Brenau University

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HR Degrees at Seven Brenau Campuses and Online

Brenau University is also featured in our ranking 50 Most Affordable Human Resource MBA Degree Programs.

Since 1992, Brenau University has housed a BBA in Human Resources Management in the College of Business & Communication for undergrads seeking mid-level jobs orchestrating policies affecting an organization’s human capital. Overseen by Dr. Von Pouncey, the 120-credit, SACS-accredited curriculum reports 66 percent freshman retention in liberal arts-based courses like Microeconomics, Value Chain Management, and Staff Selection. Most have accelerated, seven-week formats starting after 6PM weekly in Augusta, Gainesville, Jacksonville, North Atlanta, South Atlanta, and the Women’s College or online. The Brenau Leadership Program adds Honors courses, including Business Ethics, plus 45 internship hours for students with GPAs over 3.3. Majors might also study abroad at Anhui Normal University, pledge Delta Mu Delta, be Peer Assistants, engage in The Business Incubator, and join Rotaract.

Presently priced $635 per credit, the College of Business & Communication grants a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership under Dr. Suzanne Erickson for Brenau undergrads called to motivate cohesive, productive teams toward goals. At America’s 212nd hardest college on Niche, this 120-credit option welcomes students from 32 states at an average age of 27 for global, interdisciplinary HR management training. Each seven-week session, busy adults register for one or more courses like Conflict Resolution, Cultural Diversity, and Talent Acquisition. A maximum of 90 credits graded at least “C” are transferrable before online Canvas or evening satellite campus meetings. Other Brenau University opportunities include interning at Coca-Cola, earning the Josephine Winter Rainey Scholarship, joining Commuter Council, participating in Professional Development Week, and minoring in Psychology.


Ranked 153rd nationally on the U.S. News & World Report, the Brenau MBA selectively admitted 61 percent of the 360 Fall 2017 applicants to the Sidney O. Smith Jr. Graduate School for 16 unique concentration areas, including Human Resources Management. Chaired by Dr. William Laing, the 42-45 credit sequence trains executives capable of integrating good workforce policies into corporate direction. Costing $695 per credit, the SHRM-aligned program requires minimum 3.0 GPAs during regionally accredited bachelor’s study. Master’s evening courses, such as Integrated Business Operations, are available in Augusta, Gainesville, Jacksonville, North Atlanta, and South Atlanta or entirely online. Each March, Brenau University’s Northeast Georgia History Center also hosts an MBA Career Fair to connect with employers like Delta Air Lines, Aflac, SunTrust, Pulte Group, Kelly Services, and WestRock.

Six times yearly, the Sidney O. Smith Jr. Graduate School at Brenau University starts the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership in 16 custom specializations, such as Human Resources Management, as an MBA alternative focused on influencing employee development. Headed by Dr. Bill Haney, the 36-credit, ACBSP-accredited major examines the people dynamics of profitable enterprises at Washington Monthly’s 18th best Southern value. Bachelor’s grads meeting the 2.5 GPA minimum select online or Augusta, Gainesville, Jacksonville, North Atlanta, and South Atlanta evening courses with a 9:1 student-professor ratio. Engaging topics like Employment Law and Talent Acquisition ends with the OL 799 Strategic Leadership Planning project for hands-on experience in 16 months. For shorter study, Brenau grants the 15-credit Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management too.

About Brenau University

Brenau University is a private, nonprofit, liberal arts institution of higher learning residing in Gainesville, Georgia. It is home to the residential Women’s College and coeducational campuses in Gainsville, Norcross, Augusta, and Fairburn Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida. It was established in 1878 as Georgia Baptist Female Seminary. In 1900, the seminary changed its name to Brenau College and was privately owned until 1911. It was then governed by a board of trustees. A female, residential college preparatory institution for grades nine to 12 was established in 1928. In the 1960s, the college started offering evening and weekend classes to both women and men. In 1972, the college officially became coeducational. The college finally became a university in 1992. Brenau University started offering online programs in 2002. In 2010, the university opened the Sidney O. Smith Graduate School to meet the unique needs of graduate students. Today, Brenau University is home to nearly 3,500 students on its 57-acre campus and online. It operates on the semester-based academic calendar.

Brenau University is dedicated to providing liberal arts-based professional education. It offers more than 50 programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels through six colleges of education: College of Business and Communication, College of Education, College of Fine Arts and Humanities, Ivester College of Health Sciences, Sidney O. Smith Graduate School, and Women’s College. The Women’s College remains exclusive for females and it maintains the historical tradition of offering academic programs and extracurricular experiences to students living on and off campus. The Women’s College is recognized for its outstanding fine arts programs and offerings that develop leadership abilities. The most popular majors include business, marketing, management, education, visual and performing arts, liberal arts, and humanities. The student to faculty ratio is 10 to one, with about 80 percent of classes with less than 20 students.

Notable alumni from Brenau University include Clyde Connell, Lera Millard Thomas, Tommy Benton, and Florence Reville Gibbs.

The U.S. News and World Report ranks Brenau University number 57 in its 2018 Regional Universities South publication. The Princeton Review ranks Brenau University among its Best Southeastern schools. Niche ranks Brenau University sixth Most Conservative College in Georgia, 18th Most Diverse College in Georgia, 18th Best Value College in Georgia, and 294th Safest College Campus in America.

Brenau University Accreditation Details

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges accredits Brenau University to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.

The business programs at Brenau University are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Brenau University Application Requirements

Brenau University features rolling admissions and it is ranked selective with a low rate of acceptance of 36 percent of applicants gaining admission annually. The following materials are required for consideration for admission:

Undergraduate

  •  Application for admission or the Common Application
  •  $35 nonrefundable application fee
  •  Official high school transcripts
  •  Official transcripts from prior colleges and universities
  •  Official SAT or ACT scores
  •  Additional requirements for specific programs

Graduate

  •  Online application
  •  $35 nonrefundable application fee
  •  Official transcripts from prior colleges and universities
  •  Additional requirements for specific programs

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition

Undergraduate

  •  Women’s College-Day and Undergraduate College-Day: one to 11 credit hours or more than 19 hours – $955 per credit hour and 12 to 18 credit hours -$14,325 flat rate
  •  Women’s College and Undergraduate College health programs: one to 11 credit hours or more than 19 hours – $1,025 and 12 to 18 credit hours – $15,375 flat rate

Graduate

Graduate tuition varies by specific program, ranging from $500 per credit hour to $1,025 per credit hour

Financial Aid

Brenau University offers various types of financial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. About 81 percent of full-time undergraduate students receive some sort of need-based financial assistance. The average award is $13,418.

Scholarships

  •  Brenau Scholars Program
  •  Trustee and Faculty Excellence Scholarships
  •  Brenau Achievement Grants
  •  Brenau Opportunity Grants
  •  Legacy Scholarship
  •  Alumnae Endowed Scholarship
  •  Community Service Award
  •  HOPE Scholarship

Grants

  •  Federal Pell Grant
  •  Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  •  Federal TEACH Grant
  •  Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant

Loans

  •  Federal Subsidized Direct Loan
  •  Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan
  •  Federal PLUS Loan
  •  Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
  •  Federal Perkins Loan
  •  Student Access Loan Program

Work Study

Brenau University participates in the Federal Work Study program that enables both undergraduate and graduate students to work on a part-time basis to earn money to help pay for college expenses. Positions are available both on and off campus in a variety of community service areas and future career areas. All applicants must demonstrate a financial need to qualify for the program. The pay is at least the current minimum wage but varies by employer and student qualifications. Students are usually paid biweekly.

The master’s degree in business with a concentration in human resources management provides graduates with valuable skills they will need to effectively manage human resources departments. The Master of Business Administration in Human Resources Management prepares graduates for an array of upper-level careers in human resources management in an array of entities, such as major corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.  Find out more information at the Brenau University website.

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