We know if pursuing an MBA is part of your career goals, you likely have a specific occupation in mind. That is why at Florida State University we have designed our MBA curriculum to suit you. As an MBA student you take a core set of courses aimed at strengthening your managerial skills in the fundamentals ranging from accounting and marketing to operations and strategy. Then, you may round out your degree with either courses that build your specialized expertise in a specific business focus or a slate of courses that will prepare you for any chosen career.
Students may customize their MBA by choosing 9 credit hours (3 courses) of electives in one of the following specializations. Below are specialization options and the elective courses available to complete each one. To learn more about each course, visit mba.fsu.edu > Course Descriptions.
FULL-TIME MBA OPTIONS
The Business Analytics specialization introduces students to statistical and data management techniques that are used to derive business insights from data. It also provides students with a broad understanding of current analytics tools and techniques, when to use them and how to interpret analytics results in a variety of contexts.
Courses include:
- ISM 5560 Data Management
- QMB 5755 Quantitative Methods in Business Analytics I
- QMB 5616 Probabilistic Optimization for Analytics
Finance* (undergraduate finance degree required)
The Finance specialization teaches management of money and effective allocation of resources and capital management. It provides exposure to multiple areas, such as capital markets, corporate financial decision-making, portfolio management and the global financial system. The most sophisticated databases and technologies are used in all classes. Having this expertise opens career opportunities in most areas of the financial sector with good earning potential.
Courses include:
- FIN 5515 Investment Management and Analysis (Prerequisite: FIN 5425)
- FIN 5545 Fixed Income Securities
- FIN 5605 Multinational Financial Management
The college's newest specialization in Healthcare Management prepares students for business-related aspects of medical industries, including financing, insurance markets, talent acquisition and management, regulations, and legal and ethical principles.
Courses are only available online and at the market rate:
- BUL 5605 – Healthcare Law and Ethics
- MAN 5099 – Healthcare Staffing
- RMI 5745 – Healthcare Financing
The HR specialization exposes students to the core disciplines of human resource management, preparing knowledgeable and skilled practitioners. The field of HR is about empowering people and workplaces and enabling organizations to maximize their potential. HR professionals work in every industry and can choose from career paths in a wide variety of disciplines, such as talent acquisition, compensation/benefits, training, employee and labor relations, organizational effectiveness, diversity and inclusion, analytics and technology. "HR is a dynamic field that is committed to building a better world of work for all," said Darren Brooks, HR specialization coordinator. For more information, please contact Dr. Brooks.
Choose three courses from the following:
- MAN 5305 Personnel and Human Resource Management
- MAN 5331 Compensation Management
- MAN 5351 Training and Development
- MAN 5365 Staffing
- MAN 5375 HR Analytics
Management Information Systems*
The MIS specialization introduces students to fundamental concepts about the design, implementation and use of information systems in organizations. It provides students with an understanding of how to use information systems to achieve an organization's strategic objectives.
Courses are only available online and at the market rate:
- ISM 5123 Systems Analysis and Design
- ISM 5315 Project Management
- ISM 5327 Corporate Information Security
The Marketing specialization builds the high-demand skill set companies seek to successfully create value within an organization. Whether students plan to pursue a career in a service-focused organization or aspire to use big data to inform managerial decisions, the specialization offers a curriculum designed to help students land their dream job.
Choose three courses from the following:
- MAR 5675 Marketing Analytics
- MAR 5839 Product Innovation Management
- MAR 5849 Services Marketing
- MAR 5668 Big Data – Marketing Analytics
The Real Estate specialization prepares students for the substantial and growing demand for advanced training in real estate finance and investment. Institutional investors, investment banks, private equity firms, portfolio lenders and other service providers are expanding their opportunities in real estate investment, lending, asset management, valuation, brokerage and other services. These posts offer higher-than-average compensation in the high-growth area of business and financial operations. Recent real estate program graduates have accepted positions at companies such as CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., MetLife Investment Management, Prudential Real Estate Investment, Starwood Capital, USAA Real Estate, Voya Investment Management and Wells Fargo.
Courses include:
- REE 5205 Real Estate Finance
- REE 5209 Advanced Real Estate Finance and Investment
- REE 5305 Real Estate Investment
Risk Management and Insurance*
The RMI specialization develops a student's ability to analyze difficult financial, ethical, legal and global issues from different perspectives. It fosters critical thinking and enhances the discipline needed in today's RMI market. This program equips professionals to shape an industry that evolves with the world around it.
Choose one of two tracks of online courses:
Life/Health Track
Courses are only available online and at the market rate:
- RMI 5257 Data Analytics in Risk Management & Insurance
- RMI 5136 Employee Benefit Plans
- RMI 5745 Health Care Financing
- RMI 5810 Personal Financial Planning
Property/Casualty Track
Courses are only available online and at the market rate:
- RMI 5### Essentials of Risk and Insurance
- RMI 5257 Data Analytics in Risk Management and Insurance
- RMI 5345 Risk Management in the Business Enterprise
- RMI 5710 Insurance Company Operations
The SCM specialization prepares students for a career that is growing in demand as businesses seek competitive advantage from their supply chains. SCM requires a mix of communications and quantitative skills. Career opportunities are available in purchasing (strategically managing the organization's goods and services), logistics/customer service (fulfilling customer requirements and moving goods) and inventory management (balancing supply and demand). Recent graduates are now employed by companies such as Amazon (Orlando), Lockheed Martin Corporation (Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas and Denver), L3Harris (Melbourne, FL), Home Depot (Atlanta), DHL (Miami), Invisors (Atlanta), Ravago (Orlando) and several other organizations.
Courses include:
- MAR 5465 Purchasing and Supply Chain Management
- MAR 5466 Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- MAR 5726 Electronic Business in Supply Chain Marketing
ONLINE/PART-TIME MBA OPTIONS
The Business Analytics specialization introduces students to statistical and data management techniques that are used to derive business insights from data. It also provides students with a broad understanding of current analytics tools and techniques, when to use them and how to interpret analytics results in a variety of contexts.
Online courses include:
- ISM 5206 Database Development and Management
- ISM 5404 Business Intelligence
- ISM 5428 Knowledge Management
The college's newest specialization in Healthcare Management prepares students for business-related aspects of medical industries, including financing, insurance markets, talent acquisition and management, regulations, and legal and ethical principles.
Online courses include:
- BUL 5605 – Healthcare Law and Ethics
- MAN 5099 – Healthcare Staffing
- RMI 5745 – Healthcare Financing
Management Information Systems*
The MIS specialization introduces students to fundamental concepts about the design, implementation and use of information systems in organizations. It provides students with an understanding of how to use information systems to achieve an organization's strategic objectives.
Online courses include:
- ISM 5123 Systems Analysis and Design
- ISM 5315 Project Management
- ISM 5327 Corporate Information Security
The Marketing specialization builds the high-demand skill set companies seeking to successfully create value within an organization. Whether students plan to pursue a career in a service-focused organization or aspire to use big data to inform managerial decisions, the specialization offers a curriculum designed to help students land their dream job.
Choose three online courses from the following:
- MAR 5409 Business to Business Sales and Marketing
- MAR 5625 Marketing Research
- MAR 5849 Services Marketing
- MAR 5861 Customer Relationship Management
The Real Estate specialization prepares students for the substantial and growing demand for advanced training in real estate finance and investment. Institutional investors, investment banks, private equity firms, portfolio lenders and other service providers are expanding their opportunities in real estate investment, lending, asset management, valuation, brokerage and other services. These posts offer higher-than-average compensation in the high-growth area of business and financial operations. Recent real estate program graduates have accepted positions at companies such as CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., MetLife Investment Management, Prudential Real Estate Investment, Starwood Capital, USAA Real Estate, Voya Investment Management and Wells Fargo.
Online courses include:
- REE 5105 Real Estate Valuation
- REE 5205 Real Estate Finance
- REE 5305 Real Estate Investment
Risk Management and Insurance*
The RMI specialization develops a student's ability to analyze difficult financial, ethical, legal and global issues from different perspectives. It fosters critical thinking and enhances the discipline needed in today's RMI market. This program equips professionals to shape an industry that evolves with the world around it.
Choose one of two tracks of online courses:
Life/Health Track
- RMI 5257 Data Analytics in Risk Management & Insurance
- RMI 5136 Employee Benefit Plans
- RMI 5745 Health Care Financing
- RMI 5810 Personal Financial Planning
Property/Casualty Track
- RMI 5### Essentials of Risk and Insurance
- RMI 5257 Data Analytics in Risk Management and Insurance
- RMI 5345 Risk Management in the Business Enterprise
- RMI 5710 Insurance Company Operations
* MBA specializations in the specialty master's degree disciplines of Business Analytics, Finance, Management Information Systems and Risk Management and Insurance will require prior approval from that program's director.
Part-time MBA students attending in the evenings on campus may choose full-time elective courses and specializations; however, these are typically offered during the workday. Joint MBA degrees with the colleges of Law or Social Work do not have specializations. FSU's MBA diplomas do not note specializations, but graduates are encouraged to share their earned expertise on their resumes and digital profiles for professional networking websites such as LinkedIn.
