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Pepperdine | Graziadio Business School

Part-Time MBA FAQs

Have a question about Pepperdine Graziadio Business School or the part-time MBA program? Explore our frequently asked questions (FAQs) below for more information about admissions, our programs, and services.

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

Admission to the Part-Time MBA Program

  What are your admission deadlines?

Please refer to this link for specific information regarding application deadlines.

  Do I have to be a manager to be considered for the Part-Time MBA program?

A current or previous management position is not a requirement for the Part-Time MBA program. You do need to meet the minimum requirement of two years of full-time work experience.

  How many years of full-time work experience do I need to qualify for the Part-Time MBA program?

A minimum of two years of professional full-time work experience is required. However, pre-experienced students from Westmont and University of California - Santa Barbara are given admission consideration.

  Do you require prerequisite courses for the MBA program?

Pepperdine does not require prerequisite courses to qualify for the program. However, you do need to meet the admissions requirements to be considered for admission.

  Does my degree have to be in business to be considered for the MBA program?

You do not need to have an undergraduate degree in business to be considered. More than half of our applicants are non-business majors.

  Does Pepperdine require an interview as part of the admissions process?

There is no interview required for the program. Pepperdine does encourage an applicant to schedule an individual consultation with a preadmission advisor to discuss an applicant's qualifications.

  Does Pepperdine require the GMAT/GRE?

No, a GMAT or GRE exam score is not required for admission to the Pepperdine Fully Employed MBA program.

  What is your minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL exam (international students only)?

The minimum acceptable score on the computer version of the TOEFL exam is 95, with a minimum of 20 in each category. The minimum acceptable score for the written exam is 550.

  Will you consider an applicant with a low cumulative GPA?

A student with a lower cumulative GPA can still be considered for the program. Taking more of a holistic approach in our admissions process, we look at things such as work experience, standardized test scores, and GPA.

  Is there a possibility to waive the application fee?

All prospective students who attend a class visit will receive an application fee waiver. For all veteran or active military applying, we appreciate your service and will automatically waive your application fee.

  Where do I submit my transcripts?

You must provide an official transcript with your posted bachelor's degree. All transcripts reflecting in-progress and/or completed coursework toward your undergraduate degree(s) must be submitted to the Graziadio School Admissions Office. The official transcript(s) must be issued by the school registrar(s) and provided in a sealed envelope prior to enrollment. If you have not completed your bachelor's degree at the time of application, submit a current transcript.

Applicants who attended schools outside the United States are required to submit certified transcripts in English. Submitted transcripts must include a cumulative grade point average (GPA on a 4.0 scale, A = 4.0) that has been evaluated by a credentials service such as the World Education Services, Inc. at www.wes.org.

Mailing Address:
Graziadio School Admission Office
Pepperdine University
6100 Center Drive, Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90045

 

Part-Time MBA Program

  How long is the Part-Time MBA program?

The program can be completed in 24 months of continuous study taking a minimum of 8 units of coursework per trimester plus additional workshops over 2 weekends. However, students have the flexibility of completing the program over a longer period (up to a maximum seven years) by taking fewer units per trimester according to their work commitments and personal circumstances.

  How many classes are in the Part-Time MBA program?

The program is a total of 52 units ā€” nine core classes and 14 units of electives that range from four to seven classes.

  How much time outside of class do I need to spend on homework and team projects?

Generally, for every hour of instruction you should plan on two hours of outside time for homework and team projects.

  Are there any opportunities to study abroad?

Pepperdine offers optional study abroad trips in Europe, Asia, and South America. We offer trips from a week long to full trimesters (15 weeks abroad) and can be taken for 2 units of credit.

  What is the average class size for the Part-Time MBA program?

The average class size is between 15 - 20 students with a maximum of 30 students.

  What is the profile of your Part-Time MBA students?
  • Male: 52%, Female: 48%; 
  • Median age: 29; 
  • Average work experience: 7 years; 
  • Management positions: closer to 30%.
  What days and times are your classes offered?

The majority of our on-campus classes are offered Monday through Thursday from 6 - 10 p.m. for 14 weeks. Some classes are scheduled on select Saturdays, and others are held in a weekend mode ā€“ from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday evenings and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Our hybrid program, generally speaking, offers face-to-face class instruction seven Thursdays from 6 - 10 p.m. or four Saturdays from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m coupled with online, synchronous sessions on seven weeknights.

  Are there concentrations?

We offer ten different concentrations:

  • Business Analytics
  • Digital Innovation and Information Systems
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Entertainment, Media, and Sports Management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • Leadership and Managing Organizational Change
  • Marketing
  • General Management
  • Global Business

12 units can be allocated to your concentration. You can also opt to have a general MBA without a specific area of interest.

Students in the hybrid program will pursue a general management concentration and learn from a broad array of business disciplines.

  Once Iā€™m admitted to the program, what is the next step?

You will be introduced to your program advisor who will enroll you in classes and guide you through the process.

  Will my diploma say evening program or extension campus?

No, our degrees are full-fledged Master of Business Administration and Master of Science degrees from Pepperdine University in Business Management.

  Do you offer a Part-Time Hybrid MBA Program?

Yes, the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School is pleased to offer a Part-Time Hybrid MBA program.

 

Pepperdine and the Graziadio School

  Are Pepperdine University and the Graziadio Business School ranked?

Yes, please visit our rankings and awards page.

  Where are your locations outside of the Malibu Campus?

Pepperdine offers the Part-Time MBA program at four accessible locations ā€” West Los Angeles, Irvine, and Calabasas.

  Do I need to take classes at the Malibu Campus?

All program courses are offered at the four graduate locations; however, some elective courses in our Dispute Resolution concentration are taken at our Strauss Institute on our Malibu Campus. Our law school Dispute Resolution program has been ranked #1 in the country.

  Does the Graziadio School have a strong alumni network?

The Graziadio School has over 40,000 alumni and over 3,600 are leading organizations as senior executives. The Graziadio School has the largest MBA alumni network in Southern California and is among the 10 largest AACSB-accredited business school in the nation.

 

Part-Time MBA Student Services

  Do you offer career services to your Part-Time MBA students?

Pepperdine considers the success of its graduates a top priority and provides students and alumni with an exceptional range of career resources, including one-one-one coaching, workshops, networking events and online tools. In addition, Career Portal is a superior online tool that allows Graziadio students and alumni to create a profile, search for jobs, post a resume, network with professionals, register for special career events, and more.

  Do you offer scholarships for the Part-Time MBA program?

Yes, we offer merit-based and need-based scholarships to qualified applicants. Please contact us to see if you may be eligible. In addition, we offer a "refer a student" scholarship to new students who are referred by a Graziadio alumnus or current student, or friend of the school. More alumni referral scholarships information

  Does Pepperdine offer financial aid to its students?

Financial aid is available to Fully Employed MBA students. The Graziadio School administers the Federal Stafford Loan program. For information about financial aid, please visit the Financial Aid page. To contact the Financial Aid Office, please call 310.568.5530 or email PGBSfinancialaid@pepperdine.edu.