Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Business Administration Overview

Be empowered to live as a courageous ambassador for Christ amidst a world of confusion and compromise.

Our MBA program is designed for the student looking for more purpose and meaning in their work, and a plan to impact the world of business for Christ. This 36-credit accelerated graduate program will connect you with like minded individuals to prepare you for a life of missional work in your calling. A Master of Business Administration from Grace Christian prepares you for Business as Mission, and equips you with the skills needed to achieve success.

Grace Christian University intends that the information from this page complies with various state, federal, and accreditation requirements. 

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Admission REQUIREMENTS
TUITION COST
Common Careers
Benefits
Required Texts

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

You will need the following to gain admission to Grace Christian University:

  1. Bachelor's Degree - You need a Bachelor’s Degree to apply for a Master’s Degree.
  2. Completed Application - It is free to apply. Apply here >
  3. Official Transcripts - Submit transcripts from all prior colleges where the student received an undergraduate degree. Transcripts detailing graduate-level work can be submitted for transfer credit evaluation.

TUITION COST

Master’s Programs – $480/credit hour
View our 2023-24 Graduate Tuition Costs >

Military Personnel (active duty, veterans, spouses, dependents 23 or under) – $250/credit hour
View our 2023-24 Graduate Military Tuition Costs >

Other Graduate Program Fees
Resource Fee – $150 (per course)
Graduation Fee – $150
Class-Specific Fees (as needed) – Varies

COMMON CAREERS

Common Careers include:

  • Banking and Finance
  • Venture Capitalist or investor
  • Product and Brand Manager
  • Marketing Research and Marketing management
  • Operations Management and Logistics
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Entrepreneur

BENEFITS

Students in the Online Master’s programs will be able to:

  • Complete a Master’s degree in as few as 20 months
  • Attend class asynchronously online and minimize interference from work schedules and family responsibilities
  • Improve writing skills through our university Writing Center at our virtual Academic Center for Excellence.
  • Enhance virtual presentation and technology skills to maximize ministry effectiveness and/or leadership skills
  • Meet in a collaborative format and benefit from the varied experiences and ideas of classmates
  • Obtain a degree that opens a wide range of opportunities, including pursuing doctoral studies
  • Attend small virtual classes with the same students, developing teamwork skills and mutual support
  • Receive individualized instruction and specific attention
  • Gain satisfaction by fulfilling an educational goal

Required Texts

As a Graduate student, your textbooks are automatically provided to you via two platforms: Slingshot and Perlego. Sources that are fulfilled via Slingshot will be shipped to you or accessible as an eBook through your Slingshot student portal. Books that are accessible via Perlego can be accessed through Perlego’s eLibrary. 

The cost of textbooks is covered by the resource fee for each course. Students are able to opt out of these services, but the resource fee will still be fully charged. Please refer to the Graduate Steps for Success course in Blackboard for more information.

GEN 501 – Graduate Writing and Research

  1. Burns, J. S., Shoup, J. R., & Simmons Jr., D. C. (2014). Organizational leadership: Foundations and practices for Christians. InterVarsity Press. 978-0830840502 (accessible via Perlego)
  2. Neumann, J. W. (2016). A professor’s guide to writing essays: The no-nonsense plan for better writing (2nd ed.). Edinburg, TX: Self-Published. 978-0692822524 (fulfilled via Slingshot)
  3. Williams, V. K. (2016). I’m not a writer…I’m just in graduate school: A guide to writing critically, clearly and coherently. Tampa, FL: Chrysalis Consulting. 978-1533392916 (fulfilled via Slingshot)

BUS 555 – Financial Analysis for Managers

  1. Siciliano, G. (2015). Finance for nonfinancial managers (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. 978-0071824361 (fulfilled via Slingshot)

LEA 505 – Organizational Ethics

  1. Johnson, C.E. (2021). Meeting the ethical challenges of leadership: Casting light or shadow. (7th ed.). Sage. 978-1544351643 (fulfilled via Slingshot)

LEA 530 – Foundations of Organizational Leadership

  1. Northouse, P. (2021). Leadership: Theory and practice (9th ed.). Sage. ISBN 978-1544397566 (fulfilled via Slingshot)

LEA 540 – Organizational Behavior

  1. Burns, John S., Shoup, John R., and Simmons, Donald C. (2014). Organizational leadership: Foundations and practices for Christians. IVP Academic. 9780830840502 (accessible via Perlego)
  2. Kotter, J. (2012). Leading change. Harvard Business Review Press. 9781422186435 (fulfilled via Slingshot)

LEA 545 – Leading with Cultural Intelligence

  1. Livermore, D. (2015). Leading with cultural Intelligence. AMACOM Publishing. 9780814449172 (accessible via Perlego)
  2. Elmer, D. (2002). Cross-Cultural connections: Stepping out and fitting in around the world. InterVarsity Press. 9780830823093 (accessible via Perlego)

CAP 595 – Graduate Studies Capstone

  1. Blanchard, K., Hodges. P., & Hendry, P. (2016). Lead like Jesus revisited: Lessons from the greatest role model of all time. Thomas Nelson. 978-0718077259 (fulfilled via Slingshot)

Open Resource Courses– the following courses utilize resources that are open source and embedded directly in Blackboard; course materials will not be fulfilled:

BUS 515 – Financial Stewardship

BUS 525- Global and Economic Theory

BUS 535- Social Entrepreneurship

BUS 575 – Business as Calling

BUS 585 – Marketing Management

 

    Bible

    CLASSES ARE TAUGHT FROM A BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

    Ministry

    WE CARE ABOUT EACH STUDENT'S ETERNAL IMPACT

    Financial Aid

    LOW TUITION FOR A PRIVATE EDUCATION

    Refine & Extend Your Calling as You Continue to Make an Eternal Impact

    Every major at Grace Christian is focused on intertwining spiritual and academic growth. The school aims to develop passionate servants of Jesus that emphasize the integration of character transformation, ministry experience, and biblical truth.

    Master of Business Administration Curriculum

    GEN 501L – Graduate Writing and Research

    Credit Hours: 3

    Designed to give students the skills they need to complete successful written projects and research in graduate-level courses within the context of a biblical worldview. Students who pass this course will demonstrate proficiency in critical thinking, expressed through solid research and clear writing, which serves as the foundation for further studies in the University’s graduate programs. Includes research tools and methods for scholarly research. The successful completion of GEN 501 is considered a prerequisite for all other graduate courses. Students who are unable to earn a minimum grade of B- in GEN 501L after three attempts will be administratively dropped from their next session and must appeal to be allowed to re-enter the Graduate program.

    LEA 505 – Organizational Ethics

    Credit Hours: 3

    An analysis of the foundation of ethical behavior in business, including an introduction to social graces and the importance of professional image. Emphasis is placed on a comparison between Judeo-Christian and secular ethical paradigms, as well as the social responsibility of organizations to contribute to the common good.

    BUS 515 – Financial Stewardship

    Credit Hours: 3

    Introduces the principles of financial management. Students will review basic concepts of financial management, financial analysis and control, capital investment decisions, cost of capital, sources of long-term funds and cash management principles, accounting, review of basic organizational financial statements, ratio analysis, debt and equity securities, security valuation, and Time Value of Money. It is a study of the fundamentals of corporate finance as they relate to non-financial managers.

    BUS 525 – Global and Economic Theory

    Credit Hours: 3

    Provides students with an understanding of the current global economic environment. Students will discuss international trade theory and strategy, free markets and customer choice. Students will engage in discussions about capitalism, socialism, and communism. Students will evaluate the economic landscape of a foreign country and create a plan to use business as a tool for aiding in economic development.

    LEA 530 – Foundations of Organizational Leadership

    Credit Hours: 3

    An examination of leadership theories in order to develop an effective foundation for leading self, and organizations. Theories to be studied include: Trait Approach, Skills Approach, Behavioral Approach, Situational Approach, and Leader-Member Exchange Theory. Other theories such as, Transformational Leadership, Authentic Leadership, Servant Leadership, Adaptive Leadership, and Followership, will be included. Organizational learning concepts and case studies will be analyzed; And lastly, students will have the opportunity to participate in leadership questionnaires, to explore their personal leadership style, and to develop a personal, and organizational, leadership philosophy.

    BUS 535 – Social Entrepreneurship

    Credit Hours: 3

    Introduces students to the complex relationship business, community development and faith. Students will explore the unique ways business can impact community development and human flourishing. Students will create a business plan that focuses on the quadruple bottom line: people, profit, planet, and progress.

    LEA 540 – Organizational Behavior

    Credit Hours: 3

    Organizational Behavior is the study of the behavior of individuals, teams, and organizations, within for profit and nonprofit arenas, which is based on current management and leadership theory. Emphasis is given to understanding, predicting, motivating, and changing work-related behaviors in organizations, as well as encouraging effective behaviors that help the individual, team, and the organization to flourish. Key topics include: managerial and leadership careers related to students’ work and calling, decision making, organizational change, leading and mentoring teams, conflict and negotiation, and cultural intelligence.

    LEA 545 – Leading with Cultural Intelligence

    Credit Hours: 3

    Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is the capability to function effectively in a variety of cultural contexts. Students will examine literature and perspectives from the fields of anthropology, sociology, and organizational leadership as well as study cultural engagement in light of the biblical narrative.

    BUS 555 – Financial Analysis for Managers

    Credit Hours: 3

    An in-depth look at the creation of, and analysis of financial statements. Students will evaluate the financial information from businesses in various sectors of the economy. Financial concepts of stocks, bonds and the time value of money will be discussed from the role of a manager. Various software solutions will be discussed that are relevant to each industry.

    BUS 575 – Business as a Calling

    Credit Hours: 3

    Provides students with a framework for understanding the theology of work. Students will explore their natural giftings and motivations for business success. Students will create a comprehensive plan to understand the impact their business can have for introducing others to Jesus Christ.

    BUS 585 – Marketing Management

    Credit Hours: 3

    A hands-on approach to marketing. Students will engage in exposure to various marketing software solutions. There is a focus on marketing techniques across various digital media platforms. Students will create a comprehensive campaign for the business of their choosing exploring the various components that make up a complex marketing strategy.

    CAP 595 – Graduate Capstone*

    Credit Hours: 3

    The Graduate Capstone is a six-week course with assignments that include discussions and reflections on the scope of the student’s discipline, reviews of recent literature on leadership, and the creation of a final essay of 10 pages in which students write about guiding principles such as life purpose, core values, goals, and vision, as well as identifying key principles of leadership gleaned throughout their courses of study they plan to apply in the future. Prerequisite: Completion of all degree requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.

    CAP 596 – Graduate Capstone Experience*

    Credit Hours: 3

    The Graduate Capstone Experience is a six-week course that is built on the foundation of a hands- on experience in the student’s chosen discipline. The experience will reflect the scope of the degree studies, reviews of recent literature on the topic, and will demonstrate an area of the student’s specific passion in the discipline. The experience will be described in a final essay of 20 pages in which the student describes the experience in detail and how the understanding gained through the experience will be applied in future work and ministry. Prerequisite: Completion of all degree requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and approval of the Provost or designee.

    CAP 597 – Graduate Capstone Thesis*

    Credit Hours: 3

    The Capstone Thesis is a 12-week course that highlights the student’s independent scholarship in investigating and developing a chosen topic, integrating a biblical worldview and theoretical base with a comprehensive literature review. Students will work directly with a faculty thesis advisor to produce a 40 – 80 page scholarly work. Prerequisite: Completion of all degree requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and approval of the Provost or designee.

    * Your choice of CAP 595 – Graduate Capstone or CAP 596 – Graduate Capstone Experience or CAP 597 – Graduate Capstone Thesis.

    The Bible is Central

    Grace Christian University is accredited by both the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). ABHE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education and has designated Grace Christian University as an institute of higher education in which the Bible is central and the development of Christian life and ministry is essential.

    Learn more at ABHE.ORG

    ABHE logo and Higher Learning Commission logo
    1

    APPLY ONLINE TO GRACE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

    Fill out the application form, and someone will reach out to you within minutes. No entrance exam needed.

    2

    TALK TO YOUR
    PERSONAL ADVISOR

    You'll be assigned a personal advisor who will guide you. You may also contact our Enrollment Director.

    3

    LIVE OUT
    YOUR CALLING!

    Feel confident and prepared to impact the world for Christ.

    The Grace Christian Difference

    ACADEMIC RIGOR

    The program will teach and develop graduate-level research, writing, critical thinking, leadership and communication skills. Beginning with the Program Seminar, the program is designed to acclimate students to graduate-level work and prepare them for the kind of reading, writing, and thinking skills they will need for the remainder of the program.

    STUDENT–CENTERED

    The application of constructivist learning theory puts the responsibility of learning in the hands of the students. Whenever possible, students will be allowed to choose what they will learn, how they will learn, and how they will assess their learning in terms of their ministry and professional goals.

    BEST PRACTICES

    As a fully online program, Graduate Studies at Grace Christian University adheres to the best practices of online education, including, but not limited to: online presence, creating a supportive online community, a variety of individual, small group, and large group learning experiences, and clear communication in the online environment.

    Identity

    We take care of your personalized education plan

    Time

    Finish in the same time as an on-campus program

    Online

    Log-in when it works best for you

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is thE Master's program for?

    Anyone who has completed a Bachelor's degree and is seeking quality Christian Higher Education. We offer tuition discounts for military personnel, alumni scholarships, and payment plans for cash paying students. Our program is excellent for those receiving tuition reimbursement from an employer as well as anyone seeking to utilize Federal Financial Aid.

    WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE PROFESSORS OF THIS PROGRAM?

    Your professors have first hand knowledge working in their areas of instruction, along with advanced degrees and higher education experience. They are eager not just to instruct, but to guide you on your faith journey and pray for you throughout your time here. Their desire is to help you succeed and equip you for where God has called you.

    What are the benefits of the program?

    Students in the Online Master's programs will be able to:

    • Complete a Master's degree in as few as 20 months
    • Attend class asynchronously online and minimize interference from work schedules and family responsibilities
    • Improve writing skills through our university Writing Center at our virtual Academic Center for Excellence.
    • Enhance virtual presentation and technology skills to maximize ministry effectiveness and/or leadership skills
    • Meet in a collaborative format and benefit from the varied experiences and ideas of classmates
    • Obtain a degree that opens a wide range of opportunities, including pursuing doctoral studies
    • Attend small virtual classes with the same students, developing teamwork skills and mutual support
    • Receive individualized instruction and specific attention
    • Gain satisfaction by fulfilling an educational goal
    WHAT FLEXIBILITY DOES THE MASTER’S PROGRAM OFFER?

    One course at a time, on your own time, in as little as 20 months. Students may enroll full-time or part-time and complete their coursework throughout the week at a time of day that is convenient for them.

      WHY SHOULD I STUDY ONLINE AT GRACE?

      Advance your career from the comfort of your own home.

      Our online master’s degrees are designed for busy professionals who desire to advance their careers. Through our flexible classes, our professors will encourage and mentor you as you expand your current pursuits.

      Experience a caring community.

      Connect with professors and students who will come alongside you as you pursue higher education and growth in Christ. At Grace, we’re passionate about equipping and supporting you to serve the Lord and others in all that God has called you to do.

      Strengthen your biblical foundation.

      At Grace Christian University, the Word of God is taught, valued, and celebrated. Deepen your knowledge of God’s Word as you receive an education grounded in objective Biblical truth.

      The Grace Experience.

      As closely as possible, the Graduate Studies program will reproduce the experience of undergraduate students (On Campus and Online) in an authentic Grace Christian University experience, expressing the ethos, core values, and historic mission of the University. This includes the University’s commitment to being a Bible-centered institution, committed to our historic Grace theological position, which values transformative relationships and service to church and society.

        Where can I view the Academic Catalog?

        View or download the 2022-23 Graduate Online Academic Catalog here.

        View past Academic Catalogs here.

        Where can i view the academic Calendar?

        View the “Academic Calendar” section in the Graduate Online Academic Catalog.

        WHAT SETS OUR MASTER'S PROGRAMS APART?

        Our Enrollment Advisors are there for you.

        One-on-one coaching through the admissions process and the first class with your assigned Enrollment Advisor. Your advisor will want to know:

        • Your passion
        • Your path and goals
        • Life circumstances that could help or hinder your success
        • How can they pray for and with you

        Your advisor will take this information seriously and provide tailored care as you get started with your degree.

        We Prioritize You

        Your goals and giftings are prioritized so they drive your success; this is opposed to a one-size fits all mentality & communication.

        We take care of all class registration and your personalized education plan is created when you begin your program, so you are able to see all courses required until your graduate date.

        One Class at a Time

        No required log-in time (you log in throughout the week when it works best for your schedule!)

        Students finish their online degrees in the same period as if they were attending an on-campus program.

        Our Professors Care

        Staff and faculty care about each student's eternal impact, which influences the care and resources we provide. Professors care and are easily accessible.

        Low professor-to-student ratio:

        • Online Undergraduate - 9.3 students per course section
        • Online Graduate - 7 students per course section

        The Bible is Central

        All classes are taught from a biblical foundation, regardless of subject, with weekly devotions.

        Low Cost Quality Education

        Low tuition for a private Christian education.

          Carlin J
          Servant Leadership was one of the many courses I took while at Grace, and this course better prepared me for the career of law enforcement and ministry that I’m currently working in. In order to be the best leader I was created to be, I learned that I can never lose my servant's heart.

          Carlin J
          Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, Online Master's
          Servant Leadership was one of the many courses I took while at Grace, and this course better prepared me for the career of law enforcement and ministry that I’m currently working in. In order to be the best leader I was created to be, I learned that I can never lose my servant's heart.
          Carlin J
          Carlin J
          Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, Online Master's
          Jim S
          I pursued this degree in an effort to continue to develop my ability to serve God by leading my congregation. I have always enjoyed engaging deeper in issues related to faith and the church and saw this degree as a challenging way to do this.

          Jim S
          Master of Arts in Ministry, Online Master's
          I pursued this degree in an effort to continue to develop my ability to serve God by leading my congregation. I have always enjoyed engaging deeper in issues related to faith and the church and saw this degree as a challenging way to do this.
          Jim S
          Jim S
          Master of Arts in Ministry, Online Master's
          Mikyala R
          At Grace I have been presented with many opportunities to learn and grow. It’s only through God’s faithfulness that l am here and I’m thankful for the 4 years He’s given me to pursue my degree and grow closer to Him in such a wonderful community. l’ll always remember and remain thankful for the time I spent at Grace.

          Mikyala R
          Master of Business Administration, Online Master's
          At Grace I have been presented with many opportunities to learn and grow. It’s only through God’s faithfulness that l am here and I’m thankful for the 4 years He’s given me to pursue my degree and grow closer to Him in such a wonderful community. l’ll always remember and remain thankful for the time I spent at Grace.
          Mikyala R
          Mikyala R
          Master of Business Administration, Online Master's
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          For more information on this data visit 
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