Yes! The FMU School of Business holds the AACSB-International accreditation which less than 5% of the over 13,000 schools of business in the world have. AACSB accreditation ensures you have the highest quality faculty, curriculum, and unique learning opportunities.

The professor’s use of technology to deliver content and manage the course allows the student flexibility in balancing work demands, personal life, and the academic requirements. With the goal of stimulating inter-active learning and relationship-building, each professor designs a program of study for the best delivery of the course. Each class has a minimum of two on-campus Saturday meetings. Some classes require three on-campus Saturday meetings.

The MBA program consist of 10 courses/30 credit hours. Students typically take two courses each semester for four consecutive semesters, including two summer terms. No electives are required, and no concentrations are provided.

For some students, the FMU Accelerated MBA schedule is an option. This program allows for four courses per semester and completion of the program within 15 months. Permission must be received from the MBA Admission Committee for the accelerated option.

The MBA Admission Committee reviews all application material for evidence of preparation for graduate education in business and for promise of success as a graduate student. After a review of the student’s admission material, the MBA Admission Committee may require a personal interview with the Director and/or the MBA Admission Committee. Applicants are not evaluated until all application material has been submitted.

The MBA Admission Committee will review each applicant’s admission material for evidence of competency in the areas of foundational accounting, applied statistics, finance, and business software applications. Competency is typically demonstrated by academic course(s) or professional certificates. Upon review of the student’s admission material, the MBA Admission Committee may require the graduate foundation course, BUS 605, or appropriate undergraduate course(s) to be completed.

YES! Each class has a minimum of two on-campus Saturday meetings. Some classes require three on-campus Saturday meetings.

The typical schedule for on-campus Saturday meetings for the Fall Semester:

• First Saturday of the semester
• Second Saturday of October
• Last Saturday of the Semester

The typical schedule for the on-campus meetings for the Spring Semester:

• First Saturday after FM classes begin
• Second Saturday of March
• Last Saturday of the semester

The typical schedule for the on-campus Saturday meetings for the Late Spring-Summer 1 semester:

• Second Saturday of May

Please consult the University calendar for specific dates. The specific times and dates are available from the MBA Director.

No. All courses are not offered every semester. It is very important that you consult with the MBA Director concerning your schedule. The following courses are scheduled.

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Fall

MBA 700 – Accounting Analysis
MBA 705 – Economic Analysis
MBA 735 – Operations Management
MBA 740 – Applied Corporate Finance
APRN 504 – Health Policy and Leadership

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Spring

MBA 710 – Business Analytics
MBA 715 – Systems Design
MBA 730 – Leadership and Management
MBA 745 – Strategic Planning
APRN 713 – Executive Practicum

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Summer

BUS 605 – Business Tools for MBA

MBA 725 – Applied Marketing
MBA 720 – Contemporary Issues in Business

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Summer I 

APRN 503 – Advanced Research and Evidence-based Practice

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Summer II

APRN 506 – Health Systems and Risk Management

Please contact the Director of the MBA program. The GMAT may be waived if you have another graduate degree or professional certificates.

Registration occurs 4-6 weeks prior to the new semester. The MBA Office emails students at their FMU email address with information concerning registration and payment.

The School of Business continues to integrate interactive technology into the business curriculum and therefore requires the use of a laptop computer by full-time MBA students at Francis Marion University.

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Specifications

We do not recommend a specific laptop for our students. However, we do recommend a PC rather than a Mac. Some courses require the use of Microsoft Excel for Windows. The add-ins used for these courses will NOT work in Microsoft Excel for Mac.

Note: If you are a MAC user, due to compatibility issues, you will need to purchase additional software so you can run the PC version of Microsoft Excel 2010 or higher. The easiest way to run Microsoft Excel 2010 or higher for the PC on your Mac is to purchase and install VMware Fusion for the Mac OS/X. VMware Fusion 4 will allow you to run a dual boot setup on your Mac computer. Thus, you will be able to choose to boot into your Mac OS/X or Windows OS. Thus, once you have installed VMware Fusion 4, you will be able to install Windows 7 and then install Office 2010 for the PC.

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The following laptop specifications are recommended for 2014-2015 academic year:

• Windows 7 or later version
• CPU – Core i3 or equivalent, minimum, Core i5 or equivalent, recommended
• RAM- 4GB minimum, 8GB recommended
• Hard Drive – 7200RPM SATA or SSD hard drive (with at least 30GB of free space available)
• External Storage – Flash Drive internal or external USB
• Ethernet – Integrated Gigabit Ethernet (a wired connection to the Internet is still faster and more stable)
• Wireless – 802.11 b,g,n
• USB 2.0 or 3.0
• Ability to run Microsoft Office 2010 Professional or higher
• Anti-virus software
• 2 year on-site warranty service (this is critical)
• Insurance coverage for both damage and theft (suggested)
• Must have high speed connection.
• Must have a headset with noise cancelling microphones

Yes, but no more than two 3-credit hour courses may be transferred. All transient credit must be from a regionally accredited institution and must be verified by an official transcript from the institution at which the graduate study was undertaken. Only courses from AACSB-accredited schools will be considered. Courses must match our curriculum.

MBA graduates will demonstrate knowledge of the core concepts in business and the application of these concepts for executive decision making.
Learning outcome: MBA graduates will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of business concepts and the application of these concepts for executive decision making.

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MBA graduates will demonstrate skills in identifying, analyzing and solving of executive issues.

Learning outcome: MBA graduates will demonstrate the ability to:

• identify and understand the managerial question/issue/problem,
• select the appropriate methodology for understanding and analyzing alternative solutions, and
• provide a viable solution.

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MBA graduates will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate to appropriate audiences.

Learning outcome:

• MBA graduates will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate executive managerial issues verbally to the appropriate audience.
• MBA graduates will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate executive managerial issues in written form to the appropriate audience.

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MBA graduates will demonstrate innovation in the executive decision making process.

Learning outcome: Within executive decision making, MBA graduates will demonstrate innovative thought in identifying issues, analyzing situations and developing of viable solutions.

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MBA graduates will demonstrate awareness of ethical issues and incorporate ethical perspectives within the executive decision making process.

Learning outcome: MBA graduates will be able to identify ethical issues, understand the ethical implications of decisions upon stakeholders and utilize ethical standards within managerial decision making.

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MBA graduates will demonstrate comprehension of global influences upon executive business decisions.