Artist’s rendering of the planned Becker Buildingwelcome to the Barney Barnett School of Business and

Free Enterprise at Florida Southern College. Our Master of

Business Administration program offers a rigorous academic

foundation coupled with unparalleled hands-on experience. As

part of Florida Southern’s engaged learning approach, MBA

candidates are challenged to grow professionally and personally

through living case studies, internships, mentoring, and study

abroad experiences. Our students graduate prepared to take on

new levels of responsibility and rise swiftly to leadership positions.

I am proud to share that we recently achieved international

accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools

of Business—a mark of excellence earned by less than five percent

of colleges and universities around the world and awarded only

to institutions that have proven an ongoing commitment to

excellence. It is my sincere hope that you will choose to meet the

challenge—and realize the benefits—of a Florida Southern MBA.

Bill Rhey, Ph.D., Dean of the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise

Artist’s rendering of the Becker Business Building, scheduled to open in 2015.

Name: Senka Softic ‘12

Home country: Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina

Current position: Analyst, Goldman Sachs, London

Q: What was your internship experience like?

Senka: I did a 10-week internship at Goldman Sachs in London. I worked with a team to improve the client experience and offer better services. I met about 40 different people from Goldman Sachs branches in London, Bangalore, New York City, and Salt Lake City. The project was completed during the term of my internship, and my manager was very pleased with and proud of my work.

Q: Where you prepared for the challenges of an international internship?

Senka: Through engaged learning and doing projects with my peers, FSC prepared me very well. There is not one single professor

that I cannot thank for preparing me and educating me well for this internship.

Q: What did you take with you from the experience?

Senka: Goldman Sachs places huge value on people. One of their principles states that “people are our assets,” and I experienced this firsthand. The people at Goldman Sachs were very helpful, and there was such a diverse group of people—all with different cultures, majors, religions, etc. The entire experience was great. I kept in touch with many of the people I met at Goldman Sachs and was thrilled when they offered me a full-time position in London, where I now live and work as an analyst.

The Florida Southern MBA offers a guaranteed internship experience that gives you the chance to immediately apply classroom concepts to real-world situations. You’ll be placed in a position in your field of choice to gain practical, hands-on knowledge, and you’ll graduate with a professional portfolio and résumé-building experience.

Florida Southern has developed strategic partnerships with nationally and internationally recognized organizations such as OPEC, United Way, Goldman Sachs, Lockheed Martin, ESPN, Tampa Bay Lightning, GEICO, Publix Super Markets, and XOS Digital to provide students with relevant, dynamic experiences that prepare them to succeed.

experience and engagement

internships

Name: Larry Ross, Ph.D., Professor of Business Administration and holder of the Anne and Bill France Chair in Business

Courses: Complex Decision Making, Seminar in Strategic Management

Background: With over 35 years as an owner and manager of full-service restaurants, Dr. Ross is a sought-after business and marketing consultant working with major organizations in Central Florida and beyond.

The Executive Mentoring Program provides the opportunity to learn real-world business practices under the guidance of successful and experienced professionals. Your mentor will act as a personal ambassador to the culture of an industry or organization, giving you an invaluable inside look at day-to-day functions and up-to-the-minute best practices. Beyond that, you will be exposed to subtler practices that can’t be taught through a classroom or textbook, such as business etiquette and interpersonal communication—those intangible qualities that drive success as much as knowledge and skill.

guidance and growth

mentoring

Q: What’s different about the Florida Southern MBA?

Dr. Ross: In addition to the Executive Mentoring Program, several other features make this program stand out: an innovative approach that employs a cohort model; opportunities for gaining practical experience through engaged learning projects, such as living case studies; and the program’s availability to non-business undergraduate degree holders. Additionally, the full-time accelerated 16-month format and included international study and internship opportunities present a tremendous value for students.

Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching in the MBA program?

Dr. Ross: I enjoy the lively interaction the cohort model promotes. That approach allows a rich, professional relationship to develop between the professor and the student.

Q: What advice do you have for an MBA candidate?

Dr. Ross: Know why you are going to graduate school, know why the graduate school you apply to meets your needs and helps you to achieve your career goals, and commit to the full-time rigor that a quality-oriented graduate degree requires.

Name: Heather Winters ‘07 MBA ‘12

Hometown: Plano, Texas

Current position: Social Media Specialist at Darden Restaurants (LongHorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s, Yard House, and Bahama Breeze)

careerThe MBA at Florida Southern College is designed to prepare you to take charge of your career from the word “go.” We have an impressive network of partners in the Central Florida business community and beyond, and you’ll interact with and learn from those partners throughout the program. Internships and living case studies are standard tools of instruction that give you not only an education, but also valuable résumé experience and networking contacts.

Graduates have gone on to work for market leaders around the world, including Northwestern Mutual, Scottrade, Darden Restaurants, Goldman Sachs, The Mosaic Co., The Walt Disney Co., Coca–Cola Co., GEICO, and JBT Food Tech to name a few.

preparation and advancement

Q: Why did you choose Florida Southern?

Heather: After an extensive search for an MBA program that suited my needs, I found several aspects of the FSC program appealing: Saturday classes made it convenient for my Monday-to-Friday work schedule; the accelerated 16-month timeline meant that I’d quickly gain a competitive advantage in the workplace; and the Executive Mentor program and international travel-study experience were features I saw nowhere else.

Q: What surprised you?

Heather: What I didn’t know at the time was just how much the FSC MBA program would accelerate my career advancement. More importantly, my eyes were opened to an entirely new way of thinking as far

as business matters are concerned. Shortly after earning my MBA, I was promoted to social media specialist at Darden.

Q: What did you like best about the program?

Heather: The accessible professors genuinely cared and taught a curriculum with practical applications that I was able to utilize at work every day. I was given the opportunity to manage projects hands-on while simultaneously connecting with like-minded work professionals in my cohort and business executives in the local community. Earning an MBA from FSC required multi-tasking skills, dedication, and hard work to manage both my academic and work life, but the challenge and experience were priceless.

The 2013 MBA cohort poses in front of the Airbus facility in Hamburg, Germany, where they met with top executives.

Two members of the 2013 MBA cohort pose with a prototype BMW i hybrid concept car at the global headquarters of BMW in Munich, Germany.

global reach

As a Florida Southern MBA student, you will get the chance to participate in one of several international field experiences, paying only the cost of airfare. These trips are designed to expose you to international business culture and raise your awareness of the challenges and opportunities of doing business on a global scale.

GermanyStudents traveled to Germany in May 2013 to experience European business culture. During the 11-day trip to Hamburg and Munich, the group visited BMW, the Munich Olympic Village, and Airbus production headquarters, among other sites.

South Africa & MalawiFor the last two years, students have studied business in developing nations through trips to Capetown, South Africa, and Blantyre, Malawi. Combining company tours with some adventure, students visited large corporations, non-profit organizations, and even participated in an overnight safari.

SwitzerlandFor two weeks in 2012, a group of MBA students traveled to Leysin, Switzerland. Bunking at the base of the Alps, students spent their days studying production and operations at food industry giants such as Nestlé and Rivella.

BrazilIn May 2012, the MBA cohort spent two weeks in Brazil, touring the facilities of Mars M&M, Fibria, and the Rio De Janeiro Port Authority, experiencing both corporate and governmental operations in one of South America’s leading economies.

international field experience

The hallmark of a Florida Southern education is engaged learning. What does that mean? Engaged learning is a method of instruction that goes beyond lectures and textbooks to guarantee that each student leaves with practical experience and preparation for real-world results.

engaged learning

In addition to internships, mentoring, and study abroad opportunities, the Florida Southern MBA uses living case studies—real issues faced by real businesses—to teach the practical application of classroom theory. You will investigate challenges facing domestic and international corporations and be charged with developing workable solutions.

Florida Southern MBA students have developed solutions that are being employed today

by Saddle Creek Logistics, Publix Super Markets, Central Florida Speech

and Hearing Center, The American Heart Association, the United Way,

Safari Wilderness, The National Kidney Foundation, and more.

The Florida Southern MBA is offered in two schedules: The Saturday option uses a blend of class time and online instruction to suit the needs of students with busy schedules. Classes meet two Saturdays per month and are supplemented by online instruction.

admission

delivery

financing

• MBA online application• Résumé• Personal Statement• Three letters of recommendation• Official transcripts from all post-secondary, regionally accredited

institutions attended• Official GMAT or GRE score reports

Admission is based on academic credentials and professional experience. The application deadline for the fall cohort is June 1.

At Florida Southern College, you will find that our MBA program is an incredible value. Tuition for the entire program is $29,050.*

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPSCandidates seeking the Graduate Work Assistantship must have a minimum GMAT score of 600 to be eligible. Students will receive a full tuition scholarship plus $1,500 stipend.

Graduate Research Assistantships are also available, and cover 50% of tuition. The application deadline is April 15.*Current rate for 2013–2014.

www.f lsou thern.edu/mba

95% of students complete the program in 16 months.The Weekday option is ideal for recent graduates who are just starting their careers and would benefit from built-in work experience. Students attend an internship or work experience in the morning and classes in the late afternoon and early evening.

• Lakeland• Orlando

Tampa •

Ideally located between Orlando and Tampa, Florida Southern College gives students easy access to major national and international corporations, as well as vibrant nightlife. Downtown Lakeland itself is a growing enclave of fine dining and unique shopping that hosts thousands of visitors for outdoor concerts, street fairs, and art and cultural events.

the perfect location

Major corporations in or near Lakeland:GEICOPublix Super MarketsWellDyneRxMosaic Co.Saddle Creek LogisticsLockheed MartinState FarmMarriot Vacation Club

Nearby:World-class beachesDisney WorldUniversal StudiosBusch Gardens TampaLegolandTampa Bay LightningTampa Bay RaysOrlando Magic

Founded in 1883, Florida Southern College is the oldest private college in Florida, offering 50 undergraduate programs and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. An award-winning national leader in engaged learning, Florida Southern is ranked the No. 5 Regional College in the South by U.S. News and World Report; named a Top Baccalaureate College by Washington Monthly; and included in The Princeton Review’s 378 Best Colleges, The Fiske Guide to Colleges

2014, and Forbes magazine’s America’s Top Colleges Guide. FSC is home to the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012. Named the “Most Beautiful Campus in the Nation” for two consecutive years by The

Princeton Review and one of the nation’s “Ten College Campuses with the Best Architecture” by Architectural Digest, Florida Southern is an internationally-recognized place of beauty and academic excellence.

about florida southern

111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive • Lakeland, FL 38801-5698www.fl southern.edu/MBA • 863.680.5022

B A R N E Y B A R N E T TSCHOOL OF BUSINESS & FREE ENTERPRISE

Find us: FSCMBA