Curriculum

Study anywhere. Succeed everywhere.

Thunderbird's advanced web-based distance learning platform makes it easy to earn a global business education anywhere in the world. Delivered primarily online, with weeks in residence in locations around the world, our Online MBA offers you high-tech curriculum delivery merged with high-touch service, cohort interaction and hands-on learning.

Curriculum for this program is divided into three primary categories: world business,international studies and cross-cultural and English business communications.

Designed to meet the needs of busy global professionals, this lock-step program lets you progress through the curriculum with your cohort following a prescribed course sequence. Using the technology tools of modern business, coupled with group work and interactive projects, the insight and skills learned in Thunderbird’s Online MBA can be implemented immediately on the job. 

Sample course descriptions

Note: Not all courses shown here are taught at all times. This listing represents a sample of the courses available at Thunderbird, but is not meant to be all-inclusive. Please speak with an admissions representative to discuss the specific classes being offered in the next term.

  • Global Political Economy
    Course Number: GM-4000
    Credit Hours: 3.00

    This course offers an introduction to the fundamentals of the international business environment and its three major aspects: (1) the institutional framework and policy management of international economic relations, (2) risk assessment and strategic analysis of nation-states, and (3) the operational and organizational concerns of the transnational enterprise.

  • Global Strategy
    Course Number: GM-5470
    Credit Hours: 1.50

    This capstone course in global strategy focuses on the inherent tensions that global organizations encounter in formulating and implementing strategy such as localization v. standardization, and centralization v. decentralization. The treatment of issues transcends the typical multi-domestic or international template to address concerns of a transnational nature. Within framework, contemporary developments in joint ventures, strategic alliances, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and the management of the globally diversified organization will be addressed.

  • Operations Management
    Course Number: GM-4319
    Credit Hours: 1.50

    This course provides an overview of the design, control, and improvement of manufacturing and service productions systems. Topics include operations strategy, product design and process selection, quality management and statistical process control, materials requirements planning, lean thinking, theory of constraints, service delivery and service quality, and global supply chain management.

  • Regional Business Envir: Sub-Sah Africa
    Course Number: GM-4650
    Credit Hours: 3.00

    The Regional Business Environment courses deal with the political and social context in which business activities take place. This includes consideration of eight factors that shape or reflect the operational realities of management and business, including: Patterns of historical development cover political, social and economic events and structures. Geographic environment involves human and economic geography, covering population and natural resource distributions, regional financial and trade centers, and transportation systems.

  • Regional Business Environment: Asia
    Course Number: GM-4600
    Credit Hours: 3.00

    The Regional Business Environment courses deal with the political and social context in which business activities take place. This includes consideration of eight factors that shape or reflect the operational realities of management and business, including: Patterns of historical development cover political, social and economic events and structures. Geographic environment involves human and economic geography, covering population and natural resource distributions, regional financial and trade centers, and transportation systems.

  • Regional Business Environment: Europe
    Course Number: GM-4620
    Credit Hours: 3.00

    The Regional Business Environment courses deal with the political and social context in which business activities take place. This includes consideration of eight factors that shape or reflect the operational realities of management and business, including: Patterns of historical development cover political, social and economic events and structures. Geographic environment involves human and economic geography, covering population and natural resource distributions, regional financial and trade centers, and transportation systems.

  • Regional Busnss Environ: Latin America
    Course Number: GM-4640
    Credit Hours: 3.00

    The Regional Business Environment courses deal with the political and social context in which business activities take place. This includes consideration of eight factors that shape or reflect the operational realities of management and business, including: Patterns of historical development cover political, social and economic events and structures. Geographic environment involves human and economic geography, covering population and natural resource distributions, regional financial and trade centers, and transportation systems.

Pages