MSBF Curriculum

An introduction to financial statement analysis which builds on the fundamentals of accounting, including understanding the accounting equation and its application in building the balance sheet, the income statement, and the statement of cash flows. Basic accounting concepts, accounting principles, and the audit report are presented. Students work in teams to analyze corporate financial statements. The relationship of economic value to accounting measurement is explored together with factors influencing management choices among competing valuation principles. Theory is applied to the valuation of the asset, liability, and owners' equity accounts. This course emphasizes the heavy reliance on estimates in constructing financial statements and how management can use such estimates to strategically manage its reporting responsibilities.

22:010:502:87 (FT) - (3 credits)

The most sought after fashion houses (e.g., Versace, Michael Kors, Diesel, Gucci, Kate Spade) are those firms that are most aware of, and proactive with, their branding strategies. The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of the roles, activities, and responsibilities of the fashion brand manager—the person on the front lines of the implementation of branding strategy. In some cases, this is an employee from within the organization who has been tasked with stewardship over an existing, and perhaps legacy, brand. In other cases, this is an entrepreneurial designer who is seeking to establish and build their own personal fashion brand. During the term, you will develop your analytical skills in making fashion branding decisions and your oral and written skills for communicating them. The classes will consist of case discussions, lectures, presentations and guest speakers.

22:630:696:87 - (3 credits)

This course provides an introduction to Digital Marketing, the most rapidly growing medium in history. We will examine the role of digital marketing and ways in which organizations derive benefits from their digital presence. The course will familiarize students with the business aspects of web site design, analytics, digital content, and online customer acquisition. Students will explore a range of digital marketing formats and platforms including: content marketing, online display advertising, digital video, search engines, social media, mobile, multi-channel integration, and more.

A practical approach is adopted in this course. In addition to learning basic principles of digital marketing, students will focus on developing the skills to solve real-world business problems and exploit digital business opportunities. Early in the course, students will be assigned to a digital publisher that they will follow throughout the semester.

22:630:697:87 - (3 credits)

Law pervades almost every aspect of the fashion business. To succeed as a global fashion manager, one needs the tools to strategically engage with a diverse range of legal issues at various stages of business. This course will trace the lifecycle of garments and examine the legal issues at each point. At the early design stage, there are questions of trademark and copyright laws and the risks of international piracy. We then turn our attention to building a business to market, sell, and manufacture those designs. This will require an engagement with topics such as corporate and partnership law, contracts and sales, real estate, and labor and employment laws, including how to navigate relationships with independent contractors such as models. At the manufacturing stage, managers need to have a deep knowledge of trade and tariff regulations, import/export law, international arbitration, and labor and environmental compliance in the supply chain. We will pay particular attention to law and compliance in the global supply chain, where “private” forms of law making and enforcement often have to substitute for ineffective public law enforcement. Finally, the course will turn to the consumer, examining consumer protection laws, as well as civil rights and cultural issues. The latter include questions related to what are the proper boundaries of the law to regulate what we can or cannot wear in public spaces or at work, and how much the law should protect our rights to express our identity.

22:799:657:87 - (3 credits)

Projects are the drivers that turn ideas into reality and make organizations better, stronger, and more competitive. In fact, the only way organizations can implement a strategy, develop new products, and build a new infrastructure or gain competitive advantage is through projects. With that in mind, this course will:

• Present the basic concepts of project management together with an introduction to modern real-life project problems.
• Help you understand the importance and strategic advantage of applying best practices to project management.
• Focus on practical exercises to help you better understand the theory presented in class. Specifically, the concepts used will allow you to use your knowledge in the fashion and beauty industries.
• Help you understand the processes of initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing a project.
• Allow you to develop a Project Plan draft in class.
• Prepare you for PMI (Project Management Institute) certification

22:799:678:87 - (3 credits)

Entrepreneurial Finance for Fashion and Beauty Industries is a course designed for students who plan to get engaged in working with a high growth venture. The course focuses on financing of new ventures that are expected to grow and in which students may take a role of an entrepreneur, an advisor, an investor or an employee. Entrepreneurial Finance is created to expose students to the basic problems that are specific to financing new and growing ventures such as design of a business plan, contracting and valuation, choice of seed and follow-up financing and financing venture’s growth. The course also offers a basic coverage of venture capital and angel investors as well as a number of guest lectures from the fashion industry.

22:390:612:87 - (3 credits)

This course is designed to provide you with an understanding of the strategic and tactical elements of how to manage supply chains in the apparel industry in normal and abnormal situations. Integrative tools will be introduced and used to analyze and evaluate alternative courses of action regarding a firm's supply chain. As related to supply chain strategy, this course will address the relationships between supply chain entities and behavioral management issues that influence the management of those relationships. Focus beyond rudimentary will be placed on outsourcing and contract management related to the fashion industry. As related to supply chain disruptions, this course explores the area of business continuity and risk management in a comprehensive manner to provide for organizational resilience. Particular emphasis is placed on assessing threats which may lead to disastrous events, evaluating control alternatives and implementing strategies. The focus of this class is on both theoretical and practical issues. At the end of the class, it is expected that the student will have a clearer understanding of how supply chains function and how they may malfunction. This course will be taught as a combination of case analysis, lecture and class discussion.

22:799:669:87 - (3 credits)