The program requires a minimum of 36 units of course work to complete in three trimesters. The minimum program units include 32 units of core and required course work and 4 units of elective course work. All courses are taught in Malibu or at the nearby Calabasas Center.
The proposed MSB curriculum offers learning experiences to candidates, who are not necessarily qualified or ready for graduate MBA programs, the opportunity to broaden their competencies in:
- Finance and Accounting
- Verbal, and written business communications
- Data analysis
- Critical thinking and problem thinking
- Market awareness (understanding marketplaces)
- Business ethics and values
- Collaborative work skills
- Organizational behavior and culture
- Strategy
In the first trimester, MSB students will take courses to improve their collaborative work skills, leadership, economics, critical thinking, and a range of business communication skills including data analytics, and audio, video and digital business presentations. An introduction to generating new venture ideas and the use of technologies that increase the value of workers are also part of the curriculum design. Learning is directly assessed by instructors and indirectly assessed by students to verify that important learning objectives are met.
The second trimester of courses will focus on building introductory business skills in Finance, Accounting, Marketing, and Organization Theory. Students will also learn the importance of ethics and boundaries established by the American legal system. Boundaries between being creative and acting in an ethical and legal way will be examined. Elective courses such as digital media and block chain will also be offered.
Courses in the third trimester are intended to broaden strategic planning and thinking, along with real estate and digital platforms. In addition, students will have the freedom to complete a full workload of elective courses to further expand their creative skills and enhance the value they can bring to their selected career paths. Students with proven academic records will also have opportunities to bridge to the MSAF, MSGB, MSRE, MSHR, and MSBA programs. Course transfer credit options will be clearly identified for students wishing to continue their graduate education at PGBS.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for the MSB are as follows:
- Official degree transcript from an accredited college or university degree
- Official transcript evaluation for non-U.S. bachelor’s degrees
- Candidates with undergraduate business or non-business degrees are welcome
- Undergraduate Grade Point Average 3.0 or higher
- No GMAT or GRE testing requirement
- Completed application form and application fee
- No full-time work experience required
- Resume detailing internship work experiences, community and service experiences, language, and special skills
- Candidates with degrees from institutions outside the United States and whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL (minimum score of 90 on the Internet-based exam) or the IELTS (minimum overall band score of 6.5)
- Interview (in person or by phone) at the discretion of the Admissions Department
Standards and Measurements of Achievement
Standards of achievement and methods of assessing student performance in each course are delineated in each course syllabus at the outset of the academic term. Through the duration of the
student’s program, a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is required to maintain satisfactory academic standing. Each graduate-level course must be passed with a grade of “C-” or better. A core course in which a grade lower than “C-” was earned must be retaken and completed with a passing grade. A grade lower than “C-” in an elective course may be made up by completing either the same course or a different elective with a passing grade. A course may only be repeated once, and in all cases, both grades will remain on the student’s transcript and be factored into the cumulative GPA.
Student academic performance is monitored by the Program Office at the end of each term, and any student falling below the 3.0 GPA minimum is subject to academic probation. Students
placed on academic probation will be notified in writing and informed of the conditions applicable to the probationary status. The probationary status will not be cleared until the student has reached the minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Students who fail to regain good standing within the time frame specified in the initial notification of probation will be subject to dismissal from their degree program. Other circumstances that may lead to dismissal include:
- Cumulative GPA falling below 3.0 at any point during the degree program
- Earning any grade lower than a “B” while on academic probation
- Earning a grade lower than a “B-” in more than two courses within the program
- Earning a grade lower than “C-” in any course