Business Administration, MBA

Mission

The mission of the Crowell School MBA program is to equip women and men in mind and character to impact the world for Christ through business as ministry.

Program Description

The MBA degree is designed for those individuals who understand that putting Christ first will make them better business people, and that the accomplishment of this requires high levels of faith, knowledge and integrity. The program attracts individuals who are seeking a rigorous program of study in the full range of business topics necessary for a complete understanding of the modern organization. In every course, the business topics are integrated with one another and with Scripture, so that those who participate can correctly and confidently become change management leaders within their organizations. The MBA program is available in both fully online and hybrid formats.

Distinctives of the program are:

1. To truly integrate the teachings of Scripture throughout the curriculum, Biola University and the MBA program accept students who are committed followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Seventeen percent of the core courses for the MBA degree qualify as Bible courses and are either taught or co-taught by Talbot School of Theology faculty.
3. The MBA program provides a one-on-one mentoring opportunity for every student. Mentors are committed and growing Christians who also are successful business people.
4. Every course provides a strong link between theory and practice. Most courses are taught by Ph.D.'s in the field of study, who have successfully published and have substantial business or consulting experience.
5. Students will have the opportunity to develop meaningful personal relationships with Ph.D. faculty, additional resource faculty, mentors, and peers which, in turn will lead to a wide range of personal growth outcomes, including:
   1. Foundational knowledge of current business contexts and issues.
   2. The ability to integrate Christian thought within the context of the management and innovation process.
   3. Possession of Christian attitudes conducive to the development of professional excellence and witness to the business community.
   4. Commitment to lifelong learning and professional growth.
6. A non-traditional course schedule of evening and some weekend courses provides flexibility for busy students.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Business Administration, students will be able to:

1. Biblical Integration & Integrity: Students will explain how to make ethical and knowledgeable decisions with character and integrity in their personal and work lives, based upon the application of Biblical principles and the recognition of their vocation as God’s calling (ULO 2 and 3).
2. Communication and Collaboration: Students will communicate advanced business theories and practices effectively through a variety of techniques including written, oral, and electronic communication technologies, and by organizing, working in, and leading teams (ULO 1).
3. Innovation: Students will identify and analyze mind-sets and behaviors that successful innovators exhibit and generate creative thinking to solve business problems, using strategies learned in the program  (ULO 1).
4. Critical Thinking: Students will demonstrate the ability to independently evaluate a situation, apply advanced business concepts in order to improve the performance of an organization and organize business information into actionable intelligence that enables communities to flourish (ULO 1 and 3).

Each Program Learning Outcome (PLO) listed above references at least one of the University Learning Outcomes (ULO 1, 2, 3), which may be found in the General Information section of this catalog.

Admission Requirements

The MBA program allows students to customize their MBA experience. An MBA student may take a part-time or a full-time academic load. Applicants have the option to choose to attend full-time if starting in the fall, or may choose to enroll part-time in a fall or spring start. A typical part-time load is 6 credits per trimester, which is an excellent option for professionals who wish to further their career, but want to continue working while earning their MBA. The full-time load is optimal for students who have recently completed their undergraduate degree. Candidates must:

1. Be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Applicants must have completed all bachelors requirements (Business Administration or other field) prior to the start of the program and must have a baccalaureate degree earned either from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. or a recognized baccalaureate degree equivalent earned outside the U.S. prior to the start of the second term.
3. Preferably have three years of professional experience and be fully employed when admitted to the program. If applicant is a recent graduate and this requirement is not met, then applicant is strongly encouraged to participate in a part-time internship or job that he or she has personally arranged, in order to gain valuable real-world experience while earning the MBA degree.

Admission is competitive and based upon a committee review of each applicant’s undergraduate grade point average, personal experience and professional background. A GMAT or GRE score is not required for admission but will be considered if submitted.

Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student's academic file and normally cannot be returned or copied for distribution.

Admission of English Language Learners

This section applies to applicants for whom English is not a primary language. It is essential that applicants for whom English is not a primary language be able to understand directions and lectures in English and be able to express their thoughts clearly in spoken and written English. Preference in admission will be given to those with an overall score of at least TOEFL: 100 iBT or IELTS 7.5. The admissions committee will also require an oral interview and may require a writing sample.

For more details on how, when, and where to take language tests, visit online:

• TOEFL (iBT)
• IELTS

Language tests are administered only at specific times, so candidates for admission should inquire about testing dates well in advance of the date of anticipated school term in the US.

Students admitted to the United States on an F-1 student visa are required by law to be registered as full-time students (a minimum of 9 credits per trimester). Additionally, no off-campus employment is permitted for students on an F-1 visa without written permission of the United States Immigration authorities. However, students on an F-1 visa may work off-campus in an unpaid internship in order to fulfill the internship requirement of the program.

Graduation Requirements

The Master of Business Administration degree program has six distinct elements:

1. Participation in the Orientation Intensive (fee applies)
2. Leveling (prerequisite) coursework, required for those without a business undergraduate degree. Students without undergraduate coursework in economics, business law and information systems will need to meet these requirements through online coursework completed no later than the end of the student’s second trimester in the MBA program.
3. A common core of graduate courses (30 credits).
4. A concentration of required theology courses (3 credits).
5. An integrative business ethics course (3 credits).
6. Participation in the MBA Mentor Program.

A minimum of 36 credits of graduate coursework is required for the Master of Business Administration degree. A student must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, and no single grade lower than a "C" to graduate and progress to any courses with a prerequisite. 

A minimum of 28 graduate credits must be completed in the Master of Business Administration program at Biola University.

All students must take the Exit Exam by their last trimester.

Students must meet with their department advisor and graduate academic records and degree specialist in the Office of the Registrar one year prior to graduation to declare intent to graduate. (See Graduate Graduation Check description in the Admission, Enrollment and Graduation Requirements section).

Transfer of Credits

Students transferring from a regionally accredited graduate program may transfer a maximum of 6 credits. The courses transferred must be equivalent, have direct applicability to the student's program, and be approved by the Chair or Dean. Only courses with a grade of "B" (3.0) or higher will be considered for transfer toward the MBA degree; a grade of "B-" is not transferable.

Calendar

The program utilizes three 15-week trimesters (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Each trimester is divided into two 7-week terms (for example, Fall Session A and Fall Session B). Students typically take one or two courses at a time in each 7-week section. If enrolled part-time, students primarily attend one night per week. If enrolled full-time, students may attend two nights per week.

Curriculum Requirements

Thirty-six credits of graduate courses are required for all MBA degrees in the Crowell School of Business, which include 3 graduate credits of theology and 3 graduate credits of business ethics.

¹

Note: Online coursework in Information Systems required unless waived through undergraduate coursework. 

²

May be substituted with MBAD 621, if needed.

³

Not all classes are offered every trimester. Consult the MBA Coordinator for academic advising.