MBA: Applied Computer Science
Lead technology projects throughout the global marketplace! Enroll in NCU’s MBA in Applied Computer Science Specialization and gain not only the managerial knowledge to lead projects and teams, but also increase your technical knowledge in key computer science topics. With this specialization, you will be able to discuss the latest programming and wireless trends, for example, while managing and presenting large scale projects anywhere in the world! Technology trends change rapidly, resulting in the need for companies to look for skilled professionals who possess advanced knowledge of contemporary applied computer science methods. Many advanced managerial roles exist in this dynamic field that require specialized management training, including technical project managers, lead programmers, lead systems administrators, and lead network administrators. The curriculum for the master’s program in Applied Computer Sciences is designed to provide preparation for professional careers with an emphasis in various technology management tracks for specialized job roles.
MBA: Computer and Information Security
Lead information security projects throughout the global marketplace! Enroll in NCU’s MBA in Computer and Information Security Specialization and gain not only the managerial knowledge to lead projects and teams, but also increase your technical knowledge in key computer security disciplines. With this degree, you will be able to discuss the latest information security threats, defenses, and trends, while managing and presenting large scale projects anywhere in the world! The requirement for computer security knowledge increases as new techniques and technologies are developed. Existing protections in systems and network perimeters must be constantly upgraded to meet evolving threats. This specialization enables students to examine realistic examples of the crucial links between security theory and the day-to-day security challenges to IT environments. The focus is to provide students the ability to ascertain the essentials of security threats, information assurance and security management in corporations. This specialization also examines the field of cyber-forensics including the dangers of cyber-terrorism and the evolving U.S. policy response. At the end of the Computer and Information Security specialization, students will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action.
The MBA Criminal Justice Specialization offers students a unique insight into the operational and organizational structure of police agencies. Students can expect exposure to concepts that are readily applicable to a law enforcement setting. Many graduates utilize their knowledge and learned skills in managerial positions. Students may find professional employment opportunities in law enforcement agencies and private security firms.
MBA: Financial Management
This specialization explores relevant financial analysis of financial and non-financial organizations. The students will acquire a broad collection of skills that fit within financial positions in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. These skills may include financial statement analysis, investment selection techniques, and how financial institutions generate earnings and manage risks. The MBA degree at NCU affords both a high quality education in combination with the flexibility needed for many working professionals. The curriculum allows for flexibility in emphasis with courses such as Corporate Finance, Financial Statement Analysis, Investments and Management of Financial Institutions. At the end of the Financial Management specialization, students will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. With graduation, the learner is in a good position to move forward with his or her career in such positions as Financial Analyst, Budget Analyst, Loan Officer, Financial Manager, Financial Planner and Investment banker.
The General Business specialization allows students to select courses from a broad range of electives to fit their personal and professional goals. The specialization includes courses such as Corporate Finance, Supervisory Practices, International Economics, Organization and Management. These courses will hone student skills for the 21st century job market including the domestic market to the international market. The potential jobs in this field are corporate chief financial officer (CFO), human services management, consultant, and entrepreneur.
MBA: Health Care Administration
This program provides valuable knowledge and skills training for those specifically interested in the business side of health care. The focus is to develop essential managerial knowledge and skills in financial management, legal and ethical issues of health care, and to examine and develop health care policies. At the end of the Health Care Administration specialization program, students will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. Graduates in health care administration are in demand in hospitals, health maintenance organizations, health insurance companies, government and public health agencies, and social service agencies.
This specialization is focused on the preparation of senior managers of law enforcement, public safety, and emergency medical care and disaster preparedness agencies for positions of executive leadership in the field of homeland security. The specialization courses span the spectrum of management, budgetary rules, personnel, and critical issues relating to crisis management and terrorism prevention and response. The final specialization project will assess competencies learned within the previous specialization courses. Graduates are prepared to assume management positions in government from local to federal levels.
MBA: Human Resources Management
This graduate-level Human Resources Specialization focuses on the interrelationships between the organization’s most important resources – its employees, its leadership, and the business organization in general. This specialization will provide the Human Resources Manager the tools necessary to properly create, develop, mediate, and maintain these interrelationships that are so important to the overall success of the organization. Students will examine many different dynamics of Human Resource Management, including labor relations, compensation and rewards, leadership, and managing human resources on a global level. Human Resources Managers who complete this specialization will be highly prepared to work as a Generalist or in specialty areas such as employee development, labor relations, compensation and rewards, recruitment and hiring, global human resources management, or risk management.
MBA: International Business
The advent of globalization and technological advances have altered the nature of how people do business today and will in the future; creating an interrelated and interdependent world. While globalization has brought about many benefits to people throughout the world, it has also brought many challenges. Therefore, this specialization provides a unique focus on many of these challenges and opportunities and covers the essential elements required to understand and manage multinational and international organizations. Individuals interested in international management positions could benefit from this program. The specialization focuses on international law, economics, marketing, TQM in International Business, and strategic management to prepare individuals as leaders and managers in the international context.
This specialization focuses on the leadership functions of environmental and legal compliance, dealing with contemporary policy issues in business, economics, and marketing management. Students gain conceptual oversight into the modern practice of management and strong understanding of how to apply the theory to practice in the business environment. Some of the focus areas of the MBA Management Specialization are critical thinking, case analysis of workplace examples, organizational leadership, and financial asset management, both domestic and international. As a result of the intensive training, some graduates may become asset managers, organizational compliance officers, financial analyst and CEOs of small to large organizations worldwide.
MBA: Management Information Systems
The Management Information Systems specialization focuses on development and management of information systems, data, telecommunication systems, and Local Area Network (LAN) / Wide Area Network (WAN) networks, from both a management and computer system perspective. The curriculum is designed for administrators, managers, and consultants using computer information systems to enhance the management process and business outcomes. As technology continues to be essential to many businesses, understanding information systems, data, telecommunication systems, and Local Area Network (LAN) / Wide Area Network (WAN) networks are key for students who wish to develop professional expertise in these key areas. Students will complete a final written research project demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. Potential positions that could be held by the student are LAN manager, MIS Director, Systems Manager to name a few.
MBA: Management of Engineering and Technology
The Management of Engineering and Technology specialization focuses on issues relating to principles of productivity, quality management, improving productivity through technology, and environmental systems management. As technology continues to expand and provide pivotal roles in business, students will be better aligned with issues relating to productivity, quality management, and environmental systems management. The final specialization project will assess competencies learned within the previous specialization courses.
The specialization offers a unique faculty mentored approach to independent distance learning, based on a proven educational model. Through this model, the marketing specialization prepares students for a variety of careers in Marketing. The Specialization moves beyond fundamentals by focusing upon marketing management and marketing research. Students will focus on customer strategic marketing as it encompasses relationship management, advertising and promotion, customer behavior, and product management. The final project assesses competencies learned within the specialization. Graduates with a Marketing specialization will find opportunities in both for-profit and non-profit sectors. Students who choose the MBA marketing specialization have opportunities at the management and director level in marketing, sales, advertising, corporate communications, events, or public relations. Some of the additional areas of opportunities include: Market Research; Product Management; Retailing; Customer Service Manager; Sales Manager; and Brand Manager to identify a few possible positions.
MBA: Public Administration
This specialization focuses on acquiring the administrative knowledge and skills in such diverse areas as budgeting, government relations, personnel policies, politics, and urban planning. Practicing public administrators, as well as those seeking entry into public administration and related fields, will benefit from the foundational aspects of enabling legislation and business practices. Students focus on a wide range of skills needed by the public administrator overseeing local, state, and federal government agencies and units. This specialization examines budget preparation, government relations, personnel policies, politics, and urban planning. Students will complete a final written research project demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action with incremental deliverables implemented along a timeline. Positions that the student could hold are: Business Analyst; Policy Analyst Budget Analyst; Budget Director; Evaluation Consultant; Program Evaluation Director; Economic Research Analyst; and Economic Development Director.
Accounting is the language of business and this specialization area sharpens student’s communication skills in the field. Students understand how to scrutinize accounting data and how it is applicable to a successful business. Students will acquire a practical application of a broad accounting perspective and technical accounting knowledge, enabling the exploration of relationships among business activities, economic outcomes, and business performance. Students learn how these accounting concepts speak to the overall financial condition of a firm. Graduates of this specialization could hold positions such as chief accountant, senior audit director, and vice president of accounting.
DBA: Applied Computer Science
Work as the Chief Information Officer for a Fortune 500 firm, non-profit, small-to-medium sized firm, and government agency! Enroll in NCU’s DBA in Applied Computer Science Specialization and improve your ability to lead, manage, and direct diverse and challenging technical projects throughout the global marketplace. Acquire the skills and knowledge needed to serve at the Board of Director level for highly competitive firms. Additionally, use your degree and experience in academia as a professor, manager, or director within schools and colleges of business. The Corporation Information Officer (CIO) is an example of a new executive role that has emerged as a result of information growth, requiring specialized advanced education in the information technology field. This specialization is designed to provide preparation for professional careers with an emphasis in both leadership and technology.
DBA: Computer and Information Security
Work as the Chief Information Security Officer for a Fortune 500 firm, non-profit, small-to-medium sized firm, and government agency! Enroll in NCU’s DBA in Computer and Information Security Specialization and improve your ability to lead, manage, and direct diverse and challenging security projects throughout the global marketplace. Acquire the skills and knowledge needed to serve at the Board of Director level for highly competitive firms. Additionally, use your degree and experience in academia as a professor, manager, or director within schools and colleges of business. The specialization focuses on best practices involved in forensic investigations and evidence handling, federal and state privacy, intellectual property, search and seizure process, and cyber-crime laws. Students study current techniques in data preservation, identification, and extraction and perform forensic analysis of systems using popular examination toolkits.
The DBA Criminal Justice Specialization uniquely prepares the student for executive roles within law enforcement and private security. Students will analyze and problem-solve current issues in criminal justice. Graduates in this field will apply their skills as decision-makers within police and allied agencies.
DBA: Financial Management
This doctoral degree concentrates on developing advanced skills needed to work with educational and financial organizations. The student will acquire skills from a broad collection of finance topics and research methods that fit both within for-profit and not-for-profit environments. The finance skills include financial statement analysis, understanding advanced business financial decision models, understanding investment selection techniques, and understanding how financial institutions generate earnings and manage risks. The methodologies studied will come from both quantitative and qualitative areas. The student who successfully completes the degree is in a position to work in an educational environment as an instructor/professor or take a variety of research or practitioner oriented positions in industry. Positions could include Economist, Financial Research Specialist, Statistician, Financial Analyst, Budget Analyst, Loan Officer, Financial Manager, Financial Planner, and Investment Banker.
For those who are currently involved in business, or are aspiring to be become a productive member of an organization, the DBA-General Business Specialization has skill building courses such as advanced corporate finance, supervisory techniques, and business knowledge in the global environment. The training strengthens business leaders’ knowledge in business practices which leads to promotions in their organizations, or transition to other organizations. Because of their knowledge and skills, prospective employees have opportunities of employment in areas such as senior management, chief operations officer, director, and senior manager.
DBA: Health Care Administration
For those who desire a more practical, skill-based specialization, the DBA in health care administration may be for you. This specialization prepares health care administrators in the areas of strategic planning in health care and managed systems, comparative health care system analysis, and total quality management in health care. Students will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. Graduates in the DBA program can demonstrate real-world application of knowledge and skills in both public and private health care management settings.
DBA: Homeland Security: Leadership & Policy
This doctoral specialization is focuses on developing senior leaders of public administration, law enforcement, public safety, and emergency medical care and disaster preparedness agencies for executive leadership positions in the field of homeland security. Students are provided with a rigorous educational opportunity to research and explore advanced concepts and methods, and apply theory and emerging concepts to real world issues through innovative approaches to complex problems. Students will choose from a number of courses that cover terrorism, strategy, intelligence, emergency management, and critical infrastructure security issues. Students will complete a final written research project demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. Graduates are prepared to assume senior executive positions in government from local to federal levels with an emphasis on the practical application of concepts.
DBA: Human Resources Management
This Human Resources Specialization focuses on the interrelationships between the organization’s most important resources – its employees, its leadership, and the business organization in general. This specialization will provide the Human Resources Manager the tools necessary to properly create, develop, mediate, and maintain these interrelationships that are so important to the overall success of the organization. Students will focus on HRM Information Systems, compensation and staffing strategies, training and professional development, cultural diversity, innovation, labor relations, and legal issues in HRM. This specialization will provide the student all of the tools necessary to specialize in any one of these areas of Human Resources Management. Students will complete a research project to demonstrate their ability to appropriately and successfully conduct an investigation into a workplace problem, identify areas for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action, which will provide the students with an excellent, high quality product proving their level of qualification for high-level Human Resource Management jobs within any industry.
DBA: Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Northcentral University’s Doctor of Business Administration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology program provides HR, sales, and business managers with the opportunity to explore common ways individuals and groups conduct themselves in professional settings.
Our DBA students have the chance to learn how to assess behaviors in order to effectively manage people and generate positive workplace results. In addition, the curriculum is designed to examine personnel administration topics, including workforce laws and regulations, union contracting, employee relations, and diversity management.
This specialization explores the practical application of industrial and organizational psychology to the understanding of people in the world of work. In this interdisciplinary specialization, students in the DBA program also complete courses in the School of Psychology in order to develop competencies in theory, research, and applications of psychology related to human behavior in organizations.
DBA students conduct basic and applied research related to the applications of organizational and psychological theory to human resource management.
Prior to program completion, participants will have the chance to complete a final major project in which they can analyze a realistic business problem and propose a plausible action plan.
DBA: International Business
Globalization, or as some would argue regionalization, has transformed not only the world economies but also the power dynamics from developed countries to emerging economies. The 20th century saw economic and political power in the developed countries. However, the 21st century is witnessing a change of economic and political power from not only the developed countries but also the emerging economies such as Brazil, India, China and Russia (BRIC). Further, globalization has introduced many benefits through technology to nearly all the countries in the world. For example, China, a centrally planned government today has a free market system; a new and successful economic model the world has never witnessed before. However, the benefits have been matched with many challenges for these same countries; such as child labor practices, corruption, and so on. Today, it is imperative that global leadership have an in-depth understanding of Emotional Intelligence (EQ), Cultural Intelligence (CI), and avoid ethnocentrism, as well as a self-reference criteria. Further, global leaders, international marketers, and anyone doing business in a foreign country will meet the challenges of understanding the differences in political, economic, legal, socio-cultural, and environmental systems.
Therefore, this specialization prepares students with a unique perspective to these issues; by focusing on the essential elements required to understand and manage multinational and international organizations. Further, this specialization provides students with a comprehensive education and training in interdisciplinary subjects of management, law, government, diplomacy, international studies, economics, finance, and marketing; such as the international business environments, the global market environment, the cultural environment of global business, international strategic management, international business law and its environment, total quality management in international business, and so on, and through the application of rigorous and quality advanced qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and problem-solving techniques. Students will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. To this end, this specialization helps to prepare students for careers in international leadership and management, international marketing, international consulting and international trade; as well as prepares students for international teaching positions in post-secondary institutions of higher education at home or in a foreign country.
The goal of the DBA-Management specialization is to provide the student with an understanding of modern theory and practice in business administration. Students explore theory and historical frameworks to business in today's global environment through multiple management processes, based on the curriculum selected. The student learns about business organization, management, marketing management entrepreneurship, business and management consulting and much more. After the course graduates are prepared for senior management positions in a corporate environment, higher education, government and public entities, and business consulting.
DBA: Management of Engineering and Technology
The Management of Engineering and Technology specialization focuses on integrating practical technical experience with management theory and practice. Focusing on technical expertise in a management environment, the curriculum provides understanding of the synergism between technology and business practices to improve organizational outcomes through awareness of principles of productivity, quality management, and environmental systems management. As technology continues to shape how business is conducted, students will be better aligned with technical experience and management theory and practices. Students will complete a final written research project demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation of a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action.. Graduates could hold positions such as vice president of manufacturing, vice president of engineering, director of engineering, and chief engineering officer.
DBA: Management Information Systems
The Management Information Systems specialization combines and applies the best components of both computer systems and management disciplines. The specialization focuses on management of Local Area Network (LAN) / Wide Area Network (WAN) /Database computer information systems to enhance the management decision making process and enterprise business outcomes. The Management Information Systems specialization prepares students for careers in network and systems management. Students complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. Graduates could hold positions as consultants, professors of MIS, vice president of MIS and chief information officer.
The specialization offers a unique faculty mentored approach to independent distance learning, based on a proven educational model. This ensures that with our online degree programs, students get the personalized attention needed for academic success, whenever they need it. Through this model, the marketing specialization prepares students for a variety of careers in Marketing. The specialization The specialization provides strategies for a sound, systematic, ethical, and legal approach to contemporary marketing practices. Students will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. Students who complete the DBA program have opportunities in leadership, consulting and teaching. In addition, the DBA program prepares students for careers in education at the university level.
Some of the professional marketing opportunities include positions in advanced roles as director of Advertising & Public Relations; Market Research; Retailing; Director of Customer Service; Sales or Brand Director, marketing professor; Direct Marketing Director to name a few positions.
DBA: Organizational Leadership
"Northcentral University's Doctor of Business Administration program in Organizational Leadership is a research-based degree program created for business leaders that concentrates on business management issues.
NCU’s DBA in Organizational Leadership is designed for current and potential business leaders and managers. Students have the opportunity to develop research skills, learn management practices, and gain an understanding of qualitative and quantitative business analysis tools. The organizational leadership specialization emphasis organizational development, capacity building, leadership skills, and strategic planning.
This specialization serves to enhance the understanding and practice of organizational leadership using an interdisciplinary approach between business and education theory and research. This interdisciplinary specialization has broad appeal among practicing professionals (middle and upper management, and military personnel) with a background in business administration, human resources, non-profit administration, and related fields, whose professional goal may be organizational consulting or a generalist leadership position in corporate, government, not-for-profit, educational or community organizations.
Ultimately, students will complete a final written research project demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action."
DBA: Public Administration
This specialization focuses on acquiring administrative knowledge and skills in government and public agency budgeting, government relations, public personnel policy management, politics, and urban planning. The curriculum emphasizes contemporary program evaluation, complex public organization, and environmental compliance, along with strategies needed to meet the challenges in government management at the local, state and federal levels. Students will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action along a timeline of deliverables and objectives. Possible potions held by graduates are Budget Director, Program Evaluation Director, Research Analyst and Economic Development Director.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Advanced Accounting
Accounting is the language of business and this specialization area sharpens student’s communication skills in the field. Students understand how to scrutinize accounting data and how it is applicable to a successful business. Students will acquire a practical application of a broad accounting perspective and technical accounting knowledge, enabling the exploration of relationships among business activities, economic outcomes, and business performance. Students learn how these accounting concepts speak to the overall financial condition of a firm. Graduates of this specialization could hold positions such as chief accountant, senior audit director, and vice president of accounting.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Applied Computer Science
Work as the Chief Information Officer for a Fortune 500 firm, non-profit, small-to-medium sized firm, and government agency! Enroll in NCU’s DBA in Applied Computer Science Specialization and improve your ability to lead, manage, and direct diverse and challenging technical projects throughout the global marketplace. Acquire the skills and knowledge needed to serve at the Board of Director level for highly competitive firms. Additionally, use your degree and experience in academia as a professor, manager, or director within schools and colleges of business. The Corporation Information Officer (CIO) is an example of a new executive role that has emerged as a result of information growth, requiring specialized advanced education in the information technology field. This specialization is designed to provide preparation for professional careers with an emphasis in both leadership and technology.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Computer and Information Security
Work as the Chief Information Security Officer for a Fortune 500 firm, non-profit, small-to-medium sized firm, and government agency! Enroll in NCU’s DBA in Computer and Information Security Specialization and improve your ability to lead, manage, and direct diverse and challenging security projects throughout the global marketplace. Acquire the skills and knowledge needed to serve at the Board of Director level for highly competitive firms. Additionally, use your degree and experience in academia as a professor, manager, or director within schools and colleges of business. The specialization focuses on best practices involved in forensic investigations and evidence handling, federal and state privacy, intellectual property, search and seizure process, and cyber-crime laws. Students study current techniques in data preservation, identification, and extraction and perform forensic analysis of systems using popular examination toolkits.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Criminal Justice
The DBA Criminal Justice Specialization uniquely prepares the student for executive roles within law enforcement and private security. Students will analyze and problem-solve current issues in criminal justice. Graduates in this field will apply their skills as decision-makers within police and allied agencies.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Financial Management
This doctoral degree concentrates on developing advanced skills needed to work with educational and financial organizations. The student will acquire skills from a broad collection of finance topics and research methods that fit both within for-profit and not-for-profit environments. The finance skills include financial statement analysis, understanding advanced business financial decision models, understanding investment selection techniques, and understanding how financial institutions generate earnings and manage risks. The methodologies studied will come from both quantitative and qualitative areas. The student who successfully completes the degree is in a position to work in an educational environment as an instructor/professor or take a variety of research or practitioner oriented positions in industry. Positions could include Economist, Financial Research Specialist, Statistician, Financial Analyst, Budget Analyst, Loan Officer, Financial Manager, Financial Planner, and Investment Banker.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Health Care Administration
For those who desire a more practical, skill-based specialization, the DBA in health care administration may be for you. This specialization prepares health care administrators in the areas of strategic planning in health care and managed systems, comparative health care system analysis, and total quality management in health care. Students will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. Graduates in the DBA program can demonstrate real-world application of knowledge and skills in both public and private health care management settings.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Homeland Security: Leadership & Policy
This doctoral specialization is focuses on developing senior leaders of public administration, law enforcement, public safety, and emergency medical care and disaster preparedness agencies for executive leadership positions in the field of homeland security. Students are provided with a rigorous educational opportunity to research and explore advanced concepts and methods, and apply theory and emerging concepts to real world issues through innovative approaches to complex problems. Students will choose from a number of courses that cover terrorism, strategy, intelligence, emergency management, and critical infrastructure security issues. Students will complete a final written research project demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. Graduates are prepared to assume senior executive positions in government from local to federal levels with an emphasis on the practical application of concepts.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Human Resources Management
This Human Resources Specialization focuses on the interrelationships between the organization’s most important resources – its employees, its leadership, and the business organization in general. This specialization will provide the Human Resources Manager the tools necessary to properly create, develop, mediate, and maintain these interrelationships that are so important to the overall success of the organization. Students will focus on HRM Information Systems, compensation and staffing strategies, training and professional development, cultural diversity, innovation, labor relations, and legal issues in HRM. This specialization will provide the student all of the tools necessary to specialize in any one of these areas of Human Resources Management. Students will complete a research project to demonstrate their ability to appropriately and successfully conduct an investigation into a workplace problem, identify areas for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action, which will provide the students with an excellent, high quality product proving their level of qualification for high-level Human Resource Management jobs within any industry.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Northcentral University’s Doctor of Business Administration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology program provides HR, sales, and business managers with the opportunity to explore common ways individuals and groups conduct themselves in professional settings.
Our DBA students have the chance to learn how to assess behaviors in order to effectively manage people and generate positive workplace results. In addition, the curriculum is designed to examine personnel administration topics, including workforce laws and regulations, union contracting, employee relations, and diversity management.
This specialization explores the practical application of industrial and organizational psychology to the understanding of people in the world of work. In this interdisciplinary specialization, students in the DBA program also complete courses in the School of Psychology in order to develop competencies in theory, research, and applications of psychology related to human behavior in organizations.
DBA students conduct basic and applied research related to the applications of organizational and psychological theory to human resource management.
Prior to program completion, participants will have the chance to complete a final major project in which they can analyze a realistic business problem and propose a plausible action plan.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: International Business
Globalization, or as some would argue regionalization, has transformed not only the world economies but also the power dynamics from developed countries to emerging economies. The 20th century saw economic and political power in the developed countries. However, the 21st century is witnessing a change of economic and political power from not only the developed countries but also the emerging economies such as Brazil, India, China and Russia (BRIC). Further, globalization has introduced many benefits through technology to nearly all the countries in the world. For example, China, a centrally planned government today has a free market system; a new and successful economic model the world has never witnessed before. However, the benefits have been matched with many challenges for these same countries; such as child labor practices, corruption, and so on. Today, it is imperative that global leadership have an in-depth understanding of Emotional Intelligence (EQ), Cultural Intelligence (CI), and avoid ethnocentrism, as well as a self-reference criteria. Further, global leaders, international marketers, and anyone doing business in a foreign country will meet the challenges of understanding the differences in political, economic, legal, socio-cultural, and environmental systems.
Therefore, this specialization prepares students with a unique perspective to these issues; by focusing on the essential elements required to understand and manage multinational and international organizations. Further, this specialization provides students with a comprehensive education and training in interdisciplinary subjects of management, law, government, diplomacy, international studies, economics, finance, and marketing; such as the international business environments, the global market environment, the cultural environment of global business, international strategic management, international business law and its environment, total quality management in international business, and so on, and through the application of rigorous and quality advanced qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and problem-solving techniques. Students will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. To this end, this specialization helps to prepare students for careers in international leadership and management, international marketing, international consulting and international trade; as well as prepares students for international teaching positions in post-secondary institutions of higher education at home or in a foreign country.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Management
The goal of the DBA-Management specialization is to provide the student with an understanding of modern theory and practice in business administration. Students explore theory and historical frameworks to business in today's global environment through multiple management processes, based on the curriculum selected. The student learns about business organization, management, marketing management entrepreneurship, business and management consulting and much more. After the course graduates are prepared for senior management positions in a corporate environment, higher education, government and public entities, and business consulting.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Management of Engineering and Technology
The Management of Engineering and Technology specialization focuses on integrating practical technical experience with management theory and practice. Focusing on technical expertise in a management environment, the curriculum provides understanding of the synergism between technology and business practices to improve organizational outcomes through awareness of principles of productivity, quality management, and environmental systems management. As technology continues to shape how business is conducted, students will be better aligned with technical experience and management theory and practices. Students will complete a final written research project demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation of a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action.. Graduates could hold positions such as vice president of manufacturing, vice president of engineering, director of engineering, and chief engineering officer.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Management Information Systems
The Management Information Systems specialization combines and applies the best components of both computer systems and management disciplines. The specialization focuses on management of Local Area Network (LAN) / Wide Area Network (WAN) /Database computer information systems to enhance the management decision making process and enterprise business outcomes. The Management Information Systems specialization prepares students for careers in network and systems management. Students complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. Graduates could hold positions as consultants, professors of MIS, vice president of MIS and chief information officer.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Marketing
The specialization offers a unique faculty mentored approach to independent distance learning, based on a proven educational model. This ensures that with our online degree programs, students get the personalized attention needed for academic success, whenever they need it. Through this model, the marketing specialization prepares students for a variety of careers in Marketing. The specialization The specialization provides strategies for a sound, systematic, ethical, and legal approach to contemporary marketing practices. Students will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action. Students who complete the DBA program have opportunities in leadership, consulting and teaching. In addition, the DBA program prepares students for careers in education at the university level.
Some of the professional marketing opportunities include positions in advanced roles as director of Advertising & Public Relations; Market Research; Retailing; Director of Customer Service; Sales or Brand Director, marketing professor; Direct Marketing Director to name a few positions.
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Organizational Leadership
"Northcentral University's Doctor of Business Administration program in Organizational Leadership is a research-based degree program created for business leaders that concentrates on business management issues.
NCU’s DBA in Organizational Leadership is designed for current and potential business leaders and managers. Students have the opportunity to develop research skills, learn management practices, and gain an understanding of qualitative and quantitative business analysis tools. The organizational leadership specialization emphasis organizational development, capacity building, leadership skills, and strategic planning.
This specialization serves to enhance the understanding and practice of organizational leadership using an interdisciplinary approach between business and education theory and research. This interdisciplinary specialization has broad appeal among practicing professionals (middle and upper management, and military personnel) with a background in business administration, human resources, non-profit administration, and related fields, whose professional goal may be organizational consulting or a generalist leadership position in corporate, government, not-for-profit, educational or community organizations.
Ultimately, students will complete a final written research project demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action."
Ph.D IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: Public Administration
This specialization focuses on acquiring administrative knowledge and skills in government and public agency budgeting, government relations, public personnel policy management, politics, and urban planning. The curriculum emphasizes contemporary program evaluation, complex public organization, and environmental compliance, along with strategies needed to meet the challenges in government management at the local, state and federal levels. Students will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action along a timeline of deliverables and objectives. Possible potions held by graduates are Budget Director, Program Evaluation Director, Research Analyst and Economic Development Director.
The MBA in Entrepreneurship specialization takes students beyond the classroom, helping them build and test their entrepreneurial ideas in real-world settings. The entrepreneurship courses integrate all business disciplines, including marketing, finance, operations, and strategy. The courses are designed to help students develop skills in building businesses, investing in businesses, raising capital, and evaluating business opportunities. Students in this specialization will focus on analysis, decision-making and business planning of a real new venture product or service. Graduates of this specialization can expect to have a solid business plan that is ready to be presented to investors, banks, or private entities.
North Central’s Accounting degree will prepare you to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. You’ll also enhance your analytical and quantitative skills so you can leverage assets, manage budgets, achieve financial efficiencies, and maximize investments. With courses ranging from financial reporting and analysis to international business and macroeconomics, you’ll be equipped to pursue a career in the field of finance or accounting.
BBA - Human Resource Management
The Bachelor in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resource Management will provide students with a thorough understanding of issues and situations that affect an organization’s most important resource – its employees. The Human Resources Management specialization has been designed to prepare the aspiring Human Resources Manager to be an integral member of an organization’s decision-making team. The business world is evolving and so have the needs and expectations of the employees within an organization. The Human Resource Manager has become an essential component in assuring the most important resources in the organization are properly equipped to be productive in the work environment. This program will provide the student with insight into management structures, policies, and processes vital to the success of an organization and its employees. In addition, the program will prepare the student to be a successful human resources professional with excellent communication skills and a contributing team member in an organization. Careers in this field include a Human Resources Generalist or Specialist. Human Resources Specialists may specialize in areas such as employee development, labor relations, compensation and rewards, recruitment and hiring, and risk management.
The Management specialization is designed to prepare undergraduate students with the conceptual overview of modern theory and practice in the key areas of human resources, operations, marketing, and finance. Students study how to use resources within these functional areas, assign resources and assess an organization. By the end of the specialization, students will have an understanding of the fundamentals of managing an organization and will complete a final written research project, demonstrating the ability to conduct an investigation of a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify, and recommend a plan of preventative action.
The specialization offers a unique faculty mentored approach to independent distance learning, based on a proven educational model. Through this model, the marketing specialization prepares students for a variety of careers in Marketing. The Specialization moves beyond fundamentals by focusing upon marketing management and marketing research. Students will focus on customer strategic marketing as it encompasses relationship management, advertising and promotion, customer behavior, and product management. The final project assesses competencies learned within the specialization. Graduates with a Marketing specialization will find opportunities in both for-profit and non-profit sectors.
MBA - Accelerated General MBA
Northcentral University’s Accelerated General MBA track provides students with the enhanced knowledge that today’s managers need to effectively run successful organizations. Students will gain advanced education in the processes that make businesses work, including management, operations, marketing, finance and economics. They will also develop the people skills that are critical for effective management as they explore classic and contemporary industry and theory and immerse themselves in the best practices of companies that make up our diverse corporate landscape. In this Accelerated MBA Track, students should expect to devote 30-35 hours per week to their program, and have the dedication needed to further their business education and skills in a compressed amount of time.
MS Organizational Leadership - Health Care Administration
Graduates in health care administration are in high demand across all facets of the health care industry. Your focus in this MBA specialization will be to develop essential managerial knowledge and skills in financial management, legal and ethical issues of health care, and to examine and develop health care policies. By the end of your program you will have completed a final written research project, demonstrating your ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem, identify an area for intervention, critique, justify and recommend a plan of preventative action.
MS Organizational Leadership - Human Resources Management
Managing people can be challenging for many organizations and those who are well-trained to handle that dynamic can find themselves in high demand. In the Human Resources Management specialization you will focus on the interrelationships between human resource capital, leadership and the business organization. You will explore all aspects of human resource management, and address the increasing human resource issues in the global economy. Your final specialization project is designed to assess your competencies gained through the challenges of the previous specialization courses.
MS Organizational Leadership - Nonprofit Management
Organizations and foundations dedicated to service or charity need keen leadership and expertise management. In this specialization you will learn the fundamental principles of nonprofit management by exploring the roles and responsibilities of the management team, their efforts to maximize fundraising opportunities and to maintain healthy budgets. Other areas you will cover in this specialization include: revenue generation, legal foundations, recruitment and management of volunteers, and promotion and marketing. You will also examine contemporary topics such as diversity and ethics within the nonprofit setting.
MS Organizational Leadership - Project Management
Project Management is one of the fastest growing professional disciplines and those degreed in this field can find themselves in high demand. In this specialization you will explore principles, concepts, tools, and techniques to improve project performance and organizational effectiveness including cost estimates, budget management, cost control, risk assessment, bid negotiation, contracts and performance reporting. This specialization focuses on risk management, procurement, monitoring and multi-project management. Your final specialization project is designed to demonstrate your ability to conduct an investigation on a workplace problem and recommend a plan of preventative action.
MS Organizational Leadership - Public Administration
Managing in the public sector requires as much expertise and knowledge as any other executive endeavor, and perhaps more. In this specialization you will focus on acquiring administrative knowledge and skills in diverse areas such as budgeting, government relations, personnel policies, politics and urban planning. You will learn a wide range of managerial skills to prepare you to oversee local, state and federal government activities. This specialization examines budget preparation, government relations, personnel policies, politics and urban planning. Your final specialization project is designed to demonstrate your ability to conduct an investigation on an administrative problem and recommend a plan of preventative action.
DMFT - Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship
Successfully running a counseling practice isn’t what most mental health care practitioners learn to do while gaining expertise in their fields. As a result, many gifted therapists and counselors see their dreams of private practice evaporate. The Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship Specialization is designed to prepare you to manage the business aspects of a clinical practice, or use your expertise in an entrepreneurial fashion. In this specialization you will focus your course projects, internship work, and dissertation research on issues broadly related to small business development and entrepreneurship.
MBA - Change and Innovation
The Change and Innovation MBA specialization at NCU is designed to provide you with knowledge of concepts and techniques associated with managing change and innovation. This specialization provides an in-depth examination of how positive change in organizations can affect productivity, efficiency and organizational culture. You’ll develop the competencies and skill to challenge the status quo by introducing and leading change in the competitive, global marketplace.
MBA - Corporate Social Responsibility
The Corporate Social Responsibility MBA specialization at NCU will help you develop tools for applying socially-responsible principles to current business environments. Additionally, you will gain the insights necessary to identify emerging legal, ethical, social and environmental issues, and generate strategic responses and sustainable implementation plans to position an organization as a good corporate citizen.
MBA - Performance Improvement
Identifying opportunities to improve how things are done is critical to success. The Performance Improvement MBA specialization at NCU helps you to analyze workplace productivity and identify the need for process improvement, as well as plan and implement the modifications necessary for the organization. You will learn how to apply foundational principles to product design and operations, technology, quality and marketing to build performance and deliver products to meet customer expectations.
MBA - Strategic Management
It requires big-picture thinking to succeed in business. The Strategic Management MBA specialization at NCU is designed for you to learn how to examine the long-term needs of an organization and implement plans necessary to address those needs. Through this specialization, you will learn to identify and analyze various governmental, business and political challenges from a strategic perspective, as well as the opportunities that exist when operating within emerging national and international markets.
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Project Management Degree
