Graduates of the Graziadio School Bachelor of Science in Management (BSM) program who have achieved distinction in their BSM coursework have the opportunity to pursue the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in an expedited fashion through the MBAJ Program. Based on their mastery* of related course content and outstanding overall performance in the BSM Program, the MBAJ Program may be completed in as few as 30 units (as compared to 52 units required for the standard MBA). Although MBAJ students are afforded the same concentration options as those available to their peers in the traditional MBA Program, they must complete 4 - 8 units of designated preparatory coursework (i.e., 1 to 2 courses) in the first trimester of the MBAJ Program, prior to continuing onto concentration electives. These specific requirements are delineated for each concentration in the “MBAJ Concentration” section of the Catalog.
The program meets the following objectives for students’ learning:
- To expand the knowledge base in business by selecting electives in the areas of leadership, global business, finance, entrepreneurship, dispute resolution, marketing, and general business.
- To continue to build or enhance critical thinking skills, especially in the application of theories to practice.
- To continue improvement in oral and written communication skills so students can persuasively and professionally articulate their thinking.
- To further enhance their effectiveness as values-centered managers and leaders of teams of people in the local and global environment.
Depending on the selected concentration, the MBAJ curriculum includes 16-24 units of elective coursework, intended to provide deeper knowledge within a chosen area of emphasis and to facilitate broader exploration of topics germane to the contemporary business environment.
* Important Note: For purposes of the MBAJ Program, content mastery is demonstrated by having earned grades of “B” or better in each BSM course to be applied toward waiving the corresponding content at the MBA level (e.g., ACCT 472 for ACCT 652 ). Students not having achieved the minimum “B” grade in the applicable BSM coursework will be required to complete the equivalent MBA-level course in addition to the standard MBAJ course/unit requirements.
Global Business Intensive Courses
Two units of credit may be earned by attending one of the Global Business Intensive courses offered at locations in Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America. These are short-term intensive courses which students take during trimester breaks.
Study Abroad Program
Students may spend a trimester abroad as a full-time student at one of the Graziadio School international partner business schools. Upon approval by the appropriate academic discipline(s), up to 12 units of course work of comparable scope and content may be taken at the international partner school to satisfy elective requirements. Students will enroll at the Graziadio School in the appropriate number of GSBM Study Abroad course units. When the courses are completed at the international partner university, their course designation will be added to the enrollment record so that they will appear on the student’s transcript. These courses will be graded credit or no credit only.
MBAJ Course Load
As the MBAJ Program is designed for working professionals, students are typically limited to 10 units of coursework per trimester. This limit pertains to students in good standing; additional unit restrictions may apply to students on academic probation. Additional details pertaining to academic probation status are provided below in the “Standards and Measures of Achievement for MBAJ Students” section.
Leave of Absence
A student may request a leave of abscence (LOA) due to circumstances that necessitate a temporary break from enrollment in the Program. A formal request must be submitted in writing (an e-mail from the student’s official Pepperdine account is sufficient) to the student’s designated program advisor in the Fully Employed Program Office. The request should provide an explanation for the intended LOA and indicate the academic term for the student’s anticipated return to the Program. Leaves of absence may be granted for up to two (2) consecutive trimesters, while maintaining active program status. A leave in excess of two consecutive trimesters will result in the deactivation of the student’s status at the Graziadio School. In such cases, students wishing to resume their degree program must formally apply for re-admission. International students in F-1 visa status must obtain clearance from the Office of International Student Services before taking a leave of absence.
Global Business Requirement
All MBAJ students must complete at least 2 units of global business course work by satisfying one of the following options:
- A one-week, 2-unit Global Business Intensive course hosted by partner schools abroad, led by a Graziadio School faculty member.
- One trimester Study Abroad at a global partner business school.
- Summer school opportunities at a global partner business school.
- A one-week, 2-unit residential Global Business Intensive course hosted at Pepperdine University taught by a visiting professor from a global partner business school.
- A 2-unit Going Global with Graziadio (G3) project.
- An appropriately scoped Global Business Directed Instruction project.
Standards and Measurements of Achievement for MBAJ Students
A student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 throughout the MBAJ Program. Each course taken in the Program must be completed with a grade of “C-” or better in order to earn credit toward the degree. Any course in which a grade lower than a “C-” is earned must be repeated. In such cases, both the new and original grades remain on the student’s transcript and are factored into the program GPA.
Student progress in the MBAJ Program is routinely monitored by the Fully Employed Program Office. Based on a review of course grades and overall program performance at the end of each trimester, the Program Office alerts those at risk of failing to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Any student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 is placed on academic probation and informed of the requirements that must be met in order to regain good standing. While on academic probation, MBAJ students are limited to enrolling in no more than 4 units of coursework.
In cases of grave academic struggle and/or continued failure to meet minimum program standards, students may also be subject to dismissial from the Program. Circumstances warranting academic dismissal may include, and are not limited to, the following:
- Continued failure to attain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0
- Earning a grade of “B-” or lower while on academic probation
- Earning a grade lower than “B-” in more than two courses
- Earning a grade of “D” or lower at any time
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