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Pepperdine | Graziadio Business School

Part-Time MBA Concentrations and Specializations

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Tailor your studies to meet specialized career interests in today's business market.

At the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, Part-Time MBA candidates fulfill 16 units of required elective coursework both inside and outside the classroom. The courses dive deeper to provide you with the space to access and focus your creative vision. You can also gather experience as you earn credit towards your MBA through available experiential learning programs.

Students have the option of earning a specialization or concentration. Earn a specialization by completing 6 units of the 16 units in a particular area. The remaining 10 units are fulfilled with elective courses. The specialization courses will be offered through a hybrid of in-person and online instruction.

The alternative option is to earn a concentration by completing 12 of the 16 electives in a specific area. The remaining 4 units are fulfilled with elective course(s). The concentration courses will be offered through a hybrid of in-person and online instruction and some courses are offered entirely online. 

Take the Next Step

Learn more about how to achieve your career goals with the Pepperdine Graziadio Part-Time MBA program.

Specializations

  Healthcare Management

Healthcare services is one of the largest and fastest growing sectors within the U.S. economy. The Healthcare Management specialization provides the requisite knowledge and skills to professionals assuming management and leadership roles in a complex business environment of contemporary healthcare services delivery.  

Required specialization core course (4 units):

OTMT 627 Advanced Principles of Organization and Leading Change in Healthcare 4 units

Complete 2 units from the following specialization elective course list:

FINC 632 Healthcare Finance and Regulatory Environment 2 units
PGBS 611 Contemporary Issues in Healthcare Management 2 units

 

 

Concentrations

  Business Analytics

Benefit From the Big Data Talent Gap

With a Business Analytics concentration added to your MBA, you increase professional options and earning potential with technical and quantitative skills. You will gain a solid foundation in statistical methods, data analysis, and modeling techniques.

The concentration enhances your degree and prepares you for industries that have grown increasingly reliant on data for decision-making. For this reason, our curriculum is built around the decision sciences and information systems and technology management fields. 

Required concentration core courses (8 units):

ISTM 632 Introduction to Business Analytics Technology 2 units
DESC 617 Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Data Science 2 units
PGBS 610 Business Analytics Consulting 4 units

Complete 4 units from the following concentration elective course list:

DESC 621 Valuation of Real Options 2 units
DESC 627 Supply Chain Management Analytics 2 units
DESC 636 Project Management 2 units
ISTM 630 Information Security Data Analytics 2 units
ISTM 660 Business Analytics and Intelligence 2 units
PGBS 693 Global Business Intensive 1-4 units
DESC 698 Special Topics in Decision Sciences 2 units
ISTM 698 Special Topics in Digital Innovation and Information Systems 2 units

 

  Digital Innovation and Information Systems

Part-Time MBA in Digital Innovation & Information Systems

As organizations become increasingly reliant on digital technologies in their operations, products and processes, a critical need has emerged for professionals who bring a deep understanding of technology management and the opportunities for digital innovation in business. Such individuals will be best positioned for career success by acquiring a comprehensive mix of business, technology and managerial knowledge and competencies.

The MBA concentration in Digital Innovation and Information Systems (DIIS) focuses on bridging the gap between business and technology, giving graduates a distinct advantage in the marketplace. Surveys of IT management indicate a persistent concern for achieving alignment between business needs and technology resources. Additionally, CIOs affirm that significant improvement is needed for managers who possess the knowledge and skills to envision, manage, and lead initiatives that span the realms of business, IT, and innovation.

Required concentration core courses (2 units):

ISTM 668 Digital Innovation and Information Systems Client-Based Practicum 2 units

Complete 10 units from the following concentration elective course list:

ISTM 624 Databases and Big Data Management 2 units
ISTM 627 Marketing Informatics 2 units
ISTM 661 Designing, Sourcing, and Building Digital Platforms 2 units
ISTM 662 DIIS Project and Program Management 2 units
ISTM 663 Managing Cyber Security, Risk, and Privacy 2 units
ISTM 664 Business Process Analysis and Innovation 2 units
ISTM 665 Digital Innovation and Strategy 2 units
ISTM 660 Business Analytics and Intelligence 2 units
ISTM 622 Social Media Analytics 2 units
ISTM 698 Special Topics in Digital Innovation and Information Systems 2 units
PGBS 693 Global Business Intensive 4 units

 

  Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is, at its core, a creative activity. It involves starting a new venture with an innovative idea — frequently for a market that currently does not exist. As a result, the MBA entrepreneurship concentration is built upon courses designed to help you tap into your creativity, and then translate your creative vision into a real business that not only produces wealth, but also allows you to express your personal values.

Your first steps include two courses to assist you in discovering your own brainchild— a personally compelling venture idea with large market potential. These are followed by three courses to help you flesh out a business model that will generate profits, build your organization and make connections with your market. Your final step is a course that pulls it all together, resulting in a business plan that you present to a panel of angel and venture capital investors.

Required concentration core courses (12 units):

ENTR 622 Developing a New Business Opportunity 4 units
ENTR 624  Building a Business Model 4 units
ENTR 625 Launching a New Venture 4 units

 

  Finance

Graziadio's faculty is committed to delivering cutting-edge courses to prepare MBA students for careers in finance. These classes prepare students for careers in portfolio management, corporate finance, investment banking, financial institutions management, and financial risk management. 

Required concentration core courses (8 units):

FINC 669 Investments and Portfolio Management 4 units
FINC 638 Financial Modeling 2 units
FINC 623 Business Valuation 2 units

Complete 4 units from the following concentration elective course list:

FINC 624 Mergers and Acquisitions 2 units
FINC 639 Debt Securities 2 units
FINC 635 Real Estate Investing and Finance 2 units
FINC 634 The Management of Financial Risk 2 units
FINC 661 Entertainment and Media Finance 2 units
DESC 621 Valuation of Real Options 2 units
FINC 699 Special Topics in Finance 2 units

 

  General Management

A concentration in General Management allows for the selection of 12 units from any concentration area. A minimum of 8 units must be concentration core courses. Studies need not focus on a particular discipline. 

This flexibility is ideal for self-directed and highly motivated MBA students. Specifically those hoping to tailor a scholastic experience to their specific and comprehensive interests. Students with concentration in general management have the luxury of choosing from a wide array of courses to customize their business education. 

For a full list of course offerings available to the General Management concentration, please refer to the Academic Catalog.

  Leadership and Managing Organizational Change

The MBA concentration in Leadership and Managing Organizational Change focuses on the development of values-centered changemakers to lead and implement successful change in a dynamic business environment. Our faculty have actual managerial and leadership experience, are consultants, or are highly regarded researchers in the field.

Required concentration core courses (8 units):

OTMT 625 Developing Agile Organizations and Leading Change 4 units
BSCI 660 Advanced Topics in Applied Behavioral Science 4 units

Complete 4 units from the following concentration elective course list:

BSCI 635 Leadership and Ethics 2 units
OTMT 623 Managing Cross-Cultural, Diverse, and Inclusive Organizations  4 units
OTMT 676 Talent Management 4 units
OTMT 678 Managerial Creativity and Innovation for Leadership 4 units
BSCI 698 Special Topics in Applied Behavioral Science  2 units
OTMT 698 Special Topics in Leadership & Organizational Change 2 units

 

  Marketing

An MBA concentration in marketing provides the basic concepts, techniques, and tools for developing marketing strategy and marketing programs. MBA graduates will be prepared to help organizations decide which consumer groups to serve; and product and services to produce. They also will create appropriate promotional, pricing, and distribution arrangements central to profitably generating growth opportunities.

This preparation is relevant for a variety of career paths. They include brand/product management, marketing research, new product development, sales force management, advertising, and management consulting.

Required concentration core courses (8 units):

MKTG 627 Consumer Behavior I: Inside Consumers’ Minds 2 units
MKTG 669 Marketing Research 2 units
MKTG 682 Marketing Communications for the Digital Age 4 units

Complete 4 units from the following concentration elective course list:

MKTG 670 Technology in Marketing 2 units
MKTG 671 Global Marketing 2 units
MKTG 613 Entertainment, Media, and Sports Marketing and Analytics 2 units
MKTG 676 Brand Management 2 units
MKTG 628 Consumer Behavior II: Consumers in the Marketplace  2 units
MKTG 629 Marketing Innovation and New Offerings 2 units
MTKG 698 Special Topics in Marketing 2 units