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2020 - 2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Descriptions
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Explanation of Course Descriptions
Graduate courses may be taken by persons other than regular or provisional graduate students in Arts and Sciences only with the consent of the chairperson of the department/program committee concerned.
Pairs of numbers (501,502) indicate continuous courses. A hyphen between numbers (501-502) indicates that the courses must be taken in the succession stated.
Courses involving laboratory or studio activity are so labeled. All others are classroom courses.
Semester hour credit for each course is indicated by numbers in parentheses.
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Flex MBA |
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BUAD 5903 - Global Competitive Strategy
Credits: (3)
Pre-req: Complete Phase II courses and two electives.
Covers analysis for decision making at industry, firm and business levels, focusing especially on multi-business firms and global industries. Firm resources and competencies, business and environmental demands, and the sources of competitive advantage are the major focus points of this course, which stresses practical applications of theory.
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BUAD 5943 - National & Global Economies
Credits: (3)
This course is intended to provide information that can be used to interpret economic events and assess their impact on the economy and an organization. Part of this information concerns not just economics but an understanding of how some political choices are made in various countries. This knowledge is critical for risk assessment and a realistic planning of business operations over the next year. You leave the course with some fundamental “rules of thumb” that allow you to assess potential large scale economic risks to your organization.
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Executive MBA |
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BUAD 5015 - Communication for Executives
Credits: (1.5)
This course is designed specifically for the communication needs of executives. Building on skills and knowledge essential for successful communication, the course will focus on the value of effective managerial communication, provide an understanding of strategic organizational communication, and enhance speaking, writing, and other communication abilities.
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BUAD 5105 - Accounting - Reporting & Analysis
Credits: (2.5)
This course introduces the basic concepts of financial accounting necessary to generate financial statements and reports. It examines strategies used to master the economic subtleties of business, and provides the managerial skills needed to analyze and interpret financial statements for internal and external use. BUAD 5705 Statistics for Business (2.5 Credits): This course focuses on data analysis and how managers use data to make better business decisions. We will examine the role and application of statistics in the analysis of business problems including estimation, statistical measures, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, and regression models.
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BUAD 5115 - Accounting for Decision Making & Control
Credits: (2.5)
This course continues the accounting series with cost accounting, activities analysis, profit planning and budgetary systems, cost allocations, transfer pricing, and performance evaluation.
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BUAD 5215 - Managing Information Systems
Credits: (2.5)
The course focuses upon strategic influence of information technology (IT) within organizations. Designed primarily for non-IT executives, the course will prepare for understanding of technological vocabulary, emerging technologies and how they enhance core business functions, and demonstrating the business value of IT investment. Practice based exercises will augment the learning experience through modeling IT choices and information utilization.
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BUAD 5305 - Financial Management
Credits: (2.5)
This course is structured on the concepts and tools of valuation. It covers financial and project analysis, financial forecasting, risk and return, cost of capital, mergers and acquisitions, and valuation.
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BUAD 5325 - Corporate Financial Policy
Credits: (2.5)
Building on the topics in Financial Management, Corporate Financial Policy covers advanced topics in financial markets and strategy, including debt and equity management policy, financing, derivatives and risk management, and international finance.
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BUAD 5405 - Marketing Management
Credits: (2.5)
This course focuses on the problems of building an integrated marketing program in light of external forces, such as the consumer, the trade, the competition and the regulatory environment. Specific emphasis is placed on the marketing concept, the marketing mix, market definition and dynamics, segmentation and positioning, and product/market evolution.
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BUAD 5425 - Marketing Strategy
Credits: (2.5)
This course focuses on the formulation of marketing strategy, including balancing market opportunities and threats with available resources and alternative responses, as well as analysis of markets, product and pricing strategies.
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BUAD 5505 - Leadership in an Uncertain Era
Credits: (2.5)
This course is designed to improve your effectiveness as a manager by deepening your understanding of how organizations work. To succeed in the business world, you must (a) analyze organizational events and processes and (b) design and implement actions to increase organizational effectiveness. These critical leadership skills are even more important today, as organizations enter a period of enormous upheaval and change. The course begins with an intensive two-day leadership forum that focuses on heightening your awareness of leadership challenges and enhancing your ability to address them. As the semester continues, we build upon that seminal experience by exploring how the structure, power relations, and culture of organizations shape and constrain the behavior of individuals within them. The course culminates in a project in which you apply both conceptual tools and leadership skills to events in your current organization.
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BUAD 5515 - Leading Change in Organizations
Credits: (2.5)
Building on the concepts from Leadership in an Uncertain Era, this course examines the leader’s role in diagnosing, anticipating, planning, implementing, and evaluating change within organizations. Case studies and group projects focus on organizational analysis, barriers to change, overcoming resistance to change, change intervention strategies and methods, and change evaluation.
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BUAD 5525 - Leadership Development Program 1
Credits: (1)
In this course, Executive MBA students will put into practice leadership and communication tools, strategies and behaviors needed to advance to the next level in their careers. Students will develop personalized action plans and goals that they will advance with the help of an executive coach.
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BUAD 5535 - Leadership Development Workshops
Credits: (0)
In this course, Executive MBA students will put into practice leadership and communication tools, strategies and behaviors needed to advance to the next level in their careers. Students will develop personalized action plans and goals that they will advance with the help of an executive coach.
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BUAD 5545 - Leadership Development Program 2
Credits: (3)
In this course, the Executive MBA student will study and practice audience analysis and audience transformation; executive presentation strategy and delivery; developing and delivering the big idea; the story/visual/delivery model of leadership communication; storytelling & leadership; building empathy and creating emotional appeal all while learning and experiencing the latest and most effective communication tools (video, podcasts, social media, etc.) needed to influence and inform important audiences.
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BUAD 5605 - Operations & Supply Chain Mgmt
Credits: (2.5)
To achieve competitive advantage, managers must understand how to design and control products and services, as well as the systems for their delivery. To reach that understanding, this course focuses on issues of planning and control of complex products and services, managing quality and continuous improvement, and control of the supply chain.
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BUAD 5715 - Data Analysis
Credits: (2.5)
This course is designed to introduce students to basic modeling, analysis and simulation techniques. Emphasis will be placed on problem identification and formulation, sensitivity analysis and model construction. Spreadsheet tools will be used to solve business problems across various business functional areas.
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BUAD 5725 - Managerial Economics & Public Policy
Credits: (2.5)
This introductory applied economics class examines the basic concepts and applications of demand and supply analysis. The course also explores topics of production and pricing in both domestic and international markets. Furthering the understanding of different market structures, this course focuses on the causes and consequences of market failures, the application of game theory to corporate decision-making, and the impact of technological change, international competition and government regulation.
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BUAD 5735 - Analytical Tools for Business Decisions
Credits: (1.5)
This course provides students with advanced skills in the computer technologies of the modern workplace - namely spreadsheets and visualization tools. When applied creatively, these technologies enable more efficient execution, enhance decision making, and support the design of more effective business processes, all of which are essential for success in an increasingly competitive business environment.
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BUAD 5835 - Global Business Immersion - China
Credits: (0)
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BUAD 5845 - Global Business Immersion
Credits: (3.5)
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BUAD 5855 - Ethical Accountability
Credits: (2.5)
In a world of increased global trade and commerce, this course focuses on understanding and managing the differing standards for everything from earnings to ethics. The course serves to help us better understand values, our accountabilities, and the impact of our decisions and actions in the workplace. To reach this understanding, issues of business ethics, business strategy and emerging technologies, and managing conflicting interests in a global economy will be discussed.
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BUAD 5905 - Strategic Management
Credits: (2.5)
This course is the study of the management of organizations with special focus on the roles and tasks of individual managers. The course deals with analyzing external and internal environmental forces; formulating organizational objectives; understanding the often conflicting needs and expectations of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders; defining and appraising alternative courses of action; formulating and executing action plans; and establishing systems for monitoring and measuring results.
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BUAD 5945 - Global Environment of Business
Credits: (2.5)
This course focuses on how domestic and international product and financial markets operate. Students will develop expertise in applying models to generate qualitative forecasts of economic growth, interest rates, exchange rates and inflation. Through the analysis of case studies, the students will develop an understanding of policy decisions at the Federal Reserve and the effect that these policies have in the money and exchange rate markets.
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Online MBA |
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BUAD 5007 - Online MBA Residency
Fall and Spring Credits: (0 - 1) Staff Graded P/F
This is a Special Topics course. Students must participate in one of several weekend workshops offered on campus as a requirement for graduation. Each workshop will be focused on a topical business theme. The workshops will be offered 2-3 times each year, and students may meet this degree requirement by participating in any one of them. Students may opt to participate in more than one weekend workshop, but may only receive one credit toward their degree.
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BUAD 5017 - Renaissance Manager
Credits: (4)
This course provides a context for business, historically, functionally, and cross-culturally. It addresses the nature of problems; modes of thinking and inquiry; approaches to problem identification, framing/re-framing, and problem-solving; and approaching problems from multiple, interdisciplinary perspectives.
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BUAD 5107 - Financial & Managerial Accounting
Credits: (4)
This course introduces students to the roles that accounting systems play in organizations and in global capital markets. Accounting is often called “the language of business,” which emphasizes the prominent position it has in business communications and decision making. Reports derived from accounting systems are often the primary way information within organizations, and from organizations to various stakeholders, is communicated. Such information is essential input for, and serves a fundamental basis for, managerial and stakeholder decisions. By the end of this course, students should know the fundamentals of this language so that they can communicate effectively about important business matters.
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BUAD 5227 - Integrated Technology
Credits: (4)
This course is designed to introduce students to the basic information technology and digital fluency. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how managers can participate in opportunities to select and successfully implement information technologies in order to promote business strategy. Interactive analytic tool will be used to solve business problems involving various functional areas.
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BUAD 5307 - Finance
Credits: (4)
Students will learn about concepts and tools of valuation, financial and project analysis, financial forecasting, risk and return, cost of capital, mergers and acquisitions, and valuation.
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BUAD 5407 - Marketing
Credits: (4)
Focuses on developing integrated marketing programs that address customer needs, competitive activity, channel and supplier behavior, macro environmental factors, and market evolution. Emphasis is placed on assessing the market and developing a responsive marketing mix: product policy, pricing, channels of distribution, integrated marketing communications, and support structure.
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BUAD 5507 - Organizational Behavior
Credits: (4)
Organizational behavior is a field of study that seeks to understand, explain, and improve human behavior. The structure of this course is organized around how renaissance managers can improve two aspects of human behavior: (1) job performance - the degree to which employees perform the behaviors needed for the organization to achieve its goals, and (2) organizational commitment - the degree to which employees remain loyal to the organization rather than seeking employment elsewhere. This course will guide you through a model that seeks to explain these two areas of organizational behavior.
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BUAD 5517 - Leadership in the 21st Century
Credits: (4)
Leadership in the 21st century involves much more than the traditional topics of culture, networking, change management, and diversity. In a society in which technologies are constantly disrupting modes of communication and teams are increasingly global, today’s manager needs to understand coping with constant change, messaging and empathy, and the powerful emerging leadership trends.
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BUAD 5607 - Operations
Credits: (4)
To achieve competitive advantage, managers must understand how to design and control products and services, as well as the systems for their delivery. To reach that understanding, this course focuses on issues of planning and control of complex products and services, managing quality and continuous improvement, and control of the supply chain.
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BUAD 5707 - Business Analytics
Credits: (4)
The aim of this course is to supply the student with the analytical tools needed to succeed in business. The material will be closely coordinated and integrated with the other course offerings in the first year core (marketing, finance, etc.). The course covers various tools that are necessary to analyze and understand the implications of collected data. These include statistical tools (hypothesis testing, correlation and covariance analysis, probability distributions, simple and multiple regression, and forecasting) along with statistical decision making, simulation, constrained optimization, and sensitivity analysis. Emphasis will be placed on a student’s ability to understand and interpret the results of their analyses.
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BUAD 5907 - Strategy
Credits: (4)
Covers analysis for decision making at industry, firm and business levels, focusing especially on multi-business firms and global industries. Firm resources and competencies, business and environmental demands, and the sources of competitive advantage are the major focus points of this course, which stresses practical applications of theory.
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BUAD 5947 - Global Managerial Economics
Credits: (4)
This course explores essential macro- and microeconomic theories and evidence on how markets work and factors that impede their proper functioning in an applied, global framework. In this course students will relate the effects of countries’ differing monetary and fiscal policies to competitive conditions in various industries. They will apply demand and cost analysis as well as industrial structure to frame and answer questions of optimal pricing, resource allocation, global outsourcing, and competitive strategies.
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BUAD 5967 - Revolutionary Leader Practicum
Credits: (4)
Revolutionary Leader is a supervised business practicum in which each student applies the functional as well as design skills that they have learned to the “wicked” problem of their choice. The final deliverable is a detailed description of the problem to be solved, the approach(es) taken to address it, results, lessons learned, and next steps.
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Master of Accounting (MAcc) |
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BUAD 5029 - Accounting for Complex Financial Transactions
Credits: Fall (3) Picconi
Expands and integrates knowledge of US and international generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in a rigorous study of financial reporting issues with significant income statement and balance sheet implications. Builds on the Financial Markets Module to develop an in-depth understanding of complex financial transactions. Incorporates related academic literature and research into financial reporting standards.
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BUAD 5039 - Current Issues in IT & Accounting Analytics (Sprint)
Credits: Spring (1) Jones
Develops an understanding of current issues in information technology and accounting analytics, such as the design and security of large accounting databases. This intensive, hands-on course emphasizes the use of analytical and statistical tools in the context of current issues affecting the accounting profession. Students will conduct analyses, interpret findings, and use data visualization tools to communicate the results of their analyses.
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BUAD 5049 - Valuation & Fair Value Accounting
Credits: (2)
Reviews theories of equity valuation and applies these theories by building valuation models using financial statements.
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BUAD 5069 - Business Skills for Professional Accountants
Credits: Fall (2) Smith
Enhances several key abilities necessary to function in a professional accounting environment. Topics include: clearly communicating technical knowledge, exercising professional judgment, protecting and upholding professional integrity, how to develop and maintain professional relationships, how to generate and provide useful data to help inform business decisions, and the responsibility to help boards fulfill fiduciary duties and in maintaining safe and productive financial markets. Particular focus is on oral and written communication, data analysis, and project leadership.
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BUAD 5079 - Financial Instruments & Derivatives
Credits: Fall (2) Merrick
Expands the accounting professional’s understanding of the most important financial instruments and derivatives. Examines their economic functions, contractual features, market mechanics, valuation, and specific uses in investment and corporate financial practices such as risk management. Special attention is given to debt securities and the securitization process, as well as commonly used derivative instruments.
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BUAD 6129 - Integrated Winter Field Experience
Credits: Spring (4) Foster
This course is designed to assist students in successfully integrating workplace issues into past and future academic education. Students will learn to use academically rigorous conceptual frameworks in analyzing and solving problems that arise in the field.
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BUAD 6149 - Driving Organizational Performance
Credits: Spring (3) Woods
This course will cover managerial accounting topics such as: customer lifetime value estimation, cost of service delays, cost of quality analyses, time-driven Activity-Based-Costing, profit planning along the value chain, financial and operational forecasting, outsourcing, supplier choice and performance measurement, and analyses of profit drivers. This course replaces the Accounting for Business Strategies course, which met the cost credit requirement.
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BUAD 6159 - Taxation & Business Strategy
Credits: Spring (3) Bertolini
This economics-based course provides a conceptual framework for understanding tax issues in the context of business decisions and business strategy. Students learn about the role of taxes throughout the firm’s life cycle: choice of organizational form, employee compensation, investment opportunities, capital structure and dividend policy, financial innovations, international operations, and business combinations. The key conceptual components include: (a) consideration of the tax implications for all parties to the transaction; (b) consideration of both explicit and implicit taxes, such as lower before-tax rates of return on tax-favored investments; and (c) consideration of both tax and non-tax costs. Ultimately, the course provides a useful framework for thinking about taxes in all tax regimes (i.e., across countries and over time).
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BUAD 6169 - Business Law
Credits: Spring (3) Stauffer
Following an introduction of the American legal system, Business Law will expose students to an in-depth look at contract law, commercial law, including the Uniform Commercial Code’s Articles on Sales, Negotiable Instruments, Secured Transactions and Creditors Rights. Additional topics covered include bankruptcy, agency law, business organizations, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLC, and corporations.
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BUAD 6179 - Tax Research & Current Topics
Credits: Spring (3) Stephens
Expands and integrates knowledge of domestic and international tax topics in a rigorous research-based study of U.S. tax law, tax planning and tax compliance, including contemporary topics such as comparative forms of doing business, compensation and benefits, international and multistate taxation, corporate reorganizations, and tax exempt entities. Incorporates relevant academic research, as well as statutory and case-based research into tax laws and regulations related to contemporary tax issues.
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BUAD 6189 - Estate & Financial Planning
Credits: Spring (3) Stephens
This course provides an introduction to the principles of estate and financial planning, with an emphasis on tax planning opportunities. Topics include a study of the estate and gift tax laws, effective use of trusts and life insurance, valuation techniques, integrated family tax and financial planning, succession planning for the closely-held business, and elections available to taxpayers. Also featured are debt management, retirement planning and investment planning, with an emphasis on issues facing both younger professionals as well as high net worth individuals.
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BUAD 6199 - Advanced Auditing & Audit Research
Credits: Fall (3) Foster
Expands and integrates knowledge of US and international generally accepted auditing principles (GAAS) in a rigorous study of financial reporting issues with significant balance sheet implications. Topics include advanced treatments of analytical procedures, audit planning, risk assessment, internal controls, audit evidence, audit documentation, and auditing fair. Incorporates related academic research, research into auditing standards, and contemporary auditing issues.
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BUAD 6209 - Govt & Non-profit Accounting
Credits: Spring (3) Foster
This course is designed to expose graduate business students to the financial accounting and auditing issues related to state and local governmental and not-for-profit organizations in the United States. Students will review the body of accounting and auditing literature, specifically related to organizations in the public sector. Due to time constraints, Federal government accounting will not be addressed.
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BUAD 6229 - Financial Statement Analysis
Credits: Spring (3) Shane
This course introduces students to the elements of financial statement analysis and increases students’ ability to extract and use information from financial reports. While financial statements are prepared in accordance with specific accounting rules and principles, most of the numbers in financial statements are based on a set of assumptions and choices made by management. In this class, students learn how to identify and adjust for the effects of accounting choices on the comparability of reported earnings and other accounting performance measures across countries, across firms, and over time. Students also learn how to evaluate circumstances where accounting rules can cause disruptions in trends making it difficult to forecast earnings and free cash flows. In addition, students learn techniques to identify earnings management, as well as assess whether the financial statements reflect the riskiness of the firm. Finally, because many large companies operate in a global environment, the class will examine problems created by differences in accounting standards across countries (e.g., U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles versus International Financial Reporting Standards), as well as issues inherent in multinational companies such as how foreign currency affects financial statements.
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BUAD 6239 - Audit Analytics & Information Systems
Credits: Spring (3) Staff
Develops in-depth knowledge about conducting an information systems audit, developing frameworks for management and application control, using audit software, conducting concurrent auditing techniques, evaluating data integrity, system effectiveness, and system efficiency. Also introduces: technical security controls to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber-attacks; risk and vulnerability analysis to select, design and evaluate security controls; and legal, ethical, and privacy aspects of information assurance.
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BUAD 6249 - Data Analysis & Simulation for Accountants
Credits: Spring (3) Guerrero
This course is designed to introduce students to basic modeling, analysis and simulation techniques. Emphasis will be placed on problem identification and formulation, sensitivity analysis, and model construction. Tools such as MS Excel, Solver, Crystal Ball, and @Risk will be used to solve accounting-related business problems.
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BUAD 6269 - Advanced Federal Taxation
Spring Credits: (3) Stephens
To provide the accountant and the manager with the ability to recognize tax factors that influence business decisions and to integrate them into the business decision-making process. This will include the development of a tax foundation, the ability to read and apply the Code and Regulations, the ability to conduct tax research using both online and offline tax research data bases, the ability to engage in effective tax planning, and the ability to present the identified tax consequences in both oral and written presentations. Ethical influences will be identified and discussed as related to taxation and the related business decision.
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BUAD 6279 - Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination
Spring Credits: (3) Staff
This course is an introduction to forensic accounting. Forensic accounting encompasses those services an accountant provides to assist a court or a client in settling a legal dispute and includes the following specialized knowledge and skills: 1) accounting, auditing, economics, finance, business law, quantitative methods, statistics, and tax; 2) investigative skills to collect, analyze, and evaluate evidential matter; and 3) written and oral communication skills. The content of this course will include: 1) fraud and financial investigation services; 2) litigation consulting and expert witness services; and 3) computer forensics. To illustrate concepts, the class will discuss high profile cases (e.g., investment frauds such as Madoff and financial statement frauds such as WorldCom, Enron, etc.). Guest speakers who possess specialized expertise may present on selected topics (e.g., fraud investigation, interviewing and interrogation techniques, cybercrime and digital forensics analysis, and the legal environment).
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BUAD 6289 - Taxation of Mergers & Acquisitions
Credits: (3)
Selected Problems in the Taxation of Mergers & Acquisitions This advanced course focuses primarily on corporate transactions and by using a series of examples, this course will explore different ways to structure both nontaxable and taxable combinations of business entities considering the tax goals and consequences of such transactions, and the role of the tax lawyer in representing a party to a business combination.
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BUAD 6299 - Partnership & LLC Taxation
Spring Credits: (3) Richardson
This course examines the fundamental rules governing the federal income taxation of partnerships, including LLCs treated as partnerships for income tax purposes. An overview of S corporation taxation and federal income tax issues to consider in choosing the appropriate entity are also covered. .
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BUAD 6319 - Tax Compliance, Research & Planning
Fall Credits: (3) Bertolini
The objective of this course is to broaden the ability of the student to engage in tax compliance, tax research, and tax planning in a team-oriented environment. Group communication opportunities, both oral and written, are emphasized.
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BUAD 6329 - Introduction to Academic Research in Accounting
Fall Credits: (1) Staff
Students will develop a framework for understanding scholarly research in accounting and will gain exposure to classic and current accounting research studies.
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BUAD 6339 - Data and Analysis in Accounting Research
Fall Credits: (1) Staff
Students will develop findamental empirical skills, such as the use of databases and regression analysis. Applications will include the replication of a published accounting research study.
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BUAD 6349 - Design of Accounting Research Studies
Fall Credits: (1) Staff
Students will learn to apply the scientific method to accounting research questions by studying research designs used in scholarly accounting research and their effectiveness for causal inference. Applications will include addressing a research question using alternative designs.
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BUAD 6359 - Current Research in Accounting
Spring Credits: (1) Staff
Students read and discuss current academic research papers presented by William and Mary faculty and external accounting researchers. This course is open to any student interested in how research informs business practices and is well-suited for students considering careers in academia. Attendance at research presentations is required. Topics change each year so this course may be repeated once for credit.
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Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) |
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BUAD 5012 - Competing Through Business Analytics
Fall Credits: (3) Bradley
This intensive course will include a survey of the state-of-the-art in business analytics: A review of companies that have used business analytics for competitive advantage and how they have done it. These topics will be initiated with a panel discussion on the first day of class. This course will teach business acumen and how the field of analytics fits within the context of business. Topics will include subjects such as: understanding balance sheets and income statements, budgets, business metrics as used for performance measurement and incentives, communicating with impact, visualization, the functions of a company; how they interact, and what data they have, and project management techniques. The course will also include: Survey of opportunities for problem solving using business analytics in operations, supply chain, human resources, finance, and marketing, and also an introduction to the tools that are covered in this program.
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BUAD 5022 - Optimization
Fall Credits: (3) Koehl Corequisite(s): BUAD 5272
Optimization is an analytics methodology found in all business analytics programs at the master’s level. This course will provide knowledge in optimization and analytics that are the foundations of analytics methodology including the theory and application of optimization techniques such as linear programming, integer programming, mixed-integer programming, and stochastic programming.
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BUAD 5032 - Stochastic Modeling
Fall Credits: (3) Koehl
Stochastic Modeling is a foundation course in the study of business analytics. It provides an understanding of the principles associated with modeling of stochastic processes. The topics will include: probability theory (important probability distributions, sampling from distributions, interaction of multiple stochastic processes); statistical analysis (descriptive/inferential/predictive statistics, multivariate statistics, time series models); and modeling (modeling concepts, Monte Carlo simulation, decision analytics). Students will also be introduced to a variety of statistical modeling packages.
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BUAD 5042 - Heuristic Algorithms
Fall Credits: (1.5) Bradley Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5022
Most business problems are too large or too complex to solve optimally, where the strict meaning of “optimal” means finding the “probably” best solution to a problem. Satisficing, or finding a heuristic solution that approximates the optimal solution is, therefore the predominant mode of problem solving found in industry. Having the capability of designing and executing heuristics that more closely approach optimal solutions creates a competitive advantage for companies. This course focuses on such methodologies where quick but good solutions to complex problems are needed so that they can be acted upon in a timely manner. The type of heuristic covered in this course is the algorithm, which is a sequence of steps taken to provide a solution to a problem.
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BUAD 5072 - Machine Learning I
Fall Credits: (3) Murray Corequisite(s): BUAD 5032
This course is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the theory and practice of regression and classification, two of the most commonly used techniques in the data scientist’s toolkit. These predictive analytics techniques are important members of a family of analytics often referred to as machine learning techniques, and they are the basis for more elaborate machine learning techniques that will be covered in a sequential course called Machine Learning 2. An important part of this course will cover a powerful and ubiquitous software package called R, which is used extensively in labs and assignments in this class and subsequently reappears in other classes throughout the program.
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BUAD 5082 - Machine Learning II
Fall Credits: (3) Murray Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5072
This is the second of two courses designed to equip students with the kinds of analytical skills used in the era of Big Data to reveal the hidden patterns in, and relationships among, data elements being created by internal transaction systems, social media and the Internet of Things. This second machine learning course covers many methodologies including various non-linear approaches, tree-based methods, support vector machine, principal components analysis, and the analysis of unstructured data via unsupervised machine learning techniques. The R language is used extensively in this course.
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BUAD 5272 - Database Management
Fall Credits: (3) Tremblay
Internet-scale applications and modern business processes generate voluminous data pertaining to business vital signs, market phenomena, social networks that connect millions of users, and the habits of users and customers. Data produced in these settings hold the promise to significantly advance knowledge and provide business opportunity. This course covers fundamentals of database architecture, database management systems, database systems, principles and methodologies of database design, and techniques for database application development. The course also examines issues related to data organization, representation, access, storage, and processing. This includes topics such as metadata, data storage systems, self-descriptive data representations, semi-structured data models, semantic web, and large-scale data analysis.
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BUAD 5722 - Big Data
Fall Credits: (3) Wilck Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5272
The data storage and retrieval techniques that have served the information processing industry for decades have proven inadequate in the face of the huge collections of data presently being created by the web and the so-called “Internet of Things.” Businesses are requiring a new set of technologies that are specifically designed to deal with these huge data sets. In this course, MapReduce techniques will be taught which will include parallel processing and Hadoop, an open source framework that implements MapReduce on large-scale data sets. Other Big Data tools will be taught that provide SQL-like access to unstructured data: Pig and Hive. Finally, we will teach so-called NoSQL storage solutions such as HBase.
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BUAD 5732 - Data Visualization
Fall Credits: (1.5) Ganeshan
This course introduces principles and techniques for data visualization for business. Effective visuals communicate information to maximize readability, comprehension, and understanding. Information visualization principles are drawn from the fields of statistics, perception, graphic and information design, and data mining. Students will learn visual representation techniques that increase the understanding of complex data and models. Human information processing and encoding of visual and textual information will be discussed in terms of selecting the appropriate method for displaying of appropriate data, both quantitative and qualitative. Topics include charts, tables, graphics, effective presentations, and dashboard design. Cases will be used from a variety of industries.
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BUAD 5742 - Artificial Intelligence
Fall Credits: (3) Blossom Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5022
This course provides competence in an essential set of tools that are not covered in other courses. Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods perform well in cases of large, complex problems, which is the focus of cutting-edge business analytics endeavors. This course covers AI methods such as genetic algorithms, neural networks, and fuzzy logic. AI comprises a set of essential analysis techniques for the modern data scientist who solves problems that encompass vast data sets and involve complex relationships.
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BUAD 5792 - Business Analytics Capstone
Fall Credits: (3) Bradley Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5012, BUAD 5022, BUAD 5032, BUAD 5072, BUAD 5272, BUAD 5722, BUAD 5042, BUAD 5732, BUAD 5742, BUAD 5082
This course is taught in the last two and a half weeks of the Business Analytics Program and requires students to complete a comprehensive business analytics project, from start to finish. The projects require that students apply the knowledge gained in the preceding courses. Students will identify the most appropriate techniques for their projects and then apply one methodology effectively. Projects are characterized as requiring the analysis of vast data and solving complex problems. Several projects hosted by businesses would be offered, with the goal of representing multiple functions and industries to suit students’ interests. They will define and frame a complex problem, develop a systematic approach to solving it using analytics, generate an innovative solution and persuasively convey that solution using data visualization techniques and communication skills. A unique faculty supervisor will be assigned to each business analytics capstone team (average 4-5 students per team).
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Online MSBA |
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BUAD 502A - Probability and Statistics I
Credits: (3) Prerequisite(s): This course is a prerequisite to begin the remainder of the program, students may be able to satisfy these prerequisites with courses from other sources, this is handled during the admission and onboarding process.
This course covers, first in the area of probability, the concepts of discrete and continuous probability distributions as well as conditional probability. This course also covers basic statistics, which is a set of tools for interpreting data. Descriptive statistics are covered which, as the name implies permits us to describe basic characteristics of data: this includes the computation of means, standard deviations, and ranges of a data set. The course also covers inferential statistics, which are methods for uncovering deeper insights from the data: these methods include hypothesis testing. Data visualization is also an integral part of data analysis and this course.
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BUAD 502B - R Programming
Credits: (1) Prerequisite(s): This course is a prerequisite to begin the remainder of the program, students may be able to satisfy these prerequisites with courses from other sources, this is handled during the admission and onboarding process.
This course provides a set of programming skills using the R programming language, which is a widely used programming language in business analytics for statistical computations.
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BUAD 502C - Python Programming
Credits: (1) Prerequisite(s): This course is a prerequisite to begin the remainder of the program, students may be able to satisfy these prerequisites with courses from other sources, this is handled during the admission and onboarding process.
This course provides a foundation of Python programming skills for business analytics including knowledge of Python data types, facilitating repeated execution through the application of loops, using conditional statements, programming the input and output of data, the use of Python packages, and the construction of functions.
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BUAD 502D - Linear Algebra for Business Analytics
Credits: (3) Prerequisite(s): This course is a prerequisite to begin the remainder of the program, students may be able to satisfy these prerequisites with courses from other sources, this is handled during the admission and onboarding process.
This course provides a set of linear algebra tools for performing business analytics including vector-matrix multiplication, Gaussian elimination, computing determinants, computing matrix rank, computing matrix column and row spaces, performing eigenanalysis, and performing principal components analysis.
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BUAD 5052 - Decision Modeling
Credits: (4)
Probability and Statistics is a foundation course in the study of Business Analytics. It provides an understanding of the principles associated with modeling of stochastic processes. The topics will include: Probability Theory-important probability distributions, sampling from distributions, interaction of multiple stochastic processes; Regression; Statistical Analysis-descriptive/inferential/ predictive statistics, multivariate statistics, time series models; Modeling-modeling concepts, Monte Carlo simulation, decision analytics. Students will also be introduced to a variety of statistical modeling packages.
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BUAD 5092 - Optimization and Heuristics
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5272 - Database Management and Visualization
Optimization is an analytics methodology designed to yield the best solution to a given problem. Students are exposed to theory and applications of optimization including linear programming, non-linear programming, discrete optimization, and specialized networks. Included in this course is discussion about the difficulties of accurate representing real-world processes with a mathematical model. Most business problems are too large or too complex to be solved optimally, where the strict meaning of “optimal” means finding the provably best solution. Finding a solution that approximates the optimal solution is, therefore, the predominant mode of problem solving found in industry: these are called heuristic solutions. Many companies gain a competitive advantage by constructing heuristics that either find better solutions than do their competitors or find solutions more quickly. This course focuses on achieving such results by programming custom algorithms, which are a sequence of steps taken to provide a solution to a problem.
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BUAD 5112 - Competing through Business Analytics
Credits: (4)
This course will include a survey of the state-of-the-art in business analytics: what companies have used business analytics for competitive advantage and how they have done it. This course will teach business acumen and how the field of analytics fits within the context of business. Topics will include business metrics as used for performance measurement and incentives, communicating with impact, visualization, the functions of a company; how they interact, and what data they have, and the development and deployment of algorithms. The course will also include: survey of opportunities for problem solving using business analytics in operations, supply chain, human resources, finance, and marketing, and also an introduction to the tools that are covered in this program.
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BUAD 5122 - Machine Learning I
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): BUAD5052 - Probability and Statistics for Business Analytics
This course is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the theory and practice of Regression and Classification, two of the most commonly used techniques in the Data Scientist’s toolkit. These Predictive Analytics techniques are important members of a family of analytics often referred to as Machine Learning techniques. An important part of this course is the use of a software package called R, which is used extensively in labs and assignments in this class and subsequently reappears in other classes throughout the program.
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BUAD 5132 - Machine Learning II
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5072 - Machine Learning I and BUAD 5272 - Database Management and Visualization
This course is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of Machine Learning and Big Data, including more elaborate techniques that extend the coverage from Machine Learning I. The data storage and retrieval techniques that have served the information processing industry for decades have proven inadequate in the face of the huge collections of data presently being created by the Internet and the so-called “Internet of Things.” Businesses are requiring a new set of technologies that are specifically designed to deal with these huge data sets. In this course, the Hadoop environment and Amazon Web Services (AWS) will be used to process large-scale data sets.
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BUAD 5762 - Capstone Project
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): BUAD5802 - Artificial Intelligence and BUAD 5082 - Machine Learning II
This experiential based practicum course will include a comprehensive business analytics project that the student will complete from start to finish integrating the skills that have been acquired from the previous course work in the business analytics program. They will define and frame a complex problem, develop a systematic approach to solving it using analytics, identify methodologies that are suited to the problem, quickly prototype solutions with those methodologies to identify the best approach and, ultimately, generate an innovative solution and persuasively convey that solution using data visualization techniques and communication skills.
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BUAD 5772 - Database Management and Visualization
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): BUAD5112 - Competing Through Business Analytics
This course covers fundamental topics related to the development and use of databases and database systems and best practices for data visualization. Organizations store data in two types of databases: operational and analytical. Operational database topics include: database requirements, entity relationship modeling, relational modeling database constraints, update anomalies, normalization, Structures Query Language (SQL), and data quality. Analytical database topics include: data warehousing concepts, dimensional modeling (star schemas), data warehouse/data mart modeling approaches, the extraction/transformation/load (ETL) process, online analytical processing (OLAP)/business intelligence (BI) functionalities and the data warehouse/data mart front end. Once data is cleaned and stored, data visualization is used to most effectively communicate information contained in the data. The course covers data visualization principles drawn from the fields of statistics, perception, graphic and information design, and data mining. Students will learn visual representation techniques that increase the understanding of complex data and models. Topics include charts, tables, graphics, effective presentations, and dashboard design
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BUAD 5802 - Artificial Intelligence
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5072 - Machine Learning I and BUAD 5022 - Optimization and Heuristics
The theme of this course is “Natural models and Artificial Intelligence.” The course considers natural models of intelligence and their artificial equivalents. The course shows how viewing natural intelligence is an effective mindset and it describes the key analytics tools required for designing and executing some business processes competently. A majority of the course is devoted to the topic of neural networks, although other methods are included, such as genetic algorithms, simulated annealing, and swarm intelligence.
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Online MSMKT |
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BUAD 5207 - Renaissance Marketer
Credits: (4)
Renaissance Marketer is a four-credit course and serves as the foundation for the Online Master of Marketing program. It will introduce students to a view of the traditional “4Ps of Marketing: Product, Price, Promotion and Place” through a new lens: Renaissance Marketing. Renaissance Marketing acknowledges the new world of marketing-one that is more collaborative, dynamic, and faster moving than ever before. In this environment, today’s successful marketers must apply the principles of the discipline in a different way. The course will also introduce students to a 5th “P” - Participation. With Participation, marketers engage consumers in the marketing process using technology, new forms of market research and advanced feedback techniques to co-create products, services, experiences, and business models.
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BUAD 5217 - Analytics for Evaluation
Credits: (4)
This course focuses on qualitative and quantitative analytics techniques designed to assess the current state of any marketing situation-how consumers are responding to current efforts, how their responses fit with expectations, and gauging the effect on purchase, repeat purchase and recommendation.
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BUAD 5237 - Residency: “Special Topic”
Credits: (1) Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5207 - Renaissance Marketer
The residency is designed:
• To help students better understand and assimilate into the culture of William & Mary and the Mason School.
• To teach content that is best learned in a face-to-face environment (e.g., experiential exercises).
• To allow students to make connections with faculty and each other along with an opportunity to create relationships that will endure beyond the end of the program.
• To introduce cutting-edge ideas and tools in critical topics: Global Marketing, Marketing Communication, Crisis Management, Artificial Intelligence, Pricing, Marketing Simulation, Mission Inspired Innovation, etc.
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BUAD 5247 - Analytics for Planning
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5207 - Renaissance Marketer
This course focuses on the use of research to plan and optimize future marketing efforts. Consumers expect personalization in exchange for loyalty(ish). Customer analytics allows marketers to use customer behavior data to identify insights and help make key business decisions. Market segmentation is used along with predictive analytics to drive tactics such as product/service innovation, promotional activities such as direct marketing, distribution decisions like site selection, pricing tactics, and customer relationship management.
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BUAD 5257 - Product Management and New Product Development
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5207 - Renaissance Marketer
The course will focus on an ability to innovate through several interrelated capabilities: a) the ability to identify unique insights into customers’ needs and motivations, b) the ability to identify and define the best opportunities for innovation given these insights, c) the ability to generate creative product & service solution concepts to exploit these opportunities, and d) the ability to continually learn from customer feedback and to iterate towards products & services that capture a disproportionate market share and/or that create new markets. Course activities will promote the development of each student’s innovation skills and mindset (e.g., design thinking), as well as equip each student to participant on and to lead cross-functional innovation projects.
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BUAD 5267 - Market-Driven Innovation Strategy & Management
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5207 - Renaissance Marketer
This course is focused on innovation tools and techniques appropriate to corporate strategy along with innovation management. Success factors in innovation management include: innovation strategy, innovation process, resources and organization, and innovation culture. Visual design, innovation techniques, and cutting-edge tools are added to the traditional strategic toolbox to bring new insights into innovation management including business model canvas, value proposition canvas, strategy canvas, service blueprinting, corporate identity, branding, and other visual marketing strategy tools.
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BUAD 5277 - Integrated Campaign Management
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5207 - Renaissance Marketer
Integrated campaign management entails the orchestration of paid, earned and owned media vehicles to create a marketing experience that increases consumer engagement, strengthens brand differentiation and demand, and moves consumers through the purchase funnel toward repeat purchase and brand advocacy. This course will approach integrated marketing communications through an experience planning lens: teaching students to create integrated communications experiences that make strategic use of communications vehicles to drive brand and business growth.
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BUAD 5287 - Digital Content Management
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): BUAD 5207 - Renaissance Marketer
This course explores the evolving world of digital content management and its role in integrated marketing campaigns. Students will examine how digital media tools and techniques can be leveraged to advance products and services as well as their personal brands. Upon completion of this course, students will have a working knowledge of the current digital marketing ecosystem, content marketing tactics and ethical practices.
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BUAD 5297 - Capstone: Revolutionary Marketing Leadership
Credits: (4) Prerequisite(s): All Online Marketing Courses
This course helps students with insights into the tenets of leadership-how to lead and motivate a team, how to handle crises, and how to manage ethical considerations in modern marketing. The leadership content is designed to prepare students to practice the skills they learn in the program in a senior-level marketing position. It also serves to complete the study of the Marketing Challenge. Each student will prepare a presentation to give to the class on their Marketing Challenge.
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American Studies GRAD |
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Anthropology GRAD |
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Applied Science GRAD |
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Biology GRAD |
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