COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Curriculum Committee
October 8, 2013
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2013-14 #3
College of Business
Other Catalog Change: Page 54, 2013-14 Graduate Catalog
Application for Graduation
When nearing completion of requirements for a degree, a student must file an application for
graduation with the Graduate School. See “Graduation.”
Program Format Options
In order to pursue an M.B.A. degree one must apply and be admitted to one of the four program
formats. A student who wishes to change program format may do so with approval of the office
of M.B.A. programs.
Evening Master of Business Administration
The evening M.B.A. is designed for fully-employed students who desire to earn their degree by
attending classes in the evening, with flexibility to set the pace for completion and select electives
relevant for achieving personal career goals. Elective courses are offered in accounting,
entrepreneurship, finance, international business including study abroad programs, marketing,
leadership and human resources management, management information systems and operations
management. Evening M.B.A. students also have the option of completing a certificate of
graduate study in areas such as entrepreneurship, finance, leadership, management information
systems, or strategic marketing to satisfy the M.B.A. elective requirements for the degree. With
M.B.A. advisor approval, students may enroll in graduate courses offered in other areas of the
university to satisfy degree elective requirements. Courses are offered throughout the year at two
convenient locations, and students may begin the evening M.B.A. in the fall and spring semesters
or the summer session. For further information contact the office of M.B.A. programs at (866)
648-6221.
Rationale: To include Evening Master of Business Administration as an option in the listing format option
descriptions already included in the Graduate Catalog, Page 54: Executive MBA, Fast-Trak MBA, and One-Year
MBA program. Consistent with other college program option listings such as the Department of Counseling, Adult
and Higher Education, Education and the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s listing of Thesis Option,
Project Option, Course Option .
Other Catalog Change: Page 54, 2013-14 Graduate Catalog
Certificates of Graduate Study
Entrepreneurship (12)
↓
Finance (12)
This certificate will provide graduate students with a set of courses focused on the development
of financial skill sets that are utilized in business and not for profit organizations. Furthermore,
like any organization (profit or non profit), students will also benefit from an expanded
knowledge of investment and financing fundamentals that can be used at an individual level. The
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Curriculum Committee
October 8, 2013
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2013-14 #3
certificate is designed to provide the student with a foundation of theoretical and practical tools to
understand financial issues facing a global economy.
Students must achieve an average GPA of 3.00 in the courses applied toward the certificate and
complete all certificate course work within six years immediately preceding awarding of the
certificate.
Applications are available in the College of Business Office of MBA Programs. Student must be
in good academic standing to be eligible.
Requirements:
FINA 607, Financial Analysis (3)
FINA 620, Investment Fundamentals (3)
FINA 650, Fundamentals of Financial Markets (3)
One of the following (3)
FINA 651, Seminar in Financial Institution Management (3)
FINA 662, Financial Management Strategies (3)
FINA 685, International Business Finance (3)
FINA 695, Seminar in Finance Topics (3)
Rationale: With the events arising from the financial crash of 2008 and the unprecedented actions utilized by the
Federal Reserve to combat a financial collapse, the need for business professionals to possess a strong foundation
in financial principles has increased significantly. The Finance Certificate will enhance students’ capabilities in
understanding the fundamentals of financial analysis, investments and how the markets influence both corporations
and individuals. The certificate will also enhance students’ future potential as financial skill sets become
increasingly important as one moves higher in the corporate hierarchy.
Finally, all major competitors in the Chicago MBA market (UIC, DePaul, Northwestern, University of Chicago and
DeVry) offer finance as a specialization or certificate as part of their MBA Programs.
With regard to duplication: A review of the catalog found no potential for duplication.
Department of Operations Management and Information Systems
New Course: Page 95, 2013-14 Undergraduate Catalog
CIP Code: 52.02
472. INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (3). Introduces concepts in business
intelligence (BI) and explores how BI can improve management effectiveness through better
decision-making. Explores the development of BI through the use of dashboards, management
reporting, and performance measurement. Students will gain hands on experience using current
BI tools in the areas of data warehousing, data marts, business analytics, web analytics, real-time
data, and mobile applications. PRQ: OMIS 452.
Rationale: This class was offered in Spring 2013 as a special topics section of OMIS 485 (Current Topics in
Operations Management and Information Systems). Based on student interest and recommendations of the OM&IS
Executive Advisory Council, Business Intelligence is an important topic area in Information Systems that furthers
students’ understanding of how to access and display the data. In addition, this proposed course strengthens support
of the OMIS undergraduate program’s Assurance of Learning Technology goal: To provide the student with the
knowledge to apply information technology effectively.
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Curriculum Committee
October 8, 2013
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2013-14 #3
Duplication: There are no Business Intelligence courses currently in the NIU Undergraduate Catalog. In addition,
the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering were both
contacted and responded there is no duplication issue with their courses. The Department of Technology was also
contacted and no response was received.
New Course: Page 69, 2013-14 Graduate Catalog
CIP Code: 52.12
692. ADVANCED PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN BUSINESS (3). An in-depth study of
advanced topics for managing information technology (IT) projects in business. An emphasis on
case studies and simulations will provide students with a deeper understanding of key project
management areas such as project selection, project planning, and project decision making. PRQ:
OMIS 690.
Rationale: An advanced IT project management course has been offered during the Spring 2012 and Spring 2013
semesters as a special topics section of OMIS 694 (Advanced Topics in Information Systems). Based on student
interest and recommendations of the OM&IS Executive Advisory Council, an advanced Information Technology
Project Management course is a valuable elective to further the knowledge and understanding of managing business
information systems projects. In addition, this proposed course strengthens support of the M.S. in MIS program’s
Assurance of Learning goal S2: The student will be able to apply project management concepts, processes,
knowledge areas, and tools to plan and manage IT projects that bring value to organizations.
Duplication: There are no advanced Project Management courses currently in the NIU Undergraduate Catalog. In
addition, the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering were both
contacted and responded there is no duplication issue with their courses. The Department of Technology was also
contacted and no response was received.
Course Revision: Page 94, 2013-14 Undergraduate Catalog
480. SEMINAR IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (3). … PRQ: OMIS 327, OMIS 352,
OMIS 442, OMIS 452 and final semester of senior year OMIS 478.
Rationale: Responding to high demand for more supply chain management courses, OMIS 480 will cover various
advanced topics that are not taught in OMIS 478(Supply Chain Systems). The prerequisite is being changed as
OMIS 478 provides a focused concentration of the concepts and tools needed for OMIS 480. This course supports
OM&IS Department’s assurance of Learning (AoL) first objective: Providing students with the knowledge to
manage business processes.