of an SBE. (4 units)

Spirituality and Business Leadership
Explores the relationship between business leadership and spirituality through the lens of contemporary, as well as classical, religious literature. References both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions and explores why successful leaders often derail in the absence of spiritual integration, includes attention to spiritual disciplines such as prayer and meditation tailored for the time-pressured life of business professionals and leaders. (4 units)

Strategic Business Negotiations
We examine the process and theory of negotiating so the student can negotiate successfully in a variety of settings. This class covers a broad spectrum of negotiation problems faced by organizational leaders and everyday actors. We consider that, while a leader needs analytical skills to discover optimal solutions to problems, a broad array of social persuasion skills is needed to get these solutions accepted and implemented. This class gives students useful analytical frameworks and develops their influence skills through experiential negotiation exercises. (4 units)

Strategic Development of Food & Beverage Industries
Focuses on analysis of the strategic options facing food and agribusinesses worldwide. Emphasis is on developing an understanding of industry segments and value chains, food branding strategies, and new product development. Particular attention is placed on innovation in the agricultural production (AgTech) and food (FoodTech) sectors. Teams work together to prepare case analyses for presentation to the class. Students receive feedback and are coached on how to enhance their performance. (4 units)

Strategic Talent Management
Focuses on the strategic role of talent management–especially (1) designing and managing the human context of organizations; (2) talent selection, development, and deployment; and (3) developing organizational execution capabilities by ensuring the right people are in the right positions in organizations. Analytical topics include: business strategy and environment, risk-optimization frameworks, linking human resource (HR) management to strategy and performance, HR communication techniques, employee engagement, HR strategy, forces and trends driving HR strategy, and HR analytics through “big data.” (2 units)

Achieving Brand Leadership
Brands are powerful weapons, a major business resource, and key intangible financial assets. Yet many Silicon Valley marketers rely on technology, attributes and/or price and overlook the strategic and tactical benefits that a well-managed brand provides. Achieving Brand Leadership provides a framework and tools for marketers to successfully brand products and services and add an additional layer of advantage. The course defines and examines branding through a theoretical and conceptual framework. A fundamental review of core branding elements weighs the importance of the experiential aspects of branding. An examination of brand measurements illuminates the power of metrics and highlights different aspects of branding strategies. A look at past cases of successful and unsuccessful branding brings out variations in approaches. The impact of branding architectures and creative positioning on brand equity are considered. Finally, a team project integrates various facets of branding for a specific product or service. (2 units)

Analyzing Customers and Markets
Topics include frameworks for understanding how customers make decisions and adopt innovations, metrics for assessing customer attitudes, satisfaction and loyalty, methods for segmenting a market, and measures of brand equity. The focus throughout is on techniques for gathering and analyzing data on customers and markets in both on-line and traditional channels. Addresses B-to-B and B-to-C decision process in rapidly changing markets. (4 units)

Digital Advertising
This course covers key issues in internet advertising. Provides an in-depth understanding of search ads, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, display ads, retargeting, ad auctions, programmatic implications. Students will also gain a deep understanding of critical measurement methods and issues relating to paid advertising. Also discusses advertising on mobile devices. (2 units)

Distribution Channels
The purpose of this course is to provide conceptual frameworks and analytical skills on the effective management and strategic deployment of distribution channels for consumer product, business-to-business, and service organizations. The course covers channels functions, structure, and the evaluation of their efficiency. It also examines collaboration, relationship, conflicts, and sustainable strategy. Organizing channel members as dynamic systems concludes the course. The majority of course content uses case studies set in contexts pertinent to technology and Silicon Valley businesses. (2 units)

eCommerce: Challenges and Opportunities
The purpose of this course is to equip students with critical thinking regarding the challenges and opportunities in today’s e-commerce practice. The class time will be a combination of lectures of key e-commerce related concepts and frameworks, discussions of case studies to examine the effective internet-based business models, and hands-on experience in developing and evaluating key elements in e-commerce practice. Topics include e-commerce business model evaluation, web analytics, recommendation systems, and tools in modern e-commerce research. The course prepares graduates to create, analyze and manage an internet-based business. . (2 units)

Fundamentals of B2B: Account Based Marketing
This course introduces the concepts critical understanding of contemporary B2B marketing and the emergence of Account-Based Marketing (ABM) as a Go-to-Market strategy. You will learn why account-based marketing has recently become important and you will gain the understanding of when it's appropriate to employ an ABM strategy and what types of companies utilize this approach. You will gain hands-on knowledge and experience in developing and evaluating effective ABM strategies. By successfully completing this course you will be able to use cutting edge marketing technologies in the implementation of an account-based marketing strategy including their use for measuring the effectiveness of the program. (2 units)

Go-To-Market Strategy
Provide frameworks and development of analytical and empirical skills for effective management and deployment of Go-to-Market strategies. Address the omni-channel perspective on direct and indirect routes to market, demand generation, virtual and physical channels, relationship building, sales force design and management, and systems of GTM in business and consumer markets. Emphasize applications to information technology, biotech and health care, retail, and other Silicon Valley companies. Require in-depth analysis of case studies, practices, a simulation of market entry. (4 units)

Integrated Marketing Communications
Introduces the concept of integrated marketing communications (IMC). Provides a basic understanding of communication theory, marketing, branding, integrating marcom tactics, planning and coordinating IMC programs. Addresses marcom tactics of advertising, public relations, direct response, collateral, the Internet, and digital media. Addresses business-to-business and high-technology marketing communications.Incorporates a thorough understanding of objectives, strategies, tactics and budgeting. (4 units)

Internet Marketing and eCommerce
Provides the background and analytical skills to effectively manage Internet marketing and e-commerce strategies. Examines winners & losers in internet marketing, SEM, SEO, affiliate and viral marketing, use of social media and online advertising. Analyzes how the Internet is being leveraged into the core marketing activities of a business. Requires the development of an Internet marketing plan for an existing business. (4 units)

Marketing Analytics
Prepares managers to (1) identify the competitive advantages that come from leveraged analytics; (2) apply the tools, and evaluate the advantages and limitations of each; (3) implement these tools, ask relevant business questions that could be solved with them; and (4) interpret the input and communicate the output from such tools and models to achieve more profitable business decisions. (4 units)

Marketing Analytics II
Data and Analytics have led to a paradigm shift in the practice of Marketing. This course builds upon and extends from the first Marketing Analytics course, and introduces students to the most recent developments in data-driven applications in marketing decisions. In this course, not only the classical marketing concepts will be revisited from the data perspective, the modeling techniques developed for these marketing decisions are introduced for the students to understand them intuitively, rather than mathematically. Real world data is applied and analyzed using Excel, which allows easy adaptation for students to apply the knowledge and tools in other contexts using their own data. (2 units)

MarTech Integrations & Challenges
This course will explore the impact of digital modernization, cyber malice and data privacy mandates on the modern marketer of 2020 and beyond. Businesses are digitally transforming like never before, as new technologies such as machine learning, IoT and adaptive business processes help to transform business models, improve customer experience, modernize workforces and drive new levels of profitability. However, modern digital transformation is disrupting traditional ideas of data privacy, cybersecurity, and business risk that carries serious legal and reputational consequences. One the front lines is the modern marketer, who now must adopt modern MarTech approaches to help businesses thrive, while navigating complex data regulations, security requirements for cloud-based marketing tools and complex and evolving ethical lines brought about by a hyperconnected and immediately consequential technology and business environment. (2 units)

New Business Ventures
Entrepreneurship focuses on evaluating ideas for venture opportunities and the conversion of these ideas into viable businesses. Course includes discussion of cases, lectures, and presentations by guest speakers who have played a role in starting new enterprises (e.g. bankers, attorneys, risk capital investors, and entrepreneurs). Students develop a five-year business plan for a new enterprise and make an investor presentation to a panel of investors. Knowledge of accounting/finance must be sufficient to build viable financial statements. (4 units)

Product Innovation
Provides the product developer or manager with a multifunctional, multidisciplinary approach required to develop and launch successful new products. Includes in-depth treatments of market research, ideation, evaluation, development and the product launch or commercialization process. Appropriate for those interested in high-technology and/or consumer product markets. (2 units)

Product Management - Concept to Execution
Provides current and aspiring product managers with a comprehensive view into what it takes to launch successful real-world products and manage their lifecycles. Includes in-depth details around product strategy and processes combined with multiple real world case studies and ends with a capstone project that simulates taking a product from concept to execution. Various concepts such as buyer utility, competitive set, customer and market analysis, pricing, and the product launch process will be used. Appropriate for those considering to move into Product management or advance their careers if they are in Product management in high-technology and/or consumer product markets. (4 units)

Product Messaging and Positioning
The success of a marketing campaign depends on how a company’s end customers perceive, accept, and adopt a product. Especially in technology markets, a product's value proposition must be clear, tangible and differentiated to achieve vendor preference, as well as maintain price and margin. This course focuses on proven, effective strategies for understanding customer requirements and translating them into clear, digestible, and differentiated messaging statements. It provides strategies to achieve strong competitive positioning, and (re-)define an entire market. Specific topics include positioning and messaging creation, competitive landscape modeling and developing differentiation, translating customer requirements into effective positioning/messaging. (2 units)

Programmatic Advertising
The purpose of this course is to equip students with critical thinking regarding the challenges and opportunities in today’s e-commerce practice. The class time will be a combination of lectures of key e-commerce related concepts and frameworks, discussions of case studies to examine the effective internet-based business models, and hands-on experience in developing and evaluating key elements in e-commerce practice. Topics include e-commerce business model evaluation, web analytics, recommendation systems, and tools in modern e-commerce research. The course prepares graduates to create, analyze and manage an internet-based business. . (2 units)

Retail Strategy
Retailing is a dynamic and ever-changing industry. This course examines rigorous tools that help retailers develop a competitive strategy to survive and thrive in today's marketplace. The topics include product assortment planning, SKU optimization, private label management, visual merchandising, data-driven mark-up, and mark-down strategies, as well as big data practices and BI (business intelligence) tools that advance modern retail analytics. (4 units)

Sales Management
Provides the student with user-level knowledge of sales concepts and management methodologies necessary to effectively perform and manage the sales function. In the role of a sales or marketing manager, enables the student to apply these concepts to selling consumer products as well as high-tech industrial products. Includes concepts related to organizational structuring, territory plans and reviews, resource management, sales incentives, and compensation programs. (2 units)

Social Media Marketing
Examines the role of social media in business and brand strategy, digital advertising and overall marketing mix. This class introduces students to the current social media landscape, explores how it can be used for maximum results for both corporate and individual branding, and evaluates which social platforms are the best fit for their organization’s marketing goals. Topics to be covered will include an overview of platforms, current social media trends and their implications, developing social media strategy, measurement, and challenges. (4 units)

The Analytics of Optimal Pricing and New Product Decisions
Company strategies to approximate the profit maximizing price of microeconomic theory using only information that is readily available to the company. Topics include: costs relevant for pricing decision; financial analysis for determining change in sales needed to make price changes profitable; analysis of customers and customer price sensitivity; pricing in segmented markets; anticipating and influencing competitor pricing decisions; and competitive advantages and disadvantages in profit focused pricing decisions. Topics are integrated to provide a real-world path to profit maximizing pricing. Class is run as a seminar with student interaction and student research projects. (4 units)