The Business Administration Department offers programs at the undergraduate and graduate level.

Click on the line below to be directed to detailed information.

• Undergraduate Business Administration Information
• Graduate Business Administration Information

Undergraduate Business Administration Information

Mission  The College of Business & Mass Communication aspires to prepare students to be successful professionally by grounding them in contemporary knowledge. Building on this foundation, with an emphasis on critical thinking and well developed communication skills, the successful student will manifest global awareness, sensitivity to cultural diversity, strong professional ethics and demeanor.

Disciplines and Degrees Offered  Programs and courses offered by the Department of Business are listed at the end of this section.

Graduation Requirements  In addition to the requirements listed below, students are reminded that all majors will demonstrate oral and written communication competency within the context of writing and/or speech intensive courses in the major. Undergraduate students for all majors within the Department of Business Administration must maintain a 2.5 grade point average in the major and earn a grade of “C” or better in all common business core and major classes.

BA 480 Internships  It is the objective of the Department of Business Administration to complement each student’s academic experience with practical field experience. Internships of one to six credit hours are available. Students may complete more than one internship, but the total internship hours of credit may not exceed six hours.

Department of Business Administration Outcomes Statement  The department’s program of study is premised on the philosophy that the best preparation for students to lead extraordinary lives is a firm grounding in the liberal arts combined with a strong professional education. In addition to technical and managerial training, students must master ethical reasoning and sensitivity to global issues. The course requirements for the undergraduate program are intended to implement this philosophy. A variety of assessment methods are used to measure the learning outcomes for each course and program.

ROTORACT  All students are encouraged to participate in this student group and academic course. It is designed to introduce students to practical realities of the business world and to provide opportunities for community service. The Brenau chapter is part of a national organization which promotes knowledge about sound business practices and connects students with those of other colleges and universities. Local chapters compete annually for national recognition.

ACBSP Accreditation  The Business programs offered by the School of Business at Brenau University are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). ACBSP, a nationally recognized international accrediting body, awards specialized accreditation for business programs only. Specifically, all BBA degrees (Business, Accounting, Marketing and Human Resource Management) have ACBSP accreditation. The Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership is not accredited by ACBSP.

Accreditation of the Business Department at Brenau University provides program validity conducted by an external accrediting body and helps the Department establish relationships with fellow institutions around the world who are also accredited through ACBSP.

International Studies Program
The business department follows the mission of Brenau University and thereby seeks to enhance the educational experiences of its students by offering study opportunities in foreign countries. These study opportunities will be in concert with classes that are offered each year, usually during the spring break period and/or summer semester. If a student wishes to participate in the International Studies Program, that student will be responsible for attending any and all classes before, during, and after the actual trip. Assignments, papers, lectures, class presentations, guest lecturers, and other classroom events will be held to compliment the classes offered. For more information, contact your advisor about the next trip. Students interested in Study Abroad should review the options available through Brenau’s partnership with Central College. Visit www.central.edu/abroad, then meet with your advisor to determine which programs will work best for you.

Standardized Testing
Assessing student outcomes in higher education has received increasing emphasis and attention in recent years. Outcomes assessment is defined in a variety of ways. These include measuring student progress in liberal education programs, assessing learning at graduation, evaluating postgraduate activities and trying to relate success in career goals and objectives of a college or university. No matter how broad the definition of outcomes assessment, a key element for most institutions is that it provides a way to evaluate student academic achievement and growth. The business department of Brenau University has chosen to use Peregrine Common Professional Component Comprehensive Exams to help assess outcomes on the undergraduate level. Scores on these tests provide useful information for the department in evaluating their curriculum and for faculty in measuring the progress of their students and considering curriculum changes.

All B.B.A. candidates are required to take this test and it will be administered during their capstone experience, BA 499 (Business Capstone). Students will be billed a special resource fee for the test. The fee will be billed to their student accounts and it will appear on their student account after registering for BA 499.

Graduate Business Administration Information

Dr. Bill Laing, Chair

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 3.0 or above and submit a current resume which reflects a minimum of two years of full-time employment.

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 department, may be a good candidate for admission to the University. In such cases an applicant’s credentials will be reviewed by the graduate department chair to determine if the applicant is qualified for admission.

ACBSP Accreditation  The MBA programs offered by the School of Business at Brenau University are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). This nationally recognized international accrediting body awards specialized accreditation for business programs only. The MSOL and Leadership and Management programs in the School of Nursing are not accredited by ACBSP. Accreditation of the Business Department at Brenau University provides program validity conducted by an external accrediting body and helps the Department establish relationships with fellow institutions around the world who are also accredited through ACBSP.

M.B.A. Program

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 to enhance their professional qualifications. Programs and courses offered by the Department of Business are listed at the end of this section.

The MBA curriculum consists of 45 hours (excluding the full-time general-business MBA which is 36 hours and Insurance Management which is 39 hours) including six hours of foundation coursework. The class format of all programs except the full-time MBA program are the AGS (Adult and Graduate Studies) cohort model which is a lock-stop course sequence and schedule of foundation courses, MBA core courses, and concentration courses. AGS cohorts begin throughout the year at the various campus locations or totally online. Applications for the MBA program are accepted throughout the year and are handled through the admissions office of Adult and Graduate Studies.

The Full-time MBA program is 36 hours, including six hours of foundation coursework. The classes are two days a week and two courses are taken each session. A session consists of 7 weeks, with two sessions in each semester. Therefore, the program can be completed in three semesters. The format of the program is a cohort which begins in Gainesville in the fall. There are no other entry points other than the fall entry date. Applications for the Full-time MBA program are accepted throughout the year for the cohorts starting each fall and are handled through Brenau admissions.

Graduates of the Brenau M.B.A. program will

1. Be prepared to hold positions that entail or lead to managerial responsibility in organizations.
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  Upon completion of the M.B.A. program, students should be able to

1. Conceptualize, organize and resolve complex business problems using technology and people resources;
2. Use financial information to make decisions and evaluate alternatives;
3. Communicate (written and oral) effectively in an organizational setting;
4. 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.
    

Comprehensive Testing  All students in the M.B.A. program are required to take a compressive exam (Peregrine Common Professional Component Comprehensive Exam) as part of the foundation (

M.B.A. Curriculum  All majors will require that students take a capstone class toward the end of the program. Students must be aware of the prerequisite courses needed in order to enroll in the capstone course. Students have seven (7) years to complete all coursework for their degree.

M.S. Program

Purpose  The M.S. degree in Organizational Leadership 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:

• Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.5
• Current resumé

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 department, may be a good candidate for admission to the University. In such cases an applicant’s credentials will be reviewed by the graduate department chair to determine if the applicant is qualified for admission. Coursework is offered in the AGS cohort model format.

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.

Programs

• Accounting (M.B.A.)
• Business Analytics (M.B.A.)
• Entrepreneurship (M.B.A.)
• Finance (M.B.A.)
• General Business (M.B.A.)
• Health Care Management (M.B.A.)
• Human Resource Management (M.B.A.)
• Insurance Management (M.B.A.)
• Management (M.B.A.)
• Marketing (M.B.A.)
• Organizational Leadership (M.S.)
• Project Management (M.B.A.)

• Accounting Certificate
• Business Analytics Certificate
• Finance Certificate
• Health Care Management Certificate
• Human Resource Management Certificate
• Management Certificate
• Marketing Certificate
• Project Management Certificate

• Accounting Certificate, Post Baccalaureate

• Accounting (B.B.A.)
• Business (B.B.A.)
• Human Resource Management (B.B.A.)
• Marketing (B.B.A.)
• Organizational Leadership (B.A.)

• Business Minor
• Human Resource Management Minor
• Organizational Leadership Minor
• Small Business Management Minor
• Sport Management Minor

Courses

• MK 762 - Channel Development and Key Account Management
• MK 778 - Services Marketing and Differentiation
• MK 780 - Product Development and Innovation
• MK 782 - International Marketing

• OL 403 - Leadership and Group Dynamics
• OL 499 - Leadership Capstone
• OL 500 - Foundations in Organizational Leadership
• OL 675 - Resource Management
• OL 703 - Critical and Creative Thinking
• OL 713 - Organizational Culture and Learning
• OL 755 - Organization Development and Change
• OL 799 - Strategic Planning

• PM 620 - Introduction to Project Management
• PM 730 - Leadership of Project Teams
• PM 740 - Project Planning and Control Techniques
• PM 750 - Strategic Issues: The Project Office