What Is an MBA Degree?
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) program helps students gain next-level leadership skills to enable them to collaborate and connect with others across organizations, preparing them to become key players in the business world.
Warner Pacific University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is designed for today’s global marketplace, where management professionals need to be fluent in all functional business areas, understand how these aspects work together, and be able to communicate with and influence others across a range of demographics.
WPU’s accelerated MBA program is geared toward modern-day professionals looking to broaden their skill set and take on more responsibilities without interrupting their current career trajectory. The program is available in both an online and a hybrid format, allowing students to earn an increasingly essential credential while still managing their full-time job or other obligations.
With an optional emphasis area in management/leadership, students can choose to further hone their communication, team-building, and connection-making skills while developing a Christ-centered ethical mindset.
What Does the Accelerated Online MBA Format Entail?
Offered through WPU’s Professional and Graduate Studies (PGS) division, the accelerated MBA program has been created to accommodate the unique needs of today’s adult learners, many of whom are balancing work and family responsibilities. Students in the program may choose to participate in a 100% online, asynchronous learning experience or select a hybrid flexible (HyFlex) learning model, which includes one synchronous class per course. All MBA courses are scheduled in six-week blocks for accelerated completion.
Regardless of the format:
- Expert faculty members bring their professional experiences into the classroom, enhancing the curriculum with real-world examples.
- Rolling monthly start dates let you begin working toward your MBA as soon as possible, rather than wait a full semester.
- Courses use WPU’s Learning Communities cohort model, which is ideal for building connections with your fellow students and professors.
Online Experience
Asynchronous lectures are scheduled weekly, and students then complete all assignments and readings within this time frame.
Participation is key to WPU’s online MBA degree. After registering for a course, the typical online student logs in on average five out of seven days per week to access materials and must contribute at least three substantial posts to class forums over two days per week.
HyFlex Experience
Most of the coursework in the HyFlex MBA program is completed asynchronously, but the first class meeting is conducted in a synchronous format. Students may choose to attend the synchronous class remotely or in person at our main and local campuses in Portland.
Some students may choose to participate in WPU’s 4+1 MBA program, which is also offered in multiple formats.
What Can You Do With an MBA Degree?
Today’s business climate calls for people-centric leaders who are focused on establishing and developing strong connections with others to support their organization’s success.
Creating and maintaining collaborative relationships is at the heart of WPU’s MBA program. We balance this core concept with comprehensive knowledge of all functional business areas, with the goal of preparing students to develop effective solutions for any organization’s specific needs across a wide range of industries.
Our accelerated MBA program helps students hone the key skills required to advance into management or a leadership role in:
- Global business
- Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Healthcare
- Operations
- Nonprofit leadership
- Consulting
- Human resources
- Social services
We aim to help you grow professionally to meet the marketplace’s ever-changing job requirements, and to become a leader who can:
- Analyze and improve an organization’s efficiency
- Build strong teams through influence and empathy
- Develop effective leadership and business strategies
- Drive industry innovation
- Create a collaborative, effective organizational culture
MBA Careers
Management professionals are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall employment in management occupations is projected to grow faster than average from 2023 to 2033, with about 1.2 million openings projected each year.
Take a look at some common roles for MBA graduates and their responsibilities:
Human Resources Manager
|
Information Technology Manager
|
Operations Research Analyst
|
Personal Financial Advisor
|
MBA Salary
Earning your MBA is an investment in your professional success and financial future. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for management occupations was $116,880 in May 2023.
Here are the median annual wages from the BLS for positions available with an MBA degree:
| Human Resources Manager
$136,350 |
Information Technology Manager
$169,510 |
| Operations Research Analyst
$83,640 |
Personal Financial Advisor
$99,580 |
Accelerated Online MBA Program Curriculum
Warner Pacific University’s MBA program helps prepare students from diverse backgrounds to become effective organizational leaders who operate with an ethical mindset and seek to improve efficiency. The core curriculum for the MBA program reflects this mission.
All students take courses in leadership, organizational, and change management theories; become familiar with higher-level accounting, finance, and marketing strategies; and refine their decision-making and communication skills in the process. To finish the program, all candidates must complete a capstone or thesis project.
Prerequisites
- BUS 223 Introduction to Microsoft Office
- BUS 107 College Algebra (or equivalents)
Core MBA Coursework (42 Credits)
Students in the accelerated MBA program complete 42 semester credits, 36 of which must be completed at WPU. Courses are three credits and six weeks in length unless noted otherwise.
- BUS 500A | Foundations for Successful Graduate Studies | 3 credits
- BUS 501A | Leading Diverse, High-Performing Teams | 3 credits
- BUS 502A | Technology Trends in Business Culture | 3 credits
- BUS 503A | Corporate Finance | 3 credits
- BUS 505A | Managing Change | 3 credits
- BUS 600A | Business Ethics | 3 credits
- BUS 603A | Behavioral Economics & Strategy | 3 credits
- BUS 604A | Business Innovation | 3 credits
- BUS 606A | Managerial Accounting & Financial Strategies | 3 credits
- BUS 607A | Strategic Marketing | 3 credits
- BUS 608A | Project & Operations Management | 3 credits
- BUS 609A | Business Analytics | 3 credits
- BUS 610A | Leading in a Global Environment | 3 credits
- BUS 613A | Research Methods Workshop | 1 credit
- BUS 614A | Strategy/Capstone | 2 credits
All MBA students must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the program, with no individual course grade lower than a C-, and finish all coursework within six years from their start date. Following the completion of the first five courses, WPU will evaluate each student’s performance. From this point, students will be directed to continue the MBA program or be recommended for the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership degree program.
MBA Management/Leadership Emphasis
All industries need effective managers and leaders. Not specific to a single field or organizational structure, this versatile emphasis helps students hone their communication, team-building, and connection-making skills and develop a Christ-centered ethical mindset.
Admission Requirements for the Accelerated Online MBA Program
All candidates interested in the MBA program must:
- Have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- Have completed college-level coursework in business math or algebra
- Submit evidence of competence in Microsoft Excel through college coursework or a proficiency test
- Supply official transcripts from all schools attended to date
- Have earned a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (or, if below a 3.0, write a brief explanation regarding the reasons for their GPA)
- Write a letter explaining why they want to earn an MBA
As part of the admission process, the dean of business or an MBA faculty member will contact all applicants. Learn more about our admissions requirements in our course catalog.
Elevate Your Career With an MBA From WPU
As a faith-based institution grounded in the Christian hallmarks of love, respect, service, and perseverance, WPU Online’s business programs create space for students of all cultural and professional backgrounds to take a purpose-driven approach to their career advancement.
Our graduate program partners include the following organizations:
- Avis Budget Group
- Central City Concern
- Farmer’s Insurance
- FedEx
- Intel
- Kaiser Permanente
- Multnomah County
- Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center
- Port of Portland
- Portland Public Schools
- Providence Health Systems
- Self Enhancement Inc.
- State of Oregon
- U.S. Bank
- Wells Fargo
If you have management or team leadership aspirations, WPU Online’s accelerated Christian MBA program lets you work toward your goal without sidelining your career. For questions about this degree program or the format, contact PGS Admissions at 800-804-1510, or request additional information today.
Questions?
Our Business Department faculty would love to hear from you.