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Brandeis International Business School
Last updated: August 10, 2016 at 2:31 p.m.
Established in 1994, Brandeis International Business School is a professional school dedicated to the study of the global economy through rigorous teaching and research in business, finance and economics.
The school prepares individuals from around the globe to become principled professionals in companies and public institutions worldwide, immersing them in international experiences and connecting them to best practices in business and policy. Its programs address the complex challenges decision-makers face in the global economy in varied business and policy-making environments.
The school's faculty consists of a body of highly renowned researchers and seasoned practitioners with extensive real-world experience. Their expertise ranges widely, embracing topics as diverse as municipal finance, global trade, cross-cultural fluency, monetary policy and central banking, strategic alliances, corporate governance, state-owned enterprises, entrepreneurial finance, initial public offerings, consumer judgment and decision making, leadership and identity in organizations, and the impacts of taxation, regulation and market structure on financial markets.
The Asper Center for Global Entrepreneurship
The Asper Center for Global Entrepreneurship serves as Brandeis IBS’ platform to examine and understand the key trends affecting entrepreneurship across cultures and borders. It provides a diverse range of learning experiences through courses, seminars and conferences, internships, business plan competitions, field visits, and meetings with global entrepreneurs.
The Asper Center was established in 2006 by Leonard J. Asper '86.
The Perlmutter Institute for Global Business Leadership
Established by Brandeis Trustee Louis '56 and Barbara Perlmutter in 2008, the Perlmutter Institute focuses on the intersection of business, the global economy, government, and civil society. Using a multi-disciplinary, holistic approach, the Institute prepares students for leadership in a globally interdependent world, promoting the value of balancing profit and the public good.
The Rosenberg Institute of Global Finance
The Rosenberg Institute of Global Finance seeks to analyze and anticipate major trends in global financial markets, institutions and regulations, and to develop the information and ideas required to solve emerging problems. The Institute, founded in 2002, is named for Barbara C. Rosenberg '54 and Richard M. Rosenberg.
The Asia-Pacific Center for Economics and Business
The Asia-Pacific Center for Economics and Business conducts research, teaching and outreach on business and economic issues in the Asia Pacific region and on US-Asia Pacific relations. Its activities include faculty research projects, conferences, seminars, graduate and undergraduate courses, and exchange programs with Asia-Pacific universities.
The Steven M. Bunson ’82 Finance and Society Initiative
The Steven M. Bunson ’82 Finance and Society Initiative serves as a cornerstone of the IBS offerings in socially responsible business. It supports courses and programs that are closely aligned with our commitment to the social and environmental needs of the broader society. Experiential learning opportunities include internships, field trips, speakers and student club activities.
Global Green Initiative
The Global Green Initiative at Brandeis International Business School is a multidisciplinary program in research and education dedicated to innovative thinking in corporate sustainability. The Initiative’s mission is to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of environmental and social concerns on business strategy, devise new approaches to sustainability and put them into practice. It is rooted in the realization that actions to advance sustainability can lead to business success as well as improve society and the environment.
Latin American Initiative
The Latin American Initiative is a collaborative effort seeking to increase the visibility of Brandeis IBS in Central and South America, through establishing strong business and governmental relationships, university partnerships, and outreach to local communities. The Initiative aims to have a long-term positive impact on student recruitment, alumni engagement, fundraising, and the creation of professional opportunities for students and graduates.
Hassenfeld Family Innovation Center
The Hassenfeld Family Innovation Center, founded in 2014, is overseen by Brandeis University’s Provost who will facilitate collaboration between the Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) and the Brandeis International Business School. The Center builds upon the university’s reputation as one of the nation’s leading research institutions by supporting faculty research while catalyzing innovation on campus. It provides a platform for increased corporate outreach to innovative firms, provides new educational opportunities for Brandeis students, and leverages the experience of industry professionals to ensure that the societal impact of the university’s groundbreaking research is maximized. The Hassenfeld Center will also enhance efforts to bring Brandeis’ research and technology advances to commercial partners in sectors such as life sciences, clean energy and information technology. It will serve as a platform to identify potential relationships with like-minded academic institutions and corporations around the globe.
Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance (MA)
The Lemberg Masters in International Economics and Finance is a two-year (four academic-year semesters) professional degree that integrates high-level conceptual analysis in economics and finance, on the one hand, with practical applications and a global economic perspective, on the other. The degree prepares students for careers in finance, economic policy, consulting, multinational corporations, and international organizations.
MBA Program
The MBA at IBS is a two-year (four academic-year semesters) professional degree, and offers in-depth preparation in all business and management functions. All MBA students can customize their program to focus on any of the specializations available at Brandeis IBS. Students who do not complete such a specialization will automatically earn an MBA in International Business.
MSF Program
The MS in Finance is a 16-month full-time program with a curriculum grounded in financial theory, quantitative problem solving and solid financial analytics. Providing MSF students with these essential applied skills in addition to a required practicum prepares them to compete in the financial job market.
PhD Program
The PhD in International Economics and Finance, offered in collaboration with the university's economics department, provides advanced training in economic theory, research techniques, and creative problem-solving in an integrated, global economic framework. The program prepares students for research, teaching, and policy making careers in business, government, and international agencies.
Combined BA/MA Programs
Brandeis and Wellesley College undergraduate students may apply for admission to a special BA/MA track within the Lemberg MAief Program in the spring of their third year. They begin taking program courses in their fourth year of undergraduate study and satisfy the master's degree requirements in one additional year of study at the graduate level after receiving their BA.
How to Be Admitted to the Brandeis International Business School
The school seeks outstanding candidates from around the world and from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Factors critical in the evaluation of applicants to all Brandeis IBS degree programs include academic achievement, aptitude for graduate study, motivation, leadership, and experience. Detailed information regarding admission requirements, applications, policies, and procedures is available on the Brandeis IBS website and by contacting the Office of Admissions.
Test Scores and Deadlines
Applicants for the MBA, MSF and MA Programs must submit the results of either the GMAT or the GRE. PhD applicants are required to submit the results of the GRE. A TOEFL score of 100 (iBT) or higher is required for students whose native language is not English. Applicants for MBA, MSF, MA, and PhD program are exempt from submitting a TOEFL score if they have completed a 4 year undergraduate or graduate degree at a University in a country where English is the official language, and language of instruction in all school systems. Interviews are recommended for students applying to the MA or MSF programs and required for those applying to the MBA program.
Master of Arts in International Economics (MA), Master of Science in Finance (MSF) Program, and Finance (MA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program: Applications are due by November 1, January 15 and March 15 for priority consideration for financial aid and scholarships. Final application deadline is May 15.
MA Program, BA/MA track: Application deadline for admission is March 15.
PhD Program: Application deadline is January 15. Note: Admission is offered only in the fall of even years (2016, 2018, etc.).
Registration
Every resident, post-resident, and continuation student must register at the beginning of each term, whether attending regular courses of study, carrying on research or independent reading, writing a thesis or dissertation, or utilizing any academic service or facility of the university. All students on semester abroad must register and enroll in ECON 290a for that semester.
Students enrolled in full time degree programs are required to enroll in and maintain a minimum academic load of 12 credits per semester. MSF students are exempt from this requirement in their final semester. Twenty credits per semester is the maximum load per semester allowed unless additional credits are authorized by a Brandeis IBS program administrator.
Please refer to the Academic Calendar for specific deadlines for adding and dropping courses. In order to drop a class after the end of the registration period, a student must receive permission from the instructor and Program Advisor by completing the Add/Drop form available from the Brandeis IBS Office of Administration and Student Services. The completed form with all necessary signatures must be returned to the Office of the University Registrar, Kutz 121.
Auditing Courses
The privilege of auditing courses without paying a fee is extended to all regularly enrolled full-time graduate students except part-time or special students. Part-time or special students may audit courses by paying for them at the same rate as those taken for credit. No courses may be audited without the permission of the instructor. Auditors may not take examinations or expect evaluation from the instructor. No credit is given for an audited course.
Credits Per Semester
Full-time MA, MBA and MSF students will be limited to enrolling in 18 credits per semester, with the exception of students in the MSF program who are limited to 10 credits in their third semester, unless granted permission to go over the enrollment limit by the student’s Program Advisor.
Course Exemptions
Students may request an exemption from one or more required courses, but all such requests must be made during a student's first semester.
For many required courses, exemption requires passing a test in September. Applied International Macroeconomics (ECON 202a), International Trade Policy and Institutions (ECON 260a), Managerial Economics (ECON 207a), Investments (FIN 201a), and Corporate Finance (FIN 202a) can only be exempted via an exemption exam.
For other courses students must demonstrate that comparable academic work was done prior to beginning a Brandeis IBS program. The work must be relevant and relate closely with the material covered in the Brandeis IBS class, as determined by the program directors. The request must be in writing on a specific form -- the Petition for Exemption from Degree Requirement form. These may be obtained from the Brandeis IBS website. A course syllabus and transcript must accompany the completed form.
Obtaining an exemption from a required course does not reduce the number of courses needed to complete the program; rather, exempted courses need to be replaced with electives.
Incompletes
A student who cannot take a final examination as scheduled during Finals Week may, with the permission of the instructor, file for a make-up exam by completing an Excused Absence Form, available on the Brandeis IBS website. The exam may be taken at a time mutually agreeable to the student and instructor. If a mutually agreeable arrangement cannot be identified, the make-up exam will be administered by the Office of the University Registrar according to university policy. A make-up examination may not take place prior to the scheduled exam.
A temporary grade of EA (Excused Absence) will show on the student’s transcript until the final grade for the course has been determined. The exam must be completed no later than is allowed by the university Registrar’s make-up exam schedule. Failing to do so will result in a failing grade on the exam.
Residence Requirements
Residence requirements vary by program and can be found in a later section of this Bulletin.
Academic Standing Committee
The Academic Standing Committee (ASC) serves as the academic review board for Brandeis International Business School students. The committee evaluates student records at the end of each semester to determine academic standing. Academic standing refers to whether a student has a satisfactory or unsatisfactory academic record (see the Academic Status section below for further details).
The committee also hears all cases of required withdrawal from Brandeis International Business School.
The committee consists of the associate dean of administration and student services, who serves as chair, the senior director of academics and the senior director of programs. Also in attendance as nonvoting members are the program directors and program advisors.
A student deemed to have an unsatisfactory record may petition the committee through his/her program adviser, who will present the student's written petition to the committee. The ASC may ask the program adviser for clarification or additional information as necessary. The ASC determines by majority vote whether to approve or deny the petition. The ASC may, at its discretion, defer its decision and require additional information in support of the petition. The decision that the ASC reaches is communicated to the student by the program adviser.
A student may appeal a decision by the ASC under certain circumstances. In cases of required withdrawal from the university, the student may appeal the committee's decision to the dean of Brandeis International Business School. The decision of the dean is final and no further appeals are possible.
In all other cases, students may request reconsideration by petition to the ASC only under the following circumstances: where the student has new evidence, not previously available, which could have materially affected the decision of the ASC; or evidence of procedural error.
Academic Standing
Students are in good academic standing when they earn a grade point average of at least 2.67 and have not received a non-credit bearing grade for the semester, and have maintained satisfactory progress toward their degree (see 3. below).
Probation is an official notation that a student is not in good academic standing. Students will be placed on probation under the following circumstances:
1. Their semester record contains one or more non-credit bearing grades. EA and EI grades do not result in probation.
2. Their semester GPA falls below a 2.67.
3. They are over 6 credits behind the natural progression toward the degree or earn less than 12 credits (full-time students) or 8 credits (first-year BA/MA students) in a semester.
Full-time students placed on probation due to 1-2 will normally be returned to good academic standing following a semester of satisfactory grades. Part-time students on probation due to 1-2 will be expected to maintain satisfactory grades for 12 credits to be returned to good academic standing, with the exception of students in the MBA add-on program who must do so within 6 credits due to the accelerated nature of the program.
Advising Alert is a category within good academic standing, but serves as an indicator to the student that they are not performing at the academic level expected by the university. Students who earn the maximum 8 credits of C+ coursework, or have a cumulative grade point averages of 2.8 or below will also be placed on Advising Alert.
Degree eligibility normally requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.67.
The following chart defines academic standing:
| Semester Record | Cumulative GPA Less Than 2.67 | Cumulative GPA 2.67 or Greater |
| All grades B- or better | N/A | Good Standing, unless cum. GPA is below 2.8, in which case Advising Alert |
| 1 credit-bearing C+ | Probation | Good Standing, unless cum. GPA is below 2.8, in which case Advising Alert |
| Maximum 8 credits of C+s to count toward degree | Probation | Advising Alert |
| 1 or more grades that do not receive credit | Probation | Probation |
If a student receives more than one non-credit bearing grade in a single semester, earns a cumulative GPA of less than 2.3 in any one term or has had multiple semesters with unsatisfactory grades, the student may be required to withdraw from the business school because of a lack of academic progress. Satisfactory academic progress in a program also involves maintaining the professional and departmental standards expected in a particular discipline or program.
A student may be required to withdraw from the business school even if the student has not been on advising alert or probation in a prior semester. The business school may require a student to withdraw at any time, should the business school determine that the student's academic performance is so profoundly deficient as to suggest an inability to meet academic requirements. Brandeis University reserves the right to deny admission or permission to register or require the withdrawal of any student at any time for any reason it considers sufficient, including but not limited to character and personal conduct. Students are informed in writing of any change in academic status.
The academic standing of students who earn unsatisfactory grades will be reviewed at the end of each semester by the Academic Standing Committee according to the above stated definitions.
A student with an unsatisfactory record who either voluntarily withdraws from the business school or who is required to withdraw from the business school may petition to return to the university. The ASC will consider petitions for readmission. The student is expected to spend a minimum of one year away from the business school.
Primary considerations in making readmission decisions are evidence of sustained and productive activity during the period of absence from the campus, evidence of serious academic purpose and pertinent letters of recommendation attesting to the candidate's readiness to resume formal study.
Courses taken for academic credit while on voluntary or involuntary withdrawal from the business school are not eligible for transfer toward the Brandeis degree. Petitions for readmission for a fall semester must be received no later than May 1 and petitions for readmission for a spring semester must be received no later than Nov. 1.
Grade Appeal
A student who has a question about his or her grade in courses is strongly encouraged to meet with the instructor and discuss how the instructor came to the student’s final grade. If the student continues to have concerns about his or her grade, the student may appeal in writing to the student’s Program Director. The Program Director will review the petition based on the faculty rationale for the grade, the course syllabus information on grading and the student petition. If a student is not satisfied with the result of the appeal, the student may petition the Dean for a final ruling.
Extended Masters
In special situations a Master's student who has completed residence requirements may be permitted to remain at the university while completing degree requirements. Such an "extended Master student" should register for the appropriate courses required to complete his/her program. and will be permitted to utilize the full range of academic services and university facilities. Please refer to "Fees and Expenses" below for extended master tuition information.
Continuation Students
A doctoral student who has completed all degree requirements except the dissertation is eligible for continuation status. A student in this category enrolls on a full-time basis, and is eligible for university health insurance, borrowing privileges in the Library, a computer account, use of gym facilities, and purchase of a parking sticker. They are not normally eligible for fellowships or for leaves of absence, except for health reasons.
A student must be registered and enrolled in the term(s) in which the dissertation is defended.
Continuation students must enroll before the end of registration period each semester in CONT 500a (Graduate Research). For questions regarding these enrollments, please contact the Office of the University Registrar.
Special Students
Properly qualified applicants who wish to take courses without pursuing a degree may be admitted as Special Students. Special Students may enroll in courses on a space available basis, and are not eligible for university loans, scholarships, fellowships, or teaching or research assistantships. Should a Special Student wish to enroll in a degree program, the student needs to submit a full application by the application deadline for the term in which he/she wishes to enroll as a degree-seeking student. Special Students interested in enrolling in degree programs must have an undergraduate degree conferred from an accredited university prior to submitting an application to Brandeis IBS. Special Students are allowed to complete up to eight credits in non-degree status in the Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program. Any courses completed as a Special Student will only apply to the degree program if the student has earned a minimum grade of “B” in the course.
Leave of Absence
A student who wishes to take a leave of absence from Brandeis International Business School (IBS) must meet with his/her Program Advisor in the Office of Administration and Student Services to understand the full implications of his/her leave, develop a plan for reintegration into his/her academic program, and submit a Leave of Absence form to the Office of Administration and Student Services. The Leave of Absence form must be submitted prior to the first day of the term for which the student wishes to begin his/her leave. If a student takes a leave of absence and returns to the program, the student may be subject to any curriculum changes that have taken place in the interim that apply to the corresponding graduating cohort.
Leaves of absence of up to one year will normally be granted to students in good academic standing. Returns from a leave will be subject to conditions established at the inception of the leave. If for any reason a student must extend a leave of absence, he or she must request such an extension in writing before the leave of absence expires. A student may only extend a leave for one additional year. Students who do not return after their approved leave period will be withdrawn from Brandeis IBS.
Students on a medical leave of absence who have course incompletes are not expected to complete assignments while away. As a result they are not bound by the incomplete deadlines listed on the Academic Calendar in the subsequent semester but rather the deadlines listed in the semester in which they return. Students requesting a medical leave of absence must indicate it as such on the Brandeis IBS change of status petition and must submit a Health Care Provider Report before they will be returned to active status.
Time spent on a leave of absence will be counted toward the maximum time permitted to complete the student’s degree requirements. A student who is receiving financial aid should contact the Office of Student Financial Services to discuss the potential impact of his/her leave on his/her financial aid package. A student who exercises a leave of absence while on Academic Probation must complete his/her probationary semester once he/she returns to the University.
A student who does not return for the term specified on his/her Leave of Absence form is considered to have withdrawn from the University. A student who absents himself/herself from the University without filing a Leave of Absence form will be withdrawn during the first term of the absence. If a student in this case wishes to return to his/her program, he/she must reapply to the program.
Withdrawal
A student who wishes to withdraw voluntarily from IBS during a semester must do so in writing to the Associate Dean of Administration and Student Services or to the student's Program Advisor. Failure to notify in writing of a withdrawal may subject the student to loss of eligibility for refunds in accordance with the refund schedule outlined in the "Fees and Expenses" section. Permission to withdraw voluntarily will not be granted if the student has not discharged all financial obligations to the university or has not made financial arrangements satisfactory to the bursar. When a student withdraws after a certain date each semester, course enrollments are not expunged from his or her record; rather, a grade of W ("withdrawn") is entered for each course.
Students who are obliged to register and fail to do so by the appropriate deadline or who fail to pay their bill will be administratively withdrawn. They may be readmitted (see below) for study in a subsequent term, but not for the term in which they were withdrawn for failure to register. Belatedly fulfilling financial obligations will not negate the effects of administrative withdrawal. Additionally, a student may be administratively withdrawn due to unacceptable academic performance, violations of academic integrity, or violations of the University's Rights and Responsibilities.
A student who wishes to voluntarily withdraw from his/her Brandeis IBS program must meet with his/her Program Advisor in the Office of Administration and Student Services to discuss the consequences of withdrawal upon the student’s academic future at Brandeis IBS and/or other universities, as well as submit a Withdrawal form to the Office of Administration and Student Services. The Withdrawal form must be submitted prior to the last day of instruction in a term. Failure to notify in writing of a withdrawal may subject the student to loss of eligibility for refunds in accordance with the refund schedule outlined in the "Fees and Expenses" section. When a student withdraws after the open add/drop period, enrollments are not expunged from his/her record; rather, a grade of "W" ("dropped") is entered for each course.
Permission to withdraw voluntarily will not be granted if the student has not discharged all financial obligations to the University or has not made financial arrangements satisfactory to the Office of Student Financial Services. A student who is expected to register and fails to do so by the appropriate deadline or who fails to pay his/her bill by the appropriate deadline will be administratively withdrawn. If a student in this case wishes to return to his/her program, he/she must reapply to the program. They may be readmitted for a subsequent term, but not for the term in which he/she was withdrawn for failure to register. Belatedly fulfilling financial obligations will not negate the effects of administrative withdrawal.
Time Limit for Degree
The time limitation for completing all of the requirements for all Brandeis IBS master’s degree programs is five years. Students typically complete the PhD program within five years, but must complete the program in eight years. Time is counted from the beginning of a student’s program, regardless of any leave of absence taken.
Readmission
A Readmission applicant is any student previously enrolled in a Brandeis IBS graduate program based on the categories set forth below. Please note that Brandeis IBS graduate coursework will only apply toward the degree if the coursework was completed within five years of the term for which the student is applying for readmission.
Category A:
Students in good academic standing who, within the past five years, have withdrawn from the University, left the University without filing for a Leave of Absence, or whose Leave of Absence expired.
Applicant Requirements for Category A:
Application
Résumé
Reapplication Essay: Please describe all circumstances contributing to your previous withdrawal from the graduate program. This essay must state all reasons which, in the opinion of the applicant, should cause the Admissions Committee to conclude that you are now sufficiently able to complete the program.
Transcript(s): Readmission applicants need only supply transcripts of coursework they have completed outside of Brandeis IBS since leaving.
Category B:
Students who were previously enrolled in a graduate program and were unable to meet the required minimum degree completion of five years.
Applicant Requirements for Category B:
Application
Application fee of $100
Résumé
Letter of Recommendation (1)
Reapplication Essay: Please describe all circumstances contributing to your previous withdrawal from the graduate program. This essay must state all reasons which, in the opinion of the applicant, should cause the Admissions Committee to conclude that you are now sufficiently able to complete the program.
Transcript(s): Readmission applicants need only supply transcripts of coursework they have completed outside of Brandeis IBS since leaving.
GMAT or GRE score (GMAT or GRE is waived for applicants who left the program in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.67or higher).
Category C:
Students who were academically dismissed may be eligible to reapply after one full academic year.
Applicant Requirements for Category C:
Application
Application fee of $100
Résumé
Letter of Recommendation (1)
Reapplication Essay: Please describe all circumstances contributing to your previous withdrawal from the graduate program. This essay must state all reasons which, in the opinion of the applicant, should cause the Admissions Committee to conclude that you are now sufficiently able to complete the program.
Transcript(s): Readmission applicants need only supply transcripts of coursework they have completed outside of Brandeis IBS since leaving.
GMAT or GRE score
Brandeis Courses Outside of the Brandeis International Business School
Students are only permitted to take courses for credit outside the business school (graduate or undergraduate) with permission from their program advisors, and must complete a petition to do so. Any non-IBS coursework taken for credit while enrolled in a degree program will be counted toward the student's degree GPA. Students may audit non-IBS courses without credit, with instructor permission.
Graduate Cross-Registration
A full-time graduate student at Brandeis may enroll in one graduate course each term at Boston College, Boston University, Tufts University, Bentley University, or Babson College. Information on available courses for cross-registration is available at the graduate school office of each institution.
A student at Brandeis who wishes to enroll in a graduate course at one of the host institutions must obtain a cross-registration form from the Office of the University Registrar and secure the approval via signature of the Brandeis IBS academic advisor, the instructor of the course, and both the Brandeis and host registrar's office.
Due to differences in academic calendars among the colleges in the consortium, it is not advisable for degree candidates to enroll in a cross-registered course in their final semester.
Academic Honors
At graduation, Brandeis will grant the honor of "Graduating with Distinction" to Brandeis IBS MA, MBA, and MSF graduates whose cumulative GPA is a 3.70 or higher.
Brandeis will grant the honor of "First-Year Distinction" to Brandeis IBS MA and MBA students whose cumulative GPA is a 3.70. Students who have completed at least 28 credits toward their graduate degree in their first two fall/spring semesters are eligible for this distinction.
These honors will be recorded on the official Brandeis transcript of each recipient.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition
Tuition for MA, MBA, and PhD full-time resident students for the 2016-2017 academic year is $49,481 per semester. The same tuition rate applies if studying abroad while participating in the IBS exchange program. Tuition for MSF students is $49,481 per academic year (and $56,028 for the academic year and summer). Students who will be at Brandeis more than one year may expect tuition and other charges to increase slightly during their academic careers.
Payment of tuition and other fees is due on August 5, 2016, for the fall semester and January 4, 2017, for the spring semester. A student who has not paid such fees by the first day of registration will be refused the privilege of registration. A late fee will be assessed to all student accounts with outstanding balances after the stated due date. The amount of the late fee will be $100, or 2 percent of the outstanding balance, whichever is greater.
Extended Master
If a MA, MBA, or full-time MSF student does not complete all degree requirements by the end of their residency, any courses he or she takes to complete his or her degree are then charged at the current per-credit tuition rate as established by the University.
A bank service fee will be charged to a student's account if a payment or a check negotiated through Brandeis is returned by the bank for any reason.
Transcript Fee
Current and former students should request official transcripts of their records from the Office of the University Registrar. At this time, students can order official paper transcripts free of charge. Brandeis University has partnered with the National Student Clearinghouse to allow current and former students to obtain official electronic transcripts to be sent to themselves or a third party in a secure manner. The fee for an electronic transcript is $2.25 - $4.00. This fee is payable directly to the National Student Clearinghouse. Official transcripts will be issued only to those students whose financial records with the university are in order.
Orientation Fee: $44
Assessed once to incoming full-time students.
Graduate Activity Fee: $88 per year
Assessed yearly to all full-time students.
Student Health Insurance Plan (single coverage): $2,822 per year
All three-quarter or full-time students are required by state law to show certification of health insurance. Students without insurance of their own must purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan through the university. The fee is payable prior to registration and no portion is refundable. Student insurance is optional for special students. Additional insurance options, including family coverage, are described in A Guide to University Health Services, which is available from Health Services. The Insurance Plan fee will include the ability use student health services.
Parking Fee: $60 - $250 per year
Payable annually at fall registration for privilege of parking an automobile on campus. Fee varies with assigned parking area.
Late Fees
A late fee of $100, or 2 percent of the outstanding balance, whichever is greater, is charged to any student’s account that is not paid by the due date.
Financial Regulations
A student who defaults in the payment of indebtedness to the university shall be subject to suspension, dismissal and refusal of a transfer of credits or issuance of an official transcript. Brandeis University may refer delinquent accounts to a collection agency. Students are responsible for paying the collection agency fee, which may be based on a percentage at a maximum of 40 percent of any delinquent account, together with all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, necessary for the collection of any delinquent account. Delinquent accounts may be reported to one or more of the national credit bureaus.
Such indebtedness includes, but is not limited to, delinquency of a borrower in repaying a loan administered by the student loan office and the inability of that office to collect such a loan because the borrower has discharged the indebtedness through bankruptcy proceedings. If the student is a degree, certificate, or diploma candidate, his or her name will be stricken from the rolls.
A student who has been suspended or dismissed for nonpayment of indebtedness to the university may not be reinstated until such indebtedness is paid in full.
Every student is required to complete a Financial Responsibility Agreement at least once each academic year. Any student who fails to complete this agreement prior to the start of classes will be denied the privileges of attending classes and using university facilities.
Final Doctoral Fee: $235
This fee covers all costs for the year in which the PhD degree will be conferred, including the costs for the full publishing services for the dissertation; publication of the abstract of the dissertation in Dissertation Abstracts; issuance of a Library of Congress number, appropriate library cards, and deposit of the dissertation in digital format at the Library of Congress; binding four copies of the dissertation—one hardbound for the author, and three xerographic softbound copies (for the author, IBS, and Library); and a microfiche for the Brandeis Library. The final doctoral fee covers the rental expenses for academic robes for graduation and the cost of the diploma.
Refunds
The only fee that may be refundable, in part, is the tuition fee. No refund of the tuition fee will be made because of illness, absence, or dismissal during the academic semester. A student who is withdrawing must notify Brandeis IBS in writing; refunds will be based on the date of notification and calculated in accordance with the following:
1. Tuition
Withdrawal
Before the opening day of instruction: 100 percent of the term's tuition.
On or before the second Friday following the opening day of instruction: 75 percent of the term's tuition.
On or before the fifth Friday following the opening day of instruction: 50 percent of the term's tuition.
After the fifth Friday following the opening day of instruction: no refund.
Requests for refunds should be addressed to the Office of Student Financial Services.
2. Scholarship
In the case of a scholarship student who withdraws, the student's account will be refunded consistent with the proportion of tuition paid. Of the total tuition paid, 100 percent will be reimbursed if the student leaves before the first day of instruction, 75 percent will be reimbursed if the student leaves on or before the second Friday; 50 percent on or before the fifth Friday, and no refund thereafter.
3. Stafford Loans
In compliance with federal law, special refund arrangements apply to students receiving aid under Title IV. Contact the Brandeis IBS financial aid officer for additional information.
4. Tuition Assistance Funds
In compliance with federal law, special refund arrangements apply to students receiving Department of Defense Tuition Assistance funds. Contact the Brandeis IBS financial aid officer for additional information.
5. Refund Policy for Dropped CoursesA student who drops courses on the per-course tuition-charge basis is allowed a refund following this schedule:
1. Full semester-long courses
Before the opening day of instruction through the last day of the registration period (see the Academic Calendar): 100 percent of the dropped course’s tuition fee.
On or before the fifth Friday following the opening day of instruction: 50 percent of the dropped course’s tuition fee.
After the fifth Friday following the opening day of instruction: no refund.
2. Module courses
On or before the 10th day of instruction for the module session: 100 percent of the dropped course's tuition fee. See the Academic Calendar page on the Registrar's site includes a link to the list of class meeting dates for a module session.
After the 10th day of instruction for the module session: no refund.
Housing
Ten-month living expenses in the Waltham area for a single individual on an economical budget are estimated to range from $9,000 to $15,150. Limited housing is available in the university's graduate residence halls and is usually reserved for exchange students during the fall semester. Costs for on-campus housing range from approximately $4,030 to $5,750 per semester for a single person. Graduate housing includes kitchen facilities, but students may also purchase university meal plans.
Financial Aid
Both U.S. residents and international students are eligible for merit- and need-based financial support from Brandeis IBS and are also encouraged to explore outside funding sources. To be considered for need-based financial aid through federal loan programs, U.S. residents must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. In past years, international students have received support from the Fulbright, Muskie, Ford, Mandela, Soros, and other scholarship programs and from their governments and employers.
Scholarships
Committed to enrolling a highly qualified student body, the school awards competitive scholarships to qualified applicants . Domestic and international students are automatically considered for scholarships during the admissions process and are notified at the time of admission if they have received a scholarship. A complete list of available scholarships and criteria can be found here: www.brandeis.edu/global/admissions/scholarships.html.
A scholarship recipient must maintain full-time enrollment and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in order to retain his/her scholarship for the duration of the program. If a student withdraws from the program, fails to satisfactorily complete the required credits each semester or fails to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, his/her scholarship will be permanently forfeited.
Assistantships
A limited number of research and teaching assistantships are available for qualified students.
Loans
The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is available to graduate students as a financing option. Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be eligible for this loan. Graduate students may borrow up to a maximum of $20,500 a year, not to exceed the cost of attendance minus scholarship and any other aid received, with an aggregate maximum of $138,500. For the 16-17 academic year, the interest rate on the Stafford Loan will be a fixed rate of 5.31 percent and the origination fee will be 1.068 percent.
Repayment of a Stafford Loan begins six months after the borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half-time (six credits) in a degree program. The standard repayment period is 10 years, while interest is charged. (For more information about alternative repayment plans, please go to www.studentloans.gov.) Students are required to pay the interest during the in-school period, or have it deferred and capitalized.
The terms for the above loan programs are subject to federal legislation, regulations and other guidance, and may change. Additional current information is available from the Graduate School. Students wishing to apply for loans should contact IBS for application materials.
The Graduate PLUS Loan is a federal loan that allows graduate students to borrow up to their total cost of attendance minus any financial aid received. The student must pass an independent credit review. For the 16-17 academic year, the PLUS Loan will have an interest rate of 6.31 percent and an origination fee of 4.272 percent. Go to www.studentloans.gov to apply for this loan.
Borrowers of the Federal Direct Stafford Loan, and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan must complete the required promissory notes and entrance counseling online at the beginning of their entering semester upon receipt of correspondence from the Office of Student Financial Services. Anticipated credits on a student's account will be cancelled if all required steps are not completed.
University loans are also available to international students. This Graduate Brandeis Loan is a low-interest (5%) student loan. Loan capital is provided by the university. Repayment of both the interest and principal is deferred while the student is enrolled in school. Once the student ceases to be enrolled or graduates, a grace period of nine months will begin. Repayment must commence at the conclusion of the grace period. Students who are awarded this loan must obtain and complete the required promissory note, as well as any supplemental loan forms, at the beginning of each academic year. Loan funds will be tentatively credited to the billing statement pending the completion of the documents mentioned above. Anticipated credits on a student's account will be canceled if all the required forms are not complete.
Brenda Anderson
Accounting and financial analysis.
Robert Angell
Accounting. Business planning. Entrepreneurship. Financial management. Operations. Strategic planning.
John Ballantine
Political economy. Mergers and acquisitions. Energy and climate.
Edward Bayone
Credit risk. Real estate. Country risk. Leveraged finance.
Daniel Bergstresser
Municipal finance. Corporate governance. Household financial behavior.
Elizabeth Brainerd
Labor economics. Economic demography. Health economics, health and fertility in post-socialist countries.
Linda Bui
Environmental economics. Industrial organization. Public economics.
Alfonso Canella
Airline industry. Health care economics. Project evaluations. Valuations.
Stephen Cecchetti
Monetary policy. Financial stability policy. Central bank cooperation.
Sandra Cha
Leadership. Identity in organizations. Organizational behavior.
H. Michael Coiner
Economics of Higher Education, International Economics.
Judith Dean
International economics. Economic development. Econometrics.
Jane Ebert
Consumer judgment and decision-making. Temporal discounting. Health promotion.
Benjamin Gomes-Casseres
Business strategy. Alliance management. Technology strategy. Mergers and acquisitions.
Kathryn Graddy
Applied microeconomics. Empirical industrial organization.
George Hall
Macroeconomics.
Alice Hsiaw
Behavioral Economics. Applied Microeconomic Theory.
Gary Jefferson
China. Technical progress. Open economy macroeconomics. Transition economics.
Blake LeBaron
International finance. Exchange rates. Artificial stock markets.
Ricardo Lopez
International Trade. Development Economics. Productivity Analysis. Latin America.
Catherine L. Mann
International trade. Capital flows. Dollar. U.S. economic policy. Technology.
Nidhiya Menon
Development economics. Applied microeconomics.
Andrew Molinsky
Cross-cultural interaction. Organizational behavior.
Brad Morrison
System dynamics. Behavioral operations, healthcare operations, and operations management. Supply chain management. Medical decision making and patient safety.
Aldo Musacchio
State Capitalism. Business Strategy in Emerging Markets. Business History.
Debarshi Nandy
Corporate Finance. Financial Intermediation. Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Finance.
Carol Osler
Currency market microstructure. Exchange rates. Behavioral finance.
Peter Petri
International trade and investment. Asia-Pacific trade policy. Asian economic development.
Davide Pettenuzzo
Time-series econometrics. Bayesian econometrics. Forecasting. Financial markets.
Charles Reed
Entrepreneurship. General management. International marketing.
Scott Redenius
Economic History. The Economics of Financial Institutions.
Robert R. Reitano
Enterprise risk management. Financial derivatives pricing and hedging applications. Quantitative finance.
Anna Scherbina
Investment Management. Capital Markets. Behavioral Finance. Real Estate. Empirical Asset Pricing. Corporate Finance.
Raphael Schoenle
International Macroeconomics. Macro- and Monetary Economics. International Trade.
Benjamin Shiller
Empirical Industrial Organization. Economics of Information. Pricing.
Elif Sisli Ciamarra
Corporate finance. Corporate governance. Hedge fund performance.
Detlev Suderow
Strategic HR Management. Leadership. Organization Behavior.
Yang Sun
Financial Institutions. Corporate Finance. Household Finance. Applied Microeconomics.
Daniel Tortorice
Macroeconomics. Business Cycles. Unemployment. Aggregate Consumption. Expectations.
Anita Tucker
Healthcare. Process Improvement. Services.
Hagit Weihs
Financial Accounting. Managerial Accounting. Financial Statement Analysis.
Grace Zimmerman
Marketing. Sales. Strategy. Entrepreneurship.
Other distinguished practitioners and educators serve as adjunct professors. An up-to-date list is available on the school's website, www.brandeis.edu/global.
Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance (MAief)
Program of Study
Students must successfully complete an approved schedule of at least sixteen semester-length courses (or the equivalent) during their four semesters of residency at Brandeis IBS. All students must take courses in Accounting, Investments, Corporate Finance, Managerial Economics, International Trade and International Macroeconomics. The Broad Global Perspective requirement must be satisfied by either taking Challenges in the Global Economy in their final semester or, if qualified, Global Economic Environment in their first. Four credits in applied econometrics is also required. Otherwise students select from a list of electives in Finance, Economics, and Business. Four semester-length courses (or the equivalent) may be completed during a semester abroad. While enrolled in the program a student may take up to one course (4 credits) in a field related to a student's professional interests (e.g.: an advanced language course, an area studies course, a politics or history course). Students may exempt from all required courses except the Broad Global Perspective and Applied Econometrics requirements.
Core Requirements (34 credits):
A. ECON 201a Global Economic Environment (4 credits) or ECON 281f Challenges in the Global Economy: International Trade and Development (2 credits) and ECON 282f Challenges in the Global Economy: Macroeconomics Policy and Finance (2 credits)
B. ECON 202a Applied International Macro (4 credits)
C. ECON 207a Managerial Economics (4 credits)
D. ECON 213a Applied Econometrics (4 credits)
E. ECON 260a International Trade Policy and Institutions (4 credits)
F. FIN 201a Investments (4 credits)
G. FIN 202a Corporate Finance (4 credits)
H. FIN 212a Financial Accounting and Analysis or FIN 213a Intermediate Accounting (4 credits)
I. BUS 224f Launching Your Global Career (2 credits)
Residence Requirement
The program requires two years (four semesters) of consecutive full-time residence. One of these may be a semester spent at a foreign university associated with the program.
Specializations
Listings of the current specializations and requirements can be found under the MA and MBA Specialization headings below.
Combined BA/MA Program
IBS offers a BA/MA for qualified Brandeis or Wellesley College undergraduates who wish to earn the Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance (MAief) with one year of post-BA study.
BA/MA students begin taking IBS courses in their final year of undergraduate study and finish the master's degree with one additional year of study after receiving their BA. BA/MA students are considered undergraduates until they have successfully satisfied all of the requirements for the BA. Interested students apply in their junior year. Deadlines are listed on the IBS website. Applications may be made online through the IBS website.
Students must submit a completed application, official undergraduate transcripts, three letters of recommendation, essays, and a resume. An interview is required but the GRE is not required. Admission is announced in mid-April for the fall semester. A student's preparation for the MA Program should include the following Brandeis undergraduate courses (or equivalent courses for Wellesley College students): Introduction to Economics (ECON 10a and 20a) and Statistics (ECON 83a). Students are recommended to take Macroeconomic Theory (Econ 82b) and Econometrics (Econ 184b).
Brandeis IBS Scholars
For those students admitted to the BA/MA at the time of their undergraduate admission to Brandeis, the following requirements must be met in order to join the program in their senior year:
1. Minimum GPA of 3.0 at the end of the junior year.
2. "B" grade or better in each of the following required courses, to be completed by the end of the junior year: Introduction to Microeconomics (Econ 10a), Introduction to Macroeconomics (Econ 20a), Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (Econ 80a) and Statistics for Economic Analysis (Econ 83a).
3. Completion of one relevant internship experience.
4. Completion of undergraduate degree in four years.
Program of Study
Although some course substitutions are permitted, BA/MA students at Brandeis IBS have to meet the same requirements as two-year MA students and can refer to the MA course requirements for a general overview.
BA/MA students must take sixteen semester courses in their “field of study” (64 credits) and must get credit for all required courses. All IBS BUS, ECON and FIN courses (200 and 300 level) are relevant for credit towards this requirement, as are 100-level electives in ECON. Credit will be given for some or all of these courses taken prior to admission to the BA/MA program. Courses taken prior to admission to the BA/MA program will not reduce the sixty-four credits required during residency (see "Residency" below).
Some undergraduate ECON classes can fulfill MA program requirements. A detailed description of all acceptable substitutions for required courses can be found on the Brandeis IBS website and in the Brandeis IBS BA/MA Program Guide. Students should plan their four semesters of study upon admission to the program. While enrolled in the program a student may take up to one course (4 credits) in a field related to a student’s professional interests (e.g.: an advanced language course, an area studies course, a politics or history course).
BA/MA students are to gain graduate degree credit for a minimum of two Brandeis IBS courses (8 credits) in their final undergraduate year after being accepted into the program. Any shortfall could result in a termination of the student’s MA degree candidacy.
For information on specializations please see the Degree of Master of Arts section of the Bulletin.
Residence Requirement
The BA/MA program requires four semesters of residency at Brandeis from the semester students begin the program. One of these may be a semester spent at a foreign university associated with the program. During these four semesters students need to complete sixteen courses (64 credits) even if they have taken elective or required courses before they begin the program. The residency requirement may not be waived or reduced.
Note: Since BA/MA students are required to pass at least two Brandeis IBS courses in both the fall and spring of their final undergraduate year, study abroad is generally precluded until their second year of graduate work.
Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Finance (MSF)
Program of Study
Students must successfully complete an approved schedule of 22 credits in required core courses in Global Economic Environment, Accounting, Corporate Finance, Investments, and Fixed Income. Students must also complete 4 credits of practicum experience (Internship, Consulting Field Project or Directed Research). Students are then required to complete the remaining credits within one of the 4 concentration areas or complete the MSF without a concentration. The concentration areas are structured towards career outcomes in the following 4 fields: Asset Management, Corporate Finance, Risk Management, and Valuation and Transfer Pricing.
Core Requirements (22 credits):
A. ECON 201a Global Economic Environment (4 credits)
B. FIN 201a Investments (4 credits)
C. FIN 204a Advanced Corporate Finance Theory and Practice (4 credits)
D. FIN 212a Financial Accounting and Analysis or FIN 213a Intermediate Accounting (4 credits)
E. FIN 216f Financial Statement Analysis (2 credits)
F. FIN 261a Fixed Income Securities (4 credits)
Work Practicum Requirement (4 credits):
FIN 292a Internship (4 credits)
FIN 293a Consulting Field Project (4 credits)
FIN 294a Directed Research (4 credits)
Residence Requirement
The residency requirement is three academic semesters. Students are expected to complete their degree within sixteen months. In special situations, students may apply for a leave of absence for a one year period and multiples thereof. A leave of absence for a semester or a term less than one year cannot be considered in the MSF program.
Concentration Requirements
Students may choose to complete the MSF degree requirements within one of four concentrations, which are geared towards careers in the following four fields: Asset Management, Corporate Finance, Risk Management or Valuation and Transfer Pricing. Students may only declare one concentration.
Asset Management
Required Courses (4 credits):
FIN 263a International Portfolio Management (4 credits)
Group 2 8 credits minimum required:
FIN 230a Trading and Exchanges (4 credits)
FIN 237f Security Analysis (2 credits)
FIN 242f Credit Risk Analysis (2 credits)
FIN 252f Banking, Central Banking, and the International Finance System (2 credits)
FIN 270a Options and Derivatives (4 credits)
Group 3 4 credits maximum:
FIN 231f Private Equity (2 credits)
FIN 232a Mergers and Acquisitions (4 credits)
FIN 236f Technical Analysis (2 credits)
FIN 244f Credit Risk Analysis II (2 credits)
FIN 264f Applied Institutional Portfolio Management (2 credits)
FIN 271a Options and Derivatives II (4 credits)
FIN 285a Computer Simulation and Risk (4 credits)
Or any course in group 2 not used to satisfy that requirement
Additional Finance or General Elective 2 credits maximum:
FIN 297a Internship (in Asset Management) (2 credits)
Or any FIN, BUS, or ECON course offered at IBS (including, but not limited to the courses listed above, if not used to fulfill another requirement)
Corporate Finance
Required Courses (4 credits):
FIN 214a Managerial Accounting (4 credits)
Group 2 8 credits minimum required:
FIN 203f International Financial Management (2 credits)
FIN 231f Private Equity (2 credits)
FIN 232a Mergers and Acquisitions (4 credits)
FIN 240a Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Finance (4 credits)
FIN 242f Credit Risk Analysis I (2 credits)
FIN 270a Options and Derivatives (4 credits)
FIN 288a Corporate Financial Engineering (4 credits)
Group 3 6 credits maximum:
BUS 278f Corporate Governance (2 credits)
ECON 213a Applied Econometrics (4 credits)
ECON/FIN 250a Forecasting in Finance and Economics (4 credits)
FIN 223f Project Finance (4 credits)
FIN 241f Financial Planning and Control (2 credits)
FIN 244f Credit Risk Analysis II (2 credits)
FIN 252f Banking, Central Banking, abd International Financial Systems (2 credits)
FIN 297a Internship (in Corporate Finance) (2 credits)
Or any course in Group 2 not taken to satisfy that requirement
Risk Management
Required Courses (4 credits):
FIN 270a Options and Derivatives
Group 2 Only one of the following (4 credits):
FIN 279a Applied Risk Management (4 credits)
FIN 288a Corporate Financial Engineering (4 credits)
Group 3 (6 credits):
BUS 278f Corporate Governance (2 credits)
BUS 279f Corporate Fraud: Detection and Prevention (2 credits)
BUS 280f Operational Risk Management (2 credits)
FIN 242f Credit Risk Analysis I (2 credits)
FIN 244f Credit Risk Analysis II (2 credits)
FIN 252f Banking, Central Banking, and International Financial Systems (2 credits)
FIN 297a Approved Internship in Risk Management (2 credits)
Group 4 (4 credits):
FIN 271a Options and Derivatives II (4 credits)
FIN 280a Financial Risk Management (4 credits)
FIN 285a Computer Simulations and Risk Assessment (4 credits)
Valuation and Transfer Pricing
Required Courses (8 credits):
FIN 214a Managerial Accounting (4 credits)
FIN 247a Transfer Pricing Theory and Practice (4 credits)
Group 2 6 credits minimum required:
FIN 203f International Financial Management (2 credits)
FIN 231f Private Equity (2 credits)
FIN 232a Mergers and Acquisitions (4 credits)
ECON 213a Applied Econometrics (4 credits)
FIN 242f Credit Risk Analysis I (2 credits)
FIN 223f Project Finance (2 credits)
ECON/FIN 250a Forecasting in Finance and Economics (4 credits)
Group 3 4 credits maximum:
BUS 278f Corporate Governance (2 credits)
FIN 241f Financial Planning and Control (2 credits)
FIN 244f Credit Risk Analysis II (2 credits)
FIN 252f Banking, Central Banking, and International Financial Systems (2 credits)
FIN 297a Approved Internship in Transfer Pricing (2 credits)
Or any course in Group 2 not taken to satisfy that requirement
Students who choose not to complete a concentration, may complete the MSF degree requirements by following the additional general finance requirements outlined below.
General Finance
Finance Electives 16 credits minimum required:
FIN 214a Managerial Accounting (4 credits)
FIN 230a Trading and Exchanges (4 credits)
FIN 232a Mergers and Acquisitions (4 credits)
FIN 236f Technical Analysis (2 credits)
FIN 237f Security Analysis (2 credits)
FIN 241f Financial Planning and Control (2 credits)
FIN 242f Credit Risk Analysis I (2 credits)
FIN 252f Banking, Central Banking, and International Financial Systems (2 credits)
FIN 263a International Portfolio Management (4 credits)
FIN 270a Options and Derivatives (4 credits)
FIN 271a Options and Derivatives II (4 credits)
FIN 279a Applied Risk Management (4 credits)
FIN 280a Financial Risk Management (4 credits)
FIN 285a Computer Simulation and Risk (4 credits)
FIN 288a Corporate Financial Engineering (4 credits)
ECON 213a Applied Econometrics (4 credits)
ECON/FIN 250a Forescasting in Finance and Economics (4 credits)
Or FIN 213a Intermediate Financial Accounting (4 credits) if not used to fulfill the core requirement
Additional Finance or General Elective 2 credits maximum:
FIN 297a Internship (in any area of Finance) (2 credits)
Or any FIN, BUS, or ECON course offered at IBS (including, but not limited to the courses listed above, if not used to fulfill another requirement)
Requirements for the Degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Program of Study
Students must successfully complete a minimum of sixteen semester-length courses (or the equivalent) during their four terms of residency at Brandeis IBS. At least nine and one-half semester-course credits must be taken within a required set of subjects (in the areas of economic environment of business, business analytics, accounting, finance, marketing, operations, organizational behavior, management communication, and strategy) and the remaining courses must be selected from a list of approved electives. Four semester-length courses (or the equivalent) may be completed during an optional semester abroad.
Core Requirements (38 credits):
A. ECON 201a Global Economic Environment (4 credits) or ECON 253a Asia: Center of the World Economy (4 credits)
B. FIN 201a Investments (4 credits)
C. FIN 202a Corporate Finance (4 credits)
D. FIN 212a Financial Accounting and Analysis or FIN 213a Intermediate Accounting (4 credits)
E. BUS 220a Organizational Behavior (4 credits) or Bus 219f Fundamentals of Organizational Behavior (2 credits) and one of the following: BUS 222f Global Dexterity (2 credits), BUS 226f Managing Global Human Capital (2 credits), BUS 227a Influence, Power and Identity (4 credits) BUS 275f Transnational Negotiations (2 credits),
F. BUS 228f Management Communication (2 credits)
G. BUS 252a Marketing Management (4 credits)
H. BUS 260a Competition and Strategy (4 credits)
I. BUS 272a Operations Management (4 credits)
J. 4 credits of the following: BUS 211f Big Data I (2 credits), BUS 212f Big Data II (2 credits), BUS 253a Marketing Research and Design (4 credits), ECON 210f Foundation of Statistics (2 credits), ECON 213a Applied Econometrics (4 credits), FIN 217f Financial Modeling I (2 credits), FIN 218f Financial Modeling II (2 credits)
Residence Requirement
Two years (four semesters) of full-time residence are required. One semester may be spent at a foreign university associated with the program. For candidates in the BA/MBA dual degree program, three semesters in residence at Brandeis IBS as a graduate student are required.
Specializations
Listings of the current specializations and requirements can be found under the MA and MBA Specialization headings below.
BA/MBA Combined Program
Admission to the BA/MBA Program has been suspended.
The BA/MBA combined program allows Brandeis graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree to complete the IBS MBA at an accelerated pace, and without a break in their studies. IBS offers this combined program in cooperation with the School of Arts and Sciences at Brandeis. Students will complete their BA or BS in one of the majors offered by the School of Arts and Sciences before enrolling in the MBA program at IBS.
Admission to the BA/MBA Program
For this program, IBS will consider specific types of undergraduate experiences among the qualifications for admittance and will count certain undergraduate courses for credit toward the MBA degree itself. Aside from academic performance, the Admissions Office will also evaluate whether the student has acquired a minimum amount of part- or full-time work experience during or before college, and has shown a level of professional maturity consistent with the standards of the IBS MBA.
Once the student is enrolled in the MBA, IBS will count 16 credits from Brandeis undergraduate studies towards the MBA.
The remaining 48 credits required for the MBA will be earned during the following three semesters. The BA/MBA student will take core courses and electives in the normal IBS MBA curriculum, although specific undergraduate courses in Business and Economics may allow exemptions from certain MBA requirements.
Program of Study
The BA/MBA will focus on two distinct streams of students, each with slightly different requirements for entry and for completion of the MBA:
- The BA/MBA-Science is intended for candidates holding a Brandeis Bachelor of Science in any major or a Bachelor of Arts in any field of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM).
- The BA/MBA-Liberal Arts is intended for candidates holding a Brandeis Bachelor of Arts in other Liberal Arts fields, who often will also have a Business major or minor.
Residence Requirement
The BA/MBA program requires three semesters of residency at Brandeis from the semester students begin the program, which is after the attainment of the Bachelor's degree. During these three semesters, students need to complete twelve courses (48 credits), even if they have taken graduate level courses before they begin the program. The residency requirement may not be waived or reduced.
Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Program of Study
Requirements include successful completion of formal course work (14 courses), outstanding performance in examinations designed to measure field competence, and completion of a thesis that represents substantial original research. Students are required to complete core courses (in the areas of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics) and must also complete elective courses in two of the five following major fields:
1. International trade
2. Finance
3. Advanced macroeconomics
4. International business
5. International development
After core and field examination requirements are substantially completed, students are required to enroll in ECON 399a (Dissertation Workshop). This workshop provides opportunities for students to hear research presentations by faculty members and visitors, present papers in progress, and define thesis objectives.
Residence Requirement
Three years of full-time residence are normally required. However, for most students it takes four or more years of full-time study to complete the degree.
Core and Field Examinations
Each candidate for the PhD must pass a written examination, offered every other year, covering the core required subjects. Students must also pass written examinations in two of the five major fields (see above) to demonstrate competence in a broad specialty. Field examinations are offered as required.
Dissertation and Defense
All candidates for the PhD will submit a dissertation in a form approved by his or her dissertation director and by a committee appointed by the director of the PhD program. The student will defend the dissertation at a final oral examination.
Requirements for the Specializations for the Master of Arts and Master of Business Administration
Program of Study
MA and MBA students may specialize in one or two fields. Current specializations are: Asset Management, Corporate Finance, Risk Management, Business Economics, Data Analytics, International Economic Policy Analysis, Marketing, Real Estate, and Sustainability.
Asset Management
Group 1 Both courses are required (8 credits):
FIN 261a Fixed Income Securities (4 credits)
FIN 263a International Portfolio Management (4 credits)
Group 2 8 credits from the following:
FIN 230a Trading and Exchanges (4 credits)
FIN 237f Security Analysis (2 credits)
FIN 242f Credit Risk Analysis (2 credits)
FIN 252f Banking, Central Banking, and the International Finance System (2 credits)
FIN 270a Options and Derivatives (4 credits)
Group 3 4 credits from the following:
FIN 231f Private Equity (2 credits)
FIN 232a Mergers and Acquisitions (4 credits)
FIN 236f Technical Analysis (2 credits)
FIN 244f Credit Risk Analysis II (2 credits)
FIN 264f Applied Institutional Portfolio Mgmt (2 credits)
FIN 271a Options and Derivatives II (4 credits)
FIN 285a Computer Simulations and Risk Assessment (4 credits)
Or any course from Group 2 not used to satisfy that requirement
Business Economics
Group 1 Foundational – both are required (8 credits):
ECON 207a Managerial Economics
ECON 213a Applied Econometrics (4 credits)
Group 2 Econometrics (4 credits):
BUS 211f Analyzing Big Data I (2 credits)
BUS 212f Analyzing Big Data II (2 credits)
ECON 261a Empirical Analysis of Trade Policy (4 credits)
ECON 311a Advanced Econometrics I (4 credits)
ECON/FIN 250a Forecasting in Finance and Economics (4 credits)
Group 3 Electives (8 credits):
ECON 135a Industrial Organization (4 credits)
ECON 141b Economics of Innovation (4 credits)
ECON 181a Game Theory and Economic Applications (4 credits)
ECON 217f Game Theory and Business Strategy (2 credits)
ECON 235a Central Banking (4 credits)
ECON 236a The Challenge of High Government Debt: Causes, Consequences and Options (4 credits)
ECON 262f Outsourcing and Off-Shoring (2 credits)
ECON 299a Master's Project (4 credits)
ECON 301a Advanced Microeconomics (4 credits)
BUS 228f Management Communication (2 credits)
BUS 253a Marketing Research: Design and Analysis (4 credits)
FIN 213a Intermediate Financial Accounting (4 credits)
FIN 247a Transfer Pricing Theory and Practice (4 credits)
FIN 252f Banking, Central Banking, and the International Finance System (2 credits)
FIN 253a Global Financial Institutions: Mgmt & Policy (4 credits)
Or any course in Group 2 not taken to satisfy that requirement
Corporate Finance
Group 1 Required courses (4 credits):
FIN 217f Financial Modeling I (2 credits)
FIN 248f Advanced Corporate Finance (2 credits)
Group 2 One course required (4 credits):
FIN 213a Intermediate Financial Accounting (4 credits)
FIN 214a Managerial Accounting (4 credits)
Group 3 Required for Transfer Pricing Track (4 credits):
FIN 247a Transfer Pricing Theory and Practice (4 credits)
Group 4 8 credits from the following:
Students pursuing Transfer Pricing track need 4 credits only from Group 4
FIN 203f International Financial Management (2 credits)
FIN 216f Financial Statement Analysis (2 credits)
FIN 218f Financial Modeling II (2 credits)
FIN 231f Private Equity (2 credits)
FIN 232a Mergers and Acquisitions (4 credits)
FIN 240a Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Finance (4 credits)
FIN 242f Credit Risk Analysis I (2 credits)
FIN 270a Options and Derivatives (4 credits)
FIN 288a Corporate Financial Engineering (4 credits)
Group 5 4 credits from the following:
BUS 278f Corporate Governance (2 credits)
ECON 213a Applied Econometrics (4 credits)
ECON/FIN 250a Forecasting in Finance and Economics (4 credits)
FIN 223f Project Finance (2 credits)
FIN 241f Financial Planning and Control (2 credits)
FIN 244f Credit Risk Analysis II (2 credits)
FIN 252f Banking, Central Banking, and the International Finance System (2 credits)
Data Analytics
Group 1 Foundational (12 credits required):
BUS 211f Analyzing Big Data I (2 credits) (required for MBA students)
BUS 212f Analyzing Big Data II (2 credits) (required for MBA students)
BUS 253a Marketing Research: Design and Analysis (4 credits)
ECON 213a Applied Econometrics (4 credits) (req for MAief students)
ECON/FIN 250a Forecasting in Finance and Economics (4 credits)
ECON 261a Empirical Analysis of Trade Policy (4 credits)
Group 2 Electives (8 credits):
BUS 256a Marketing Analytics (4 credits)
BUS 274f Supply Chain Analytics (2 credits)
BUS 276a Business Dynamics (4 credits)
BUS 286a Applications of System Dynamics (4 credits)
ECON 299a Master's Project
ECON 311a Advanced Econometrics I (4 credits)
FIN 217f Financial Modeling I (2 credits)
FIN 218f Financial Modeling II (2 credits)
FIN 270a Options and Derivatives (4 credits)
FIN 271a Options and Derivatives II (4 credits)
FIN 280a Financial Risk Management (4 credits)
FIN 285a Computer Simulation and Risk Analysis (4 credits)
FIN 288a Corporate Financial Engineering (4 credits)
Or any course in Group 1 not taken to satisfy that requirement
International Economic Policy and Analysis
Group 1 Foundational (4 credits):
ECON 213a Applied Econometrics
Group 2 Advanced Econometrics (4 credits):
ECON/FIN 250a Forecasting in Finance and Economics (4 credits)
ECON 261a Empirical Analysis of Trade Policy (4 credits)
Group 3 Core Policy (8 credits):
ECON 235a Central Banking (4 credits)
ECON 236a The Challenge of High Gov’t Debt (4 credits)
ECON 270a Economic Development Strategies (4 credits)
ECON/FIN 256a Taming Financial Markets (4 credits)
FIN 253a Global Financial Institutions: Management and Policy (4 credits)
Group 4 Electives (4 credits):
BUS 228f Management Communication (2 credits)
ECON 122b Economics of the Middle East (4 credits)
ECON 176a Health, Hunger, and the Household in Developing Countries (4 credits)
ECON 203f Advanced International Macroeconomics: Theory, Evidence, and Policy (2 credits)
ECON 252f Economy of China (2 credits)
ECON 253a Asia: Center of the World Economy (4 credits)
ECON 262f Outsourcing and Off-Shoring (2 credits)
ECON 277f Public Policy, Business Leadership and World Affairs: An Insider's Perspective (2 credits)
ECON 299a Master's Project
ECON 303a Advanced Macroeconomics I (4 credits)
ECON 360a International Trade Theory (4 credits)
FIN 252f Banking, Central Banking, and the International Finance System (2 credits)
Or any course in Groups 2 or 3 not taken to satisfy those requirements
Marketing
Group 1 required (4 credits):
BUS 252a Marketing Management (4 credits)
Group 2 12 credits of the following:
BUS 250a Global Marketing (4 credits)
BUS 253a Marketing Research (4 credits)
BUS 254a Branding Strategy (4 credits)
BUS 255a Consumer Behavior (4 credits)
BUS 256a Marketing Analytics (4 credits)
BUS 257f Social Media and Marketing Comm (2 credits)
BUS 258f Sales and Sales Management (2 credits)
BUS 259f Digital Marketing (2 credits)
Real Estate
Group 1 required (8 credits):
BUS 235f Real Estate Fundamentals (2 credits)
BUS 295a Field Projects in Real Estate (4 credits)
FIN 242f Credit Risk Analysis I (2 credits)
Group 2 2 credits of the following:
BUS 236f International Real Estate: The Emerging Markets (2 credits)
BUS 237f International Real Estate: The Mature Markets (2 credits)
Group 3 6 credits of the following:
BUS 238f Real Estate Development (2 credits)
BUS 239f Sustainable Real Estate: Profiting from Green Building (2 credits)
FIN 216f Financial Statement Analysis (2 credits)
FIN 225f Real Estate Finance (2 credits)
FIN 226f Real Estate Capital Markets (2 credits)
Or any module course in Group 2 not taken to satisfy that requirement
Risk Management
Group 1 required (4 credits):
FIN 270a Options and Derivatives (4 credits)
Group 2 4 credits of the following (may only take one):
FIN 279a Applied Risk Management (4 credits)
FIN 288a Corporate Financial Engineering (4 credits)
Group 3 4 credits of the following:
BUS 278f Corporate Governance (2 credits)
BUS 279f Corporate Fraud: Detection and Prevention (2 credits)
BUS 280f Operational Risk Management (2 credits)
FIN 242f Credit Risk Analysis I (2 credits)
FIN 244f Credit Risk Analysis II (2 credits)
FIN 252f Banking, Central Banking, and the International Finance System (2 credits)
Group 4 4 credits of the following:
FIN 261a Fixed Income Securities (4 credits)
FIN 271a Options and Derivatives II (4 credits)
FIN 280a Financial Risk Management (4 credits)
FIN 285a Computer Simulations and Risk Assessment (4 credits)
Group 5 At least 4 credits from Groups 3 or 4 not taken to satisfy those requirements
Sustainability
Group 1 Foundational – all three required (8 credits):
BUS 269f Building Sustainable Businesses (2 credits)
BUS 264f Business and the Environment (2 credits)
FIN 235a Investing in Energy (4 credits)
Group 2 10 credits of the following:
BUS 231a Entrepreneurial Finance and Business Plans (4 credits)
BUS 239f Sustainable Real Estate: Profiting from Green Building (2 credits)
BUS 265a Business Strategy in Emerging Markets (2 credits)
BUS 266f Business Relationships with Government and NGOs (2 credits)
BUS 276a Business Dynamics: Managing in a Complex World (4 credits)
BUS 278f Corporate Governance (2 credits)
BUS 291g Energy Markets and Policies (1 credit)
ECON 270a Economic Development Strategies (4 credits)
Group 3 Internship or Field Project (2 credits):
Students are to pursue at least one field project or internship that will provide hands-on exposure to the field. BUS 295f Field Project: Sustainable Business is designed for this purpose, but students can also pursue a sustainability field project in a different course upon discussion with the instructors and with approval of the Sustainability Specialization Head, such as:
BUS 286a Application of System Dynamics (4 credits)
BUS 295a Field Project: Consulting (4 credits)
BUS 295a Field Project: Real Estate (4 credits)
BUS 297a Internship (2 credits for first internship; 1 credit each thereafter)
Listed on the following pages are graduate courses of instruction for Brandeis IBS. Courses meet for three hours a week unless otherwise specified.
Most courses are available to all students qualified to take them. Access to some courses is governed by the signature of the instructor. Other courses impose a numerical limit to preserve environmental conditions suitable to the pedagogy the instructor employs; students increase their chances of gaining enrollment in such courses by participating in early registration.
Generally, a course is offered with the frequency indicated at the end of its description. The frequency may be designated as every semester, every year, every second year, every third year, or every fourth year.
Courses numbered 100-199 are for undergraduate and graduate students; courses numbered 200 and above are primarily for graduate students. Undergraduates may not enroll in courses numbered 200 or above without the written permission of the instructor.
Brandeis IBS degree programs are structured with the assumption that all students will be taking their required courses at their first opportunity and as outlined in the program guide. While some electives may be taken concurrently to these required courses, most electives assume that the student has already mastered the core content of their program. Prerequisites are noted in the following course descriptions.
Students wishing to exempt from a course requirement based on earlier studies are expected to submit a Petition for Exemption in their first semester. Students are not to assume that an exemption will be granted.
Course abbreviations are as follows:
| BUS | Business |
| CONT | Continuation |
| ECON | Economics |
| ECON/FIN | Economics and Finance |
| FIN | Finance |
Suffixes after course numbers have the following meanings:
| A or B | Semester course |
| F | Half-semester course, half-course credit |
| G | Quarter-course credit |
A semester course carries one semester course credit (four semester-hour credits). Exceptions are noted under the individual course descriptions. Certain courses do not count for rate of work and do not carry course credit toward graduation.
The university reserves the right to make any changes in the offerings without prior notice.
Courses of Instruction
(200 and above) Primarily for Graduate Students
BUS
211f
Analyzing Big Data I
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Surveys quantitative techniques and computer tools in management information systems including database manipulation. Objective of the course is to help students acquire advanced computer skills through cases and hands-on applications. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Carver and Mr. Rai
BUS
212f
Analyzing Big Data II
Prerequisite: BUS 211f. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Provides theoretical and hands-on instruction in three major elements of Big Data analytics: management-oriented visualizations, data mining, and predictive modeling. Through the use of widely adopted software tools, students will build models and execute analyses to address needs of selected clients as well as solve problems presented in cases. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Carver and Mr. Rai
BUS
219f
Fundamentals of Organizational Behavior
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 220a in prior years.
Covers the fundamentals of organizational behavior, including the topics of leadership, work motivation, organizational culture, organizational structure, group dynamics, perception, decision-making, and cross-cultural interaction. Final project includes analysis of cultural differences in organizational behavior concepts. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Molinsky
BUS
220a
Organizational Behavior and Management
Open only to Master's degree students.
Focuses on real-world applications of organizational behavior. We will examine topics of leadership, work motivation, organizational culture, organizational structure, group dynamics, perception, decision-making, and cross-cultural interaction. Students will also analyze and propose solutions to real management problem in outside company or organization using concepts covered in class. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
BUS
222f
Global Dexterity
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
To be a global worker and a true "citizen of the world" today means you are able to adapt your behavior to conform to new cultural contexts without losing your authentic self in the process. Work on developing "global dexterity" skills to accomplish this. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Mr. Molinsky
BUS
224f
Launching Your Global Career
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
The goal of this course is to equip students with the career management skills essential to surviving and excelling in today's global labor market. Provides graduate students with a foundation and necessary tools for identifying target positions; conducting an effective and efficient job search; building career-planning and job-search skills that will be useful throughout their careers. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Katz
BUS
226f
Managing Global Human Capital
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
An introduction to the strategic role international human resource management plays in creating competitive advantages for firms. Topics include global strategies for Employment, Compensation, Leadership Development, and Policies and Procedures. Students will learn the nuances of managing human capital in multinational firms. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Suderow
BUS
227a
Influence, Power and Identity
Examines how many aspects of your career—landing a job, a promotion, or a new client—require you to influence other people and to affect how they think, feel and behave. Students will explore and apply the latest research on successful influence strategies. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Cha
BUS
228f
Management Communication
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
This course helps students improve their business communication skills. It focuses on how to present ideas, facts, and analyses more clearly and concisely, so as to have impact on management decisions. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Ellet
BUS
230a
Entrepreneurship
Addresses the fundamentals of starting and growing a business, including entrepreneurial finance and financial management. Covers theory and practice and includes presentations by speakers engaged in entrepreneurship, underwriting, and venture capital. The major assignment is a team project to construct a business plan for a startup company using actual data. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Reed
BUS
231a
Entrepreneurial Finances and Business Plans
Open only to IBS students.
Introduces techniques for preparing business plans and explores the process of using a business plan to acquire funding. Requires students to prepare a business plan for a new venture and to present this plan in front of a critical audience. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Reed
BUS
235f
Real Estate Fundamentals
Prerequisite: FIN 212a (can be taken concurrently). Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Introduction to the analysis, financing, and management of income-producing real property. Explores how investors and developers identify projects, determine value, design marketing strategies, and obtain financing in the debt and equity markets. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Lupton and Ms. Stoller
BUS
236f
International Real Estate: The Emerging Markets
Prerequisite: BUS 235f. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
The course looks at the analysis, financing, and management of income-producing real property in the Emerging Markets. Using case discussion, we will explore how developers and investors identify projects, determine value, design marketing strategies, and obtain financing in their various markets. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Bayone
BUS
237f
International Real Estate: The Mature Markets
Prerequisite: BUS 235f. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Building on BUS 235f, this course looks at the analysis, financing, and management of income-producing real property in mature markets abroad. Using case discussion, it explores how developers and investors identify projects, determine value, design marketing strategies, and obtain financing in their debt and equity markets. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Bayone
BUS
238f
Real Estate Development
Prerequisite: BUS 235f. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Focuses on how developers create value from real estate assets. Examines development process: market analysis, site selection, acquisition, planning, construction, leasing and permitting. Working in teams, students plan and present actual original development projects to a visiting panel of professionals. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
BUS
239f
Sustainable Real Estate: Profiting from Green Building
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Introduces principles and elements of sustainable development. Covers strategies and technologies that are being applied around the world to construct buildings and manage real estate development projects in ways that are simultaneously good for the financial bottom line and good for the environment. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Ms. Batshalom
BUS
248b
Business in Global Markets
Noncredit.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
BUS
249f
Immersion Experience
Prerequisite: BUS 248b. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit. Meets in a country with a dynamic business and economic environment. Consult the program administrator for details regarding special costs and meeting times.
Provides analysis of the host country's business, economy, markets, and institutions, in the broader context of its history, politics, culture, and society. Explores their relationship with broader global trends in business. In-country program consists of academic lectures, field trips to companies and other institutions, and group discussion. Preparatory lectures at Brandeis in advance of visit. Usually offered every year.
Staff
BUS
252a
Marketing Management
An in-depth exploration and practical application of the basic marketing tools of product policy, pricing, promotion, distribution, sales management, customer segmentation, and retention in order to analyze marketing opportunities and develop marketing programs for a variety of management situations. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Zimmerman
BUS
253a
Marketing Research: Design and Analysis
A practical exploration of a broad sampling of market research techniques to compile, analyze, and apply consumer, product, and market intelligence to strategic and marketing decisions concerning market segmentation, targeting, positioning, product design, and demand forecast. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Ebert
BUS
254a
Branding Strategy
Prerequisite: BUS 252a.
Examines the value of building, sustaining, and communicating a company's brand and its value proposition through promotional activities and channels of distribution. A competitive, online simulation is used to enhance case studies. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Zimmerman
BUS
255a
Consumer Behavior
Focuses on fundamental theories and concepts in consumer psychology and exciting new findings to enhance students' understanding of how and why people choose, use and evaluate goods and services the way they do. This knowledge will come from lectures, readings and discussions in class, but also from hands-on experiential learning through involvement in a semester-long group project. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Ebert
BUS
256a
Marketing Analytics
Prerequisite: ECON 210f. Corequisites: BUS 211f and BUS 212f.
Provides experience with applications of business analytics to marketing decisions. We begin each topic with a representative case study, practicing the skills of framing questions and decisions in ways that can be answered with available data. We study a group of widely-used statistical models to support and/or automate marketing decisions. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Carver
BUS
257f
Social Media and Advertising
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Explores the activities a company undertakes to educate, engage and prompt to action its various target customer segments. Topics include advertising, promotions, event sponsorship, internet marketing, social media marketing, corporate blogs, word-of-mouth advertising, and marketing communications for social initiatives. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Shaby
BUS
258f
Sales and Sales Management
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Explores concepts and techniques for professional sales and sales management. Including strategies for maximizing revenue and customer satisfaction while optimizing costs to sell, service and maintain customer relationships. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Schultz
BUS
259f
Digital Marketing
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Introduces students to important concepts and techniques of online marketing, such as search engine optimization (SEO), paid search marketing (search and display ads), web analytics, and monetization models (sales funnel and email campaigns). Students will have first-hand experience applying these concepts and techniques by building a website themselves to market a product or service. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Shaby
BUS
260a
Competition and Strategy
Introduces frameworks for analyzing industries and firm competitive advantage and reviews key concepts in business strategy. Uses case method to practice strategic thinking and team projects to practice business research. Core for MBA students and recommended for other business students. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Gomes-Casseres
BUS
262a
Alliance, Acquisition, and Divestment Strategy
Formerly offered as BUS 262f.
Business combinations are central to competitive strategy. Inter-firm alliances of various sorts (e.g., joint ventures) are particularly valuable in rapidly changing industries and in unfamiliar markets. Mergers and acquisitions can add value when scale and scope are keys to success. Surveys the strategic and organizational issues involved in business combinations. Discusses ideas from research, and applies them to managerial decisions using case studies and projects. Jointly taught by researcher and experienced consultant. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Gomes-Casseres
BUS
264f
Business and the Environment
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Deals with environmental issues in business strategy. Using the case method, the course explores firm responses to environmental policy, the challenges of developing clean technologies, and the opportunities for firms to differentiate themselves with "green" strategies. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Leon
BUS
265a
Business Strategy in Emerging Markets
Formerly offered as BUS 265f.
Studies how the environment for doing business in emerging markets is different from that in developed countries, such as Europe and the United States. We will study how these differences affect business strategy for a range of large and small organizations - from well-established multinationals to entrepreneurial start-ups. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Musacchio
BUS
266f
Business Relationships with Government and NGOs
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Explores how firms can identify significant government-related opportunities and problems, and how they can take advantage of the opportunities and avoid the problems. Considers the differences between countries and examines the challenges facing businesses operating in foreign countries. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Mr. Leon
BUS
269f
Building Sustainable Business
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
A commitment to corporate sustainability affects business practices, values, and culture. This survey course examines the influence of corporate sustainability on internal operations, supply chain management, employee engagement, product development, market communications, strategic planning, corporate compliance, and investor relations. Highly recommended as an introduction to the field. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Tyson
BUS
272a
Operations Management
Explores how different business strategies require different business processes, and, conversely, how different operational capabilities support different strategies to gain competitive advantage. Topics may include inventory management, cycle time management, supply chain management, quality management, and process management and improvement, as well as recent developments such as lean or world-class manufacturing, just-in-time operations, time-based competition, and business reengineering. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Morrison
BUS
273f
Managing Service Organizations
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Instructs students in the knowledge and skills to design, assess and improve the operations of service organizations. Topics include model for achieving excellence in service organizations, revenue management, and strategies for reducing waiting time. Usually offered every year.
Staff
BUS
274f
Supply Chain Analytics
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Instructs students how to optimize supply chain processes so that they can achieve a company's strategic goal of either efficiency or responsiveness. The course will cover supply chain metrics, production planning, inventory control and supply chain coordination. We will also investigate global supply chain design, logistics, and outsourcing. Usually offered every year.
Staff
BUS
275f
Transnational Negotiations
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Explores the dynamics of international business negotiations in the context of evolving global industries. Students will develop an understanding of negotiation strategy, positioning, and process, as well as the skills necessary to effectively design, negotiate, and manage transnational deals. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Cohen
BUS
276a
Business Dynamics: Managing in a Complex World
A study of why so many business strategies generate disappointing results or outright failure. Case studies include successful applications of system dynamics in growth strategy, management of technology, operations, project management, and implementation of improvement programs. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Morrison
BUS
278f
Corporate Governance: From Colossal Failures to Best Practices
Prerequisite: FIN 212a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
How the board of directors, management, shareholders, and an external auditor should work. How individual goals and external pressures influence individuals, and how their decisions impact a corporation's failure or success. Focuses on the United States with comparisons to Europe and Asia. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Schumann
BUS
279f
Corporate Fraud: Detection and Prevention
Prerequisite: FIN 212a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Exposes students to the problem of fraudulent financial reporting, including its causes, impact, and practical, cost-effective responses. Using actual and simulated case material, students will acquire skills needed to identify, investigate, and report findings on corporate fraud. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Schumann
BUS
280f
Operational Risk Management
Prerequisite: FIN 212a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Today's managers must be able to assess the risk profile of their business and respond to issues as they arise. Examines how companies are dealing with massive changes in legislation that have made executives in the U.S. and abroad fully accountable for effective operational risk management and how they are using the Enterprise Risk Management framework of COSO and COBIT, and the Balanced Scorecard. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Schumann
BUS
286a
Applications of System Dynamics
Prerequisite: BUS 276a.
Gives students the opportunity to apply the standard method of system dynamics to assist a real company or organization. The core activity in the course is to work with a client organization, using the tools of system dynamics, to develop insights into a problem the client has identified. Students experience conceptualizing and building a system dynamics model "from scratch," learn a set of standard pieces of model structure called "molecules," and gain an appreciation for the challenges and rewards of consulting for clients in a helping relationship. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Morrison
BUS
291g
General Education Seminar
Open only to IBS students. Enrollment is limited. Yields one-fourth course credit (one credit). May be repeated for credit as the seminar topic varies.
Addresses a narrow, important topic and is taught jointly by an IBS faculty member and a prominent outside expert. Each seminar involves nine hours of structured learning and discussion. Usually offered every year.
Staff
BUS
295a
Field Projects
May be repeated for a total of 8 credits in BUS 295a and BUS 295f with permission of Program Director.
Students work in teams as consultants to external clients. Each section (see section description) focuses on a type of project or industry. Requires strong foundation in business, and good presentation, teamwork, and interviewing skills. Enrollment by permission of instructor. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
BUS
295f
Field Projects
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit. May be repeated for a total of 8 credits in BUS 295a and BUS 295f with permission of Program Director.
Students work in teams as consultants to external clients. Each section (see section description) focuses on a type of project or industry. Requires strong foundation in business, and good presentation, teamwork, and interviewing skills. Enrollment by permission of instructor. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
BUS
297a
Internship
Prerequisite: Two semesters at IBS or permission of program director. Yields half-course credit. This course may not be repeated for credit.
Offers students an opportunity to apply the theories and key themes covered in the core courses in a real-life setting. Requires completion of at least six weeks of a paid or unpaid internship approved and monitored by a faculty advisor. The project could involve a research or consulting assignment or a structured internship in the school's fields. Interested students should consult the guidelines established by the school. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
BUS
297g
Internship
Prerequisite: Two semesters at IBS or permission of program director. Yields quarter-course credit. This course may be repeated twice for credit.
Offers students an opportunity to apply the theories and key themes covered in the core courses in a real-life setting. Requires completion of at least six weeks of a paid or unpaid internship approved and monitored by a faculty advisor. The project could involve a research or consulting assignment or a structured internship in the school's fields. Interested students should consult the guidelines established by the school. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
BUS
298a
Independent Study
Normally available for a student who wishes to pursue advanced reading on research in a subject or field not available in the department's course listings. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
BUS
299a
Master's Project
Prerequisite: Two semesters at IBS or permission of program director.
A student wishing to complete a master's project under the guidance of a faculty advisor may enroll in this course during his or her second year in the master's program. Projects may involve a short analytical thesis, the solution of an applied problem, or a report on work completed in an appropriate internship. In exceptional cases a student may undertake a master’s thesis so demanding that it requires two semesters. In such cases, with careful consideration of the faculty adviser and the program director, the student may enroll in this course for his/her two final semesters. Usually offered every year.
Staff
BUS
398a
Independent Study
Normally available for a PhD student who wishes to pursue advanced reading under the direction of a faculty member. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
ECON
201a
Global Economic Environment
Open to IBS students only.
A look at global economic environments from the perspective of all stakeholders, including governments, businesses, consumers, labor, rich, and poor. Takes a multidisciplinary approach drawing on international politics, economy, finance, and business management. The course is divided in two major themes: the economic finance dimension and the political social dimension. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Ballantine
ECON
202a
Applied International Macroeconomics
Using countries to illustrate, this course covers domestic and international macroeconomics. Topics include the goals and functioning of monetary authorities, financial crises, international competitiveness and PPP, exchange rate regimes, hyperinflation, and the sustainability of government finances. Students also master basic skills for manipulating and presenting macroeconomic information. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Osler
ECON
203f
Advanced International Macroeconomics: Theory, Evidence, and Policy
Prerequisites: ECON 202a (may be taken concurrently), and one course in econometrics (graduate module or undergraduate course). Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Builds on and extends the economic frameworks developed in ECON 201a and ECON 202a to focus on economic models that are fundamental to international macroeconomic analysis, policy making, and business strategy. Students apply data to the models, and discuss journal articles that apply the frameworks to macroeconomic questions. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
ECON
206f
Microeconomics for Business
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Introduces the essentials of microeconomic concepts with an emphasis on managerial relevance for decision-making. Topics include the analysis of market demand, firm's production decisions, and optimal pricing strategy under various market conditions such as monopoly and oligopoly. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Ballatine
ECON
207a
Managerial Economics
Teaches students to apply basic microeconomic concepts to business and management decision-making. Key concepts include consumer behavior, properties of market supply and demand, firm's production decisions, market structures, government interventions in the markets, and optimal pricing strategy under various market conditions such as monopoly and oligopoly. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Hsiaw
ECON
210f
Foundations of Statistics
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Intended for students with little or no prior coursework in statistics. Introduction to statistical thinking and analytic methods, emphasizing business decision-making. Considerable use of statistical software (Stata), readings, cases, and projects permits focus on concepts, models, and interpretation of results. Topics include descriptive statistics, financial models, estimation, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Fournier
ECON
213a
Applied Econometrics
Prerequisites: ECON 210f or a statistics course.
The class works to understand, develop and implement the fundamental causal models currently used in econometrics. After reviewing probability, basic statistics, and the linear regression model, we will focus on developing models to account for violations of this model. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Fournier and Mr. Koskinen
ECON
217f
Game Theory and Business Strategy
Prerequisites: ECON 206f, ECON 207f or an intermediate microeconomics course. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
In economics, a "game" is a situation in which the best course of action depends on what others choose to do. This course studies game theory as a form of strategic analysis that can be applied to a myriad of business settings, the foremost of which is economic competition. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Koskinen
ECON
235a
Central Banking Seminar
Prerequisites: FIN 201a, ECON 202a, ECON 210f or equivalent.
Studies the origins of banks and central banks; old and new debates about monetary policy including inflation targeting: sophisticated questions such as whether central banks should pay interest on reserves; and finally the appropriate policies for central banks in a financially turbulent world. Each week students read a substantial amount and synthesize it in a short paper. Class is devoted to discussion. Each student makes two presentations. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Browne
ECON
236a
The Challenge of High Government Debt: Causes, Consequences and Options
Prerequisites: ECON 202a and ECON 207f.
Examines how across the industrialized world, countries realize they need to reduce their government deficits, and possibly their government debt, to avoid a crisis down the road. Should they raise taxes? If so, which? Should they reduce spending? Should they default? We consider the pros and cons of these alternatives and more. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
ECON
252f
The Economy of China
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Provides an analytical overview of China's economic transformation, emphasizing the period since 1980. Topics covered include the reform process, the role of institutions, including the financial and fiscal sectors, corporate governance reform, trade and foreign direct investment, science and technology, regional and income disparities, and the changing laws, practice, and culture that define the role of business within China. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Jefferson
ECON
253a
Asia: Center of World Economy
With half of the world's population, one quarter of its output, and twice its growth rate, Asia is emerging as the center of the world economy. This course examines Asia's economic dynamism and the companies, investments, and policies that are shaping its future. Usually offered every other year.
Mr. Petri
ECON
260a
International Trade Policy and Institutions
Prerequisite: Intermediate Microeconomics or ECON 207a.
Develops the fundamental economic theories behind the various policies that regulate and interfere with international trade. Examines the predominant national and international institutions that are charged with administering these policies as well as the scope and process for potential reform. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Lopez or Mr. Petri
ECON
261a
Empirical Analysis of Trade Policy
Prerequisites: One semester of econometrics, at either the undergraduate or graduate level, and one semester of international trade, at either the undergraduate or graduate level.
Explores contemporary trade policy issues, with a focus on emerging markets, while helping students learn advanced econometric techniques. Students read professional empirical studies to learn what we know and carry out their own original research on a policy issue, from data collection to econometric testing and evaluation. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Dean
ECON
262f
Outsourcing and Offshoring: Multinationals, Technology, and Globalization
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Outsourcing and offshoring raise questions of economic theory, business strategy, and policy emphasis for both industrial and emerging economies. This course examines and assesses empirically different theories of the multinational firm. Addresses how pervasive application of information technology exposes firms to business opportunities and economies to policy challenges. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
ECON
270a
Economic Development Strategies
Prerequisites: At least one semester of undergraduate microeconomics and one semester of undergraduate macroeconomics, or the equivalent.
Discusses the current situation of developing countries and the main theories of development and underdevelopment. Introduces the field and tools of development economics, explores the theoretical and policy debates around developing economies, and looks at alternative development strategies. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Lopez
ECON
277f
Public Policy, Business Leadership and World Affairs: An Insider's Perspective
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Explores the approach of the World Economic Forum, focusing on three global challenges. Students meet with guest lecturers who know the facts and the players; review background material; and debate the issues by assuming the roles of the main players. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
ECON
281f
Challenges in the Global Economy: International Trade and Development
Prerequisites: ECON 202a and ECON 260a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Focuses on the current challenges in trade policy and economic development. Students will apply tools and concepts from international trade, microeconomics, development and statistics to analyze key issues facing policymakers and international organizations. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Dean
ECON
282f
Challenges in the Global Economy: Macroeconomic Policy and Finance
Prerequisite: ECON 281f. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Focuses on current challenges in growth, monetary, fiscal and regulatory policy. Students will apply tools and concepts from international macroeconomic, finance, accounting and statistics to analyze key issues facing policymakers and international organizations. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Cecchetti
ECON
297a
Internship
Prerequisite: Two semesters at IBS or permission of program director. This course yields half-course credit. This course may not be repeated for credit.
Offers students an opportunity to apply the theories and key themes covered in the core courses in a real-life setting. Requires completion of at least six weeks of a paid or unpaid internship approved and monitored by a faculty advisor. The project could involve a research or consulting assignment or a structured internship in the school's fields. Interested students should consult the guidelines established by the school. Usually offered every year.
Staff
ECON
297g
Internship
Prerequisite: Two semesters at IBS or permission of program director. This course yields quarter-course credit. This course may be repeated twice for credit.
Offers students an opportunity to apply the theories and key themes covered in the core courses in a real-life setting. Requires completion of at least six weeks of a paid or unpaid internship approved and monitored by a faculty advisor. The project could involve a research or consulting assignment or a structured internship in the school's fields. Interested students should consult the guidelines established by the school. Usually offered every year.
Staff
ECON
298a
Independent Study
Normally available for a student who wishes to pursue advanced reading or research in a subject or field not available in the department's course listings. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
ECON
298f
Independent Study
Open only to IBS students. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Normally available for a student who wishes to pursue advanced reading on research in a subject or field not available in the department's course listings. Usually offered every year.
Staff
ECON
299a
Master's Project
Prerequisite: Two semesters at IBS or permission of program director.
A student wishing to complete a master's project under the guidance of a faculty advisor may enroll in this course during his or her second year in the master's program. Projects may involve a short analytical thesis, the solution of an applied problem, or a report on work completed in an appropriate internship. In exceptional cases a student may undertake a master’s thesis so demanding that it requires two semesters. In such cases, with careful consideration of the faculty adviser and the program director, the student may enroll in this course for his/her two final semesters. Usually offered every year.
Staff
ECON
301a
Advanced Microeconomics I
Prerequisites: Microeconomics and math.
Study of the theories of microeconomics, including optimization, theory of the firm, theory of the consumer, duality theory, general equilibrium, welfare economics, public goods, and externalities. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Bui
ECON
302a
Advanced Microeconomics II
Prerequisites: ECON 301a.
This course will focus on game theory with specific emphasis on its application to firm behavior, information economics, and the study of market organization including auctions. Important contributions of behavioral economics will also be address in this course. A strong emphasis will be placed on acquiring the tools that are required for economic research. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Graddy
ECON
303a
Advanced Macroeconomics I
Prerequisites: course work in microeconomics and mathematics.
Study of modern theories of short-run and long-run determination of aggregate income. Topics include private consumption and investment behavior, fiscal policy, the current account and exchange rates, economic growth, and stochastic dynamic programming with applications to macroeconomics. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Schoenle
ECON
304a
Advanced Macroeconomics II
Prerequisite: ECON 303a.
Current research issues in macroeconomics, such as the impact of supply shocks, real demand shocks, and monetary shocks on output, interest rates, and exchange rates. Empirical studies and testing of competing macroeconomic theories. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Tortorice
ECON
307f
Empirical Methods for Dynamic Economic Models
Prerequisite: ECON 304a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
An advanced topics course on contemporary methods to solve, estimate, and evaluate structural models. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Hall
ECON
311a
Advanced Econometrics I
Prerequisites: Statistics and math.
Econometric theory and applications. Discusses the statistical theory of regression modeling and associated hypothesis testing, with emphasis on the construction, interpretation, and use of econometric models. Usually offered every second year.
Staff
ECON
312a
Advanced Econometrics II
Prerequisite: ECON 311a or consent of instructor.
Examines the models and statistical techniques used to study time series data. Topics will include linear and non-linear univariate as well as multivariate econometric models. One objective of the course is to provide the students with a good understanding of econometric models for time series data. These models are widely used in the empirical literature, and a good understanding of these models is crucial for the second objective of the course: to provide the students with the ability to evaluate recent empirical studies. The third objective of the course is to develop practical skills, which are necessary to perform independent research using real world data. A theme throughout the course is the use of computational methods for analyzing the material covered in class, and throughout the course we will rely heavily on examples and applications with Matlab. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Pettenuzzo
ECON
330a
International Macroeconomics
Prerequisite: ECON 304a.
Applications of macroeconomic theory to open economies. Topics include international parity theorems, models of exchange rate determination, and central bank management of the exchange-rate. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Schoenle
ECON
340a
Empirical Industrial Organization
Prerequisite: ECON 302a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit. May not be taken for credit by students who have taken ECON 340f.
Examines the theoretical and empirical methods that are used in the study of firm and industry behavior. Topics include price discrimination, oligopoly behavior, product differentiation, auctions, and market structure. The course places a strong focus on the questions that are being asked, the empirical and theoretical methodology used to address these questions, and the sources of data. A primary purpose of this course is to prepare students for the thesis process and for presenting thesis work. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Shiller
ECON
360a
International Trade Theory
Open only to IBS students.
Analyzes the economic issues involved in the integration into world markets of trade in consulting and professional services, investment, financial and banking services, telecommunications, and transportation. Also addresses the tradeoffs in regulating services trade through the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), regional initiatives, as well as conflict areas and dispute settlement. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Lopez
ECON
370a
Development Economics
Prerequisite: ECON 302a.
Reviews neoclassical and endogenous growth theory as it relates to the experience of developing countries. Also examines recent applied work relating to household fertility, natural resource depletion, technology, and sustainable growth, and various political economy issues, including the link between inequality and growth, the interaction between economic growth and political systems, and a range of issues that engage the new institutional economics. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Jefferson
ECON
398a
Independent Study
Normally available for a PhD student who wishes to pursue advanced reading under the direction of a faculty member. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
ECON
399a
Dissertation Workshop
Prerequisites: ECON 302a and ECON 304a.
Involves invited lectures by Brandeis faculty and other researchers. Presentation and discussion of dissertation topics and work in progress. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Graddy
ECON/FIN
209f
Behavioral Finance and Economics
Prerequisites: ECON 207a or intermediate microeconomics and ECON 210f or statistics.
How do economics agents make decisions? Though economists historically assumed that decisions are made "rationally," the evidence suggests otherwise. Examines evidence on human decision-making processes culled from many disciplines. Students investigate how those processes can explain observed patterns in economic and financial behavior. They also analyze how such behavior can explain observed market phenomena that would not emerge if agents were "personally rational." Usually offered every year.
Ms. Hsiaw
ECON/FIN
250a
Forecasting in Finance and Economics
Prerequisites: FIN 201a and ECON 213a.
Covers the basics of forecasting and time series analysis as used in finance and economics. Time series topics will include linear regression, ARMA models, trend modeling, seasonal adjustments, and volatility modeling. We will also cover more unusual topics such as bootstrapping, and technical trading rules. Students will leave the course with a good introduction to many of the tools used in modern time series forecasting and quantitative finance. Usually offered every year.
Mr. LeBaron
FIN
200f
Principles of Finance
Corequisite: FIN 201a and FIN 202a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Develops fundamental financial skills necessary to make and implement business decisions. After completing this course, students will understand the main concepts underlying most financial calculations. For students without prior finance background. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
FIN
201a
Investments
Prerequisite: ECON 210f or statistics (may be taken concurrently).
Covers topics related to financial economics, including investors' attitudes toward risk, capital allocation, portfolio selection, asset pricing models (Capital Asset Pricing Model and the Arbitrage Pricing Theory), the efficient market hypothesis, fixed income markets, equity valuation, and options and futures markets. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Alt and Ms. Scherbina
FIN
202a
Corporate Finance
Prerequisite: FIN 201a and FIN 212a (may be taken concurrently by MSF students only).
Focuses on how companies make their investment, financing, and dividend decisions in a global environment. Examines the theory and practices of firms through a combination of current articles, problems in the text, and case analysis. Students will have a firm understanding of how companies create value through their decisions. Usually offered every semester.
Ms. Sisli Ciamarra and Ms. Yang
FIN
203f
International Financial Management
Prerequisites: FIN 201a, FIN 202a, FIN 212a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Explores the characteristics of international financial markets and evaluates associated risks and benefits. Addresses the distinct risks multinationals face, the financial tools they use to manage these risks, their tax and working capital management, and their financing and investment decisions. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Sisli Ciamarra
FIN
204a
Advanced Corporate Finance Theory and Practice
Open to Master of Science in Finance (MSF) students only.
Develops depth of financial skills and logical thought processes necessary to formulate and implement corporate finance decisions in a competitive environment. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Nandy
FIN
212a
Accounting and Financial Analysis
Develops a fundamental understanding of financial accounting and corporate reporting issues. Students will be exposed to a variety of real world applications involving for profit financial statements. More specifically, students will acquire skills allowing them to read, interpret and analyze the income statement, balance sheet and the statement of cash flows. This course will primarily address accounting standards employed in the US (GAAP) but will acquaint students with international standards (IFRS) used by other countries in numerous accounting areas. Further, issues related to the project on the convergence of standards currently being conducted by the FASB and IASB will be discussed. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on interpreting financial statements to understand how accounting information, in a variety of decision settings, can be utilized by managers. Usually offered every semester.
Ms. Anderson and Mr. Angell
FIN
213a
Intermediate Financial Accounting
Prerequisite: FIN 212a or an approved an introductory course in the area of financial accounting.
Students should be familiar with the formal financial statements, transaction analysis, income measurement and accrual accounting. This course provides an extensive expansion of the introductory accounting course. Additional topics include revenue recognition, long term construction contracts, deferred taxes, capital leases, pensions, inventory valuation, dollar value LIFO, earnings per share and share based compensation. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Angell
FIN
214a
Managerial Accounting
Prerequisite: FIN 212a or FIN 213a.
Provides a general introduction to the concepts, problems and issues related to managerial accounting. Managerial accounting predominantly addresses the internal use of economic information regarding the resources used in the process of producing goods and providing services. Internal users of accounting information are all of those individuals that are involved in the business decision-making process of the economic entity. In the course, you will become acquainted with some of the conventional methods of internal reporting used in planning, control and decision-making. Fundamental aspects of cost behavior and cost accounting will also be discussed, but always from the perspective of the manager who must make decisions rather than the accountant who prepares the information. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Anderson
FIN
216f
Financial Statement Analysis
Prerequisite: FIN 212a or FIN 213a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Presents techniques of financial statement analysis that deepen the understanding of financial statements and the economic and strategic information they provide. Exposes students to the financial reporting environment and practices of U.S. companies. The course does not cover equity valuation. Usually offered every semester.
Ms. Stoller and Ms. Schroter
FIN
217f
Financial Modeling
Prerequisite: FIN 202a and FIN 212a. May take FIN 217f during second module concurrently with FIN 202a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Introduces quantitative modeling techniques for analyzing the financial performance of projects and companies and valuing earning streams. A key objective is to help students develop sophisticated skills in using spreadsheets and related software through cases and hands-on applications. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Canella
FIN
218f
Financial Modeling II
Prerequisite: FIN 217f. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Continues Financial Modeling I (FIN 217f) in the analysis of quantitative financial performance of projects and companies and valuing earning streams. It supplements FIN 217f in its use of real options for valuations, new industries with their own peculiarities (insurance, pharmaceuticals), and the privatization of a telecommunications firm. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Canella
FIN
223f
Project Finance
Prerequisites: FIN 202a, FIN 217f. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Examines the financial, economic, political, and technological factors that affect very large, capital-intensive projects. Looks at how they are combined into a coherent structure and financed via a combination of non-recourse debt and equity. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Canella
FIN
225f
Real Estate Finance
Prerequisite: BUS 235f. FIN 202a is strongly recommended. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Focuses on debt and equity financing of income-producing real property, primarily in the U.S. market. Considers real estate finance from the perspective of the users of capital (developers and property owners) and the sources of capital (lenders and equity investors). Usually offered every year.
Mr. Lupton
FIN
226f
Real Estate Capital Markets
Prerequisite: BUS 235f. FIN 202a is recommended. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Considers real estate as an asset class for investment from the perspective of a professional portfolio manager and a corporate financial officer. Analyzes the public markets for real estate debt (CMBS) and equity (REITs) and the interplay of private and public investing in a professionally managed real estate investment portfolio. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
FIN
230a
Trading and Exchanges
Prerequisites: FIN 201a, basic statistics.
The microeconomics of financial markets, with special focus on the foreign exchange market. Topics include market structure, transparency, determination of bid-ask spreads, price discovery, common trading strategies, currency market efficiency. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Osler
FIN
231f
Private Equity
Prerequisites: FIN 202a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Explores the history, structure, players and adjacent industries of Private Equity; the kinds of companies that make attractive candidates for investment; how PE firms add value; what they do when things go wrong; and how they create successful exits. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. McKay
FIN
232a
Mergers and Acquisitions Analysis
Prerequisites: FIN 201a and FIN 202a (may be taken concurrently).
Reviews the core concepts involved in mergers and acquisitions; value, negotiation, deal structuring, corporate strategy and valued added, financing, and tax consequences. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Toth
FIN
233f
Relative Values of Securities
Prerequisites: FIN 212a or FIN 216f strongly recommended. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Introduces students to the issues and analysis necessary for making the decision to purchase securities. The principal focus is on publicly traded securities. Debt and equity security values will be addressed. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
FIN
235a
Investing in Energy: Fossil Fuels to Cleaner Energy
How do energy companies and investors make investment decisions in our current economic/political environment? How do investors assess the risks and the long term opportunities, and what are the potential returns? And how do companies manage energy projects and implement new technologies across many markets and countries? To evaluate energy investments students need to acquire the background knowledge, the technical skills, and an appreciation of the politics of energy policy. This course will establish a broad framework of analysis and it will also let students analyze the economic viability of a specific energy project. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Ballantine
FIN
236f
Technical Analysis
Prerequisite: FIN 201a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
From FX to equity indexes to real estate futures markets, traders rely on technically-derived signals to enter speculative positions, set protective orders, and time their exits. Provides an introduction to technical analysis and familiarizes students with strategies in common use. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Lundgren
FIN
237f
Security Analysis
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit. Prerequisites: ECON 210f, FIN 201a and FIN 212a. FIN 216f, 217f, and 233f are recommended.
Examines fundamental-based investment strategies that funds use to generate alpha or positive risk-adjusted returns, with a focus on long-short equity strategies used by hedge funds and 130/30 mutual funds. Usually offered every year.
Mr. McKay
FIN
240a
Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Finance
Prerequisites: FIN 201a and FIN 202a.
Emphasizes financial decision making skills for entrepreneurs. The structure will follow the firm's life cycle, with modules on contracting, valuation, and financial planning in the entrepreneurial context, raising capital, security choice, and the structure and valuation of exit decisions in the presence of information uncertainty. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
FIN
241f
Financial Planning and Control
Prerequisite: FIN 202a (may be taken concurrently). Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Examines financial planning methodologies and tools as well as financial control mechanisms. Includes case studies using real-life examples, accounting, and financial objectives. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Canella
FIN
242f
Credit Risk Analysis
Prerequisite: FIN 212a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Examines credit risk (i.e., the possibility that an obligor will fail to perform as agreed) from the perspective of the commercial banker. Focuses on a sound understanding of the firm and its business plan and how the banker constructs the appropriate structure for the senior loan. Topics include asset-based, real estate, and cash flow lending. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Bayone
FIN
244f
Credit Risk Analysis II
Prerequisite: FIN 242f. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Examines credit risk (i.e., the possibility that an obligor will fail to perform as agreed) for foreign companies that largely operate in their overseas markets. Based on a sound understanding of the firm, its business plan, and the environment in which it operates, the banker constructs the appropriate structure for the senior loan. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Mr. Bayone
FIN
246a
Applied Corporate Financial Strategy
Prerequisites: FIN 202a and 212a.
Explores the application of core finance disciplines to real-world situations. Students who take this course should have completed course work or have actual knowledge of managerial accounting, financial management and control, valuation, M&A, strategic marketing, financial forecasting, etc. Additionally, students should be near graduation and preparing for a career in a private sector firm. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
FIN
247a
Transfer Pricing Theory and Practice
Prerequisites: ECON 207a and FIN 202a.
Introduces the economics of transfer pricing (a "price setting" exercise adopted by multinational enterprises among divisions within an enterprise). This course draws upon students' multi-disciplinary training across accounting, economics, and finance and applies them to the theory and practice of transfer pricing. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Chakraborty
FIN
248f
Advanced Corporate Finance
Prerequisites: FIN 201a and FIN 202a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit. May not be taken for credit by students who have taken FIN 204a.
Develops the "art and science" of optimal strategic decision-making by applying corporate financial theory to cases of financial policy, financial instruments and valuation. The topic areas are: corporate restructuring with an international flavor; raising capital using hybrid securities; and IPO's and the market for corporate control. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Abdurezak
FIN
252f
Banking, Central Banking, and the International Finance System
Prerequisite: FIN 201a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Examines the evolving architecture of the international financial system. Discusses the nature of international banking, including the role of shadow banks; central banking and the fragility of the financial system and why it is prone to crises; and finally, the government's involvement in the financial system, exploring the rationale and structure of regulation. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Cecchetti
FIN
253a
Global Financial Institutions: Management and Policy
Prerequisites: FIN 201a and FIN 202a.
Examines operations, strategies and regulation of global financial institutions. Initial focus on core activities, including foreign exchange, global bonds, equities, derivatives, and M&A followed by examination of the regulatory environment, including the role of Basel III, prudential policies, supervision and capital controls in emerging markets. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Staff
FIN
255a
World Financial Centers
Prerequisite: A knowledge of financial theory is highly desirable. Intended primarily for MSF students, but MA and MBA students with appropriate background knowledge in finance may also apply. Consult the program administrator for details regarding special costs and meeting times. May be repeated once for credit in a different center.
Meets each summer in a financial center of global significance. Provides analysis of international financial markets, institutions, and regulatory systems in the host center. Explores their relationship with global financial trends and systems. Includes examining the microstructure of markets, equity trading, futures and options, mergers and acquisitions, banking and currencies, and regional issues of topical interest. Usually offered every summer and run in collaboration with overseas academic partner.
Mr. Ballantine
FIN
255f
World Financial Centers
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit. Open only to students who completed FIN 255a in a prior semester.
Meets each summer in a financial center of global significance. Provides analysis of international financial markets, institutions, and regulatory systems in the host center. Explores their relationship with global financial trends and systems. Includes examining the microstructure of markets, equity trading, futures and options, mergers and acquisitions, banking and currencies, and regional issues of topical interest. Usually offered every summer and run in collaboration with overseas academic partner.
Mr. Ballantine
FIN
261a
Fixed Income Securities
Prerequisites: FIN 201a, or permission of the instructor.
Studies fixed income securities; cash flow structures, pricing risk measures; features of major fixed income sectors; valuation of fixed income securities with embedded options; portfolio management and performance measurement; interest rate derivatives and applications to asset/liability management. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Bergstresser, Mr. Leu, and Mr. Podorefsky
FIN
263a
International Portfolio Management
Prerequisite: FIN 201a.
A blend of advanced theory and state-of-the-art practice with a two fold aim: to ground students in the theory of international portfolio investments and to immerse them in the application of global portfolio management in the real world. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Alt and Mr. Leu
FIN
264f
Applied Institutional Portfolio Management
Prerequisite: FIN 201a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Studies institutional portfolio management from the perspective of an allocator such as Endowment, Foundation, Pension, or any other type of multi-manager fund, with focus on the Endowment model. Examines portfolio governance, portfolio asset allocation theory and practice, tactical and strategic allocation, characteristics of asset classes, risk management, passive versus active strategies, investment manager evaluation, alignment of investor/manager incentives, and performance evaluation. Not offered in 2016-2017.
Mr. Lenox, Ms. Shufrin, and Mr. Warren
FIN
270a
Options and Derivatives
Prerequisites: FIN 201a, or permission of the instructor.
Introduces students, using a reasonably formal mathematical approach, to a broad range of topics related to the traded securities, markets, pricing, and applications of financial derivatives. Special focus is placed on how replication is used to price financial derivatives. Derivatives studied include those defined on commodities, currencies, equities and equity indexes, with an introduction to fixed income derivatives. Usually offered every semester.
Mr Nierenberg or Mr. Reitano
FIN
271a
Options & Derivatives II
Prerequisites: FIN 270a.
Explores in more detail the mathematics of pricing financial derivatives on commodities, currencies, equities, equity indexes and other tradable securities, with particular emphasis on the various discrete computational methods and their convergence properties to the Black-Scholes-Merton formulas. This course also studies credit derivatives and interest rate derivatives. Courses or experience in statistics, calculus, and computer programming are required. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Reitano
FIN
279a
Applied Risk Management
Prerequisites: FIN 201a and FIN 212a.
Studies risk management in a variety of contexts as well as the applications of financial derivatives. Focuses on case studies from many industries which address risks related to commodities, weather, foreign exchange rates, interest rate, and credit, and also corporate governance matters and integrated risk management. Students will be expected to be able to analyze a corporate risk situation, work through examples and develop hedging strategies. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Podorefsky and Mr. Reitano
FIN
280a
Financial Risk Management
Prerequisite: FIN 201a, FIN 270a or FIN 279a.
Introduces many of the approaches financial institutions (investment and commercial banks, hedge funds, insurance companies and pension plans) take to model, quantify, and manage risk. Types of risks covered include financial (equity, currency, interest rate, and credit), as well as operational. The Basel II and Solvency II regulatory frameworks to risk management will also be studied. Students will be expected to have good exposure to financial derivatives from the prerequisite courses as well as to the basic concepts from calculus and statistics. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Reitano
FIN
285a
Computer Simulations and Risk Assessment
Prerequisite: FIN 201a.
Examines recent advances in computational methods for evaluation risk and decision making in risky situations. Emphasizes a common computational framework for solving many problems from business, finance, and economics using statistical methods, such as Monte Carlo and resampling. Usually offered every year.
Mr. LeBaron
FIN
288a
Corporate Financial Engineering
Prerequisite: FIN 201a. Corequisite: FIN 202a.
Focuses on how financial engineering is used in firms to reduce their costs of financing, to alter their fundamental risk exposures and, in a handful of cases, to provide them with new ways to compete. Primarily intended for students who plan to serve in corporate roles that will involve significant interaction with financial markets and institutions. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Bergstresser
FIN
291g
General Education Seminar
Open only to IBS students. Enrollment is limited. Yields one-fourth course credit (one credit). May be repeated for credit as the seminar topic varies.
Addresses a narrow, important topic and is taught jointly by an IBS faculty member and a prominent outside expert. Each seminar involves nine hours of structured learning and discussion. Usually offered every year.
Staff
FIN
292a
Internship
Prerequisite: Two full semesters of MSF coursework (at least 32 credits). Open to Master of Science in Finance (MSF) students only.
Provides an opportunity for MSF students to carry out a formal internship with a client organization under the supervision of a faculty member. The internship requires students to apply principles and frameworks from the MSF curriculum for a client organization seeking help with a management-related challenge. Along with FIN 293a, the Consulting Field Project, the internship serves as a transition point for students from education to professional practice. Usually offered every year.
Staff
FIN
293a
Consulting Field Project
Prerequisite: One full semester of MSF coursework (at least 16 credits). Open to Master of Science in Finance (MSF) students only.
Provides an opportunity for MSF students to apply their skills and knowledge to solving actual client problems, assessing client’s corporate finance or investment opportunities and generally adding value to the client’s business operations, under the supervision of a faculty member. The course culminates in a final client presentation before the end of the semester in which it is undertaken. Each consulting field project team will consist of 4 to 5 students and an instructor, who will serve as the project manager. The primary student outcome is to gain experience evaluating and analyzing financial projects for clients, conduct in depth and sophisticated analysis and market research and understand how financial decisions are taken in a corporation. Along with FIN 292a Internship, Consulting Field Project serves as a transition point for students from education to professional practice. Usually offered every year.
Staff
FIN
294a
Directed Research
Prerequisite: Two full semesters of MSF coursework (at least 32 credits). Open to Master of Science in Finance (MSF) students only.
Provides an opportunity for MSF students to carry out a detailed directed research and independent study under the supervision of a faculty member. Directed Research requires students to apply principles and frameworks from the MSF curriculum to identify and analyze a financial question/puzzle that broadens the students understanding and knowledge on that particular issue and could potentially help the student in his/her job search. As Directed Research necessarily requires an advanced understanding of finance knowledge it is expected that students would have completed related coursework prior to undertaking this course. Usually offered every year.
Staff
FIN
297a
Internship
Prerequisite: Two semesters at IBS or permission of program director. Yields half course-credit. May not be repeated for credit.
Offers students an opportunity to apply the theories and key themes covered in the core courses in a real-life setting. Requires completion of at least six weeks of a paid or unpaid internship approved and monitored by a faculty advisor. The project could involve a research or consulting assignment or a structured internship in the school's fields. Interested students should consult the guidelines established by the school. Usually offered every year.
Staff
FIN
297b
Field Project Internship
Prerequisite: Two semesters at IBS or permission of program director. Yields half-course credit. May not be repeated for credit.
Offers students an opportunity to apply the theories and key themes covered in the core courses in a real-life setting. Requires completion of at least six weeks of a paid or unpaid internship approved and monitored by a faculty advisor. The project could involve a research or consulting assignment or a structured internship in the school's fields. Interested students should consult the guidelines established by the school. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
FIN
297g
Internship
Prerequisite: Two semesters at IBS or permission of program director. Yields quarter course-credit. May be repeated twice for credit.
Offers students an opportunity to apply the theories and key themes covered in the core courses in a real-life setting. Requires completion of at least six weeks of a paid or unpaid internship approved and monitored by a faculty advisor. The project could involve a research or consulting assignment or a structured internship in the school's fields. Interested students should consult the guidelines established by the school. Usually offered every year.
Staff
FIN
298a
Independent Study
Normally available for a student who wishes to pursue advanced reading or research in a subject or field not available in the department's course listings. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
FIN
298b
Independent Study
Course yields half-course credit.
Normally available for a student who wishes to pursue advanced reading on research in a subject or field not available in the department's course listings. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
FIN
298f
Independent Study
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Normally available for a student who wishes to pursue advanced reading or research in a subject or field not available in the department's course listings. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
FIN
299a
Master's Project
Prerequisite: Two semesters at IBS or permission of program director.
A student wishing to complete a master's project under the guidance of a faculty advisor may enroll in this course during his or her second year in the master's program. Projects may involve a short analytical thesis, the solution of an applied problem, or a report on work completed in an appropriate internship. In exceptional cases a student may undertake a master’s thesis so demanding that it requires two semesters. In such cases, with careful consideration of the faculty adviser and the program director, the student may enroll in this course for his/her two final semesters. Usually offered every year.
Staff
FIN
305f
Asset Pricing
Prerequisite: ECON 301a. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
A course in asset pricing for PhD candidates. Topics include risk aversion and choice under uncertainty, no arbitrage and stochastic discount factor, mean variance analysis, factor models, and recent empirical puzzles. Focuses on theory and empirical applications. Usually offered every second year.
Staff
Courses of Related Interest
ECON
122b
The Economics of the Middle East
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Prerequisite: ECON 2a or 10a or the equivalent. Does not count toward the upper-level elective requirement for the major in economics.
Examines the Middle East economies – past experiences, present situation, and future challenges – drawing on theories, policy formulations and empirical studies of economic growth, trade, poverty, income distribution, labor markets, finance and banking, government reforms, globalization, and Arab-Israeli political economy. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Habibi
ECON
134b
Public Sector Economics
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Prerequisites: ECON 80a and ECON 83a or permission of the instructor.
The effect of tax and expenditure policies on economic efficiency and equity. Topics include externalities and public goods, public choice, cost-benefit analysis, income redistribution, social security, and health care. Also discussion of U.S. tax system, public debt, and state and local finance. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Coiner and Ms. Bui
ECON
135a
Industrial Organization
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Prerequisites: ECON 80a and ECON 83a or permission of the instructor.
Microeconomic analysis of firm behavior under alternative market structures and implications for market outcomes. Topics include strategic interaction, entry and exit, collusion, predation, price discrimination, product differentiation, vertical relations, imperfect information, advertising, and patents and innovation. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Graddy and Mr. Shiller
ECON
141b
Economics of Innovation
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Prerequisites: ECON 80a and ECON 83a or permission of the instructor.
Studies the innovation and technological change as the central focus of modern economies. Topics include the sources of growth, economics of research and development, innovation, diffusion and technology transfer, appropriability, patents, information markets, productivity, institutional innovation, and global competitiveness. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Jefferson
ECON
172b
Money and Banking
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Prerequisites: ECON 82b and ECON 83a or permission of the instructor.
Examines the relationship of the financial system to real economic activity, focusing especially on banks and central banks. Topics include the monetary and payments systems; financial instruments and their pricing; the structure, management, and regulation of bank and nonbank financial intermediaries and the design and operations of central banks in a modern economy. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Redenius
ECON
173a
Central Banking: Theory and Policy
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Prerequisite: ECON 82b.
Studies the purposes and functions of central banks over time and the challenges they confront. Examines central banks' roles in the recent financial crisis and explores current debates over the policies that central banks are following in its aftermath. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Browne
ECON
175a
Introduction to the Economics of Development
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Prerequisite: ECON 2a or 10a or permission of the instructor. Does not count toward the upper-level elective requirement for the major in economics.
An introduction to various models of economic growth and development and evaluation of these perspectives from the experience of developing and industrial countries. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Menon
ECON
182a
Topics in Advanced Macroeconomics
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Prerequisite: ECON 80a, 82b, and 83a.
Contemporary theories of economic growth, business cycles, monetary economics, and financial crises and their implications for monetary and fiscal policy. Emphasis on empirical work and computer modeling. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Hall
ECON
184b
Econometrics
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Prerequisites: ECON 83a. Corequisite: ECON 80a or permission of the instructor. Students must earn a C- or higher in MATH 10a, or otherwise satisfy the calculus requirement, to enroll in this course. This course may not be taken for credit by students who have previously taken or are currently enrolled in ECON 185a or ECON 311a.
An introduction to the theory of econometric regression and forecasting models, with applications to the analysis of business and economic data. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Brainerd, Ms. Bui, and Mr. Pettenuzzo