MBA programs traditionally expose students to a wide variety of course material. We also provide invaluabe depth through intensive short-term sessions. Our students dig in deep through the Professional Topics Series.

Applied Investment Management

This course gives students hands-on experience in managing an investment process, from stock selection to trading. Students experience firsthand the decisions that investment professionals make and the tools they use to improve their decision making. Topics covered include: market microstructure (the way trading takes place and the types of trades and markets); quantitative, technical, and fundamental analysis; market efficiency and trading strategies; and the portfolio management process, including active and passive strategies, risk analysis, and portfolio evaluation. Emphasis is placed on linking the theoretical and practical aspects of the investment process. Students have the opportunity to participate in a stock selection game and a trading simulation game. They also gain experience in using state-of-the art investment tools to solve real-life investment problems.

Chicago Exchanges

The leaders of Chicago's financial exchanges appear as guest lecturers to discuss the past and future role of financial exchanges in the global economy. This course enables students to interact and learn from the country's most influential finance leaders in an informal yet informative classroom setting. Past speakers include: the president and CEO of the Chicago Board of Trade, CEO of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the president and COO of the Chicago Stock Exchange, and the chairman/CEO of the Chicago Board Options Exchange.

Cross-Functional Team Leadership

This course prepares managers to participate in and lead cross-functional teams dealing with complex problems and designs. It addresses the concepts and techniques of deliberate creativity and problem solving used by teams that span multiple, diverse perspectives. Balanced between real-world skill-building and theory, attention is paid to directly applying the lessons of this course to improve each student's creativity, ability to lead complex teams effectively, and ability to influence collaborative problem-solving processes when not in charge (covert facilitation). This course prepares managers to assess different situations and adjust their methods to get the best results.

Real Estate Development

Real estate development is a classic case of opportunistic wealth creation in response to perceived market demand. This course offers students the opportunity to hear, question, and learn from prominent Chicago real estate developers, real estate attorneys, architects, general contractors, institutional investors, and building management professionals. The process of real estate development-including land acquisition, municipal approval, design, construction, financial structure, and building operation-are examined with the objective of building a successful project.


CONTACT THE LGSB:

Liautaud Graduate School of Business
815 W. Van Buren (MC 077) Suite 220
Chicago, IL 60607

Phone: (312) 996-4573
Fax: (312) 413-0338

E-mail: mba@uic.edu