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