MBA Economic Development - Curriculum

Spiritual Core: 6 credits
Financial/Management Core: 18 credits
Program Core: 9 credits
Concentration (International or Urban): 9 credits
Total Credits: 42

Introduction to Theology of Social Change
A weekend introduction and overview by Professor Tony Campolo on the biblical understanding of social change in the context of scriptural definitions of the kingdom of God.

SPIRITUAL CORE

Servant Leadership
This course provides a biblical overview of leadership models illustrated in Scripture with the focus of demonstrating how servant leadership is the preferred model. The course will also establish the basis for each participant to begin building their own theological rationale for how they view and practice leadership including an understanding of principles on which to judge contemporary models and theories of leadership. The course will give each participant an opportunity to decide on the validity of Jesus' view and practice of leadership for today's leadership and organizational challenges. It also provides and evaluative lens through which to view and evaluate other course material in the curriculum.

Biblical Faith and Economics
An examination of diverse methodologies, hermeneutics, and conclusions about the meaning of biblical data for economic life today. Special attention will be given to a careful exegetical analysis of relevant biblical material.

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FINANCIAL/MANAGEMENT CORE

Managerial Accounting for Developing Enterprises
Integrates concepts from diverse topics that impact managerial accountants. Introductory lectures are concerned with the legal environment of business, tax regulations and tax planning. Includes focus on nonprofit organizations and international dimensions.

Global Financial Management
Designed to provide a theoretical and practical framework that a financial manager can use to reach decisions in the real world. Contemporary problems in managerial finance illustrate theoretical constructs.Social EntrepreneurshipThis is a capstone course where students design a new organization and communicate that design through the creation of a business plan.

Introduction to Microfinance
The goal of the course is to help the student gain a practical understanding of the fundamental concepts of microfinance, assessing customer needs and expectations; designing new products and delivery mechanisms; the various lending methodologies; the debate around regulation and supervision; assessing the quality of the portfolio; gauging financial viability; addressing governance and cultivating effective donor relations.

Market Development for Microenterprises
This course assists the student in developing an understanding of current theory, best practices and debates in the market development arena. It also provides supporting information in the form of case studies from the field, and interviews with theorists and practitioners.

Program Planning, Management and Marketing
This course will review the history, theoretical underpinnings, and practice of program and project planning, monitoring, implementation, and evaluation in non-profit and official development organizations. It also covers the corresponding grant-writing, fundraising, and marketing methods, tools, strategies and techniques for such programs. Heavy emphasis is placed on a hands-on learning approach, while stressing the importance of understanding and critiquing the conceptual frameworks on which these practices rely.

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PROGRAM CORE

Cross-Cultural Skills and Understanding
The objectives of this course are that students will learn about the nature of culture and practice cross-cultural communication; understand social structures; understand cultural exchange systems and the ways in which they are manifested in industrial and non-industrial societies; understand the role of religions, both world and traditional, including beliefs and practices, in the economic development process and in receptivity to the Gospel; and come to a profound understanding of what it means to be "light and salt" to the world for Jesus Christ.

Community Development
This course is structured so that students will be able to: understand the loss and quest for community and community development in contemporary society; determine the nature and consequences of the war between good and evil in communities; describe how communities can be redeemed and empowered for transformation; and learn what is involved in assessing, sourcing, mobilizing and utilizing internal and external resources, assets, and valued goods for a community's development.

Applied Research and Evaluation
This course is an introduction to applied research and evaluation. The primary emphasis is on qualitative research and evaluation methods for use in private voluntary organizations such as churches, urban ministries, missions, and relief and development organizations.

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INTERNATIONAL CONCENTRATION

Advocacy and Human Rights
This course is designed to prepare Christian leaders for social justice advocacy in the context of the global struggle for human rights. Drawing upon Martha Nussbaum and Amartya Sen's "Capabilities Approach" to human rights, the course presents a Freirean model for social justice advocacy that recognizes the local, national and international context of advocacy work and explores creative partnerships with other organizations and community groups on particular advocacy issues. The course emphasizes the importance of developing a biblical basis for social justice advocacy and the development professionals to cultivate strong advocacy skills.

The World Economy and Trade
Designed to familiarize students with the international environment in which businesses operate. Students acquire an awareness of, and appreciation for, the diversity and complexity of the international environment. The course is about markets (the economic dimension), power (the political dimension), and culture (the social dimension) under conditions of global interdependence.

Economic Development of Developing Countries
The purpose of the course is to develop a better understanding of the macro-economic problems of developing countries, theories of economic development and methods and techniques needed to resolve problems, promote growth, and meet the needs of developing nations at national and global levels.

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URBAN CONCENTRATION

Urban Politics
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the politics of the city with an eye towards equipping students to use theory to inform and engage in praxis in working with the poor in urban areas. Special attention is given to the intersection of dimensions and structures of power between government and community movements for social change in their various forms, and on understanding the major current issues and methods, tools, and strategies used in advocacy efforts in the urban context.

Urban Sociology
This course is intended to cover core writings in the field of urban sociology with a focus on using theory to inform praxis in the city. Topics cover the social, cultural, religious, political, economic and aesthetic dimensions of the city and how they explain the production and reproduction of poverty and injustice. Special attention is given to the dimensions of race and ethnicity, immigration, family and community dynamics, and change, political power, socio-spatial change, technological change, and the relationship between the built environment and human behavior. Key theoretical paradigms that have constituted the field since its founding are considered and assessed in terms of their implications for social policy, urban scholarship and the practice of planning for social change.

Urban Economics
This course assists students in using economic theory to understand the forces behind the growth and decline of urban areas and communities; in understanding the economic behavior of individuals, households, businesses and organizations within urban areas; and in understanding the determinants of the distribution of income, assets and resources within urban areas. The course emphasizes the application of economic theory and logic rather than memorization. The integration of Christian faith with urban community economic development is examined.

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Return to MBA Economic Development Home

For more information about the Economic Development Program, contact Sharlene Joseph-Brown at 610-341-1398 or 1-800-597-9324.

This is designed as a course overview, and is not an official course listing.