Master of Business Administration program and class guide

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program emphasizes ethical leadership and decision making, design and development of corporate strategy, multi-geography/site teamwork and management, and the application of theory to practical situations in all concentration areas as well as in the general MBA degree. It facilitates career advancement, especially for those who work in middle management positions in business and in other organizations. Program concentrations include Cannabis Control, Data Analytics, Distributed Workforce Management, Finance and Accounting, General Business, Healthcare Management, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Marketing, Nutrition, Organizational Leadership, Public Health Equity, and Strategic Sustainability. The Cannabis Control concentration prepares students with the skills and the knowledge base to understand the impacts of legalization of cannabis in our communities, states, and nation. The curriculum incorporates best-practice instructional techniques - including realistic case studies - to foster strong critical thinking skills that will enable students to keep pace with the fast-changing environment. Innovative courses that meld industry and practitioner-based readings with the scientific- based research enable the program to offer much-needed subject matter expertise in the field. The Data Analytics concentration enhances students' analytical abilities and equips them with the skills to uncover new insights that improve strategic business decisions. Through this concentration, students learn how to collect, analyze, and visually represent rich sets of data designed to improve organizational decision making. The Distributed Workforce Management concentration trains students to strategically lead decisively across all functions in organizations, including recruitment and selection, training and development, performance appraisals, health and safety, labor relations, and communications. Students create value for the organizations and communities they serve by solving the complex challenges related to managing within a distributed work environment. The Finance and Accounting concentration is designed to equip graduates with the necessary principles and tools to be successful in management positions in finance, business, management and accounting firms, corporations, government, and nonprofit organizations. It deepens the understanding of financial analysis, corporate disclosure, and nonprofit accounting. The General Business concentration allows students to develop a personalized concentration area that spans multiple concentrations. Students tailor their concentration to their specific life and career goals, providing them with flexibility in developing their knowledge and skills. The Health Care Management concentration prepares students to lead and manage health care organizations effectively. It focuses on strategic management principles and communication strategies essential for health care leaders to navigate the complex health care environment, enhance organizational performance, and improve patient outcomes. © 2026 Excelsior University | excelsior.edu 88 The Homeland Security and Emergency Management concentration provides students with knowledge about the threats posed by domestic and international terrorism and strategies for countering those threats. Additionally, students evaluate the best practices behind successful security planning and create threat assessments. Finally, students evaluate and develop emergency and disaster plans that can and should be employed in the face of both man-made and natural threats to the homeland. The Human Resource Management concentration provides students with 21st-century knowledge and skills required of human resource managers and executives who deal with human performance issues. Students are expected to effectively apply contemporary theories and empirical research to successfully perform key functions in human resource management, including staffing, employee relations, conflict resolution, and compensation and benefits. The Leadership concentration equips students with essential skills to manage and inspire high- performing teams in dynamic business environments. This concentration emphasizes the practical aspects of leadership, such as direct team management, crisis handling, and change implementation, making it ideal for those looking to enhance their direct leadership capabilities. The Marketing concentration allows students to learn and apply advanced constructs in digital marketing with a focus on brand development, launch, and management. The concentration traverses the private and public sector industries in the application of business-to-business and business-to-consumer centric marketing methods. The Nutrition concentration equips students to educate individuals, families, and communities about healthful nutrition and the relationships between food and health. It also promotes access to healthy foods in marginalized communities. The Organizational Leadership concentration takes a broader approach, focusing on communication and strategic thinking within the context of leadership. This concentration is suitable for those aiming to lead at an organizational level, combining leadership of teams with strategic communication and innovation management to drive broad organizational objectives. The Public Health Equity concentration equips students to become transformational public health leaders and agents of change for their communities, particularly those who have historically faced significant health disparities. Interdisciplinary themes are infused throughout the curriculum as a best practice for cultivating enduring change in population health outcomes. The Strategic Sustainability concentration provides students with the knowledge and skills to lead and implement sustainable practices within organizations. It covers environmental sustainability, the science behind sustainability, and strategic leadership for sustainable development, preparing students to drive initiatives that promote environmental responsibility and strategic sustainability.