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Areas of Study |
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Economics |
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Health Care Systems |
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Management |
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Operations & Information Management |
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Statistics |
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Economics |
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ECON 681 Microeconomic Theory |
Basic
tools of microeconomic theory: consumer choice, firm
behavior, partial and general equilibrium theory. |
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ECON 682 Game Theory and Applications |
A graduate level introduction to decision making under uncertainty, applied game theory, and information economics. |
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Health Care Systems |
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HCMG 845 Managed Care and Market Structure |
This course, co-taught by Professor Rob Burns and Brad
Fleugel of Aetna, focuses on two interrelated topics:
managed care and market structure. The section on managed
care covers strategic planning and marketing of managed care
services, operational issues in developing a managed care
network, actuarial issues, and the management of physician
behavior. The section on health care market structure
analyzes strategies of vertical integration and horizontal
integration (M&As), and their attempt to alter the balance
of power in local healthcare markets. The section also
analyzes the operational issues in managing cost and quality
in an integrated system, integration along the supply chain,
and the performance of these systems. |
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HCMG 900 Proseminar in Health Services Research |
This seminar will explore the theoretical and the empirical
literature on the diffusion of innovation. We will consider
innovations of various sorts - those embodied in concrete
"products" as well as those that are organizational and/or
managerial in nature. The principal objective of the seminar
will be to understand those factors that facilitate the
diffusion process as well as those that slow it down. We
will read work in many fields, including organization
theory, consumer psychology, marketing, sociology and
geography. Each student will be responsible for designing a
study of the diffusion of an innovation or set of
innovations of particular interest to him or her. The
seminar is offered by the Department of Health Care Systems,
and many of the examples of empirical studies will come from
health services research. |
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HCMG 901 Health Care Cost Effectiveness
Analysis & Cost Benefit Analysis |
The purpose of this doctoral level course is to investigate
the theory and practice of cost-benefit and
cost-effectiveness analysis as applied to health care. The
three techniques to be examined are cost-effectiveness
analysis with single dimensional outcomes, cost
effectiveness analysis with multiple attributes (especially
in the form of Quality Adjusted Life Years), and economic
cost-benefit analysis. Valuation of mortality and morbidity
relative to other goods will be emphasized. Students will be
expected to develop written critiques of articles in the
literature, and to design a new application of one of the
techniques as a term project. |
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HCMG 903 Economics of Health Cost &
Policy |
This course applies basic economic concepts to analyze the
health care market and evaluate health policies. The course
begins with an analysis of the demand for health, the
derived demand for medical care and the demand for health
insurance. The second part of the course examines the supply
of medical care by physicians and hospitals, medical
technology, and the role of managed care organizations. The
implication of adverse selection, moral hazard,
externalities, and asymmetric information will be explored.
The third part of the course examines the rationale for
government intervention in medical markets as well as the
effectiveness and efficiency of various health policies,
including: Medicare, Medicaid, price regulation of
hospitals, physician payment reform, medical malpractice,
uncompensated care, and physician manpower planning. |
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Management |
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MGMT 900 The Economic Foundations of
Management Research |
This seminar explores the foundation questions of the strategy field-the questions that keep reappearing in ever-changing guises when specific strategic issues are confronted in a variety of contexts. There are substantial social science literatures dealing with most of these questions. The major purpose of the seminar is to expose students to samples of these literatures and to point out their relevance to strategy. The contributions of economic thinking to the strategy field receive disproportionate attention, but not to the point where they crowd other disciplines or strategy itself off the stage. |
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MGMT 925 Corporate Strategy |
The seminar is built around published empirical research in corporate strategy. Articles for discussion will be drawn from journals in several fields, including economics, the behavioral sciences, management science, business administration, and elsewhere. Students will take turns leading the seminar discussion (with the help of the instructor). |
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MGMT 933 The Psychological and
Sociological Foundations of Research in Management |
Management 933 provides students with discipline-based
"foundations of" theory and research. Specifically, this
course will explore the intellectual history of psychology
and sociology in management beginning in the early 1900s to
the 1970's. Topics include: the social context of individual
behavior, motivation and job satisfaction, organizational
context and bureaupathology, industrial and organizational
selection, training and development. Currently enrolled. |
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MGMT 951 Micro-Organizational Behavior |
This course is a research seminar on micro and meso theories
of organizational behavior. The main objective of this
seminar is to examine theoretical statements of individual
and group behavior in organizations, to examine how
organizational variables affect such behavior, to discuss
and evaluate critically some empirical studies based on
these theories, and finally, to understand the emerging
general direction of the area. Currently enrolled. |
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MGMT 953 Research Methods in Management |
This seminar introduces the doctoral student to the ways & means of doing research and delivering it in the form of papers and/or monographs. The course offers an overview of theory development, the logic of research, the relationship between theoretical & empirical constructs, a wide variety of specific research methodologies, and the scholarly publication process. |
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Operations & Information Management |
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OPIM 900 Decision Processes |
Normative and descriptive models of decision making,
including expected utility theory, behavioral models of
choice and related empirical and experimental evidence.
Intertemporal choice models, ambiguity and uncertainty.
Applications in contracting/incentive design, consumer
choice, finance, and public policy. |
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OPIM 940 Operations Management |
Introduction to concepts, models, and theories relevant to
the management of the processes required to provide goods or
services to consumers. Includes, production, inventory and
distribution functions, supply chain management, scheduling
of service or manufacturing activities, facility capacity
planning and design, product design. The methodological
basis for the course includes management science, economic
theory, organization theory. Currently enrolled. |
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Statistics |
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STAT 500 Applied Regression & ANOVA |
An applied graduate level course in multiple regression and
analysis of variance for students who have completed an
undergraduate course in basic statistical methods. Emphasis
is on practical methods of data analysis and their
interpretation. Covers model building, general linear
hypothesis, residual analysis, leverage and influence,
one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, and factorial ANOVA. Primarily
for doctoral students in the managerial, behavioral, social
and health sciences. |
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STAT 501 Introduction to Nonparametric Methods and Log-linear Models |
An applied graduate level course for students who have completed an undergraduate course in basic statistical methods. Covers two unrelated topics: log linear and logit models for discrete data and nonparametric methods for non normal data. Emphasis is on practical methods of data analysis and their interpretation. |
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Areas of Study |
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Chemistry |
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Computer Science |
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Economics |
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Foreign Languages and Literatures |
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Linguistics & Philosophy |
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Management Science |
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Mathematics |
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Physics |
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Writing |
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Chemistry |
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5.111
Principles of Chemical Science |
Introduction to chemistry, with emphasis on basic principles
of atomic and molecular electronic structure,
thermodynamics, acid-base and redox equilibria, chemical
kinetics, and catalysis. Introduction to the chemistry of
biological, inorganic, and organic molecules. |
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Computer Science |
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6.001
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs |
Control of complexity in large programming systems. Building
abstractions: computational processes; higher-order
procedures; compound data; and data abstractions.
Controlling interactions: generic operations;
self-describing data; message passing; streams and infinite
data structures; and object-oriented programming.
Meta-linguistic abstraction: interpretation of programming
languages; machine model; compilation; and embedded
languages. Substantial weekly programming assignments are an
integral part of the subject. |
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6.034
Artificial Intelligence |
Introduces representations, techniques, and architectures
used to build applied systems and to account for
intelligence from a computational point of view.
Applications of rule chaining, heuristic search, constraint
propagation, constrained search, inheritance, and other
problem-solving paradigms. Applications of identification
trees, neural nets, genetic algorithms, and other learning
paradigms. Speculations on the contributions of human vision
and language systems to human intelligence. |
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6.041 Probabilistic Systems
Analysis |
Modeling, quantification, and analysis of uncertainty.
Formulation and solution in sample space. Random variables,
transform techniques, simple random processes and their
probability distributions, Markov processes, limit theorems,
and elements of statistical inference. Interpretations,
applications, and lecture demonstrations. |
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Physics |
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8.01X Physics
I |
Introduces classical mechanics. Space and time:
straight-line kinematics; motion in a plane; forces and
equilibrium; experimental basis of Newton's laws; particle
dynamics; universal gravitation; collisions and conservation
laws; work and potential energy; vibrational motion;
conservative forces; inertial forces and non-inertial
frames; central force motions; rigid bodies and rotational
dynamics |
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8.02X Physics
II |
Main emphasis on electricity and magnetism. Topics include
currents and DC circuits; capacitance, resistance, and
nonsteady currents; Coulomb's Law and electrostatic fields;
Gauss's Law; electric potential; magnetic fields of
currents; electromagnetic induction; magnetism and matter;
AC circuits and resonance; Maxwell's equations;
electromagnetic fields in space; electromagnetism and
relativity; electromagnetic radiation as waves and photons.
Kits of equipment are provided for the performance of a
relevant take-home experiment as part of the homework each
week. |
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Economics |
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14.01
Principles of Microeconomics |
Introduces microeconomic concepts and analysis, supply and
demand analysis, theories of the firm and individual
behavior, competition and monopoly, and welfare economics.
Applications to problems of current economic policy. |
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14.02
Principles of Macroeconomics |
Provides an overview of macroeconomic issues: the
determination of output, employment, unemployment, interest
rates, and inflation. Monetary and fiscal policies are
discussed. Important current policy debates such as social
security, the public debt, and international economic issues
are critically explored. Introduces basic models of
macroeconomics and illustrates principles with the
experience of the US and foreign economies. |
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14.03
Intermediate Applied Microeconomics |
Presents basic theory and applications of consumer and
producer behavior and welfare analysis at an intermediate
level. Emphasizes applications, including the measurement of
productivity, rationing, insurance markets, and
intertemporal behavior. |
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14.20
Industrial Organization and Public Policy |
Analyzes the structure, behavior, and performance of
industrial markets in the US economy. Topics include the
measurement of monopoly power, behavior of firms in
oligopoly markets, static and dynamic measures of market
performance, antitrust, research and development, and theory
of the firm. |
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14.21J
Health Economics |
Applies theoretical and empirical tools of economics to problems of health and medical care delivery. Concentrates on selected problems such as the welfare economics of "health" as a commodity, hospitals and the nonprofit sector, human capital and medical manpower, and innovation in medicine. |
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14.286J
Health Economics Seminar |
Advanced subject in economics of health care sector.
Considers selected topics in depth, such as design and
financing of health insurance, behavior of nonprofit
hospitals, role of competition in the medical care market,
determinants of technological change, and effects of
government regulations. |
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Management Science |
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15.053
Optimization Methods in Management Science |
Introduces students to the theory, algorithms, and applications of optimization. The optimization methodologies include linear programming, network optimization, integer programming, and decision trees. Applications to logistics, manufacturing, transportation, marketing, project management, and finance.
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15.075
Statistical Thinking and Data Analysis |
Introduces statistical data analysis, concentrating on techniques used in management science and finance. Topics chosen from: statistical graphics; sampling; estimation; hypothesis testing; linear and logistic regression; analysis of variance; categorical data analysis; and classification. SAS, S+ or similar statistics package used for computing. |
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15.141J
Economics of the Health Care Industries |
Focuses on economic issues in various health care industries, such as the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries. Differences between health care and other industries, regulatory issues involving establishing efficacy and cost-effectiveness of treatments, strategic issues in global marketing and pricing, use of e-commerce and information technology, and formation and management of various alliances, are addressed. Visiting speakers come from academia, government and industry. |
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15.279
Management Communication for Undergraduates |
Required seminar for Management Science majors to develop
the writing, speaking, teamwork, and interpersonal
communication skills necessary for managers. Students learn
communication principles, strategies, and methods through
discussions, exercises, examples, and cases. Assignments
include writing memos and business letters, and giving oral
presentations in labs outside of class. A major project is
the production of a team report and presentation on a topic
of interest to a managerial audience. |
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15.390 New Enterprises |
Covers the process of identifying and quantifying market
opportunities, then conceptualizing, planning, and starting
a new, technology-based enterprise. Topics include:
opportunity assessment, the value proposition, the
entrepreneur, legal issues, entrepreneurial ethics, the
business plan, the founding team, seeking customers and
raising funds. Students develop detailed business plans for
a startup. Intended for students who want to start their own
business, further develop an existing business, be a member
of a management team in a new enterprise, or better
understand the entrepreneur and the entrepreneurial process. |
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15.301
Managerial Psychology Laboratory |
Core subject for students majoring in management science.
Surveys individual and social psychology and organization
theory interpreted in the context of the managerial
environment. Laboratory involves projects of an applied
nature in behavioral science. Emphasizes use of behavioral
science research methods to test hypotheses concerning
decision making, group behavior and organizational behavior.
Instruction and practice in communication include report
writing, team projects, and oral and visual presentation. |
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15.358 The
Software Business |
Seminar-style subject for those interested in founding or
growing an enterprise or consumer software company
(products, services or both), or working as a software
company manager, product or program manager, or industry
analyst. Examine approaches used for organization and
product development at successful companies ranging from
Microsoft and IBM to a variety of relatively new companies.
History of software as a business as well as key trends in
different software markets. Student-teams help teach weekly
sessions and analyze "interesting companies" selected by
students which form the basis for team projects. |
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15.401
Finance Theory I |
Core theory of modern financial economics and financial
management, concentrating on capital markets and
investments. Required for most finance electives and for the
Financial Management and Financial Engineering tracks.
Topics: functions of capital markets and financial
intermediaries; fixed income investments; diversification
and portfolio selection; valuation theory and equilibrium
pricing of risky assets; the theory of efficient markets;
and an introduction to derivatives. |
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15.501
Introduction to Financial and Managerial Accounting |
Studies basic concepts of financial and managerial
reporting. Viewpoint is that of readers of financial and
managerial reports rather than the accountants who prepare
them. |
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15.561
Information Technology Essentials |
Subject covers technology concepts and trends underlying
current and future developments in information technology,
and fundamental principles for the effective use of
computer-based information systems. Special emphasis on
networks and distributed computing, including the web. Other
topics include: hardware and operating systems, software
development tools and processes, relational databases,
security and cryptography, enterprise applications and
business process redesign, and electronic commerce. Hands-on
exposure to web, database, and graphical user interface
(GUI) tools. |
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15.564 IT
Essentials II: Advanced Technologies for Digital Business in
the Knowledge Economy |
Advanced information technologies for digital business in
the era of the knowledge economy, combining depth and
breadth. Particular technologies, their central underlying
concepts, and discussion of their functional applications.
Technologies emphasis on second generation of fundamental
Web technologies, including XML, services, and automated
knowledge bases such as semantic web. Applications emphasis
is on intra- and inter- enterprise business process
automation across numerous areas of business and management,
including B2B, supply chain, finance, marketing, and
customer/partner relationships. Considers strategic impacts,
industry standards, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Draws
upon artificial intelligence and distributed systems theory.
Second-term half subject. |
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15.565J
Integrating Information Systems: Technical, Strategic, and
Organizational Factors |
Emphasis on modern communications and Internet technologies
and database and web technologies, and their role in
supporting the integration of information systems. Presents
frameworks for understanding integrating concepts and the
strategic and organizational factors impacting success of IT
in business. Issues addressed include technical factors:
local-area, wide-area, and Internet communications networks,
distributed databases, data extraction from web sites,
semantic web, semantic reconciliation among heterogeneous
sources; strategic factors: globalization and integration of
information, competitive forces, interlinked value chains;
organizational factors: loosely coupled organizations,
development of standards, motivating strategic alliances. |
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15.568 Management Information
Systems |
Concepts, frameworks, tools, techniques, and processes that
assist management in its interaction with and direction of
computer-based information systems today. Discusses the
impact of the Internet, changes in the IT industry, and
changes in other industries as a result of IT. Also notes
the redesign of information flows to meet the needs of both
control and empowerment in the era of the global information
infrastructure and networked organizations. Emphasizes
managerial point of view and organizational issues involved
in managing a firm's information resources. |
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15.665 Power
and Negotiation |
Provides understanding of the theory and processes of
negotiation as practiced in a variety of settings. Designed
for relevance to the broad spectrum of bargaining problems
faced by the manager and professional. Allows students an
opportunity to develop negotiation skills experientially and
to understand negotiation in useful analytical frameworks.
Emphasizes simulations, exercises, role playing, and cases. |
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15.812
Marketing Management |
Provides an overview of the major areas in marketing,
including the assessment of consumer needs, market
segmentation, targeting and positioning, product design and
branding, pricing, advertising, forecasting demand, survey
design, and consumer psychology. Coverage includes lectures,
case studies, and class demonstrations. |
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15.843
Special Seminar in Marketing: Advertising |
Provides a managerial perspective on making marketing
communications decisions. Promotes understanding of the
issues in planning and evaluating marketing communication
campaigns. Introduces theories necessary for understanding
marketing communications. |
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15.966
Special Seminar in Management: Managing in Adversity |
Consists of a series of guest lectures by CEOs of companies that have experienced adversity. Uses the case method. |
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15.970
Special Seminar in Management: Digital Innovations |
This applied social science and media arts seminar surveys
the blossoming arena of digital-artifact enabled
experimental sociology. It emphasizes both (a) Technology
Testbeds – experimenting with research lab prototypes and
corporate pre-production products in a sample human
organizational population and carefully observing the social
consequences, and (b) Sociometrics – using digital artifacts
to better observe and measure the complex social reality of
interesting human systems. |
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15.971
Special Seminar in Management: Developmental Entrepreneurship
& Social Innovation |
Developmental Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation (DESI) is a Fall semester seminar on building entrepreneurial ventures, especially using the new generation of mobile information and communications technologies, with particular emphasis on those exponential technologies and ventures which can cause major positive social change throughout the world. |
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Mathematics |
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18.023
Calculus with Applications |
Calculus of several variables, emphasizing applications.
Vector algebra, partial differentiation, multiple integrals,
and vector calculus. Asymptotic and numerical methods. |
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18.03
Differential Equations |
Study of ODE's, including modeling physical systems.
Solution of first-order ODE's by analytical, graphical and
numerical methods. Linear ODE's, especially second order
with constant coefficients. Undetermined coefficients and
variation of parameters. Sinusoidal and exponential signals:
oscillations, damping, resonance. Complex numbers and
exponentials. Fourier series, periodic solutions. Delta
functions, convolution, and Laplace transform methods.
Matrix and first order linear systems: eigenvalues and
eigenvectors. Non-linear autonomous systems: critical point
analysis and phase plane diagrams. |
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18.06 Linear Algebra |
Basic subject on matrix theory and linear algebra,
emphasizing topics useful in other disciplines, including
systems of equations, vector spaces, determinants,
eigenvalues, similarity, and positive definite matrices.
Applications to least-squares approximations, stability of
differential equations, networks, Fourier transforms, and
Markov processes. Uses MATLAB. |
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Foreign Languages and Literatures |
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21F.027J
Visualizing Cultures |
Examines how visual images shape the identity of peoples and cultures. A prototype digital project looking at American and Japanese graphics depicting the opening of Japan to the outside world in the 1850s is used as a case study to introduce the conceptual and practical issues involved in visualizing cultures. Guest lecturers include professionals engaged in various aspects of collecting, analyzing, and presenting graphic images. Students create and present a project involving visualized cultures. |
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21F.035
Topics in Culture and Globalization |
The concept of globalization fosters the understanding of the interconnectedness of cultures and societies geographically wide apart such as America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Subject scans existing debates over globalization. Explores how globalization impacts everyday life in the First and Third World; how globalization leads to a common cosmopolitan culture; the emergence of a global youth culture; and religious, social, and political movements that challenge globalization. |
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21F.036
Advertising and Popular Culture: East Asian Perspectives |
Examines modern advertising culture in East Asia (with a week devoted to India) with an emphasis on post-socialist China. Topics include the rise of transnational advertising agencies in East Asia since the 1980s; advertising and identity formation; the production of brand culture and its impact on youth culture; music marketing; the new paradigm of neo neo-tribes; media and advertising, and mobile culture and branding. Case studies of famous advertising campaigns for beer and beverage brands, clothing brands, and Internet portal brands. Lab sessions on how to brand your own imaginary product step by step. View award-winning ads presented at the Asia/Pacific Advertising Festivals and Chinese television commercials. |
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21F.067J
Cultural Performances of Asia |
Topics include the all-female Takarazuka Revue, all-male Kabuki, high fashion of Comme
Des Garcons, samurai masculinity in film, Asian
representations online. Emphasis on Japan, but other Asian
cultures considered. Examines cultural performances of Asia,
including both traditional and contemporary forms, in a
variety of genres, with particular attention to gender
issues. Explores the communicative power of performances
with attention to the ways performers, media, cultural
settings, and audiences interact. Considers ways
representation of cultural difference is altered through
processes of globalization. Performances viewed live when
possible, but also relies on video, audio, and online
materials. |
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Writing |
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21W.735
Writing and Reading the Essay |
Exploration of formal and informal modes of writing
nonfiction prose. Extensive practice in composition,
revision, and editing. Reading in the literature of the
essay from the Renaissance to the present, with an emphasis
on modern writers. Classes alternate between discussion of
published readings and workshops on student work. |
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21W.749
Documentary Photography and Photojournalism: Still Images
of a World in Motion |
Designed to increase students' understanding of,
appreciation for, and ability to do documentary photography
and photojournalism. Each three-hour class is divided
between a discussion of issues and readings, and a group
critique of students' projects. Students must have their own
photographic equipment and be responsible for processing and
printing: either by student or commercial lab. Students must
show basic proficiency with their equipment. Readings
include Susan Sontag, Robert Coles, Ken Light, Eugene
Richards, and others. Previous photographic experience
required. |
21W.765J
Interactive and Non-Linear Narrative: Theory and Practice
|
Techniques of creating narratives that take advantage of the
flexibility of form offered by the computer. Study of the
structural properties of book-based narratives that
experiment with digression, multiple points of view,
disruptions of time and of storyline. Analysis of the
structure and evaluation of the literary qualities of
computer-based narratives including hypertexts, adventure
games, and classic artificial intelligence programs like
Eliza. With this base, students use authoring systems to
model a variety of narrative techniques and to create their
own fictions. |
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21W.778
Science Journalism |
An introduction to print daily journalism and news writing,
focusing on science news writing in general, and medical
writing in particular. Emphasis is on writing clearly and
accurately under deadline pressure. Class discussions
involve the realities of modern journalism, how newsrooms
function, and the science news coverage in daily
publications. Discussions of, and practice in, interviewing
and various modes of reporting. In class, students write
numerous science news stories on-deadline. There are
additional longer writing assignments outside of class. |
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21W.784
Becoming Digital: Writing about Media Change |
Explores ramifications of the changing way we communicate, do business, gather information, and find entertainment. Problems that arise in the transition from pre-digital to digital media. Topics include manipulation of digital images, the ethics of anonymity on the Internet, the social repercussions of the computer, and the allure of computer gaming. Sources include readings and film. Frequent writing and revision, an oral presentation, and intensive class participation are required. |
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21W.785
Communicating in Cyberspace |
Subject covers the analysis, design, implementation, and
testing of various forms of digital communication based on
group collaboration. Students are encouraged to think about
the Web and other new digital interactive media not just in
terms of technology but also broader issues such as language
(verbal and visual), design, information architecture,
communication and community. Students work in small groups
on a semester-long project of their choice. Various written
and oral presentations document project development. |
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21W.ThT
Writing and Humanistic Studies Pre-Thesis Tutorial |
Definition of and early stage work on a thesis project leading to 21W.ThU Undergraduate Thesis in Writing. Taken during the first term of a student's two-term commitment to the thesis project. Student works closely with an individual faculty tutor. Required of all students pursuing a full major in Course XXIW. |
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21W.ThU
Writing and Humanistic Studies Thesis |
Completion of work on the senior major thesis under the supervision of a faculty tutor. Includes oral presentation of the thesis progress early in the term, assembling and revising the final text, and a final meeting with a committee of faculty evaluators to discuss the successes and limitations of the project. Required of students pursuing a full major in Course XXIW. |
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Linguistics &
Philosophy |
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24.04J
Justice |
An examination of alternative theories of
justice—utilitarianism, rights theories, social contract
theory, and communitarianism—and the implications of those
theories for problems of liberty, equality, and community.
Readings drawn principally from the work of contemporary
political philosophers, including Rawls, Nozick, Dworkin,
Walzer, MacIntyre, and Buchanan. |
