MBA Course Descriptions

MBA course prerequisites vary based on the concentration selected by the student. Detailed prerequisite information can be obtained by contacting your Graduate Student Services Associate.

GRAD 703
Effectively Communicating & Collaborating (2 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Admittance to the Graduate School.
More than ever before, the ability to understand and be understood is critical for success in the corporate world. But 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. In addition, you will focus on development of the interpersonal skills required for working collaboratively within the team structure so prevalent in today's enterprises. What you gain from this course will be of value throughout your graduate studies, as well as in your current job.

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 705
Achieving Organizational Effectiveness through Human Resources Management (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Effectively Communicating and Collaborating (GRAD 703).
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 706
Understanding the Impact of Marketing (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Effectively Communicating and Collaborating (GRAD 703) and Achieving Organizational Effectiveness through Human Resources Management (MBA 705).
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. This course focuses on the essentials of marketing, providing an excellent foundation for future studies in the Vantage MBA program. 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 716
Applying Financial and Managerial Accounting Concepts (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Achieving Organizational Effectiveness through Human Resources Management (MBA 705).
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. Students will also study the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which introduced heightened responsibilities in corporate governance and increased managerial requirements regarding the protection of corporate assets.

MBA 726
Developing Executive Financial Solutions (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Applying Financial and Managerial Accounting Concepts (MBA 716).
Financial decisions made at the higher levels of a business organization can have far-reaching effects. Often 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 750 (formerly MBA 633)
Becoming a Global Competitor (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Effectively Communicating and Collaborating (GRAD 703) and Achieving Organizational Effectiveness through Human Resources Management (MBA 705).
More and more, today's businesses must think and act like global competitors, whether they want to or not. Even companies that imagine themselves as serving customers on a regional basis may find competition coming from beyond U.S. borders. Regardless of the industry, markets have become increasingly international, presenting new opportunities for growth and expansion, as well as new levels of competition. In this course, you will learn what companies must do to adapt their business strategies to different cultures and the business systems of other countries. You will focus on the key operational issues involved in global competition, gain insights into political, economic and cultural influences on the international marketplace, and study such multinational business strategies as exporting and direct investment.

MBA 760 (formerly MBA 690)
Developing and Implementing Winning Strategies (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Effectively Communicating and Collaborating (GRAD 703), Achieving Organizational Effectiveness through Human Resources Management (MBA 705), Understanding the Impact of Marketing (MBA 706), Applying Financial and Managerial Accounting Concepts (MBA 716), Developing Executive Financial Solutions (MBA 726) and Becoming a Global Competitor (MBA 750).
The key to success for today's companies is their ability to develop, put in place and accurately evaluate effective business strategies, be they operational, financial, marketing or for some other functional area. In this course, you will integrate the knowledge you have gained from your prior MBA courses to develop and sharpen your skills for formulating, implementing and assessing an organization's strategy for achieving competitive advantage in the marketplace. You will particularly draw upon what you have learned about organizational behavior and development, marketing, accounting, finance and global business as you merge your knowledge of these individual disciplines into a comprehensive whole.

MBA 770
Leading Organizational Change (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Effectively Communicating and Collaborating (GRAD 703) and either Achieving Organizational Effectiveness through Human Resources Management (MBA 705) (MBA majors) OR Framing the Persuasive Message (MCM 704) (MCM majors).
There was a time when businesses were able to remain functional for years-even decades-by essentially remaining unchanged. In fact, their insistence on doing things exactly as they had always done them was seen as a strength, a measure of their dependability and success. This is no longer the case. Today, change rules. And flexibility is imperative. The business that cannot respond to shifts in market needs, customer demands or competitive maneuvers cannot survive. In this course, you will explore the challenges and opportunities that characterize today's dynamic business environment. You will study such topics as change theory, processes for diagnosing organizational needs, and methods for intervening and leading change initiatives, as you acquire the knowledge and skills to be an effective agent of change in the business enterprise.

MBA 771
Leading Project Teams (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Effectively Communicating and Collaborating (GRAD 703) and Achieving Organizational Effectiveness through Human Resources Management (MBA 705).
Teamwork is the hallmark of today's business world. Across a broad range of industries, the use of teams to solve problems, develop new products, uncover new markets and seek new opportunities is the common denominator. The ability to work effectively within the team structure is critical for those who wish to rise to a position of leadership. In this course, you will gain insights into the leadership process as it relates to group and team development, team building, interpersonal and group relationships, problem-solving and team leadership. You will put your knowledge and understanding of team theory and development to work by assessing an organization's use of teams and developing a plan for improving overall team effectiveness for enhancing individual, group and organizational success.

MBA 772
Assessing and Meeting Future Leadership Needs (4 cr. hrs.)

Prerequisite(s): Effectively Communicating and Collaborating (GRAD 703) and Achieving Organizational Effectiveness through Human Resources Management (MBA 705).
Today's business leaders face many responsibilities, including the development of a sufficient pool of leadership talent to meet the organization's current and future needs. In this course, you will learn the various steps involved in responding to this challenge. You will study methods for assessing an organization's strategic direction and goals, and how they affect current and desired organizational structure. You also will learn to measure an organization's current leadership capabilities, as well as how to develop strategies for succession planning, ensuring the organization's future leadership needs will be met.