Graduate Electives

Location: On-Campus

Description:

This course will cover:

• Knowledge and skill development for students who aspire to lead and manage innovation initiatives in technology-based companies.
• Technology strategy and its role in the overall business strategy of commercial firms.
• Role of innovation in entrepreneurial ventures and established firms.
• Skills to present new product development proposals to senior management and/or prospective investors.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing

Note: This course is required for the Engineering Management minor.

Location: Online and On-Campus

Description:

This course explores elements of technology strategy including portfolio management, development of product and technology roadmaps, new product development, phase gate processes, and the management of product life cycles. The focus is on disruptive, incremental, sustaining, and breakthrough innovations across multiple sectors.

Location: Online and On-Campus

Description:

This course is aimed at helping students develop themselves as individual leaders by focusing on personal growth and leadership styles.  The course will utilize assessments and other tools to explore leadership styles and techniques for leading effective teams and organizations with and without authority in a variety of settings. The focus is on techniques for developing ethical and empathetic leaders.

Location: Online and On-Campus

Description:

This course will teach students to develop, analyze, and communicate the financial aspects of a company’s product or service. Students will learn to understand and evaluate the impact of decisions on the financial health and competitiveness of the firm.

Location: Online and On-Campus

Description:

This course is a human-centered customer discovery course focused on research, analysis, brainstorming, and ideation methods to inform product and business solutions. In the course you will learn about identification of target customers and discovery of solutions to unmet needs. The course involved the use of tools to systematically generate and sort diverse options to create products and solve customers’ needs.

Location: Online and On-Campus

Description:

Students learn to gather, analyze, and interpret data to drive strategic and operational success in technology-based companies. You also develop skills to make data-based decisions with uncertain or ambiguous conditions, and develop models for decision-making in a business setting.

Location: Online and On-Campus

Description:

Within this course, students will learn to examine connected complex systems that impact technology projects while taking into account human, political, community, resource, environmental, and social processes. You will also leverage insights from structural influences to maximize impact and solve problems in increasingly complex and high-tech environments

Location: Online and On-Campus

Description:

In today’s unpredictable, fast-moving business environment, project management can make or break a product launch. Additionally, a program of interrelated projects can have a profound impact on the success or failure of a company. This course is a learning-in-action experience that gives you the tools, techniques, and confidence to keep large-scale programs and time-sensitive projects on track and on schedule. You also will learn how to implement agile methodologies to manage projects with complex requirements and high levels of change.

Location: Online and On-Campus

Description:

The course is designed for those students who aspire to influence strategic decisions of an organization directly or indirectly through analytics-driven insights and imaginative reasoning. Based on a deep understanding of the emerging geo-economic, environmental, geopolitical, technological, and demographic trends, the course will examine how through intelligent use of a full range of analytical techniques including game & option(s) theories, businesses must innovate and implement strategies in the context of a globalized economy.

Location: Online and On-Campus

Description:

In this literature and film-based course, students will examine leadership and the role of future engineering leaders. Students will discuss values, moral legitimacy, professionalism, plus quiet leadership. Students are encouraged to look outward and expand their understanding of leadership, the world, and their place in it as future transformational leaders with purpose. Course elements will include formulation of leadership messages, translation of leadership messages into action and real world demonstration of those actions. Topics include: giving voice to values, taking a stand, exercising authority, and emergent leadership.

Location: Online

Description:

With the option to earn a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate, this course provides principles and methods for process improvement by eliminating non-value-added work and by reducing output variability. Tools include the define-measure-analyze-improve-control problem-solving methodology, statistical process control, statistically designed experiments, and risk identification and mitigation strategies.

Location: On-Campus

Description:

This course provides foundational skills for data science practice in business. Topics include: using data and systematic methods to generate business value, as well as shaping data practices within organizations.

Location: Online

Description:

This course builds on topics learned in EM/TML 206 (Introduction to Data Analytics), including more complex data modeling techniques and tools. The course involved the use of established software frameworks to support applied projects in data science. Topics include: PyMC3, PySpark, NLP tools, PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, Flask and Docker.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have completed EM/TML 206 or received instructor consent.

Location: Online

Description:

This course examines experience research and design as applied to the process of user-centered product development. The course involves in-depth study of users leading to innovative product concepts. Students will use personas, data collection methods, journey maps, and storytelling in hands-on projects related to product development.

Location: Online

Description:

Product Management is always a “tweener” role within an organization.  The exact role can span a range of responsibilities depending on the type and needs of the business, the maturity of the product or technology and the style of the management team.  Additionally, the scope, impact and focus of product management shifts dramatically thru the different growth stages of a business.  This seven class online course brings clarity to the practical impacts that a good Product Management process has to business from the earliest “ideation” stage thru building and launching the product.  This will help attendees better understand the product management role and skills, and how it changes based on various conditions of the business and its stage of growth.

Location: Online

Description:

With the rapid changes in technology, business models, and market conditions, the role and processes of product management are constantly shifting.  This course provides classes that cover some of the most pressing topics in the product process. Some areas that will be covered include Pricing, Go-to-Market acceleration, Building an Ecosystem, and Product Lifecycle management.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have completed EM/TML 222 or received instructor permission.

Location: Online

Description:

Understanding Operations and Supply Chain Risk Management is a must for any leader in the technology field. From the shop floor to suppliers and markets on the other side of the world, any business involves a continuum with a spectrum of risks to manage. Whether you have an early-stage invention you hope to get to market, are engaged in social entrepreneurship in the U.S. or overseas, or are part of a global supply chain currently, nothing really happens until you can get your product or service from concept into the hands of customers, and understand the risks inherent in managing that supply chain. We will leverage our more than half-a-century of combined experience in global supply chain management to make you a player in building a world-class end-to-end enterprise.

Location: Online

Description:

This course offers an overview of both macro and microeconomics and provides students with the background required for the Globalization and Multinational Strategies module. Students learn to (i) analyze current global economic issues that are related to trade balance, government budgets, unemployment, the competitiveness of innovation and manufacturing processes, (ii) assess how fiscal and monetary discipline impact economic growth and social & political stability (iii) examine how different economic philosophies shape individual and collective behaviors (iv) analyze market behaviors and (v) develop an understanding of the basics of game theory. 

Location: Online

Description:

Students develop a full understanding of the forces behind globalization and the evolution of multinational companies from different regions of the world. The module examines the strategic, organizational, and operational implications of working and leading in the global environment both in a large multinational organization and in a start-up and discusses how different globalization models work across various industries. 

Location: Online

Description:

Students will learn different problem-solving frameworks and analytical techniques to make more calculated strategic choices between different business models, technologies with different risk profiles. Topics include: strategies for analyzing complex problems, strategic management of corporate and business units, effective communication and storytelling.

Location: Online

Description:

Data Visualization is a core component of the Data Analytics skillset. In this course, you will be introduced to the main concepts of visual analytics such as visual reports and dashboards with a hands-on tutorial to Tableau, which is a leading self-service business intelligence and data visualization tool. Through hands-on exercises, you will learn to identify datasets to connect to, explore, analyze, filter, and structure your data to create and communicate your desired visualizations.

Location: Online

Description:

Being an effective, inclusive communicator is an essential part of being a successful scientist, engineer, or technical professional. Effective communication is the only way to share the results of your work, to collaborate, to innovate, and to meet your ethical obligations as a practicing professional. You will learn to apply principles of effective, inclusive written communication for different purposes and different audiences in the workplace. You will practice different ways to improve your tone, focus, clarity, and organization to get better results from both day-to-day and formal writing.

Location: Online

Description:

Being an effective, inclusive communicator is an essential part of being a successful scientist, engineer, or technical professional. Effective communication is the only way to share the results of your work, to collaborate, to innovate, and to meet your ethical obligations as a practicing professional. You will learn methods to plan and deliver effective business presentations for diverse audiences, including creating clear, engaging slides and data graphics. You will practice and gain confidence in public speaking for in-person and virtual formats.

Location: Online

Description:

Prescriptive Analytics, also known as optimization, is one of the primary pillars of Data Analytics. This course aims to enhance students’ ability to build quantitative models for effective and efficient decision-making. Students will be exposed to a variety of practical business problems in various fields such as operations, supply chain, marketing, human resource, and finance. In each situation, students will identify decision variables, the objective function, and the constraints the optimal solution must satisfy. Then, students will apply various modeling skills and efficient solution methods with a proper selection of software. Once a solution is found from models, students will analyze solutions applying sensitivity analysis to look beyond the solutions. Excel Solver® and Python will be used.

Location: On-Campus

Description:

This course introduces conceptual frameworks, tools, and skills to effectively manage conflict and negotiate win/win solutions in the workplace.  The course will involve lectures, cases, and role-plays to simulate real on-the-job conflicts. 

Location: Online

Description:

The course is designed for those students who aspire to directly experience problem-solving/consulting skills by working with a company for a period of 12 to 14 weeks. During the project students (organized in a team of 3 to 4) will act as consultants and make recommendations to a company by solving specific strategic and operational problems or developing new opportunities, through analytics-driven insights and imaginative reasoning.

Restrictions on Enrollment: This course is only available as an elective for students enrolled in the MSEM or MSTML program.

Location: On-Campus

Description:

This one-credit elective course is an immersive synchronous experience that will be held over one weekend. The course will consist of a series of lectures, discussions, and workshops with an overarching theme that spans across multiple disciplines and industries with an emphasis on future trends in technology. This deep-dive educational experience will also offer networking and social engagement opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. There will be team-building activities including business case analysis, role-playing, scenario planning, and other group work.

Location: Online

Description:

This course teaches techniques on approaches to managing uncertainty and dealing with complex and constant change. Students will learn to manage large and diverse groups through changing internal and external force using conflict management and negotiation tools.

Location: On-Campus

Description:

This course will address the technology policy and workforce/labor issues emerging as key drivers of success in organizations that are technology-focused in the modern era. Building on management theory and practice, legal frameworks, cultural and societal changes, and rapid technology evolution, this module will allow students to understand the multi-dimensional management challenges that are now critical elements of innovation in all industries.

Location: On-campus

Description:

Development of effective communications skills across a range of personal and professional scenarios, interpersonal communication, networking, and best practices in both verbal and non-verbal communications. Written communication skills for developing formal reports, drafting emails, and using social media.

Restrictions on Enrollment: None

Location: On-campus

Description:

The "Introduction to Intellectual Property" course offers a comprehensive overview of the fundamental concepts and legal frameworks that govern intellectual property (IP) rights. Students will explore the four main categories of IP—patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets—learning how they protect innovations, brand identity, creative works, and confidential business information. The course covers key principles such as IP ownership, infringement, and enforcement, as well as the role of IP in fostering innovation and economic growth. By examining real-world case studies, students gain practical insights into how IP laws impact industries such as life sciences, artificial intelligence, material sciences and media, preparing them for further study or careers in law, business, or creative fields

Restrictions on Enrollment: Junior, Senior, or Graduate students only

Location: On-campus

Description:

This course will explore the role of business in the modern, changing world by examining different types of business and different roles and functions within business. Students will become proficient in talking about businesses and business situations while learning how to participate in a business from the inside—whether as an essential employee, manager, business leader, or entrepreneur. Through case studies, debate, role playing, and guest speakers from diverse fields, students will consider social, cultural, organizational, and technological factors affecting business organizations. This course can be a stand-alone introduction for a student who wants to gain basic business literacy and be better prepared to enter a professional career, or it can serve as a starting point for further coursework in leadership, management, business, and entrepreneurship.

Restrictions on Enrollment: None.

Location: Online

Description:

What is the future of leadership in the world of Industry 4.0? How will the growing diffusion of technologies throughout society and the workplace - such as digital, AI, and robotics - impact the dynamics of leadership and the approach of leaders? Are the fundamentals of leadership still relevant today, or does the Age of Technology require something different from the leaders of tomorrow? Emerging from the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, this course explores how leaders need to confront change and embrace the technologies of Industry 4.0 in a world that is increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. Tomorrow’s leaders will require the human-centered soft skills to lead teams that are increasingly remote and global, while still channeling the hard skills to plan and organize in a way that is timeless. These transformational leaders, however, should be guided by a sense of purpose and a set of values that help them navigate the ethical and moral dilemmas inherent in balancing the needs of people, planet, and profit. Students will gain a better understanding of the forces shaping the theory and practice of leadership and evolve their thinking about their own leadership style in the Age of Technology.

Location: Online

Description:

This course lays the foundation for creativity and innovation by reminding students that deliberate creative thinking can be enhanced beyond its current state. The uniqueness of this course is that it focuses on YOU as the practitioner of creativity and innovation. We ask: What skills do YOU have now? What skills do YOU still require? What behaviors in YOU will have to change to be better at your craft?  As students, you will embrace their inner core of your own personal creativity and build on it.

Location: Online

Description:

Systems thinking helps leaders observe the interconnectedness of organizational variables to permanently solve chronic issues. The course involves Application of the analytical tools of systems thinking (loops, links, delays, and archetypes) in combination with innovative human-centered design. Focus is placed on a humanistic approach to complexity with recognition of emerging technologies as tools created by people for people

Location: On-Campus

Description:

Tools and techniques to promote creativity and innovation with application to everyday problem solving, launching new ventures, and working in businesses and non-profit organizations. Rapid ideation workshops for novel solutions and innovations. Tools to stimulate brainstorming and creativity. This class is designed for undergraduate students, particularly Freshmen and Sophomores, who have not taken an ENT core course and are interested in learning more about innovation and entrepreneurship.

Restrictions on Enrollment:  No previous ENT credit.

Recommendation: Students with significant design thinking, innovation or entrepreneurship experience should not take this introductory class.

Location: On-Campus

Description:

This course focuses on investigating, understanding, and implementing the process of founding a start-up firm. Elements of searching out new venture opportunities, matching skills with a new venture, financing, competitive strategy, intellectual property, and operating a new venture will be explored. The focus of the course will be the development and presentation of a business plan created by teams of students with various academic backgrounds.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing

Location: On-Campus

Description:

Financial statement construction and analysis for new ventures. Financial business plan development; evaluation of disparate commercial enterprises; business valuation. Utilization of modern financial tools to support investment decisions. Skills development to define and create pathways to fund and grow a business to optimize results and minimize risks.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing. Recommended prerequisite: ENT 101

Location: On-Campus

Description:

This course focuses on institutional and product marketing methods used by start-up to medium-sized companies. After an overview of basic marketing principles, the course will cover the spectrum from day-to-day marketing activities of the entrepreneurial business to positioning and strategy. Students will learn to analyze, formulate, and implement marketing strategies, explore concepts for understanding customer behavior and creating an entrepreneurial marketing strategy, and learn the fundamentals of market research, pricing, and reaching and selling to customers.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing. Recommended prerequisite: ENT 101

Location: On-Campus

Description:

Marketing isn’t Sales, and Sales isn’t Marketing, but they are both joined at the hip since every product, every service and job needs to “sold” in order to close any deal. Our “Science of Sales” course explores process, tools, technology, metrics and most importantly, the people that are required to actually sell, close orders and bring in revenue.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing. Recommended prerequisite: ENT 101

Location: On-Campus

Description:

This course is designed to help students develop the knowledge, confidence, skills, and self-image necessary to pursue entrepreneurial ventures in such domains as business, government, and public service. It provides a foundation in the fundamentals of entrepreneurial leadership, as well as a source of inspiration and energy in the art and science of taking visions and bringing them to reality.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing. Recommended prerequisite: ENT 101

Location: On-Campus

Description:

Multi-disciplinary perspective of innovative technology-based design process for societal and community influence. Elements and principles of design from product development process, thought and emotion, ethics and responsibility. Experiments to explore failure and iteration, reflection for self-discovery and innovation. Articulation and expression via written, oral and pre-recorded audio and video presentations showing measurable impact of solutions as societal benefits.

Restrictions on Enrollment: None.

Location: On-Campus

Description:

Learn how to address systemic social and environmental problems and generate financial returns. Choose a problem based on your personal why. Form a diverse team and interview stakeholders. Interact with experienced impact entrepreneurs and investors. Create and present a compelling pitch deck over time. Emerge with greater confidence as a leader, transferable professional skills, and maybe even a social impact venture.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing.

Location: On-Campus

Description:

Nonprofits are a valued engine for community engagement and innovation across the country. This complex sector is built on the desire to do good through scalable, sustainable organizational strategies that deliver impact. Study of successful nonprofits and the connection between nonprofits, philanthropy, and impact. Grantmaking strategy and award.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing.

Location: On-campus

Description:

Cultivate professional practices and methods that support creative career development. Weekly readings, lectures, discussions, assignments and visitors address topics related to professional artistic development including: goal setting, artist writing, networking & community building, promotion, documentation, grants & residencies, business planning, navigating non-profits, museums and galleries, etc. Develop professional artistic objectives within a community of peers

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing.

Location: On-campus

Description:

This course covers the entrepreneurial process from conception to commercialization or launch of a new venture focused on a consumer product. It looks at both process and people involved in assessing ideas, exploiting opportunities, gathering resources, and converting concepts into financially and technically viable businesses. 

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing.

Location: On-campus

Description:

User-centered approach to the creative product design process from ideation to pre-production. Identification and evaluation of a problem (opportunity), creation, development, testing (with consumers), and selection of prototyping strategies. Basic project and risk management, engineering, and analysis skills to deliver a robust working product on time and on budget. Content assumes competence in basic problem-solving skills.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing.

Location: On-campus

Description:

Legal issues and considerations common to the business life cycle. Formation, seed and venture capital financing, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, securities law, employment and intellectual property, and governance considerations. Negotiation of various financing and other transactions. Speakers from the private equity, venture capital, and investment banking worlds as well as executives who have exited through a public offering or sale of their company.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing.

Location: On-campus

Description:

Exploratory course for beginners that teaches practical, hands-on skills to make working prototypes of your products. Make physical things, make them work, and integrate them with electronics/software. Common fabrication techniques including foamboard, 3D printing, laser cutting, electronics, and Arduino programming. Demonstration of hands-on skills and entrepreneurial spirit in an individual final
project.

Restrictions on Enrollment: None.

Location: On-campus

Description:

Understanding how your product or service fits with the consumer and how your business will fit into the market is the first step to creating a successful business. In this course students will start to learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, innovation, culture, business models and strategy and how these elements vary across industries.

The course will be supported by a diverse lineup of accomplished guest lecturers from fields such as healthcare, consumer packaged goods (food & beverage), software, consulting, fintech and social impact. Team and individual assignments will reinforce key elements from the lectures and help students build up their own entrepreneurial toolkits.

Restrictions on Enrollment: None

Location: On-campus

Description:

This hands-on course focuses on the application of lean principles in software development with a focus on entrepreneurial projects and ventures. Students will learn to build, measure, and iterate on software products quickly to achieve product-market. Emphasis will be on leadership strategies for managing lean teams, making data-driven decisions, and fostering innovation in resource-constrained environments with high levels of uncertainty. This course places emphasis on the iterative nature of product development and decision-making in entrepreneurial environments. Students will work in agile teams, taking on roles such as Product Owner or Scrum Master, to experience how lean software development works in real-world, high-uncertainty settings.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Must have at least Sophomore standing.

Location: On-campus

Description:

Beginner-friendly course that teaches you to build software systems, including web sites and apps, without knowing how to code. Build confidence creating on line content using web builders and productivity and note-taking apps. Learn to manage and visualize data with no-code platforms. The course culminates in a final project where you will develop and deploy a fully functional app using low- or no-code platforms, allowing aspiring venture builders to test your solutions without writing a line of code.

Restrictions on Enrollment: None

Location: On-campus

Description:

Introductory course that takes students through all phases of business creation for an actual small business. Students will survey their skills, interests, assets and resources, choose a target market segment and associated customer problem, and create a plan for a small business built around their hobbies or professional skills. Students will learn the in’s and out’s of primary market research, iterative solution development, marketing and sales, basics of small business finance, and legal and accounting considerations. At the end of the course, they will have a real business they can launch and run as a side hustle.

Restrictions on Enrollment: None

Description:

Under the guidance of a faculty member, students apply concepts learned in the classroom and acquire new skills as they address real life challenges while working as an intern at a company. Internships typically involve students serving in a functional role with an entrepreneurial focus, such as product management, entrepreneurial marketing and sales.

See this website for more details: https://derbyecenter.tufts.edu/academics/ent-courses/

Restrictions on Enrollment:  Must have at least Sophomore standing. Registration requires department consent.

Description:

This course enables students to apply the learning and skills acquired by other courses on entrepreneurship. Students have the option of starting a new business based on an actual business plan or consulting in an actual start-up operation. Students who select the new business option will be expected to submit a project-scope paper that outlines the elements of the launch that could be accomplished within the term limits.

See this website for more details: https://derbyecenter.tufts.edu/academics/ent-courses/

Enrollment Restrictions:  Must have at least Sophomore standing. Registration requires department consent.

Location: On-Campus (Boston) - Please note that the location for this in-person course is the Friedman School in Boston (not Medford).

Description:

This course is designed to introduce students to the theory and practice of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial theory and practice relevant to the nutrition/food space will be discussed from the perspectives of a stand-alone start-up company and within larger organizations. This course is designed for students interested in exploring how entrepreneurship can be incorporated into food and nutrition and who may wish to begin to build an entrepreneurial skill set. Course topics will include ideation, finding potential investors, pitch development and pitching skills, competitive analysis, market sizing, business plan development, basic entrepreneurial finance and legal issues, entrepreneurial ethics, and management skills needed to run an entrepreneurial venture. Final products of the course will be a pitch presentation and a written business plan.

Restrictions on Enrollment: Instructor Consent - This is a cross-listed, Level 200 graduate course. Undergraduate students who wish to take this course will need to reach out to Professor Jimmy Edgerton for permission to enroll.