Graduate Programmatic Learning Goals and Outcomes
On this page you will find the learning goals and outcomes for all of Bentley's Master's degree programs.
Goal One
Integrating and applying core business knowledge.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
1.1 Demonstrate an understanding and application of business fundamentals and functions, including economics, finance, marketing, accounting, and management.
1.2. Evaluate an organization’s strategic direction and organizational integration.
Goal Two
Critical thinking and problem solving.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
2.1 Frame a business problem.
2.2 Identify and evaluate the logic, validity and relevance of data and/or information.
2.3 Make informed and feasible conclusions and recommendations.
Goal Three
Ethical leadership.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
3.1 Recognize organizational issues that have ethical implications.
3.2 Identify alternative solutions to address ethical issues and/or dilemmas.
Goal Four
Written communication.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
4.1 Write business documents that are clear, concise and logical.
Goal Five
Students will be ethical and socially responsible leaders.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
5.1 Identify the ethical issues associated with a business problem.
5.2 Devise appropriate responses to ethical dilemmas that consider the perspective of all stakeholders.
5.3 Explain the importance of being socially responsible.
5.4 Evaluate the benefits and costs of socially responsible alternatives.
Goal One
Our students will have an understanding of the accounting profession, and of the role of the accounting professional in the business environment.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
1.1 Identify the elements of professionalism and the application of those elements to accounting as a profession.
1.2 Give examples of the roles played by various accounting professionals in the business environment.
1.3 Cogently discuss contemporary issues related to the profession and to the role of accounting information
Goal Two
Our students will have an understanding of the ethical dimensions of accounting.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
2.1 Identify an ethical dilemma in an accounting context.
2.2 Apply an appropriate framework to analyze and evaluate an ethical issue.
Goal Three
Our students will demonstrate the research and analytical skills needed to solve problems in an accounting context.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
3.1 Identify, locate, and use the research tools that are appropriate to address a problem in an accounting area (e.g., financial accounting, auditing, tax, etc.)
3.2 Identify the issues in a given accounting problem.
3.3 List and evaluate the relevant alternatives, and arrive at an appropriate solution.
Goal Four
Our students will communicate effectively and professionally in business situations.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
4.1 Produce professional quality written documents, e.g., audit reports, case analyses, systems analysis documentation, research papers, etc.
4.2 Make an effective presentation.
Goal One
Students will gain an in-depth understanding of fundamental statistical techniques that are in demand in business practice.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
1.1 Choose and apply appropriate statistical modeling methodologies including linear regression and logistic regression to solve problems.
1.2 Apply decision trees, cluster analysis and factor analysis to solve problems.
1.3 Choose an appropriate time series model and use it to solve a business problem.
1.4 Apply essential concepts of simulation and optimization to solve business problems.
Goal Two
Students will gain an in-depth understanding of state of the art data mining techniques.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
2.1 Use market basket analysis, neural networks, genetic algorithms, extensions of regression models, text mining and web mining in problem solving.
Goal Three
Students will become proficient with using leading statistical packages and database management tools.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
3.1 Use leading statistical packages such as SPSS, SAS or R to solve business problems.
3.2 Define and discuss essential database concepts database concepts and be able to use database tools, for example SQL - Structured Query Language.
Goal Four
Students will be prepared to be well-rounded business professionals with a specialty in business analytics.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
4.1 Demonstrate the ability to present analytics results, both in writing and orally, to a variety of audiences.
Goal One
Students will apply basic portfolio theory including equity and fixed income asset pricing models and implications of the efficient market hypothesis.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
1.1 Describe the assumptions behind the capital market theory and the development of the CAPM.
1.2 Apply CAPM to security valuation.
1.3 Value equities using different models and the assumptions behind them.
1.4 Value fixed income instruments and valuation methods.
1.5 Describe basic option terminology and factors that affect option valuation.
1.6 Calculate the risk and return of both individual securities and portfolios.
1.7 Describe market efficiency, including the differences between the different types.
Goal Two
Students will be effective at applying corporate financial management tools and techniques.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
2.1 Demonstrate the interplay of the various elements of financial statements.
2.2 Reinforce and extend examples of time value of money calculations.
2.3 Use capital budgeting techniques, including NPV, IRR, and profitability index. Conduct analysis on capital budgeting projects, such as sensitivity and scenario analysis.
2.4 Calculate bond and stock valuation and the financial conventions used to express risk and return.
2.5 Evaluate a firm's capital structure and how a firm's choice in the way it itself affects firm value.
Goal Three
Students will be knowledgeable about how international markets and exchange rates affect corporate and investment decisions.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
3.1 Demonstrate theoretical and analytical grasp of exchange rate determination and parity relationships.
3.2 Demonstrate the impact of currency exposure on investment risk and return.
3.3 Demonstrate knowledge of and critical thinking with respect to FX risk exposure management strategies based on market information and corporate risk appetite.
3.4 Evaluate the use and valuation of currency derivative instruments.
3.5 Evaluate the use and valuation of structured instruments such as swaps.
3.6 Evaluate the use and valuation of a covered interest arbitrage.
Goal Four
Students will be intellectually disciplined and skillful in conceptualizing, applying, and evaluating information for financial statements analysis and modeling.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
4.1 Analyze financial statements and demonstrate the inter-relationship among different component parts
4.2 Use Excel financial functions to solve practical finance problems
4.3 Organize and analyze data using financial modeling techniques
Goal One
Students will understand a comprehensive range of human behaviors relevant to product and experience design.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
1.1 Identify relevant behaviors within a given system design and experience
1.2 Provide product research and design recommendations
1.3 Create and manage a project plan and communicate and competitive strategy, and solutions aligned with stakeholders’ goals.
Goal Two
Students will employ research and evaluation methods that will optimize human performance, workflow, the quality of user experience, and return on investment.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
2.1 Design a proper evaluation/ assessment protocol.
2.2 Apply a range of research methods.
Goal Three
Students will be able to understand interaction design including multimodal experience design, visualization, intelligent interfaces and service.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
3.1 Perform a user-task and requirements analysis.
3.2 Design a human-centered interface and experience.
Goal Four
Students will understand product and experience design including its implications for diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), universal accessibility and internationalization.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
4.1 Define accessibility requirements.
4.2 Use cultural and DE&I variables to inform product experience design and research.
4.3 Recognize the ethical and regulatory requirements of human subject research that is inclusive of all individuals and their identities.
Goal One
Solution Provision: MSIT graduates should have a working knowledge of the theory and current practices in distributed systems, communications networks, object-oriented analysis and development, and database technologies and how to implement them in state-of-the-art business solutions.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
1.1 Model business processes
1.2 Assess appropriate IT solutions
1.3 Identify and choose from appropriate technological options
1.4 Provide plans of action for implementation
Goal Two
Globalization: MSIT graduates should understand the cultural and international perspective of information technology
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
2.1 Architect solutions appropriate for geographically disperse processes and organizations
2.2 Identify and manage issues related to systems and organizations that cross borders
Goal Three
Analysis, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving: MSIT graduates should be able to think critically and apply analytic skills to solve problems.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
3.1 Identify issues, analyze complex issues, and offer sound solutions
3.2 Identify, extract and/or elicit relevant data and/or information
3.3 Evaluate the logic, validity, and relevance of data and/or information
3.4 Apply appropriate models and frameworks
3.5 Consider higher order effects of proposed solutions
Goal Four
Communication: Graduates should be able to communicate complex technical concepts and business issues clearly and efficiently to technical and non-technical audiences.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
4.1 Use formal modeling tools and techniques effectively
4.2 Write clearly and concisely for technical and non-technical audiences
Goal Five
Professional and Social Responsibility: MSIT students should develop a spirit of cooperation, ethical behavior and acceptance of social and professional responsibility as members of the IT profession
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
5.1 Assess the impact of their actions on all stakeholders
Goal One
Accomplished business professionals
Outcomes:
1.1 Demonstrate critical thinking skills when solving problems
1.2 Develop a global mindset.
1.3 Communicate professionally in business situations
1.4 Evaluate an organization's strategic direction and organizational integration
Goal Two
Proficient accounting professionals
Outcomes:
2.1 Exhibit competence with accounting knowledge and skills
2.2 Demonstrate the analytical knowledge and skills needed to solve problems
2.3 Utilize current information technology tools to process and share information
2.4 Appraise future trends facing the profession.
Goal Three
Ethical leaders
3.1 Recognize, analyze and evaluate ethical issues in business context
3.2 Demonstrate skills in creating and sustaining diverse & inclusive work environments
Goal One
Students will understand the legal principles of Taxation, which includes an understanding of the rationale and logic behind our system of Taxation including the political and judicial processes that shape the tax law.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
1.1 Read, understand and demonstrate a working knowledge of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and state income and sales/use tax codifications.
1.2 Identify and apply sections of the tax law that are relevant to a particular tax situation.
1.3 Describe the political process and motivations behind tax laws.
Goal Two
Students will demonstrate critical skills for use in the Tax profession.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
2.1 Acquire the facts relevant to a Tax case and use that information to identify the issues.
2.2 Locate authority to address the Tax issue, using technology tools when appropriate and apply the rules to the situation.
Goal Three
Students will develop communication skills for use in the Tax profession.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
3.1 Write professional documents that will serve as an effective means of communication with clients and regulatory agencies.
3.2 Advocate a client's position clearly and effectively.
Goal Four
Students will be cognizant of the ethical responsibility associated with the Tax profession
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
4.1 Identify situations that provide ethical challenges
4.2 Explain the appropriate actions based on the ethical standards of the Tax profession.