M.B.A. concentrations

You can customize the M.B.A. program to your individual interests and goals by choosing from 15 optional concentrations. Most concentrations require completion of three courses, allowing you to choose up to two concentrations while meeting the elective credit hour requirements. 

To request an M.B.A. concentration, you must submit the M.B.A. concentration request form (PDF) prior to applying for graduation. M.B.A. concentrations cannot be added once your graduation audit has begun. Concentrations are not listed on your degree, but appear on your transcript.

All courses listed below are three credits.

• Accounting systems

  Equips students with the analytical and technical skills necessary for sound professional judgment in financial decision making. Courses cover many topics, including financial and managerial accounting, accounting systems, ERP systems and more.

  To complete the accounting systems concentration, choose three of the following courses:

  • ACC 7040  Intermediate Financial Accounting I
  • ACC 7130  Intermediate Managerial Accounting
  • ACC 7145  Accounting Systems: Design and Controls
  • ACC 7148  ERP Systems: Concepts and Practice
  • ACC 7280  Accounting Data Analytics

  Please contact Accounting Department Chair Marina Houghton for additional information on this concentration or meeting CPA requirements.

• Auditing

  Provides students with the preparation they need to identify and assess reliable information in the financial audit process. Students learn about financial accounting, auditing and advanced auditing.

  To complete the auditing concentration, please complete any three of the following courses:

  • ACC 7040  Intermediate Financial Accounting I
  • ACC 7050  Intermediate Financial Accounting II
  • ACC 7180  Auditing
  • ACC 7190  Advanced Auditing
  • ACC 7280  Accounting Data Analytics

  Please contact Accounting Department Chair Marina Houghton for additional information on this concentration or meeting CPA requirements.

• Corporate governance

  Emphasizes how stakeholders and governing bodies within an organization influence operations. Students learn about complex organizations, professional ethics, management and finance laws.

  To complete the corporate governance concentration, please complete the two required courses:

  • ACC 7310  Business and Professional Ethics for Managers and Accountants
  • BLW 7220  Law of Corporate Management and Finance

  and one of the following courses:

  • ACC 7165  Internal Auditing
  • MGT 7620  Complex Organizations
  • MGT 7815  Strategic Leadership
  • MGT 7816  Leading in Organizations
  • MGT 7950  Business and Sustainability 

  Please contact Accounting Department Chair Marina Houghton for additional information on this concentration or meeting CPA requirements.

• Entrepreneurship and innovation

  The entrepreneurship and innovation concentration emphasizes concept and application, focusing on the successful formation and management of new ventures. The concentration is designed to equip students with the understanding, skills, and experiences needed to translate ideas into reality and develop an understanding of the commercialization potential of their ideas, inventions and discoveries. Students will learn how to solve unique problems associated with innovation, think creatively and critically as they acquire and manage financial and human resources required to sustain the effort to develop, launch and grow a new venture. The emphasis is on the special knowledge and skills required of an entrepreneurial manager and leader.

  The concentration requires a total of nine credit hours of course work.

  Required course: 

  • EI 7000 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Innovation OR MGT 7660 Entrepreneurial Management 

   

  Choose two electives from the following:

  Entrepreneurship and Innovation Courses (EI 7000 or MGT 7660 is a prerequisite for all other EI courses)

  • EI 7200 Startup Financing and Profitability 
  • EI 7400 Management and Leadership Issues in Entrepreneurship and Innovation 
  • EI 7600 Marketing New Ventures 
  • EI 7800 Special Topics in Entrepreneurship and Innovation 

  Other Mike Ilitch School of Business Elective Courses (prerequisites may apply): 

  • FIN 7280 Entrepreneurship Finance and Venture Capital 
  • ISM 7505 Information Analytics: Inbound Information Technology 
  • MGT 7700 Leadership and Management of Innovation and Technology 
  • MKT 7950 Business and Sustainability 

  Other Wayne State Elective Courses (prerequisites may apply): 

  • BMS 7100 Introduction to the Business of Biotechnology 
  • IBS 7110 Introduction to the Business of Biotechnology 
  • SW 6991 Social Entrepreneurship 

  Please contact Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Jeff Stoltman for additional information on this concentration.

• Finance

  Provides students with a deeper understanding of the management of money and other assets, such as stocks and bonds, for organizations and/or individuals. Course topics include investment policies, money and capital markets, international finance and more.

  Students have the option of completing all six of their required M.B.A. electives from the concentration list below. Individual concentration requirements must be met in order to graduate with this distinction on your transcript.

  To complete the finance concentration, please complete the following course:

  • FIN 7230  Investment Policies

  and at least two of the following:

  • FIN 7000  Applied Financial Analysis
  • FIN 7090  Money & Capital Markets
  • FIN 7229  Corporate Valuation
  • FIN 7220  Advanced Managerial Finance
  • FIN 7280  Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital
  • FIN 7290  Topics in Finance
  • FIN 7340  Futures & Options
  • FIN 7870  International Finance
  • FIN 7990  Portfolio Management/Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF)
• Financial accounting

  Prepares students to synthesize financial information and create financial reports for an organization's stakeholders. Course topics include financial statement analysis, governmental and not-for-profit accounting, accounting systems and more.

  Students have the option of completing all six of their required M.B.A. electives from the concentration list below. Individual concentration requirements must be met in order to graduate with this distinction on your transcript.

  To complete the financial accounting concentration, please complete the two following courses:

  • ACC 7040  Intermediate Financial Accounting I
  • ACC 7050  Intermediate Financial Accounting II

  and at least one of the following:

  • ACC 7115  Financial Statement Analysis
  • ACC 7122  Advanced Accounting I
  • ACC 7145  Accounting Systems: Design and Controls
  • ACC 7155  Forensic Accounting
  • ACC 7170  International Accounting
  • ACC 7180  Auditing
  • ACC 7188  Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting
  • ACC 7190  Advanced Auditing

  Please contact Accounting Department Chair Marina Houghton for additional information on this concentration or meeting CPA requirements.

• Global supply chain management

  Prepares students with in-depth knowledge about global challenges and the critical links in the value chain of goods. The concentration covers subjects such as strategic procurement, ERP systems and quality management.

  Students have the option of completing all six of their required M.B.A. electives from the concentration list below. Individual concentration requirements must be met in order to graduate with this distinction on your transcript. 

  To complete the global supply chain management concentration, M.B.A. students must complete the two following courses:

  • GSC 7620  Global Supply Chain Management (offered in fall and winter)
  • GSC 7650  Strategic Procurement (offered in fall and winter)
    NOTE: GSC 7650 may be taken during the study abroad program in China, offered each May.

  PLUS at least one of the following:

  • ACC 7148  Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems & Business Integration (strongly recommended)
  • GSC 7010  Supply Chain Decision Tools (strongly recommended)
  • GSC 7260  Theory of Constraints: Breakthrough Solutions (strongly recommended; offered in spring)
  • GSC 7670  Special Topics in Supply Chain Management 
  • GSC 7680  Manufacturing Planning and Control
  • GSC 7910  Managing Automotive Supply Chain Sustainability
  • GSC 7920  Supply Chain Process Analysis and Costing
  • GSC 7930  Managing Risk in Automotive Supply Chains
  • GSC 7960  Lean Six Sigma (strongly recommended: offered as a five-day course in January and May, eight hours per day)
  • GSC 7991  Principles of Quality Management (strongly recommended; offered in fall and winter)
  • GSC 7992  Methods of Quality Management: Greenbelt Certificate Preparation (strongly recommended; offered in spring)
  • GSC 7995  Directed Study: Supply Chain Management Study Abroad (strongly recommended)
    NOTE: Two-week, three-credit study abroad programs in global supply chain management are offered in China, Central Europe, Brazil and Italy. In China, students may opt to stay an additional two weeks and complete the required course GSC 7650 in addition to GSC 7995, for a total of six credits. Travel costs range from $2,300 to $3,200 plus tuition.
  • MKT 7460  International Business
  • MKT 7950 (or MGT 7950)  Business and Sustainability

  Course scheduling matrix

• Human resources

  Emphasizes concept and application, focusing on long-term goals and managing individual issues. The concentration teaches skills to identify and solve problems in the management of human resources. 

  Students have the option of completing all six of their required M.B.A. electives from the concentration list below. Individual concentration requirements must be met in order to graduate with this distinction on your transcript.

  Two courses are required:

  • MGT 7640 Human Resource Management
  • MGT 7750 Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining

  One other course is required from the following:

  • ELR 7010  Healthcare, Retirement, and Employee Benefit Plans
  • ELR 7450  Employment Relations Law in North America
  • MGT 7650  Strategic Human Resource Management
  • MGT 7790  Compensation Administration

  The human resources concentration focuses on current policies and practices regarding the management of human resources in various organizational contexts. Students will have the opportunity to join the recently formed Wayne State University Student Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). SHRM is an important credentialing body in the field.

• Information systems management

  Emphasizes a managerial approach to information systems. Students learn about business information systems, telecommunications and networks, data mining, and more.

  Students have the option of completing all six of their required M.B.A. electives from the concentration list below. Individual concentration requirements must be met in order to graduate with this distinction on your transcript.

  To complete the concentration, students must complete at least three of the following courses:

  • ISM 7505 Information Analytics: Inbound Information Technology
  • ISM 7510 Database Management
  • ISM 7520 Information Systems Design
  • ISM 7530 Societal and Ethical Issues in the Information Age
  • ISM 7560 Survey of E-Commerce
  • ISM 7570 Data Mining
  • ISM 7575 Corporate Computer Networks and IT Security
  • ISM 7900 / MGT 7900 Project Management
  • ISM 7994 Digital Content Development
  • ISM 7996 Principles for Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  • ISM 8000 Seminar in Information Systems and Management
• Internal audit

  Prepares students to understand business culture, systems and processes to evaluate risk management and control systems within an organization. Course options include audit, forensic and financial accounting, professional ethics and more.This concentration requires completion of four courses and is also available as a specialization in the MSA and MST programs. 

  Students have the option of completing all six of their required M.B.A. electives from the concentration list below. Individual concentration requirements must be met in order to graduate with this distinction on your transcript.

  To complete the internal audit concentration, please complete the two following courses:

  • ACC 7165  Internal Audit I
  • ACC 7280  Accounting Data Analytics

  and at least two of the following:

  • ACC 7040  Intermediate Financial Accounting I
  • ACC 7050  Intermediate Financial Accounting II
  • ACC 7145  Accounting Systems: Design and Controls
  • ACC 7155  Forensic Accounting
  • ACC 7180  Auditing
  • ACC 7190  Advanced Auditing
  • ACC 7310  Business and Professional Ethics for Managers and Accountants
  • ACC 7990  Internship in Accounting or Tax Practice
  • BLW 7220  Law of Corporate Management and Finance

  Please contact Accounting Department Chair Marina Houghton for additional information on this concentration or meeting CPA requirements.

• International business

  Prepares students to evaluate the challenges and opportunities of business practices occurring across national borders. Students learn about international marketing strategy, global perspectives, global supply chain management and more.

  Students have the option of completing all six of their required M.B.A. electives from the concentration list below. Individual concentration requirements must be met in order to graduate with this distinction on your transcript.

  To complete the international business concentration, please complete the two following courses:

  • MKT 7460  International Business
  • MKT 7500  International Marketing Strategy

  and at least one of the following:

  • BA    7560  Global Perspectives in Management
  • GSC 7620  Global Supply Chain Management
  • FIN   7870  International Finance
  • MKT 7600  The North American Economy
  • MKT 7950 (or MGT 7950)  Business and Sustainability
• Management

  Equips students with leadership skills needed to effectively direct a variety of business functions in a fast-paced, constantly changing business environment. Course topics include organizational change and development, managing human resources and more

  Students have the option of completing all six of their required M.B.A. electives from the concentration list below. Individual concentration requirements must be met in order to graduate with this distinction on your transcript.

  To complete the management concentration, please complete at least three of the following courses:

  • MGT 7620  Complex Organizations
  • MGT 7630  Organizational Change and Development
  • MGT 7640  Management of Human Resources
  • MGT 7650  Strategic Human Resource Management
  • MGT 7660  Entrepreneurial Management
  • MGT 7780  Concepts and Processes of Dispute Resolution I: Negotiating Theory and Practice
  • MGT 7815  Strategic Leadership
  • MGT 7816  Leading in Organizations
  • MGT 7850  Management through Constructive Persuasion
  • MGT 8000  Seminar in Management
  • MGT 7900 (or ISM 7900) Project Management
  • MGT 7950 (or MKT 7950)  Business and Sustainability
• Marketing

  Prepares students to plan strategies for increasing an organization's competitiveness and satisfying consumer needs. Courses explore a wide range of topics including market strategy, advertising management, consumer behavior and more.

  Students have the option of completing all six of their required M.B.A. electives from the concentration list below. Individual concentration requirements must be met in order to graduate with this distinction on your transcript.

  To complete the marketing concentration, please complete the two following courses:

  • MKT 7450  Business Research and Methodology
  • MKT 7470  Consumer and Industrial Buying Power

  and at least one of the following:

  • GSC 7650  Strategic Procurement
  • ISM 7996  Principles for Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Strategy and Cloud Applications with Salesforce.com
  • MKT 7430  Advertising Management
  • MKT 7460  International Business
  • MKT 7500  International Marketing Strategy
  • MKT 7700  Management of Retail Enterprises
  • MKT 7950 (or MGT 7950)  Business and Sustainability
• Sport and entertainment management

  Emphasizes concept and application, focusing on the business of sport and entertainment organizations. The concentration is designed to underscore management fundamentals learned in the M.B.A. program to equip students with the knowledge, experience and skills to work in the world of elite sport and entertainment.

  Critical questions such as how to attract and retain the elusive entertainment consumer, how to build a franchise to be win- and profit-maximizing, and how to manage events that highlight an organization's core mission will be explored.

  To complete the sport and entertainment management concentration, please complete the following course:

  • SEM 7100 Sport & Entertainment Management

   

  and two to five of the following:

  • SEM 7110 Sport & Entertainment Marketing Communications 
  • SEM 7120 Event Planning and Management
  • SEM 7130 Managerial Finance in Sport & Entertainment 
  • SEM 7140 Sport & Entertainment Economics 
  • SEM 8000 Special Topics in Sport & Entertainment 
• Taxation

  Prepares students to navigate increasingly complex tax laws and regulations to solve tax problems for individuals and organizations. Courses cover a wide range of topics including advanced tax research and problems, international and corporate taxation, estate planning and more.

  Students have the option of completing all six of their required M.B.A. electives from the concentration list below. Individual concentration requirements must be met in order to graduate with this distinction on your transcript.

  To complete the taxation concentration, please complete any three of the following courses:

  • ACC 7120  Tax Problems in Business Affairs
  • ACC 7300  Accounting & Tax Research & Professional Communications
  • ACC 7320  Advanced Tax Problems
  • ACC 7325  Advanced Tax Research and IRS Procedures
  • ACC 7335  Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders II
  • ACC 7340  Taxation of Pass-through Entities
  • ACC 7400  Tax of International Business & Multinational Transactions
  • ACC 7410  Tax Accounting Methods and Deferred Income Taxes
  • ACC 7420  Taxation by State and Local Jurisdictions
  • ACC 7440  Financial and Estate Planning
  • ACC 7450  Taxes and Business Strategy