MBA Course Descriptions

MBA 699
Independent Studies in MBA (1-4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA, at least 16 credit hours completed at Franklin, related coursework completed with a minimum grade of “B” and permission of the Program Chair.
Independent studies courses allow students in good academic standing to pursue learning in areas not covered by regular curriculum or to extend study in areas currently taught. Study is under faculty supervision and graded on a letter-grade basis. (See “Independent Studies” in Franklin University Academic Bulletin for details.)

MBA 707 (formerly GRAD 703)
MBA Foundations (4 cr. hrs.) 

Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the MBA program.
More than ever before, the ability to understand and be understood is critical for success in the corporate world. Communication is no longer limited by the narrow definitions of the past. Achieving a business leadership position today means not only being adept at both oral and written communication, but also understanding communication from a strategic point of view and knowing how to effectively organize and present information to audiences of all sizes. In this course, you will develop and refine these capabilities. What you gain from this course will be of value throughout your MBA program, as well as in the workplace.

MBA 711
Business Environment (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): MBA Foundations (MBA 707).
This course systematically explores the external environment in which businesses operate – legal and regulatory, macroeconomic, cultural, political, technological, and natural. Additionally, the course will examine the critical opportunities and threats that arise from an analysis of external business conditions. Students will apply scenario planning to a selected industry and synthesize trends in the external environment in the presence of risk and uncertainty.

MBA 713 (formerly MBA 705)
Human Resource Management (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Business Environment (MBA 711).
Organizations are composed of groups of people who work together to achieve defined outcomes. Experience has proven time and again that the key factor which differentiates successful companies from those who struggle to survive is people who make up the employee base. While the human resources function is given the specific task of planning for and resolving many employee-related issues and needs, individual managers have direct responsibility and accountability for motivating and leading employees to achieve sustained organizational success. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively with human resources to enhance the contributions of all employees to organizational effectiveness. Students will learn about the elements which drive business success, theories of motivation, and methods for creating a plan for maximizing the human capital of an organization.

MBA 721 (formerly MBA 706)
Marketing Management (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Human Resource Management (MBA 713).
In today’s business world, success can often be attributed more to the genius of a company’s marketing efforts than to the genius of its products or services. A clear understanding of the importance of marketing, as well as a grasp of effective marketing practices, is essential for anyone who wishes to achieve a position of leadership. You will gain a working knowledge of both marketing theory and the practical application of innovative marketing strategies. You will come to understand how product, price, place, and promotion contribute to the marketing mix as you explore research-based insights into consumer behavior. As your final course assignment, you will prepare and present a marketing plan of your own.

MBA 723
Managerial Economics (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Marketing Management (MBA 721).
This course surveys the fundamental concepts and methods of economic analysis for managers. Real-world decision making is emphasized. Application of key economic concepts such as market demand, market supply, market equilibrium, marginal analysis, production, costs, revenue, profit, and market structure constitute the core material of the course.

MBA 727 (formerly MBA 750)
International Business Management (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Managerial Economics (MBA 723).
Globalization has opened the world marketplace to companies that were once merely regional or even local operations. This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and decision-making skills to perform effectively as a leader within a company with global operations. Course content covers multinational business strategies, from exporting to foreign direct investment, as well as economic, political, and cultural influences on the international marketplace.

MBA 731
Operations and Project Management (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Managerial Economics (MBA 723) and International Business Management (MBA 727).
In today’s business environment, the success of organizations depends on the effective and efficient management of operations and planning and execution of projects. Guided by these two objectives, the student will learn how operations and project management skills will help them contribute to the bottom line of an organization. The student will study methods to select, plan, and execute projects, analyze and improve organizational processes, manage quality, make optimal capacity decisions in supply chains, and develop production and inventory plans and schedules.

MBA 733 (formerly MBA 716)
Financial and Managerial Accounting (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Operations and Project Management (MBA 731).
Effective leadership in today’s complex and highly regulated business environment demands more than a working knowledge of basic accounting practices. Managers must fully grasp sophisticated financial and managerial accounting concepts and be able to apply them with ease in handling day-to-day responsibilities. Managers must also be well versed in the intricacies of corporate governance and asset protection. In this course, students will develop a clear understanding of these critical functions and issues. Students will study the foundational aspects of financial accounting, including professional structure, the interrelationships of financial statements, and multiple forms of financial analysis. Additionally, the functional aspects of managerial accounting will be covered, including planning, decision making, and performance evaluation.

MBA 737 (formerly MBA 726)
Corporate Finance (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Financial and Managerial Accounting (MBA 733).
Financial decisions made at the higher levels of a business organization can have far-reaching effects. Intended to achieve firm operating goals and create shareholder value, they must be made judiciously, with a thorough understanding of all the factors involved. In this course, you will learn to apply the analytical techniques required for developing effective and workable financial solutions at the executive level. You will gain an overall understanding of the workings of the U.S. financial system. In addition, you will study the concepts of financial risk, return, and the valuation of bonds, common and preferred stock, cost of capital, capital budgeting, capital structure, and the evaluation of investment opportunities.

MBA 741 (formerly MBA 760)
Strategic Management (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): All preceding MBA courses.
One of the keys to success for today’s organizations is their ability to develop, implement, and accurately evaluate effective business strategies. In this course, you will integrate the knowledge you have gained from your prior MBA courses to develop and sharpen your skills for formulating, deploying, and assessing an organization’s strategy for achieving competitive advantage in the marketplace. This course will enable you to merge your knowledge of all of these individual disciplines into a comprehensive and meaningful whole.