Master of Business Administration

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Move business forward with Franklin's MBA program

They say the only thing certain in business is change. Never has there been more proof than today. At the forefront of today's business landscape are leaders willing to tackle the unknown and navigate the uncertain. These are the pioneers of disruptive business models, the visionaries of market opportunities, and the catalysts of competitive advantage. Further your capabilities - in as few as 12 months - and become that kind of leader with help from Franklin University’s accredited Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program.

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IACBE Accredited

Our program follows best-practice standards for business education.

No GMAT or GRE

Bypass expensive, time-consuming tests and get started sooner.

12-Month Completion

Finish your MBA faster.

Real-World Practitioners

Learn from experienced business professionals.

Convenient Classes

Take a class online or on-site -- it's your choice.

Practical Experience

Learn from a real-world business simulation competition and hands-on projects.

MBA Program Overview

Stand out from the crowd with our globally recognized MBA program

With an MBA from Franklin, you’ll stand out by earning your degree from a top-ranked program that’s been globally recognized for excellence. Our MBA degree program, which is offered in the U.S. and in countries around the world, was awarded the European Medal and the "Highest Degree of Internationalization" ranking by Poland's Home and Market magazine.

And, Franklin's online MBA program is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), the leader in outcomes-based accreditation in business, so you know you're earning a respected degree with value in the workplace.

Complete your MBA program in as few as 12 months

You can complete our transfer-friendly MBA and reap the rewards of your degree in as few as 12 months. If you’re looking to enroll right away, there’s no GMAT or GRE requirement if you meet certain standards.

Our innovative MBA curriculum will help you develop leadership foresight while gaining a management perspective of each functional area. And with our small, interactive classes you will engage in discussions with peers from richly diverse ages and backgrounds, providing a collaborative environment that adds depth to important concepts and helps you grow your personal and professional network.

Grow your leadership skills with hands-on learning

Through our MBA courses, you’ll experience practical, hands-on curriculum and real-world projects. In one of our projects, you’ll participate in a unique global business simulation competition. Your challenge is to craft and execute a competitive strategy as part of a team, resulting in a respected brand image that keeps your company in contention for global market leadership, and produces good financial performance as measured by earnings-per-share (EPS), return on investment (ROI), stock price appreciation, and credit rating.

This global competition stretches your skills, abilities, and thought leadership potential, and could put you in contention for the next global award. Recently, a Franklin team finished first, winning the World Champions distinction from among 491 teams representing 51 colleges and universities around the globe.

Customize your MBA program with a focus area

While the broad nature of the MBA curriculum brings tremendous versatility to your professional toolkit, you can choose to tailor your online MBA to align with your career interests and aspirations. The completion of a focus area requires up to two additional courses in addition to MBA requirements. Choose from:

Human Resources: Build on the knowledge you gained in the MBA’s HR management class with one additional course in organizational development. In this six-week course, you’ll explore how a strategic approach to planned change impacts an organization’s productivity, competitiveness and culture.

Marketing: Add a digital marketing strategies course to the required MBA course in Marketing Management for a focus in Marketing. Creating a mix of tried-and-true marketing channels with emerging options is a formula for success. The digital strategies course equips you to analyze the impact of online campaigns on your promotional strategy.

Organizational Psychology: Pursuing a focus in Organizational Psychology requires two additional 6-week courses that not only enhance your learning, but also provide an opportunity for self-discovery. The introductory course provides an overview of business and psychology individually, as a necessary element for understanding the challenges and opportunities that arise when the two disciplines are integrated. The second course takes a psychological approach to the relationship between creativity, innovation and change.

Earn your MBA degree from a university built for busy adults

Earn your MBA on your terms by taking classes 100% online or pursue available coursework at one of our main campus. Regionally accredited and nonprofit, Franklin was built from the ground-up to satisfy the needs of adult learners. Our seamless transfer process and team of academic advisors will help ease your transition to becoming a student, while our flexible course schedules help to balance your education with work, family, and life. Get started on your future today.

MBA Program Courses & Curriculum

36 Semester Hours

Course Sequence (36 hours)

MGMT 707 - MBA Foundations (4)

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.

MGMT 711 - Business Environment (4)

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.

ECON 723 - Managerial Economics (4)

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.

MKTG 721 - Marketing Management (4)

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.

ACCT 729 - Financial & Managerial Accounting (4)

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.

HRM 713 - Human Resource Management (4)

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.

OSCM 731 - Operations Management (4)

In today's business environment, the success of organizations depends on the effective and efficient management of operations. Methods to select, plan, and improve organizational processes will be examined. The application of optimal capacity decisions in supply chains, development production, and inventory plans and schedules will be performed. The student will learn quality management and improvement process to increase the efficiency of a process.

FINA 737 - Corporate Finance (4)

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.

MGMT 741 - Strategic Management (4)

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.

Optional Focus Areas

Adding a focus area to your MBA provides an opportunity for customization but is not required for completion of the degree. The focus area may require up to two additional courses beyond the 36-hour requirement for the MBA depending on the discipline you choose.

Human Resources (4 hours)

HRM 713 is a required course for the MBA. Take HRM 706 to complete focus area requirements.

HRM 713 - Human Resource Management (4)

HRM 706 - Organizational Development/Intervention (4)

This course addresses the need for planned change focused on an organization's ability to compete strategically. The framework of consultation as helping organizations reach a level of optimum performance will be applied. Topics addressed include individual, team, and organization-wide interventions that can raise productivity/quality, improve competitiveness, increase skills, morale, and commitment.

Marketing (4 hours)

MKTG 721 is a required course for the MBA. Take MCM 711 to complete focus area requirements.

MKTG 721 - Marketing Management (4)

MCM 711 - Digital Marketing Strategies (4)

The integration of existing and emerging technology with marketing and communication strategies has become a major marketing and societal force. Topics explored in this course will range from social media strategies to the metrics used to analyze the impact of Internet marketing campaigns.

Organizational Psychology (8 hours)

PSYC 601 - Introduction to Business Psychology (4)

A brief history and overview of the fields of business and psychology as well as a discussion of the issues and opportunities related to their integration. Topics include brain organization and dominance, neuroethics, neurolinguistic programming, multiminds, mindmapping and the application of positive psychology to work settings. Includes the application of recent discoveries in cognitive psychology and neuroscience to resolve contemporary issues in the workplace. Please note: A non-refundable Instrument Assessment Fee of $55 will be added upon registration.

PSYC 607 - Psychology of Creativity, Innovation And Change (4)

This course provides a study of the relationship between creativity, innovation and change from a psychological perspective. Areas of interest include: social-technical change waves, change facilitation, unintended consequences, Appreciative Inquiry, creativity enhancement, and diffusion of innovation. Please note: A non-refundable Instrument Assessment Fee of $10 will be added upon registration.

Microcredentials Align with Job Essentials

In today’s dynamic work environments, adaptive professionals thrive. A microcredential - either as a stand-alone course or integrated into your degree program - is a short, skill-specific recognition that enables you to demonstrate your competency in a distinct area. Like Franklin’s degree programs, microcredentials are aligned with market and industry demand to ensure what you learn can be put to use right away. Microcredentials are easily shared via digital badges and can be stacked to create a unique portfolio of in-demand skills.

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MBA Costs, Requirements & More

Tuition Costs

2020 - 2021 Tuition	Cost Per Credit
Standard tuition per credit hour	$670
Current service members	$536
Graduate Prerequisite Courses (500 level)	$398

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Program Learning Outcomes

A learning outcome map functions as a roadmap to help guide students' progress through their program of study. It shows where each outcome is Introduced (I), Reinforced (R), and Assessed (A) within the program's curriculum.
	1	2	3	4
MGMT 707	I	I	I	I
MGMT 711		R	R	R
HRM 713	R	R	R	R
MKTG 721	R	R	R	R
ECON 723		R	R	R
OSCM 731		R	R	R
ACCT 729		R	R	R
FINA 737		R	R	R
MGMT 741	A	A	A	A

Degree Requirements

To be awarded a graduate degree, students must:

Successfully complete all required curriculum courses.
Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00.
Complete the residency requirement:
1. Master of Business Administration students must earn at least 24 of the 36 required credits at Franklin University – in any modality (on-site, hybrid or online).
Complete the payment of all requisite tuition and fees;
Not to be under disciplinary dismissal due to academic dishonesty or violation of Student Code of Conduct.

Transfer credit awarded based on experiential learning shall not count toward the residence requirement at Franklin University.

Admission Requirements

The admission process reflects Franklin University’s efforts to clearly identify the performance standards that can help predict student success in graduate level study. The selection criterion for Franklin’s graduate programs, as determined by faculty, emphasizes academic ability, contributory work experience, and personal qualities and characteristics.

Requirements for admission include having earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of at least a 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

Applicants who earned at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale in their earned bachelor’s degree will automatically be granted conditional enrollment status. Applicants who earned lower than a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale in their earned bachelor’s degree can petition for conditional enrollment status to the program chair by submitting an essay detailing other criteria that the applicant believes should be considered to demonstrate their ability to be successful in a graduate program. This petition could include details on the applicant’s work experience, work ethic, level of professionalism, personality characteristics, level of difficulty of program of study previously completed, etc.

Conditional enrollment requires students to achieve a final grade of “B” (3.0 GPA) or better in the first graduate-level course of their program. If the terms of the conditional enrollment are not met, the student will not be allowed to advance in their program and will be unable to earn this graduate degree from Franklin University.

English Language Testing & TOEFL IELTS

Prospective students must demonstrate English Language Proficiency. The requirement is met through any of the following:

The applicant is a citizen of a country where English is the official language.*
The applicant has received a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an institution located in an English-speaking country in which the courses were taught in English.*
The applicant has earned appropriate scores on language proficiency exams taken within the last two years, as listed in the Academic Catalog.

*For more information about English proficiency, including a list of English-speaking nations, please visit our International Students section.

Program Advisory Board

The University employs a team approach to planning, developing and maintaining its academic curriculum. An essential element of this process – and a key to the institution’s quality assurance practices – is the Program Advisory Board (and the associated Alumni Advisory Board). A diverse array of business and industry leaders make up these discipline-specific boards that provide guidance on theory-to-practice ideas, global business perspectives, and emerging topics in the field. Each academic year, Program Advisory Boards meet with Division Chairs and faculty for lively and engaged conversations, thus bringing members’ substantial professional experience and expertise into the classroom. In addition, some Division Chairs elect to engage Program Advisory Board members in the assessment of academic program outcomes.

MBA Program Advisory Board
Name	Organization	Title
Laurie Allen	Discountpedlar.com	Owner
Stuart Allen	Gardiner Allen DeRoberts	Managing Partner
Marco Bonta	OhioHealth	Medical Director, Trauma & Surgical Services
Charalee Calhoun	Nationwide	Manager, Infrastructure & Operations
Kelly Conn	Nationwide	Project Manager
Scott Dahs	Chase	Vice President, Mortgage Banking Executive Office
Bradley Grimsley	a Division of Limited Brands	Vice President, Mast Global Logistics
Christopher Montgomery	Grange Insurance Companies	Vice President, Investment Operations
Amy Mullins	KSL Resorts	Vice President, Retail & Spa
Kari Parsons	Ohio School Resource Officers Association	Executive Director
Anthony Schrader	AT&T	Director of Indirect Sales
Lori Schwartzkopf	Mount Carmel Health	Director, Environmental Health & Safety
Kevin Shellenbarger	Huntington National Bank	Vice President
Randall Strutz	Quality Carriers	President
Richard Tamborski	MotivePower	Vice President, Locomotive Services Division
John Torpey	American Electric Power	Director, Integrated Resource Planning

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MBA Employment Outlook

12%

From 2018-2029 jobs in Business Administration are expected to increase by 12%

All Occupations

2018	6,752,842 jobs
2029	7,571,472 jobs

Show Details >

General and Operations Managers

2018	2,380,133 jobs
2029	2,655,788 jobs

Sales Managers

2018	394,384 jobs
2029	430,661 jobs

Industrial Production Managers

2018	185,498 jobs
2029	195,537 jobs

Social and Community Service Managers

2018	175,659 jobs
2029	208,490 jobs

Managers, All Other

2018	901,022 jobs
2029	1,011,150 jobs

Management Analysts

2018	882,860 jobs
2029	1,041,685 jobs

Source information provided by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI).

MBA Knowledge & Skillsets

Gain in-demand skills sought by employers with curriculum that teaches you:

Executive Leadership & Business Strategy

Clearly articulate the organizational mission, vision and values, and develop strategic plans for organization-wide implementation
Develop, communicate, and implement priorities, goals, and objectives in accordance with the strategic plans
Coordinate efforts across business lines and functions, harnessing organizational synergies and ensuring strategic alignment
Analyze competitive environments and industry value chains to identify areas for disruptive innovation
Create and monitor strategies to ensure long-term financial viability
Identify key metrics and develop reporting systems to measure performance across functional units, identifying growth and efficiency opportunities
Develop organizational core competencies, positioning organizations to create competitive advantages in evolving industries
Oversee product-line strategies, generating prioritized, actionable insights from consumer and industry research
Collaborate on development and delivery of new ideas and/or renewal proposals for key client relationships
Apply effective change management strategies to help leadership, employees, and other stakeholders successfully embrace organizational changes and improve performance

Financial Management

Apply time-value-of-money techniques to the valuation of debt, equity, and their hybrids
Estimate the relevant cash flows and the appropriate discount rates in making capital budgeting decisions
Develop keen understanding of key business drivers and build robust financial models to project future cash flows and balance sheets
Analyze financial statements and compute financial ratios to illustrate trends and make comparisons for use in decision making
Develop frameworks, models, and financial metrics to help facilitate decision making on a variety of business issues and/or problems
Analyze industry trends and business conditions, using findings to prepare corresponding financial forecasts
Examine the factors that drive a company's need for external financing and for determining the optimal mix of debt and equity financing
Analyze the relationship between risk and return in the evaluation of investment opportunities

Marketing Management

Review all elements of the marketing mix, including product formulation, price, packaging, and promotion to build brand equity and optimize sales, market share, and profitability
Implement multi-year brand category growth strategies, leveraging product development and marketing innovations
Develop and execute annual marketing plans to achieve market share, volume, and profit objectives
Create a unique and ownable market positions relative to competitors with clear points of differentiation
Leverage the full marketing mix, executing on compelling tactics that ingrain brand position and key differentiators into the minds of target audiences
Determine the most effective media mix across traditional and digital channels, balancing direct response initiatives with building long-term brand equity
Closely monitor and analyze sales volumes, market share trends, and competitive activity
Assure effectiveness of marketing programs by completing post-promotion analyses of data, comparing results to established objectives
Collaborate with internal teams to drive success via customer engagement, competitive positioning, pricing, and promotional activities
Promote strategic priorities and drive brand reputation through development and management of leadership events and speaking opportunities

Financial & Managerial Accounting

Maintain accounting standards, ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
Prepare consolidated financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flow
Prepare account reconciliation, analyzing accounts for unusual fluctuations
Consolidate and submit financial transaction reports, summarizing current activities and projected financial positions
Analyze financial statements, performing analysis of accounts, variances, trends, and ratios
Collaborate with business development in tracking and reporting sales efforts
Determine how changes in business and organizational structure impact reporting and operating results
Analyze transactions to identify issues, determine root causes of variances, and recommend appropriate corrective action
Ensure integrity of financial data for decision support and cost accounting systems, maintaining cost standards
Provide costing reports and insight to support change in resource allocations, work methods, and materials
Recommend and implement process, systems, and reporting improvements to provide more visibility into financial results
Develop and execute cost-effective actions and expense-saving initiatives in support of financial objectives
Use accounting principles and practices to inform and recommend process improvement changes

Operations Management

Establish a culture of innovation and process excellence, identifying process improvement opportunities that increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction
Create and maintain project-based documentation, including timelines, budget, project plans, risk assessments, performance requirements, and status reports
Evolve business process landscapes in anticipation of changing business needs
Supervise, support, and evaluate operations, including participating in professional development planning and implementation
Create and apply process improvement and re-engineering methodologies and principles to meet requirements and deliver efficient processes
Ensure consistency and integration of plan processes with overall organizational initiatives
Identify, analyze, and execute a broad range of projects involving corporate strategy, acquisitions, and/or partnerships
Oversee implementation of operational strategies to drive organizational success and transformation, delivering insights and actionable recommendations
Translate project objectives into team assignments, specific tasks, and measurable milestones, establishing operational objectives and work plans

Human Resource Management

Create top-talent management development and succession planning processes
Attract, recruit, and inspire A-list employees who can help drive organizational success
Identify key domestic and international forces impacting the current and future workforce
Develop, coach, and train high performance employees and managers to attain high levels of responsibility, span of control, and performance
Design and implement organizational change strategies to enhance employee motivation and organizational efficiency
Build highly effective teams that work together to solve problems and innovate

MBA Degree Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get an MBA degree?

Franklin's master's degree programs are specifically designed for busy, working adults -- that means you could finish your degree in as few as 12 months.

When can I start an MBA degree?

Franklin makes earning your MBA more convenient with five start dates each year: February, March, May, September and November.

How much will my MBA cost?

Franklin University offers a quality education at a competitive cost so you can afford to invest in your future. Our per credit hour tuition rates (vs. per year or per term rates) enable you to get a realistic estimate of exactly how much your degree will cost. Our 2020-2021 tuition rate is $670 per credit hour. Ask our helpful staff about available financing options and financial aid programs.

What is an MBA degree?

Franklin University's Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a graduate-level degree program designed to advance your professional qualifications and career. This program will prepare you to assume increased responsibilities in the management of business across the major functional areas.

What can you do with an MBA degree?

With Franklin University's Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program, you'll gain the communication, analytical and team-building skills needed to enhance marketplace competitiveness and advance your career.

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Franklin University Founded in 1902, Franklin is an accredited nonprofit university offering flexible college degrees online and at locations in Ohio and the Midwest.

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Franklin University is committed to being an inclusive community free from all forms of discrimination and harassment.

Move business forward with Franklin's MBA program