Master of Business Administration in General Business

How long is this program?
2 Years, 5-6 Semesters
Is this online, in-person or hybrid?
On-Ground, Online
Where will I take my classes?
Gainesville or online
Which semesters can I start?
Fall, Spring & Summer
What type of degree will I get?
MBA
How much is tuition?
See tuition table below
Woman presenting with graphs in business setting

Understand the business you want to lead.

Build on your professional experience with the business knowledge you need to take on greater responsibility in your career. Brenau University’s MBA in General Business helps you see how financial choices, team performance, and day-to-day operations affect an organization’s direction. You’ll strengthen your ability to interpret evidence, weigh competing priorities, and make informed decisions. For experienced professionals seeking the MBA credential, the program offers a way to connect knowledge gained on the job with graduate study in management and strategy. If you’re looking to move into business from another field, this MBA can help you build on your existing experience and develop the knowledge to pursue business and management roles.

Program at a Glance

Degree
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Length
2 Years, 5-6 semesters
Total Credits
30 credit hours
Format
On-ground or online
Location
Gainesville or online
Start terms
Fall, Spring & Summer

Why study General Business at Brenau?

  • Work directly with experienced faculty. Small classes support interaction with professors whose backgrounds include private-sector work and education.
  • Bring your learning together in a capstone. Strategic Management asks you to apply prior coursework to organizational problems and develop a strategy and supporting policies.
  • Make choices within a broad degree. An eligible elective and two global course options let you select coursework that supports your interests.

What you’ll learn

  • Assess how production and information systems work, including forecasting, supply chains, quality, and their connection to corporate strategy.

  • Turn a business question into an analytical process: define the problem, prepare the data, derive insights and decide how to act. Practice Microsoft Excel data management, visualization and analysis.

  • Interpret financial statements and performance measures, estimate cash flows and use risk, return and the time value of money to evaluate financial decisions.

  • Understand how motivation, judgment, conflict and group behavior influence the way people work and respond to leadership.

  • Analyze industries and competitors, consider pricing and distribution choices, and evaluate the productivity and profitability of marketing decisions.

  • Recognize legal and ethical challenges involving contracts, employment, intellectual property and other business activities, and develop strategies to reduce legal risk.

Your coursework

Begin with BA 507: Business Communications (3 credits), which must be completed before the core or global sequence.

The 24-credit core includes:

  • BA 670: Excellence in Operations
  • BA 707: Business Analytics
  • MK 715: Marketing Strategy
  • BA 717: Business Law and Ethics
  • BA 724: Financial Management and Budgeting
  • MG 729: Management of People
  • BA 799: Strategic Management
  • One eligible MBA elective (3 credits)

Fulfill the 3-credit global requirement with one of two courses:

  • BA 642: Cross-Cultural Business Challenges explores how cultural differences affect global organizations.
  • BA 787: Global Strategy and Economics examines international trade and finance, trade policy and barriers, exchange rates and international institutions.

Career options

  • Business operations: apply operations and analytics knowledge to decisions about processes, resources and performance.
  • General management: build on relevant experience to coordinate work across business functions.
  • Business development: evaluate markets, competitors and the financial implications of growth opportunities.
  • Entrepreneurship: bring management, marketing and financial knowledge to decisions about starting or running a business.

Admissions requirements

To apply, you’ll need:

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
  • A GPA of at least 3.0
  • Official college transcripts
  • A resume

Prerequisite coursework

You can satisfy the prerequisite sequence through graduate coursework or qualifying undergraduate courses:

  • Economics: BA 508 Applied Economics for Managers, or both microeconomics and macroeconomics
  • Accounting and finance: BA 514 Overview of Financial Accounting, or both financial accounting and managerial finance

Courses used to meet these requirements must have been completed within the past five years with a grade of B or better. You may use the graduate option for one requirement and the undergraduate option for the other.

Contact Admissions to review your transcripts and determine whether you need prerequisite coursework in addition to the 33-hour MBA.

Estimated Tuition

Tuition Table for MBA in General Business
ModalityTuition Per Credit HourEstimated Total Tuition
On-ground$896$26,880
Online$575$17,250

* Tuition rate is for the current academic year. Rates are subject to change. See our Tuition and Fees page for specific rates.

Frequently asked questions

Master's Degrees, MBA General Business, Programs

Do I have to select a specialized MBA major?

No. The General Business plan is designed for students pursuing the MBA without a specialized major.

Master's Degrees, MBA General Business, Programs

Will I need prerequisite courses?

Your academic review determines whether previous coursework satisfies the prerequisite sequence. You can meet it through either or both of these routes:

Graduate courses: BA 508, Applied Economics for Managers, and BA 514, Overview of Financial Accounting.

Undergraduate equivalents: BA 206, Microeconomics, plus BA 207, Macroeconomics, replace BA 508. AC 201, Accounting Principles I (Financial), plus BA 327, Managerial Finance, replace BA 514.

Courses must have been taken within the last five years with a grade of B or better. You may use the graduate route for one requirement and undergraduate equivalents for the other. Transfer coursework must meet Brenau’s transfer requirements.

Master's Degrees, MBA General Business, Programs

Can I choose an elective?

Yes. Choose a 3-credit MBA elective with an AC, BA, CR, HC, HR, MG, MM, or MK course prefix. Work with your adviser to confirm availability, course level, approval, and prerequisites before registering.

Master's Degrees, MBA General Business, Programs

When can I take the capstone?

BA 799: Strategic Management requires BA 724: Financial Management and Budgeting. Plan the sequence with your adviser. The capstone includes a resource fee for administration of the CPC Comprehensive Exam or an equivalent assessment.

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