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Pepperdine | Graziadio Business School

Bachelor of Science in Management Curriculum

Designed for Professionals Ready to Turn Experience into Opportunity.

The Pepperdine Graziadio Bachelor of Science in Management (BSM) is designed for working professionals who want to complete their undergraduate business degree while balancing career and personal responsibilities. The program provides the flexibility adult learners need while maintaining the academic rigor and values-based leadership that define a Pepperdine education.

Delivered online, the BSM program features weekly live Zoom classes and a highly interactive learning environment led by expert faculty with both academic and industry experience. At the beginning of the program, students participate in a three-day residential workshop that builds leadership skills and establishes the collaborative culture that continues throughout the program.

Our curriculum blends foundational business knowledge with applied learning across disciplines such as economics, management, finance, marketing, and decision sciences. Each course reinforces practical problem-solving and critical thinking, allowing students to immediately apply what they learn to their current roles and career goals.

 

 

Core Curriculum

The Graziadio Business School’s Bachelor of Science in Management program requires 60 units of upper-division coursework across multiple business disciplines. The curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of modern business operations while emphasizing experiential learning and real-world application.

  Accounting

ACCT 472 – Accounting (4 units)

This course defines the nature and purpose of accounting and includes the measurement of income, underlying assumptions, flow of funds, and analysis of performance. Students explore internal information needs for planning and control, cost systems, marginal analysis, responsibility accounting, and interpretation of financial data. Emphasis is placed on applying accounting tools, cost control systems, and budgeting for managerial decision-making.

  Behavioral Science 

PGBS 480 – Critical Thinking and Managerial Problem Solving (2 units)

This course develops disciplined approaches to conceptualizing, analyzing, and evaluating business problems. Students learn to apply critical thinking frameworks emphasizing clarity, precision, relevance, sound evidence, and thoughtful decision analysis.

PGBS 484 – Contemporary Business Issues I (2 units)

Students examine current business challenges through rotating topics such as leadership, environmental law, customer satisfaction, creative problem solving, and global enterprise management. Courses allow students to explore emerging issues affecting modern organizations.

BSCS 468 – Organizational Behavior (4 units)

A cornerstone of the BSM program, this course includes a residential leadership workshop held during the first trimester. The experience promotes interpersonal communication, personal ethics, teamwork, and leadership development while helping students build strong relationships with peers.

  Business Law 

LEGL 470 – Legal Environment of Business (4 units)

Students examine the legal frameworks governing business operations, including common and mercantile law, contracts, property rights, and regulatory processes. The course also addresses ethical responsibilities and legal considerations in domestic and global business environments.

PGBS 482 – Business Ethics (2 units)

This course explores ethical decision-making in an increasingly interconnected global economy. Students analyze real-world ethical dilemmas and consider the social, environmental, and managerial responsibilities of modern organizations.

  Decision Sciences

DESC 471 – Statistical Methods for Business (4 units)

Students learn the statistical tools required to conduct business research and analyze data-driven decisions. Topics include descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, research design, sampling methods, and data interpretation.

DESC 475 – Production and Operations Management (4 units)

This course examines operations management concepts used in manufacturing and service industries, including quality management, forecasting, capacity planning, scheduling, and inventory control.

  Economics

ECNM 469 – Managerial Economics (4 units)

Students analyze production, revenues, costs, and profits within the business environment while exploring market structures and competitive behavior.

ECNM 477 – National Economic Markets (4 units)

This course examines macroeconomic factors such as national income, interest rates, inflation, fiscal policy, and business cycles, and their influence on business decisions.

ECNM 478 – International Business (4 units)

Students explore the fundamentals of conducting business globally, including international trade theories, cultural considerations, and operational challenges across markets.

  Finance

FINC 603 (4 units)

This course explores financial decision making within businesses, including how to raise capital, invest capital, and pay out earnings to owners. Risk and reward from investing is considered, in order to assign value to stocks, bonds, and projects or companies. Students will learn how to measure a project or company's cost of capital. Firm capital structure will be covered, along with dividend payments and stock repurchases. Students will also use financial ratios to analyze the performance of companies and recommend courses of action. The course will provide an overview of how corporations are governed, and the structure of the financial system.

  Information Systems

ISTM 476 – Information Systems for Business and Management (4 units)

Students explore how organizations use information systems to improve productivity, decision making, and strategic advantage in a global economy.

  Marketing

MKTG 473 – Marketing Management (4 units)

This course surveys marketing concepts and practices, including market analysis, product development, distribution strategies, promotional programs, and pricing decisions.

  Organizational Theory and Management

ISTM 602 (4 units)

OTMT 483 – Managing Diversity in Organizations (2 units)

Students examine the challenges and opportunities presented by workforce diversity and explore strategies for creating inclusive and effective organizations.

OTMT 481 – Managing Organizations (2 units)

This course explores strategic management processes, organizational structure, decision-making, and control systems used by managers to guide organizations toward achieving their goals.

  Strategy

STGY 479 – Business Strategy (4 units)

This capstone course integrates knowledge gained throughout the program. Students analyze organizations from a strategic leadership perspective and develop recommendations using case studies, strategic projects, and simulations.

  Global Business Intensive

PGBS 485 – Global Business Intensive (2 units)

Students may participate in an international learning experience hosted by partner schools abroad. The course explores global business practices through seminars, company visits, and cultural experiences that provide insight into international markets.

 

 

Take the Next Step

Learn more about how to achieve your career goals with the Pepperdine Graziadio Online Bachelor of Science in Management Program.


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What Can Students Expect?

Our program was shaped by the belief that leadership is best developed through a blend of rigorous academic training and real-world application. We drew inspiration from our Southern California business community, our deep ties to entrepreneurial and values-driven leadership, and our mission to prepare students not just to succeed in business — but to lead with integrity.

 

 

Flexible Learning Designed for Professionals

Complete your degree while balancing work and personal commitments through a flexible online format with weekly live Zoom sessions.

 

Expert Faculty and Applied Learning

Learn from award-winning professors who combine academic expertise with practical business experience.

 

Collaborative Learning Community

Small classes and experiential group projects foster strong peer relationships and professional connections

 

Accelerated MBA Pathway

Qualified students can pursue an expedited MBA through the BSM/MBA pathway, allowing them to earn a graduate degree in as little as one additional year.

 

Career-Ready Curriculum

Develop critical thinking, analytical, and leadership skills across disciplines, including economics, finance, marketing, strategy, and decision sciences.

 

Strong Community & Connections 

Students benefit from Pepperdine’s extensive alumni network of 50,000+ and opportunities to engage with industry leaders and guest speakers.

 

Balancing Theory and Hands-On Experience

The BSM curriculum integrates academic theory with experiential learning through a variety of teaching approaches and practical applications.

 

  • Residential Leadership Workshop: Students begin the program with a three-day in-person workshop that focuses on leadership development, teamwork, and ethical decision-making.
  • Applied Research Projects: Courses such as Statistical Methods for Business require students to design and execute research projects using real-world business data.
  • Industry Case Studies and Practical Applications: Many courses incorporate case studies and projects connected to real organizational challenges.
  • Collaborative Learning: Students regularly work in teams to analyze business problems and develop strategic solutions.

PTMBA teacher with small class

 

PTMBA students in South Korea

 

Learn in Global Destination

Students in the BSM program have the opportunity to expand their global perspective through the Global Business Intensive (GBI).

Hosted by partner institutions abroad, the GBI program introduces students to international business practices through lectures, company visits, and cultural experiences. Participants gain firsthand insight into how economic systems, regulations, and cultural contexts influence global business strategy.

By engaging directly with international businesses and academic partners, students develop a deeper understanding of the opportunities and complexities of operating in the global marketplace.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  What makes the Pepperdine BSM program unique?

The BSM program combines flexible online learning with faculty who bring both academic excellence and real-world business expertise to the classroom.

  How is the curriculum structured?

Students complete 60 units of upper-division business coursework across multiple disciplines, including economics, finance, marketing, information systems, and strategy.

  Will I get hands-on experience?

Yes. Many courses incorporate applied research projects, case studies, and experiential learning activities that connect theory to practice.

  Are there global opportunities?

Students may participate in the optional Global Business Intensive (GBI), which offers an international learning experience hosted by partner universities abroad.

  What is the learning environment like?

Students learn in small, interactive online classes with weekly live sessions and collaborative projects that encourage meaningful engagement.

  How will this program support my career goals?

The BSM program develops interdisciplinary business knowledge and practical leadership skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace while also providing a pathway toward advanced graduate study.