Master of Business Administration California Lutheran University

Ideal for people who want to ground in core business skills while they also pursue an area of expertise, the Cal Lutheran MBA features a rigorous curriculum that can be customized by pursuing one of our emphasis areas.

How to Apply

Applications are considered year-round. Admitted students may start the program at the beginning of any term.

Priority Application Deadlines

Assured Admission

All Cal Lutheran seniors, alumni, and Professionals students will be offered Assured Admission into the Cal Lutheran MBA program, with admission based on being a Business major with a minimum 3.0 GPA in upper degree coursework.

Admission Process

Admission decisions for regular graduate standing are based on a review of the following materials in the candidate's file:

1. A completed application and non-refundable application fee;
2. Graduate Program Advisement with an admission counselor;
3. Official transcripts showing a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. Normally, a grade point average of approximately 3.0 or higher in upper-division undergraduate work is expected. Official transcripts must be ordered and sent directly to Cal Lutheran via certified e-transcript or mail. We recommend e-transcript is available at your institution.
4. Two professional letters of recommendation;
5. Personal statement;
6. Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores may be waived for candidates who present an official transcript of previous college work from a regionally accredited college or university reflecting any one of the following criteria:
   • an undergraduate, upper-division grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale; or
   • a combined grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the most recent 60 credits of study consisting of any of the following: graduate course work, upper-division post-baccalaureate course work (exclusive of extension or continuing education work), and upper-division undergraduate course work; or
   • a minimum of nine credits of graduate course work completed and a 3.50-grade point average; or
   • a previously earned master's degree.

Foundation courses may be needed for those who do not meet prerequisite requirements for the program. Such foundation courses do not count towards the degree.

The MBA degree requires 45-semester credits equivalent to 15 courses of work which must be completed within a seven-year period.

Core Courses (8 courses/24 credits)

• Enterprise Management, Organization, and Strategy
• Information Technology Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Business Ethics and Law
• Marketing Management
• Strategic Decision Making
• Macroeconomics in the Global Economy
• Financial Principles & Policies

General Emphasis Courses (2 courses/6 credits)

Students pick two courses; one must align with Emphasis Area. To obtain a general MBA degree, students are required to take six courses from this list of General Emphasis Courses.

• Data Management
• Marketing Research
• Corporate Finance
• Innovative Business Models
• International Business
• Human Capital Management Strategy
• Sustainable Business Strategies

Emphasis Electives (4 courses/12 credits)

Students take four courses from the list of electives for their chosen emphasis area, or instead take six general emphasis courses above, for a General MBA.

Capstone Course (1 course/3 credits)

Students must complete one capstone course from the following capstone options.

• Internship
• The Business Plan
• Executive Roundtable
• International Travel
• Consulting to Business
• MBA Project

Foundation Courses

The following courses may be required for individuals whose academic records reflect the need for preparation in the areas of accounting, economics, and/or statistics. These courses are in addition to the 45 credits required for program completion.

• Foundations of Advanced Academic and Professional Practices
• Foundations of Accounting (Financial & Managerial)
• Foundations of Economics
• Foundations of Business Statistics
• Advanced Academic Writing and Presentation Skills Seminar

Online course delivery includes all Foundation, Core, General Emphasis Courses and a Capstone option. All Emphasis Electives are only offered on our Thousand Oaks campus or at our Westlake Center.

Flexibility

Our MBA program is designed to be flexible for the convenience of full-time students and working professionals alike. Whichever emphasis area you choose, you will also find a variety of options to fit your education into your busy lifestyle.

• Flexible class scheduling, including online, evening, and weekend intensives
• Flexible degree completion date—you decide your pace.
• Locations in Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, Westlake Village, and Woodland Hills.

Experiential Learning and Community Engagement

There is no substitute, in any education, for the value of hands-on work and experience in your chosen field. Your MBA from Cal Lutheran will emphasize putting your learning to the test, honing your skills, and building the relationships necessary to succeed.

• The MBA capstone course provides students the opportunity to take their education and apply it to business through their work on consulting projects for leading local organizations, including The Reagan Foundation, Girl Scouts of Central CA, Centre for Neuroscience, VFW Simi Valley, and Sloane LED.
• Internships are a great way for pre-experienced students to gain work experience in some of the area’s top companies, including Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, United Way of Ventura County, Procore Technologies, Citizen's Business Bank, PennyMac Loan Services, Priva Inc., Pure Spectrum Inc.
• Our study abroad program offers many opportunities to gain international experience and expand your global network through travel seminars to China, Thailand, Vietnam, France, England, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, and Australia.
• At the Westlake Center is Hub101, a co-work and incubation space for the regional start-up community, offering classes, seminars, speakers, and an ideal networking and creative environment for entrepreneurial enterprises.
• The School of Management hosts a series of popular events throughout the year where students can interact with business and community leaders. Events include the Entrepreneur Speaker Series, PRiME Competition, New Venture Competition, ACG Cup, Drinks with the Dean, and more.

Emphasis Areas

Students may choose to earn their MBA with or without an emphasis. An emphasis is an opportunity for students to specialize in a functional area of their choosing while an MBA (general) includes content from across all emphasis areas. The MBA degree requirements are the same with or without an emphasis*.

• Enterprise Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Human Capital Management
• Information Technology
• International Business
• Marketing

* All Emphasis Electives are only offered on our Thousand Oaks campus or at our Westlake Center. Online course delivery includes all Core, General Emphasis Courses, and a Capstone option.

Course Terms & Calendar

Complete your MBA on campus, online, or through a mix of formats. With courses offered year-round, you'll have the flexibility you need to balance the demands of career and personal commitments.

On-Campus

On-campus courses are offered year-round in four, 11-week terms. The on-campus option appeals to those students living in the area who prefer face-to-face, evening classes.

A mix of online and on-campus classes offers an opportunity to expand one's network of faculty and students.

On-Campus Terms

Online

Online courses are offered year-round in five, 8-week terms. For busy professionals seeking to advance their careers, online courses are ideal in terms of convenience and scheduling flexibility.

The accelerated format of the program allows a student to complete the program in less than two years if desired.

Online Terms

Careers & Networking

The School of Management at California Lutheran University is committed to helping our students discover and strengthen their sense of purpose while preparing them to bring what they do best to the world.

We cultivate that spirit in each student, in each class, and in the extended family of our community by building a powerful support system — relationships with mentors and peers, institutions and civic leaders — that extend beyond the school itself, and into the larger realm of California and the world.

Build Your Network

Throughout the year, the School of Management sponsors and engages in many unique events that create opportunities to learn about new ideas and forge new relationships within a powerful and lively business community.

• The Entrepreneur Speaker Series offers an opportunity for entrepreneurs and people who have an entrepreneurial mindset to network with each other and learn from other experienced entrepreneurs.
• Our New Venture Fair offers students the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of local entrepreneur judges.
• PRiME Competition provides students with an opportunity to compete at a professional level by demonstrating how organizations balance economic and sustainability goals and develop innovative solutions.
• Drinks with the Dean is an intimate gathering of students, alumni, council members for a casual conversation to build community.

The School also fosters and maintains collaborative relations with many local associations. These include the Association for Corporate Growth (a hub for the city’s business community), the LA Venture Association (Southern California’s premier forum for entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and professional advisors), the Economic Development Corporation of Ventura County, and a center for entrepreneurial business incubation and collaboration hosted at our Westlake Center.

Skills that Employers Want

The MBA curriculum will expand your knowledge of critical business areas including enterprise management, strategy, ethics, finance, and marketing. The program is delivered in eight core courses: six courses emphasizing your area of specialization, and one capstone course. Foundation courses are available for those who need additional preparation in the areas of accounting, economics, and/or statistics.

You can work toward an MBA in a general track or choose to earn an MBA with a specialization in one of these areas:

• Enterprise Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Human Capital Management
• International Business
• Information Technology
• Marketing

Employers

Graduates of our MBA program work for some of the area's leading employers:

• Amgen
• Bank of America
• Anthem, Inc.
• Wells Fargo
• Baxter International Inc.
• Northrop Grumman
• Verizon
• Kaiser Permanente
• J.D. Power
• The Walt Disney Company
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
• County of Ventura
• Merrill Lynch
• Farmers Insurance
• Ameriprise Financial Services
• PennyMac Loan Services
• US Navy
• General Motors
• Raytheon
• Blue Shield of California
• and many, many more.