This year, PUC is proud to introduce the new Online Master of Business Administration program. The program can be completed in as little as one year (dependent upon the number of credits taken per term), and is tailored for working professionals. Three emphases are available: Accounting, Healthcare Administration, and Management.

Offered in collaboration with Southern Adventist University, PUC’s online MBA program is tailored to meet the demands of your professional and personal life. The program is 100 percent online and offers a flexible schedule with multiple start dates (residency requirements; open to California and Hawai’i residents only). Small class sizes offer personalized attention, and students can expect to learn and grow under the guidance of faculty with rich, real-world experience.

We talked with Victor Gaines, associate professor of business administration and the online MBA program coordinator, about why students studying business should consider obtaining their MBA, why professionals already in the workforce should consider going back to school, and what makes PUC’s program unique.

Why should someone be interested in getting an MBA?

The MBA is a post-baccalaureate degree that helps students and working professionals stand out among others in the marketplace and equip them with the necessary skills to succeed in the modern workforce and progress further in their professional career.

What are the benefits of an MBA in today’s society?

The MBA program takes what was taught in undergraduate courses and expands those concepts, allowing all types of students—from recent graduates to those who have worked in the field for some time—the opportunity to further develop the important business skills required for today’s job placement and to serve in positions of leadership.

Obviously, one of the advantages of PUC’s online MBA program is it will be taught from a Christian perspective. How will faith be integrated into the curriculum?

Faith is integrated into every part of this program. Students will be looking at business with a Christian perspective. This would include: ethics, human resources, marketing, and accounting, just to name a few. Each weekly assignment will ask students to look at business through the lens of their Christian faith.

PUC’s program is in conjunction with Southern Adventist University. Can you explain that relationship a bit?

Partnering with SAU offers students enrolled in the program a variety of positive opportunities with both their fellow students and program faculty. Working collaboratively in a diverse online setting allows students to continue to expand their knowledge and increase their career opportunities all while developing essential business skills of intercultural competence and global understanding, which are highly valued in today’s workplace. Paired with a Christian philosophy, graduates of the program will also benefit from studying and learning from other like-minded individuals.  

What are the requirements of PUC’s online program?

Students need the following:

1. Admission to Pacific Union College (see admissions requirements)
2. A baccalaureate degree (any major) from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education
3. Submission of a graduate application that includes the following:
   1. online application form
   2. application fee of $40 (non-refundable)
   3. two recommendations (completed by work supervisors or undergraduate professors)
   4. official transcripts from all institutions attended
   5. a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
   6. official scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), taken within the past five years.
4. Completion of the following courses at the undergraduate level with a grade of “C-” or higher:
   1. Introduction to Statistics (STAT 222 or equivalent)
   2. Microeconomics (ECON 265 or equivalent)
   3. Introduction to Spreadsheets (INFS 148 or equivalent)

Note: With approval from the department of business, applicants may be admitted without the GMAT if they have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 or if they have at least five years of full-time business-related management experience. Students who lack one or more of these prerequisite courses should discuss their options with the chair of the department of business.

The first start term is January 7. What are the other terms for 2019?

Summer Session I:  May 6th – June 7th
Summer Session II:  June 10th – July 19
Summer Session III:  July 29th – August 22
Fall Session: TBA

For more information about PUC’s online MBA, including program cost and application details, visit puc.edu/mba or contact Gaines at vgaines@puc.edu or (707) 965-6525.