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

Dr. Linda Barton, Graduate Chair
Penny Eddy, Undergraduate Chair

Mission  The College of Business and Communication has a two-pronged mission. First, as leaders in the education of adults, we prepare students to develop and/or advance in their careers and lives through challenging, convenient, educational opportunities. Second, we are also committed to the development of young women as future leaders through our traditional program. In both cases, we focus on improved critical thinking, communication and technological skills, and subject matter knowledge, to equip students to thrive and adapt in a rapidly changing world.

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

• Undergraduate Business Administration Information
• Graduate Business Administration Information

Undergraduate Business Administration Information

Disciplines and Degrees Offered  Programs and courses offered by the School of Business Administration 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 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 School 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 Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)’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.

Graduates of the program will:

1. demonstrate a level of mastery of foundational and core business knowledge and skills.
2. demonstrate the ability to integrate and synthesize concepts from multiple business disciplines to strategic decision making.
3. demonstrate the ability to apply analytical skills and business knowledge in the interpretation of business information and data. 4. identify and evaluate the structure of an argument (whether written or oral, formal or informal), the evidence supplied for the conclusion and the reasoning and inference patterns connecting the evidence and conclusion.

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 (B.B.A.) programs offered 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. B.B.A. programs with the following majors have ACBSP accreditation: Business, Accounting, Marketing, and Human Resource Management. Accreditation is pending for B.B.A., Financial Economics and Operations Management. B.A. (Organizational Leadership) & B.S. (Healthcare Administration) programs are not accredited by ACBSP.

This accreditation 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.

Graduate Business Administration Information

Admissions Requirements 

In addition to the general requirements for admission stated in the Graduate Admission section of this Catalog, all applicants for admission to the M.B.A. and M.Acc. 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. Applicants to the M.S. in Organizational Leadership must have an undergraduate G.P.A. of 2.5 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  All M.B.A. programs offered by the School of Business at Brenau University are accredited or have accreditation pending by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). This nationally recognized international accrediting body awards specialized accreditation for business programs only. (M.B.A. majors Business Analytics, Information Assurance, and the M.Acc. have ACBSP accreditation pending.) The M.S. in Organizational Leadership, and the M.S.N. in Leadership and Management programs 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.Acc. Program

Goals:

1. Analyze financial information to solve a complex business problem;
2. Research a specific tax issue;
3. Investigate occurrences of fraud and recommend improvements in internal control to prevent future frauds.

When students complete the M.Acc. program they should:

1. Be prepared to take the CPA exam;
2. Be knowledgeable of accounting rules, laws, and functions to enter a CPA firm or accounting position in a company;
3. Be able to prepare and analyze financial statements for business, non-profits, and governmental units;
4. Be able to complete individual and corporate income tax returns;
5. Be able to research and make recommendations for accounting and tax issues;
6. Be able to plan and participate in an audit;
7. Be able to recognize fraudulent behavior and plan controls to prevent it;
8. Be able to prepare consolidated financial statements in GAAP or IFRS.

M.B.A. Program

(30-45 credit hours, concentration optional, 3.0 GPA, Work Experience)

This program is designed to graduate professionals with the essential theories and practices in the major business disciplines needed for effective management of an organization. Students can expect a strong theoretical foundation with practical applications to enhance their professional qualifications.

Graduates of the 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. Be prepared to lead in an ethical and socially responsible manner in a global marketplace.

Upon completion of the program, graduates should be able to:

1. Demonstrate mastery of knowledge of the essential theories and practices in the major business disciplines.
2. Evaluate the environment in which businesses operate with an awareness of complexities, interdependencies, risks, consequences, and diverse stakeholder perspectives.
3. Formulate statements of business problems or opportunities to facilitate insightful dialogue and critical thinking.
4. Generate solutions to complex business problems or opportunities through critical, creative, and systems thinking and apply appropriate theories, concepts, tools, skills, practices, and research.
5. Make decisions and action plans within a business context that are effective, well reasoned, ethical, and socially responsible.

To view detailed descriptions of each major concentration available, click on the program link below.

M.S. Program

(36 credit hours, concentration mandatory, 2.5 GPA, Work Experience)

Purpose This program is designed to graduate professionals from a variety of academic and work backgrounds who desire to positively influence the human dynamics within organizations. Coursework provides students with 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.

Upon completion of the 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

To view a detailed description of each concentration available, click on the program link below.

Programs

• Accounting (M.Acc.)
• Accounting-Managerial (M.B.A.)
• Accounting-Public (M.B.A.)
• Business Analytics (M.B.A.)
• Communication Management (M.B.A.)
• Finance (M.B.A.)
• General Business (M.B.A.)
• Healthcare Management (M.B.A.)
• Human Resource Management (M.B.A.)
• Management (M.B.A.)
• Marketing (M.B.A.)
• Mediation and Conflict Resolution (M.B.A.)
• Nonprofit Leadership (M.B.A.)
• Organizational Leadership (M.S.)
• Project Management (M.B.A.)
• Strategic Thinking and Innovation (M.B.A.)
• Women’s Executive M.B.A. (General Business)

• Accounting Certificate
• Business Analytics Certificate
• Communication Management Certificate
• Finance Certificate
• Healthcare Management Certificate
• Human Resource Management Certificate
• Management Certificate
• Marketing Certificate
• Mediation and Conflict Resolution Certificate
• Nonprofit Leadership Certificate
• Project Management Certificate
• Strategic Thinking and Innovation Certificate

• Accounting (B.B.A.)
• General Business (B.B.A.)
• Healthcare Administration (B.S.)
• Human Resource Management (B.B.A.)
• Logistics & Supply Chain 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

Courses

• HC 480 - Senior Seminar in Healthcare Strategy/Capstone
• HC 750 - Ethics and Leadership in Healthcare
• HC 760 - Law and Policy Development in Healthcare
• HC 770 - Organizational Systems in Healthcare
• HC 780 - Financial Management in Healthcare
• HC 790 - Advanced Topics in Healthcare

• HR 301 - Research Methods in Organizations
• HR 312 - Recruiting and Selection
• HR 331 - Labor Management Relations
• HR 333 - Human Resource Management
• HR 333W - Human Resource Management
• HR 401 - Benefits and Compensation
• HR 414 - Designing Training Programs
• HR 422 - HR Strategic Planning
• HR 428 - Measurement of Human Resource Management
• HR 486 - HRM Applied Project
• HR 737 - Employment Law
• HR 750 - Talent Acquisition & Management
• HR 760 - HRM total Rewards
• HR 785 - Human Resource Strategy

• MG 301 - Management Principles
• MG 302 - Small Business Management
• MG 318 - Organizational Behavior
• MG 318W - Organizational Behavior
• MG 400 - Quality Management
• MG 415 - Service Operations Management
• MG 420 - Principles of Project Management
• MG 425 - Supply Chain Management
• MG 430 - Logistics Management
• MG 440 - Modes of Transportation
• MG 729 - Management of People
• MG 730 - Managerial Leadership
• MG 732 - Topics in Advanced Management
• MG 733 - Human Resource Management
• MG 740 - Contract Management and Ethics
• MG 785 - International Organizational Behavior
• MG 795 - Evolution of Management Thought

• MK 311 - Advertising Management
• MK 315 - Marketing Principles
• MK 412 - Sales Management
• MK 414 - Consumer Behavior
• MK 418 - Marketing Research
• MK 457 - Social Media and Mobile Marketing
• MK 472 - International Marketing
• MK 473 - Marketing Management
• MK 715 - Marketing Strategy
• MK 758 - New Media and Marketing Communication
• MK 760 - Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy
• 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 418 - Organizational Development and Change
• OL 499 - Leadership Capstone
• OL 500 - Foundations in Organizational Leadership
• OL 620 - Volunteer Leadership and Board Governance
• OL 630 - Fundraising Principles and Practice
• OL 660 - Leadership in Innovative Organizational Cultures
• OL 675 - Resource Management
• OL 703 - Critical and Creative Thinking
• OL 713 - Organizational Culture and Learning
• OL 720 - Not for Profit Marketing and Branding
• OL 730 - Creativity and Change Leadership
• OL 755 - Leading the Learning Organization
• OL 760 - Principles of Grant Writing for Non-profits
• OL 799 - Strategic Leadership Planning

• PM 620 - Introduction to Project Management
• PM 710 - Project Management Technologies
• PM 730 - Leadership of Project Teams
• PM 740 - Advanced Business Project Management
• PM 750 - Strategic Issues in Project Management: A Capstone