College of Business

The college offers curricula leading to the degrees of Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Accounting (MAcc), Master of Science in Finance (MSF), Master of Science (MS) in management with a major in risk management and insurance, Master of Science (MS) in management information systems, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in business administration. The College of Law and the College of Business offer a joint-degree program leading to the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. The College of Social Work and the College of Business offer a joint-degree program leading to the Master of Social Work (MSW) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees.

The Master of Business Administration program is offered on a part-time and full-time basis, as well as online. A part-time MBA program is also available at the Panama City Campus. An on-campus MBA student may choose to concentrate their elective options in finance, marketing and supply chain management, or general business. Online MBA students may choose a concentration in general business, real estate, or hospitality administration. Other opportunities are available to students with undergraduate degrees in accounting and management information systems.

The Master of Accounting program is designed to allow the student to major in either assurance services, accounting information systems, corporate accounting, or taxation. This program provides students with greater breadth and depth in accounting education than can be accomplished in the baccalaureate program. Although the MAcc program is designed as a full-time program, students may choose to complete their course work on a part-time basis.

The Master of Science in management program with a major in risk management and insurance is available entirely via the Internet and is designed for working professionals.

The College also offers an Internet-based Master of Science in management information systems. The program is designed so that a typical student can complete the degree in 24 months by taking two online courses each semester. Students may choose to complete either a managerial track or a technical track.

The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) is a one year, lock-step program that emphasizes the applied aspects of finance.

The objective of the doctoral program in business is to prepare students for careers in university teaching and research, as well as for selected administrative and research positions in industry and government. Students receive the Doctor of Philosophy in business administration degree and concentrate in accounting, finance, management information systems, organizational behavior and theory, strategic management, marketing, or risk management and insurance.

More specific information on all our graduate programs is available on the College of Business Web site at http://www.cob.fsu.edu/grad.

The Jim Morgan Institute for Global Entrepreneurship (JMI) in the College of Business at The Florida State University serves to help entrepreneurs with currently existing businesses in the state of Florida to succeed. The JMI offers many avenues of assistance-—from educational conferences to direct connections with our knowledgeable staff. As the prospect of operating a business in the future becomes more and more complex, the JMI will be a continual source of education aimed at keeping entrepreneurs informed and prepared to meet the challenge of coming trends.

The Marketing Institute (formerly the Florida Institute for Marketing Alternative Transportation) was created to provide valuable market research and education/training programs to professionals in the transportation, sports, hospitalities, and professional service industries. Operated by a talented team of faculty, staff, and students, the Marketing Institute seeks to identify consumer attitudes and behavior that impact their purchase of products and services.

The Human Resource Management Center (HRC) in the College of Business at The Florida State University provides a forum for human resource professionals to enter into high level discussions with academics and colleagues on critical issues. The HRCenter also provides a vehicle for professional networking and provides a connection to, and support for, The Florida State University, a major research oriented university. In addition to the main focus, the HRCenter provides technical assistance, education and training programs, and published research to its executive and general membership.

The DeSantis Center provides high quality management education to executives and managers throughout the United States and in selected foreign countries. It also supports research on effective management education approaches and technologies that enhances the creation and transfer of knowledge between the academic and the practicing professional.

The Charles A. Rovetta Business Building contains approximately 76,000 net square feet of modern classrooms, faculty and staff offices, and support facilities. The building is ideally located near both the Strozier Library and the Oglesby Union and contains support facilities for student placement, a student reading room and lounge, seminar rooms, and offices for graduate assistants. All classrooms are equipped with the latest audio-visual and wireless networking equipment.

The College of Business has a state-of-the-art technology center. As computer applications have been integrated into all areas of the business curriculum, the computer laboratories and multimedia teaching classrooms have become an integral part of the learning process. The laboratories continue to be upgraded and currently contain modern hardware and up-to-date software. The microcomputers are integrated into a local area network (LAN) which provides student access to software in the laboratory and at other locations. The LAN also provides student access to mainframe computing systems in the University.

Both master's and doctoral students are eligible to apply for numerous fellowships and assistantships provided at the University level. In addition, the College of Business provides substantial financial assistance to doctoral students. The College of Business assistantships/fellowships are awarded to doctoral students whose application materials reflect high academic and professional performance, potential, maturity, and a strong ability to teach and communicate with students.

Admission Requirements

The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is required for admission to all graduate programs in the College of Business. For students whose native language is not English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required. In addition, international students receiving funding as teaching assistants must successfully complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE). The TOEFL and the TSE are also offered in a combined exam known as the iBTOEFL (Internet-based TOEFL).

Admission to all graduate programs in business is based upon the following factors: grade point average (GPA) in previous university-level courses; verbal, quantitative, and total scores on the GMAT; TOEFL score, if applicable; letters of recommendation that speak specifically to the ability of applicants to successfully complete the graduate program to which they are applying; relevant work experience; and a personal statement of goals. For those students applying to the Master of Accounting program, the undergraduate upper-division accounting GPA is also considered.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program: Forty-two (42) semester hours for the full time, part-time, and online programs. Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in business must complete several prerequisites before entry. For full-time students, the three-semester program begins in the Summer term (early May) and the application deadline is February 1st. For part-time students at the Tallahassee campus, the program begins in the Spring term (early January) and the application deadline is October 1st. For part-time students at the Panama City campus, the program begins only in the Fall term (late August) and the application deadline is June 1. The online program begins in the Fall (late August) and Spring terms (early January). The application deadline is June 1st for Fall and October 1st for Spring. All materials, including a GMAT score, must be received in our office by the application deadline. The part-time programs are available at both the main campus in Tallahassee and at the Panama City branch campus.

Master of Science (MS) in Management Program with a major in risk and insurance is an online, corporate program designed for the insurance professional and requires completion of thirty-three (33) semester hours of graduate level coursework. The MSM in RMI begins only in the summer term. It is offered on a distance-learning basis, via the Internet, to allow the working professional to obtain the degree. Deadline for receipt of all application materials is March 1. The program begins only in the Summer term.

Master of Science (MS) in Management Information Systems Program: The management information-systems major requires completion of thirty-three (33) semester hours. This program is offered only in an online format. Applicants must have at least three years of IT-related work experience, as well as the following prerequisite knowledge or skills; working knowledge of at least two programming languages such as C, C++, Java, Visual Basic, etc.; proficiency in at least one programming language at a level comparable to an entry-level professional programmer in that language; and knowledge of basic statistical concepts (descriptive statistics, regression and hypothesis testing). Students can enter the MS in MIS program in either the Fall (late August) or Spring (early January) terms. Deadlines for receipt of all application materials are: June 1st for the Fall term and October 1st for the Spring term.

Master of Accounting (MAcc) Program: This is a thirty-three (33) semester hour program that allows admission any term. Deadlines for receipt of all application materials are: Fall term (deadline June 1st), Spring term (deadline October 1st), or Summer term (deadline March 1st). The MAcc program is designed as a full-time, daytime program; however, students may attend on a part-time basis under certain circumstances. Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in accounting may enter a two-year program designed to ensure completion of appropriate prerequisites.

Master of Science in Finance (MSF): All students start in the summer semester and complete the program the following spring semester. The program consists of thirty-two (32) semester hours and includes a blend of theory, empirical analysis, and applications. Deadline for receipt of all application materials is March 1st.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration Program: Admission is only for the fall term in order to be eligible for financial aid and to provide an optimum program schedule. The application deadline is May 1st.

Individuals interested in the graduate programs offered by the College of Business should contact: The Graduate Office, College of Business, P.O. Box 3061110, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-1110 (gradprog@cob.fsu.edu). Enrollment in graduate business courses is severely limited by both space and accreditation standards. Non-degree students seeking registration in graduate business courses must obtain the permission of the academic dean.

Graduate students who have withdrawn, who have not been enrolled for two consecutive semesters, or who have been academically dismissed are required to meet the graduation and retention requirements of the Graduate Bulletin that is in effect at the time of their readmission.

The MBA program prepares promising students for successful careers in business and management. It provides high-quality business and management education with a professional, career-long perspective by developing the student's capacities and skills for decision making, leadership, and communications. The program also develops in students a spirit of enterprise, confidence, creativity, and attitude which is needed for advancement to positions of increasing responsibilities.

The MBA curriculum at The Florida State University emphasizes the application of various business and management concepts to the decision-making process. The curriculum also exposes the student to the various functions of business and management, recognizing that the career of a successful manager will span multiple functions. This exposure not only provides students with an understanding of the interrelationships among various business and management operations and decisions, but it also provides a sound foundation for growth and development through subsequent experience and education after graduation.

Admission into the MBA program, whether on a full-time or part-time basis, requires prior completion of the following specific set of prerequisites: calculus, elementary statistics, financial accounting, micro- and macro-economics, and basic finance. In addition, applicants should have at least two years full-time work experience in a professional or supervisory position.

The part-time, evening MBA program is structured for students who hold full-time positions during the day, and will require seven (7) semesters to complete. The full-time program is completed within 12 calendar months. Course work usually is scheduled during the day.

The forty-two (42) semester hour program includes eleven standard courses taught by a variety of departments within the College of Business. All MBA students are required to complete the following courses:

ACG  5026 Financial Reporting and Managerial Control

BUL 5810 The Legal Environment of Business

FIN 5425 Problems in Financial Management

ISM 5021 Information and Technology Management

ISM 5315 Project Management

MAN 5245 Organizational Behavior

MAN 5501 Operations Management

MAN 5716 Economics/Business Conditions

MAN 5721 Strategy and Business Policy

MAR 5125 Marketing Strategy in the Global Environment

MAR 5935 Corporate Affairs Management

The remaining three (3) courses are electives. The College of Business offers three options for MBA electives; three (3) courses in finance, three (3) courses in marketing and supply chain management, or any 3 electives chosen from these areas. With the approval of the academic dean for graduate programs, other opportunities are available to students with undergraduate degrees in accounting and management information systems. The finance electives consist of investment management and analysis, multinational financial management, and financial modeling and forecasting. Purchasing and supply chain management, business to business sales and marketing, and electronic business in supply chain marketing make up the marketing and supply chain management electives. Electives also may be chosen from other areas in business with approval of the academic dean for graduate programs.

The online MBA program offers concentrations in general business, real estate, and hospitality administration. Elective course work required for the general business area includes investment management and analysis, business to business sales and marketing, and employee benefit plans. Concentration courses for real estate are real estate and its legal environment, topics in real estate finance and appraisal, and real estate investment. For a concentration in hospitality administration, electives are financial and cost control systems for hospitality and tourism organizations, legal environment of hospitality and tourism organizations, and services and marketing research for hospitality and tourism.

Master of Science in Management Program with a major in risk and insurance is an online, corporate program designed for the insurance professional. It requires completion of thirty-three (33) semester hours of graduate level coursework and is offered on a distance-learning basis, entirely via the Internet, to allow the working professional to obtain the degree. The focus is on property and liability insurance. All 11 courses which comprise the program can be completed in 24 months and taken from anywhere in the world. Quality and convenience are paramount. The curriculum recognizes that industry professionals are not involved solely with insurance issues – they must face difficult financial, ethical, legal, and global concerns as well. The program structure, therefore, hones a student's ability to analyze these issues from different perspectives, fosters critical thinking, and engenders the discipline needed to become a successful manager.

The management information-systems major requires completion of thirty-three (33) semester hours. Applicants must have successfully completed a course in statistics, calculus, and two programming languages such as visual basic and C++ to qualify for admission. Work experience is also a requirement. The MS in MIS program is primarily designed for students who want to manage in technology oriented environments. It is offered on a distance-learning basis (entirely via the Internet) to allow working professionals to obtain the degree.

The objective of the curriculum leading to the Master of Accounting degree is to provide students with greater breadth and depth in accounting education than can be accomplished in the baccalaureate program. Because of the increasingly complex nature of the accounting and controllership functions, as well as the growing responsibilities of the accountant, graduate study beyond the baccalaureate degree is desirable for a career in accounting.

The Master of Accounting degree consists of thirty-three (33) semester hours (plus undergraduate foundation work if required). Students select a concentration in either accounting information systems, assurance services, corporate accounting, or taxation.

The usual prerequisite for admission to the Master of Accounting curriculum is an undergraduate degree in business with a major in accounting. Applicants who present other undergraduate degrees will be required to complete foundation work in accounting and business administration prior to application and admission. The general graduate admissions policies of the College of Business also apply.

Courses consist of a blend of theory, empirical analysis and applications. Throughout the program, there is heavy emphasis on the applied aspects of finance. Students are frequently involved in analysis and modeling efforts that resemble what they are likely to confront in their careers. Relevant theory and empirical analysis that underlie real-world decision making are also emphasized, as understanding such material is essential to truly grasp the decision-making process utilized in finance.

Prerequisites include Financial Accounting, a beginning course in Financial Management (FIN 3403 or its equivalent), Investments (FIN 4504 or it's equivalent), and Problems in Financial Management (FIN 4424 or its equivalent).

Further information may be obtained from: The Graduate Office, College of Business, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1110 (gradprog@cob.fsu.edu).

The College of Law and the College of Business offer a joint-degree program leading to the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. Applicants to the program must fulfill the normal entrance requirements of both colleges. Admission into the joint program must be made prior to the end of the first year of law school. After students have been admitted to the colleges of Law and Business, they must have their curriculum approved by the joint committee responsible for the administration of the program.

Further information may be obtained from: The Graduate Office, College of Business, P.O. Box 3061110, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1110 (gradprog@cob.fsu.edu). Students interested in the JD/MBA should also contact the Director of Admissions, College of Law, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1610; 850-644-3787.

The College of Social Work and the College of Business offer a joint-degree program leading to the Master of Social Work (MSW) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. Program applicants must fulfill the normal entrance requirements of both colleges. The joint graduate degree is designed for students in both programs who wish to expand their understanding of the connection between these two fields of study and to gain expertise working in social-services agencies.

Further information my be obtained from: The Graduate Office, College of Business, P.O. Box 3061110, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1110 (gradprog@cob.fsu.edu). Students interested in the MSW/MBA degree should also contact the Director of Admissions, College of Social Work, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2570, (850) 644-4751.

The purpose of the doctoral program is to prepare candidates for careers in university teaching and research, as well as for administrative and research positions in business, government, and philanthropic organizations.

The doctoral curriculum emphasizes scientific study of decision making in an administrative context and the development of research abilities. The major thrusts of the business administration curriculum are professional discipline and theoretical research, which lead to further development of the discipline and to scholarly problem solving.

Program of Study

Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy in business administration degree must satisfy the graduate faculty of the college that they have achieved 1) a mastery of a primary area of concentration, 2) a high degree of proficiency in a support area, and 3) a competency in the use of analytical and research tools.

Students will plan their program in consultation with a major professor and an advisory committee. The primary area of study must be selected from either accounting, finance, management information systems, organizational behavior,\\ and human resource management, strategic management, marketing, or risk management, and insurance. A support area may be selected from a nonbusiness discipline or from another business discipline.

A minimum of one year of teaching and/or research is required of all candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy in business administration degree.

Preliminary Examinations

Comprehensive written examinations are given over the primary and support areas upon completion of all course work. An oral examination may be given over the student's primary and support areas once written examinations have been completed. The entire examination process will normally take place within the scope of a single semester. While the analytical and research tools area does not include a comprehensive examination, students must earn a grade of "B" or better in each of the courses in the area. All incomplete grades must be removed prior to taking the doctoral primary and support exams and enrolling for dissertation hours.

Dissertation

Each doctoral candidate will undertake research on a subject approved by the dissertation committee. The student must demonstrate critical judgment in performing the investigation, and the finished dissertation must be a scholarly study that advances knowledge in the discipline. After completion of the dissertation, a final oral examination covering the candidate's research is required. Students must register for dissertation credit each term during which they are in the dissertation phase of their program. A minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours of dissertation credit must be earned. Students are not permitted to enroll for and receive dissertation credit until they have passed all of their doctoral preliminary examinations.