Concentrations provide you with intensive study either within a discipline or in a unified theme across disciplines.
In consultation with Silicon Valley employers, Santa Clara University business faculty has developed several concentrations to enhance your understanding of current topics, preparing you for careers in demand throughout our dynamic economy.
These concentrations build on foundational business knowledge by offering advanced coursework and integrating current business topics. As a result, you'll develop expertise and connections in particular functions or industries. Evening and Online MBA students may choose to complete one concentration unit comprising a minimum of 12 units within a specific subject area as part of the degree.
Faculty Coordinator: Tao Li
Learning Objectives
Develop critical thinking skills for strategic evaluation and implementation of current data science (and big data) paradigms, including problem definition. Understand and acquire technical expertise in various quantitative fields such as statistics, econometrics, calculus, optimization, and software paradigms (e.g., R, Python, Databases/SQL, Tableau, etc.), that underlie various analyses undertaken by corporations. Learn how to build models (theoretical, statistical and econometric) to characterize business situations, develop strategies, and use these models to analyze business problems. Students will learn to collect, verify and use data to achieve enhanced business decisions, and present value-added strategies to senior management.
Course Options Include*
- Game Theory and Strategic Behavior
- Data Analytics with Python
- Dashboards with Tableau
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- Supply Chain Analytics
- Natural Language Processing
- Intro to Time Series
*Available electives and concentration requirements are subject to change based on annual curriculum review and updates.
Faculty Coordinator: Jennifer Woolley (Management)
Learning Objectives
Develop an analytical framework for evaluating new business opportunities. Review special operating problems of new enterprises including the problems of survival in the early years, maintaining growth in an orderly fashion, and maintaining momentum as the firm approaches maturity. This involves developing and integrating an understanding of the accounting, finance, marketing, operations and management issues that start-ups face. Identify the unique entrepreneurial challenges faced by startups in high-technology sectors of the economy–these include infotech, biotech and clean tech. This involves reviewing the salient characteristics of these sectors, identifying the key strategic issues associated with them, and providing tools/frameworks to address these challenges. Provide an opportunity for students to evaluate their own abilities and goals in regard to small business opportunities. A minimum of 12 units is required for this concentration
Course Options Include*
- Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Innovation
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Corporate Restructuring
- Innovation in Silicon Valley
- Venture Capital Essentials
- Go-to-Market Strategy
- Social Media Marketing
- Accelerating Innovation: Procure, Partner or Invest
*Available electives and concentration requirements are subject to change based on annual curriculum review and updates.
Faculty Coordinator: Meir Statman (Finance)
Learning Objectives
Know the valuation of financial securities such as stocks, bonds, options and futures, and their financial markets Apply finance in corporate settings, such as the choices of investment projects and their management. Apply finance in investment settings, such as the construction of investment portfolios. Know the links between finance and other business functions such as marketing and operations.
Course Options Include*
- Introduction to FinTech
- International Financial Management
- Financial Markets and Institutions
- Alternative Investments: Partnerships and Venture Capital
*Available electives and concentration requirements are subject to change based on annual curriculum review and updates.
Faculty Coordinator: Kelly Patterson (Management)
Learning Objectives
- Apply a systems-based approach to leading innovative organizations, demonstrating an understanding of key concepts from organizational behavior, organizational theory, and leadership
- Apply these conceptual frameworks to the composition and evaluation of organizations, teams, and individual contributors, for the following purposes:
- Developing interpersonal competencies that facilitate collaboration within and across organizational subunits
- Creating strategies for organizational change in dynamic environments
Course Options Include*
- Leadership of Dynamic Organizations
- Strategic Talent Management
- Leading Teams and Projects
- Strategic Business Negotiations
- Understanding and Embracing DE&I at Work
- Management Consulting
- Corporate Governance for the Executive and Entrepreneur
*Available electives and concentration requirements are subject to change based on annual curriculum review and updates.
Faculty Coordinator: Desmond Lo
Learning Objectives
Describe and apply current and evolving marketing frameworks to both high tech and non-high tech environments. Integrate marketing processes with other traditional business elements to develop creative strategies and plans to further institutional objectives. Utilize marketing concepts and approaches to optimize customer satisfaction and contribute to societal well-being.
Course Options Include*
- New Business Ventures
- Social Media Marketing
- Product Management - Concept to Execution
- Fundamentals of B2B: Account Based Marketing
- Product Messaging and Positioning
*Available electives and concentration requirements are subject to change based on annual curriculum review and updates.
Students may propose an individual studies concentration, subject to the approval of a faculty advisor. The proposal must show why the planned coursework will enhance a student's career objectives or intensify an area of inquiry not offered by the existing concentrations.
Current students should consult the Graduate Bulletin or Graduate Business Programs about concentrations.