Master of Business Administration

Program Description

The Master of Business Administration degree is an advanced academic degree that builds on the student's undergraduate program and professional experience. The M.B.A. degree requires a total of 42 units including business basics, core, and elective courses suited to the student's professional needs. There are four areas of concentration: Healthcare, Sustainability, Organizational Leadership, Not-for-Profit.

The Fermanian School of Business is committed to serving the San Diego business professional with the best value in quality, academic rigor, professional support services, and individual attention to support students in meeting their academic and professional goals.

The program is designed to be completed in two years. However, for professionals who are able to commit more time to the M.B.A. program, they may accelerate their program or extend it over a longer period of time to accommodate their schedules.

Program Learning Outcomes

Candidates who complete the Master of Business Administration program will be able to:

• Identify and demonstrate understanding of definitions and terms in business;
• Demonstrate an understanding of conceptual frameworks in business;
• Demonstrate an understanding of multiple perspectives in business;
• Demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to apply the concepts of business;
• Solve problems in business using their knowledge;
• Communicate in various mediums the essentials of business;
• Demonstrate professional presentations of work in business;
• Articulate how to integrate their faith into business;
• Demonstrate ethical behavior in work and life interactions; and
• Demonstrate citizenship by consistently meeting obligations in business.

Program Eligibility for the Master of Business Administration

• A completed application for admission to the program;
• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, as evidenced by official transcripts from accredited institutions, one of which must indicate the completion of an undergraduate degree;
• Two letters of recommendation;
• Resume;
• A personal essay that describes why the applicant desires to participate in the M.B.A. program and a description of the applicant's future goals;
• The successful completion of a post-baccalaureate professional certificate program (e.g., CPA) or graduate degree program, or scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT);
• Interview with the Director of Graduate Programs and/or a member of the Fermanian School of Business faculty regarding the applicant's professional development goals and graduate degree courses;
• Evidence of basic knowledge of common professional competencies (i.e., economics, finance, business math, and accounting) through transcripts (from a regionally accredited university or college with a 3.000 GPA or better), or enroll in PLNU's M.B.A. Business Basics courses.

Graduation Requirements

1. A completed Application for Degree Candidacy (on-line or in the Office of Records, Point Loma campus);
2. Successful completion of all core requirements;
3. Completion of a minimum of 42 units (including the project/thesis);
4. Achievement of a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or higher. A student may earn a maximum of six units of “C” grades in the program; and
5. All accounts paid in full.
6. All requirements for graduate degrees must be completed within an eight-year period from the time of initial enrollment in the program.

Business Basics

Business Basics courses are designed for students entering the program who do not have prior business courses on their transcripts (3.000 or B grade or better in the respective courses), or who desire a refresher course in the basic principles of the Common Professional Competencies (CPC).

Finance, Economics, Accounting and Business Math
M.B.A. applicants may enter the program without one or more of these courses on their transcripts (3.000 or B grade or better for the respective course). Students in this category may begin core courses that do not require these prerequisites, and may enroll in other core courses once they have successfully completed the appropriate prerequisites through the Business Basics Course(s).

Business Basics (1.5 units each)
BUS 603     Business Communications
BUS 604     Marketing
BUS 605     Economic Survey
BUS 608     Business Math
   
Business Basics (3 units)
BUS 612     Basics in Accounting and Finance

M.B.A. Program Options

Option 1 (with no prior business courses):

 Option 2 (prior business courses on transcripts at time of application with 3.000 GPA)

Business Basics (1.5 units each)
BUS 603     Business Communications
BUS 604     Marketing
BUS 605     Economic Survey
BUS 608     Business Math
   
Business Basics (3 units)
BUS 612     Basics in Accounting and Finance

CORE COURSES (3 units each)
BUS 615     Managerial Accounting
BUS 625     Business Statistics and Quantitative Methods
BUS 630     Managerial Economics
BUS 655     Marketing in an Entrepreneurial World
BUS 660     Contemporary Management in a Competitive World
BUS 670     Financial Management
BUS 675     Strategic Management
BUS 695     Applied Project
BUS 698     Leading with Integrity; Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and Social 
                       Entrepreneurship

Elective Courses (3 units each, except as noted)
BUS 607     Business Law
BUS 609     Business Golf (1.5 units)
BUS 610     Organizational Behavior and the Future
BUS 620     Managing Human Resources
BUS 632     Human Factor for Action
BUS 635     International Business
BUS 640    Technological Innovation and Management Knowledge
BUS 645     Organizational Leadership
BUS 650     Operations Management
BUS 665     Organizational Communication
BUS 672     Entrepreneurship
BUS 673     Value Creation and Negotiation Strategy
BUS 674     Real Estate Investment
BUS 681     Building Sustainable Organizations
BUS 682     Business Sustainability Practicum
BUS 685     Management of Not-for-Profit Organizations
BUS 687     Healthcare Financial Management
BUS 688     Healthcare Operations Management
BUS 690     (1-3 units) Special Studies in Business Administration

Concentrations (6 units)
Healthcare
BUS 687     Healthcare Financial Management
BUS 688     Healthcare Operations Management
   
Sustainability
BUS 681     Building Sustainable Organizations
BUS 682     Business Sustainability Practicum
   
Organizational Leadership
BUS 610     Organizational Behavior and the Future
BUS 620     Managing Human Resources
BUS 645     Organizational Leadership (required)
BUS 665     Organizational Communication
   
Not-for-Profit
BUS 632     Human Factor for Action
BUS 685     Management of Not-for-Profit Organizations

Course Descriptions