Emphasis Areas

In addition to the core curriculum, students complete three courses in the emphasis area of their choice. Beginning halfway through the fall term, students begin their coursework in business analytics, finance, hospitality and tourism development, or marketing.

In general, the curriculum is case-based and applied theory combined with practical business modeling. As an AACSB-accredited business school, all MBA faculty have doctorate degrees, extensive industry and/or consulting experience, and high standards and assessment for learning.

MBA Emphasis Areas

MBA students working on campus Play video

In addition to the core curriculum, College of Charleston MBA students complete three courses in the emphasis area of their choice.

Emphasis Area Overview

Beginning halfway through the fall term, you'll begin your coursework in business analytics, finance, hospitality and tourism development, or marketing.
  • Business Analytics
    MBA students in the classroom

    Today's businesses are growing increasingly digital and are capable of accurately measuring every aspect of their operations, from customer relationships to financial, supply chain, marketing, and human resources management, in real time. However, data comes in its raw format only and is usually useless for decision making unless it is prepared, stored, aggregated and disseminated in a way that allows conclusions to be drawn for instigating a new course of action.

    The business analytics emphasis provides students with the ability to analyze data and information to describe and understand the performance of businesses, evaluate different courses of action, and employ a structured approach to business problem-solving for a sustained competitive advantage. Students learn to frame business challenges as data questions. Then, using powerful and analytical tools and methods to analyze data, students will create forecasts and models, design visualizations and communicate insights through Tableau, Power BI, Amazon Web Service (AWS) and SQL.

    In 2019, "business analytics" was found in nearly one million job requirements nationwide. In Charleston alone, more than 1,000 postings included the skills affiliated with data, business and financial analysts as well as product managers and marketing managers. These skillsets include business processes and analysis, business strategy, data analysis, data visualization and business intelligence. A graduate degree with an emphasis in business analytics is a strong pairing to pursue a career in any industry.

    Business Analytics Emphasis Courses

    INFM 530 Business Analytics Fundamentals for Competitive Advantage

    This course focuses on business analytics—an approach that entails the use of analysis, data and systematic reasoning to make business decisions. To successfully compete in today's global business environment, organizations must constantly monitor, recognize and understand every aspect and every issue of their operations, their industry and the overall business environment. The course examines the strategic and managerial foundations of business analytics, its use cases and conceptual and ethical considerations.

    INFM 532 Business Analytics Applications: A Practice for Competitive Advantage

    The course emphasizes business analytics as a practical discipline which requires mastery of both methodology and business applications. The concepts and skills learned in the previous classes will provide the basis for identifying opportunities in a capstone project where business analytics can be used to improve performance and support important decisions within the organization.

    MBAD 522 Marketing Research and Analysis for Decision Making

    This course presents a comprehensive framework of marketing research from the perspective of decision making in addition to current trends in international marketing research, ethics and the integration of the internet and computers.

    OR

    MBAD 531 Forecasting and Business Analytics in Hospitality

    Forecasting and business analytics provides knowledge and hands-on skills for forecasting and business analytics used in revenue management for hospitality organizations. The students learn to use extensive data, statistical and quantitative analysis, exploratory methods, predictive models, time series and forecasting to make fact-based decisions and drive actions in order to maximize revenues and profits.

  • Finance
    MBA students in the business school

    Finance is a broad business discipline that encompasses myriad career paths. It is why finance is one of the most popular and valuable specializations for MBA candidates. Students pursuing an MBA with an emphasis in finance gain the skills needed to immediately contribute to corporate enterprises and their bottom lines. 

    The Charleston region is a growing international hub for business, particularly in manufacturing, technology, healthcare and global commerce. Our students intern or are hired by companies like Daimler Vans Manufacturing, Blackbaud and Wonderlic. Industry leaders and recruiters seek our talent with financial, quantitative and advanced modeling abilities to help make profitable decisions for their businesses. Expect a curriculum in advanced financial modeling, capital budgeting, cash flow analysis, risk management and foreign exchange hedging.

    Today, our alumni are charting exciting career paths at companies such as Kroger, ABInBev, Dixon Huges, Goodman, LLP, Wayfair.com, Blackbaud and others.

    Finance Emphasis Courses

    MBAD 515 International Financial Markets and Risk Management

    This course is designed to provide a framework for understanding how international financial markets operate and the use of the financial tools to develop strategies to reduce the risks involved in international finance.

    MBAD 516 Financial Modeling

    This course examines financial modeling and covers a wide range of topics within all fields of finance that lend themselves to financial modeling. The course will examine modeling in four primary areas: (1) corporate finance models, (2) fixed income securities models, (3) portfolio models and (4) option pricing models.

    MBAD 517 Advanced Corporate Finance

    Advanced corporate finance is designed to provide a framework for understanding how corporate financial analysis is an important aspect of strategic decision making and the advantages/limitations of different financial theories with respect to their practical application.
  • Hospitality and Tourism Development
    MBA students

    In courses such as principles of revenue management, forecasting and business analytics, and channel management strategies, you will learn hands-on practical skills in maximizing profit, particularly for hospitality service businesses. Graduates are ready to help organizations from day one and are equipped with the skills to ultimately assume positions of leadership and high responsibility.

    Be a part of the fastest-growing, high-paying field in the global hospitality and tourism industry.

    Professionals who understand revenue management strategies are in high demand in the global hospitality and tourism industry. Sales and marketing directors, owners, operators and general managers are increasingly harnessing the value and expertise of revenue management. Live and learn in Charleston, voted the #1 destination city in the U.S. by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine readers. Our top destination city and relationship with the area's hospitality and tourism industry serve as the learning environment for developing your revenue management skills.

    Develop your analytical approach to forecasting, selling and pricing by immersing yourself in the latest technologies for the industry. Learn how to use social selling, geomarketing, flash sales, reputation management and distribution channels to design and develop a revenue strategy that capitalizes on these tools.

    Work with connected professors whose expertise and relationships with the hospitality and tourism industry provide opportunities to develop and hone revenue management skills during the course of study. These skills are then enhanced in the required study abroad component.

    Revenue management analysts are one of the highest demand positions in hospitality and tourism. Based on a survey of employers and job postings, starting salaries for industry analysts range from $50k to $80k, depending on location and industry. Our MBA with an emphasis in hospitality and tourism development will prepare you for management-level opportunities in travel-related companies around the world.

    Hospitality and Tourism Development Emphasis Courses

    MBAD 530 Principles of Revenue Management in Hospitality

    The first revenue management course introduces the principles and related theory of revenue management, examines the history and application of revenue management, explores the fit of a revenue management strategy to various types of organizations, identifies the requirements of revenue management, outlines the processes for implementation, and examines its place in the organization.

    MBAD 531 Forecasting and Business Analytics in Hospitality

    Forecasting and business analytics provides knowledge and hands-on skills for forecasting and business analytics used in revenue management for hospitality organizations. The students learn to use extensive data, statistical and quantitative analysis, exploratory methods, predictive models, time series and forecasting to make fact-based decisions and drive actions in order to maximize revenues and profits. 

    MBAD 532 Channel Management Strategies in Hospitality

    Channel management outlines strategies related to setting the right prices, developing rate fences and using multiple distribution channels to manage price more effectively. Students will focus on the impact of variable pricing and discounting on revenue management in the context of price elasticity, optimal price mix, perceived fairness and congruence with positioning and sales strategies.
  • Marketing
    MBA students

    Though the rapid pace of innovation will continue, marketing's principles remain simple: how to create value and remain competitive in the marketplace. Marketing is a strategic driver that can integrate, align and motivate an organization to achieve great results for customers.

    The core MBA curriculum blended with marketing courses will develop your creative strategic thinking and practical skills to build a customer-focused approach to marketing. 

    Upon graduating, you'll be ready to prove your value in diverse areas – from product management, branding, sales and account management to e-business, distribution and strategic planning. The curriculum is taught with engaged, high-quality faculty who teach customer value principles through intensive case studies and applied learning projects. Expect working on client projects in Google Ads, analytics and brand auditing combining idea generation methodology, advanced quantitative modeling and analytical skills, and executive communication to hone important persuasion skills.

    Today, our alumni are advancing their careers at companies like Urban Electric, PeopleMatter, BenefitFocus, Nucor, Erwin Penland and Amazon.

    Marketing Emphasis Courses

    MBAD 521 Consumer Marketing Strategy

    This course provides the foundations for understanding, developing and implementing consumer marketing strategies in the modern marketplace. Through readings, cases and applications, students will learn about consumer behavior and decision making, understand how to influence consumers through communications, product and brand strategies, and incorporate issues of diversity into marketing strategy.

    MBAD 522 Marketing Research and Analysis for Decision Making

    This course presents a comprehensive framework of marketing research from the perspective of decision making in addition to current trends in international marketing research, ethics and the integration of the internet and computers.

    MBAD 560 Special Topics

    New courses added to the program that explore specialized topic areas relevant to all MBA students.