Business Administration M.B.A. and M.S. Programs Through the School of Business and Mass Communication, Brenau University offers the M.B.A. degree with majors in accounting, business administration, healthcare management and project management. In addition, Brenau offers the M.S. degree in organizational leadership. Foundation level courses provide necessary background for M.B.A. students whose undergraduate degree is not in business. Admissions Requirements In addition to the general requirements for admissions stated in the Graduate Admissions section of this Catalog, all applicants for admission to any of the graduate business administration programs (M.B.A.) must have an undergraduate G.P.A. of 2.5 or above and submit a current resume. If the student does not meet admission requirements, the student s file will be forwarded to the Graduate Business Chair for review. After analyzing the students information and with the consultation of appropriate faculty, one of the following will occur: Student will be required to take the GMAT for possible admission. Student will be admitted based on undergraduate major, work experience, or other extraordinary events. Student will be declined admission. Generally applicants for the graduate business programs are expected to meet the stated admissions requirements. However, Brenau may consider an applicant who does not meet [all] stated requirements, but who, in the opinion of the appropriate department, may be a good candidate for admission to the University. In such cases an applicant's credentials will be reviewed by the graduate admissions committee, (based on departmental referral), to determine if the applicant is qualified for admission. IACBE Accreditation The programs offered by the Business Department of Brenau University are fully accredited by the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). This nationally recognized international accrediting body awards specialized accreditation for business programs only. Accreditation of the Business Department at Brenau University serves several purposes: 1) program validity conducted by an external accrediting body, 2) allows Brenau University faculty, students, and graduates to participate in IACBE seminars, forums, and functions, and 3) establish relationships with fellow institutions around the world who are also accredited through IACBE. Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Purpose The purpose of the M.B.A. program is to provide men and women with the key management, financial, marketing, and operational principles needed for effective management of an organization. Students can expect a strong theoretical foundation with practical applications. M.B.A. students can choose a major of accounting, business administration, healthcare management or project management to enhance their professional qualifications. These are the four overarching objective of the M.B.A. program: Graduates of the Brenau M.B.A. program will: 1. Be prepared to hold positions that entail or lead to managerial responsibility in organizations. 269
2. Be prepared to make significant contributions to organizational problem-solving and decision-making. 3. Encourage an ethical business environment. 4. Be prepared to lead in a global marketplace. Outcome Statements 1. Upon completion of the M.B.A. program, students should be able to: 2. Conceptualize, organize, and resolve complex business problems using technology and people resources; 3. Use financial information to make decisions and evaluate alternatives; 4. Communicate (written and oral) effectively in an organizational setting 5. Develop an awareness of the major challenges facing contemporary global business. The challenges include the need for innovation, integrity, ability to manage change, globalization, and effective management of technology. MFAT Testing. All students in the M.B.A. program are required to take the MFAT test in the capstone course. Please note that there is a resource fee charged for this exam. (See special fees in the Financial Information section of the catalog for fee information.) M.B.A. Curriculum Graduate students who wish to pursue the general M.B.A. with a major of accounting or business administration must complete a standard core curriculum. The healthcare management and project management major curriculums are unique to those majors so those students will follow a modified core curriculum designed for those majors. All majors will require that students take a capstone class toward the end of the program. Students must be aware of the necessary prerequisite courses needed in order to enroll in the capstone course. Students have seven (7) years to complete all coursework for their degree. Foundation Courses. Any M.B.A. candidate who has not successfully achieved a thorough preparation in the basic disciplines of business through completion of the four foundation areas listed below (or their equivalents) with a grade of C or better from a regionally accredited institution within the last 15 years, must complete: BA 510 Accounting Survey... 3 BA 511 Survey of Economics and Statistics... 3 BA 512 Introduction to Finance... 3 LB 501 Library Research... 1 Total... 10 These courses may be taken for credit or the student may attempt a CLEP examination for any or all of these courses. If the student passes the CLEP exam for a foundation course, it is satisfied. Brenau applies the same transfer credit policy toward CLEP as any other method of credit. IMPORTANT: A student may take no more than 9 graduate credit hours in the M.B.A. program prior to completion of the foundation course requirement. M.B.A. Core Curriculum: The M.B.A. curriculum focuses on the key management, economics, financial, marketing, accounting and leadership principles needed in an advanced program of study in business. Students taking core classes can expect a strong emphasis of theoretical methods combined with pragmatic techniques. 270
The core of the M.B.A. includes: AC 721 Managerial Accounting... 3 BA 610 Advanced Managerial Communications... 3 BA 731 Corporate Finance... 3 BA 743 Managerial Economics... 3 MG 729 Management and Organizational Behavior... 3 MG 730 Managerial Leadership... 3 MK 715 Marketing Management... 3 BA 799 Strategic Planning and Policy (capstone)... 3 Total... 24 Electives Any graduate level course (600 level and above) offered by the Department of Business can be applied as a graduate elective in M.B.A. programs. The number of electives for each M.B.A. major are specified within the individual curriculums. Accounting (M.B.A.) The Accounting M.B.A. program prepares students to work in various accounting and related fields and also provides students the opportunity to take additional coursework required for certification exams. All candidates must complete a 36-hour M.B.A. curriculum that includes a capstone course. Students in the Accounting program are on a planned program of study and no electives are required. Graduate level accounting courses require undergraduate accounting prerequisites to have been completed; the specific prerequisites required will depend on the four graduate accounting courses selected. Accounting Core Curriculum: M.B.A. Core Curriculum... *21 AC 721 Managerial Accounting or Graduate Business Elective... 3 Subtotal... 24 * AC 721 (included in the core curriculum) is not a required course for Accounting M.B.A. students. Accounting students have an option to take AC 721 or an additional graduate business elective as a substitute for those hours. Accounting Concentration: The accounting major must add any FOUR courses from the following: AC 721 Managerial Accounting... 3 AC 722 Advanced Accounting... 3 AC 724 Taxation... 3 AC 739 Auditing... 3 AC 740 Accounting Theory... 3 AC 755 Financial Statement and Business Analysis... 3 Total concentration... 12 TOTAL REQUIRED FOR DEGREE... 36 Note: If AC 721 is taken as part of the accounting core curriculum, it can not be applied toward the accounting concentration. Masters level accounting courses have prerequisites including AC 200, AC 201/202, AC 323, AC 332 or AC 333, AC 422, AC 439 or BA 510. Upon completion of the M.B.A. with an accounting major, the graduate will have the required additional hours for licensure as a CPA, provided they have fulfilled the CPA Exam and experience requirement. Accounting Certificate Any accounting student who already holds an earned M.B.A. degree from a regionally accredited institution may complete any four graduate accounting concentration courses 271
and receive a certificate in accounting. Accounting certificate students must meet all course prerequisites. The M.B.A. and graduate certificate in Accounting is available on-line. See http://online.brenau.edu for more information. Business Administration (M.B.A.) A major in Business Administration prepares a student for leadership positions within an organization. All candidates must complete a 30 hour M.B.A. curriculum that includes a capstone course. M.B.A. Core Curriculum... 24 Graduate Business Electives... 6 TOTAL REQUIRED FOR DEGREE... 30 The M.B.A. in Business Administration is available on-line. See http://online.brenau.edu for more information. Healthcare Management (M.B.A.) Graduate healthcare management majors must complete 33 semester credit hours, 18 of which are specific to the healthcare service industry including the capstone experience in HC 799. BA 610 Advanced Managerial Communications... 3 HC 715 Healthcare Marketing... 3 HC 717 Healthcare Ethics and Law... 3 AC 721 Managerial Accounting... 3 HC 723 Financial Management in the Healthcare Industry... 3 MG 729 Management and Organizational Behavior... 3 HC 730 Management and Leadership in Health Services... 3 HC 733 Human Resources Management in Healthcare... 3 BA 743 Managerial Economics... 3 HC 799 Healthcare Strategic Mgmt & Policy (capstone)... 3 Subtotal... 30 Graduate Business Electives **... 3 TOTAL REQUIRED FOR DEGREE... 33 ** Note: MK 715 and BA 717 may not be used as business electives. Healthcare Certificate Any healthcare management student who already holds an earned M.B.A. degree from a regionally accredited institution may complete the five graduate healthcare specific courses and receive a certificate in healthcare management. The M.B.A. and graduate certificate in Healthcare Management is available on-line. See http://online.brenau.edu for more information. 272
Project Management (M.B.A.) The project management M.B.A. program prepares students to assume project management responsibility in a wide range of industries and organizations. The four course sequence helps prepare students for professional certifications, such as those offered by the Project Management Institute ( PMI ). Students who select this program are on a planned program of study and no additional electives are required. Project Management Core Curriculum: BA 610 Advanced Managerial Communications... 3 MK 715 Marketing Management... 3 AC 721 Managerial Accounting... 3 MG 729 Management and Organizational Behavior... 3 BA 731 Corporate Finance... 3 MG 740 Contract Management and Ethics... 3 BA 743 Managerial Economics... 3 BA 764 Operations Management... 3 Sub Total... 24 Project Management Coursework: PM 620 Introduction to Project Management... 3 PM 730 Project Teams... 3 Pm 740 Project Planning and Control Techniques... 3 PM 799 Strategic Issues: The Project Office... 3 Sub Total... 12 TOTAL REQUIRED FOR DEGREE... 36 Project Management Certificate Any project management studies student who already holds an earned M.B.A. degree from a regionally accredited institution may complete the four course Project Management sequence and receive a certificate in Project Management. Organizational Leadership (M.S.) Purpose Brenau University offers a M.S. degree in Organizational Leadership that is designed for individuals from a variety of academic and work backgrounds who desire to positively influence the human dynamics within organizations. Coursework provides students with the opportunities to learn about and apply contemporary theory in organization change and development, critical and creative thinking, organizational learning, leadership, conflict resolution, and strategic planning. Admissions Requirements All applicants for admission to the organizational leadership program (M.S.) must complete/submit the following prior to admission: 1. Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.5 2. Interview with an assigned business area faculty member. Generally applicants for the organizational leadership program are expected to meet the stated admissions requirements. However, Brenau may consider an applicant who does not meet [all] stated requirements, but who, in the opinion of the appropriate department, may be a good candidate for admission to the University. In such cases an applicant's credentials will be reviewed by the graduate admissions committee, (based on departmental referral), to determine if the applicant is qualified for admission. 273
Outcome Statements Upon completion of the M.S. in Organizational Leadership program students should be able to: 1. Demonstrate critical thinking related to executive level business applications; 2. Communicate (written and oral) effectively in an organizational setting; 3. Diagnose an organization s culture and understand its relationship to organizational change; 4. Diagnose an organization s readiness for change; 5. Develop interventions for change readiness; 6. Express ethical responsibility related to organization leadership; 7. Discuss current issues of concern to organizations leaders. M.S. Curriculum The M.S. in Organizational Leadership curriculum is designed as a cohort program, offered at the Atlanta North Campus. Students are required to complete at total of 30 semester hours, which includes ten required courses. Required courses are listed in the general order which is recommended for effective student progression. Students who have not had an accounting course must take AC 200, Accounting Survey. BA 610 Advanced Managerial Communications... 3 CR 620 Negotiation and Mediation... 3 OL 650 Organizational Development... 3 OL 703 Critical and Creative Thinking... 3 OL 713 Organizational Culture and Learning... 3 BA 717 Law and Ethics... 3 MG 729 Management and Organizational Behavior... 3 MG 730 Managerial Leadership... 3 OL 735 Leading Organizational Change... 3 OL 799 Strategic Planning... 3 TOTAL REQUIRED FOR DEGREE... 30 274