Pepperdine University Online MBA Programs

• Online MBA
• Online MBA - Business Analytics
• Online MBA - Digital Innovation and Information Systems
• Online MBA - Entrepreneurship
• Online MBA - Finance
• Online MBA - Global Business
• Online MBA - Leadership and Managing Organizational Change
• Online MBA - Marketing

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By Sara Navratil Reviewed By Jocelyn Blore Reviewed By School

Updated December 2, 2024

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For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 118 schools in our BSchools.org database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.

Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management offers an online MBA with a general track or one of seven concentrations: finance, marketing, digital innovation and information systems, leadership and managing organizational change, business analytics, entrepreneurship, and global business. Students in the Pepperdine online MBA program are required to come to the Los Angeles, CA campus once for a weekend immersion experience. In addition, a week-long global learning intensive is offered as an optional immersion experience. Some concentrations offer this global learning intensive for credit.

Pepperdine University believes that in order to become a business leader, a student must first develop individually. To that end, the MBA program fosters self-awareness while engaging students in a challenging, interactive, and transformational MBA experience. The program is designed to produce a holistic-minded individual with a broader perspective on business, including values of stewardship, integrity, compassion, courage, and ethics. This type of leadership can help people in an organization become the best that they can be, thereby helping the business as a whole succeed on a greater level. This focus on developing the whole person sets Pepperdine University apart from other MBA programs.

Pepperdine University is located in Malibu, California. The Graziadio School of Business and Management also has campuses in Los Angeles, Encino, Irvine, and San Jose. Students may enroll in the MBA program from business and non-business backgrounds. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or an equivalent degree from an international university or college. Students must also be employed in a setting where they can apply what they learn to their current job, and must have at least two years of full-time work experience.

The Pepperdine University Graziadio Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Meet the Expert: Liang (Joy) Qiao, MSML

Liang (Joy) Qiao, an alumna of the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School with a master’s in management and leadership, is currently serving as the assistant director of marketing and communications for Alumni Affairs, the Parents Program, and the Pepperdine Fund at Pepperdine University.

Qiao is deeply connected to Pepperdine, which has become a second home since moving to the United States, with extensive involvement in volunteer activities, including Beta Gamma Sigma, the Horizon Scholars Foster Youth Program, the Pepperdine Chinese Student Association (CSSA), Racial Healing Circles (Community Belonging Circles at Pepperdine), and career coaching for students.

Qiao’s career began with a focus on program operations and project management in the media and entertainment field, holding a bachelor’s degree in journalism, TV producing, and directing from Nanjing Normal University, followed by a role as the director of operations for the quiz show “Who’s Still Standing?” at Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation, one of China’s leading television networks.

BSchools.org: How has graduating with an MBA in management and leadership enhanced your career?

Qiao: Graduating with a master’s in management and leadership at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School has empowered me with the tools and knowledge to become a purpose-driven leader. The program deepened my understanding of management and leadership while giving me a new perspective on leading with purpose and integrity.

This education was crucial in my journey, helping me transition from a career in the entertainment industry to my current role as the assistant director of marketing and communications for Alumni Affairs, the Parents Program, and the Pepperdine Fund at Pepperdine University. The experience provided me with growth and strengthened my leadership skills, enabling me to navigate teams effectively and give back to my alma mater.

BSchools.org: What is one piece of advice you would give to a prospective MBA applicant who’s aspiring to specialize in management and leadership?

Qiao: One significant piece of advice I would give is to find your “why” for pursuing a master’s in leadership program. Have a clear vision of how this program will help you achieve a better version of yourself. Life is an ever-changing journey, and challenges may arise, but it’s crucial to embrace them as opportunities for growth.

I would also encourage you to serve others as often as possible. When you serve, the sense of fulfillment you gain will bring you much joy. In 2011, The New York Times declared Alvin Wong “the happiest man in America.” His secret? He shared, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a small fortune. But if you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody else.”

At Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, you’ll discover a nurturing environment where the pursuit of happiness is intertwined with the act of service. I urge you to embrace the culture of service and explore the countless ways you can help others. By doing so, you’ll not only contribute to the betterment of society but also discover a profound and enduring happiness that comes from making a difference in the lives of those around you.

Lastly, embrace faith and embody the adaptability of water—be flexible, resilient, and open to change. This mindset will help you grow continuously and find fulfillment in your journey.

Meet the Expert: Randy Williams, MBA

Randy Williams is a seasoned tech sales executive focused on driving acquisition and expansion through innovation. He earned an MBA in digital innovation and information systems from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School in 2022 and has an undergraduate degree from Azusa Pacific University.

With a diverse background that includes experience as a signed musician and a college baseball player, he brings a unique perspective to his work. Guided by a strong Christian faith, Williams is passionate about integrating this foundation with their business acumen, fostering a deep commitment to integrity in their professional endeavors.

BSchools.org: How has earning your MBA in high-tech management enhanced your career?

Williams: Earning my MBA in digital innovation and information systems (DIIS) from Pepperdine has been instrumental in advancing my career. With over a decade in tech, the MBA has equipped me with foundational knowledge and strategic insights that paved the way for my transition into a specialized role in AI-driven IT management and observability. This education enabled me to gain recognition from a highly skilled team, leading me to start a career in this field immediately after graduation.

BSchools.org: What’s one piece of advice you would give to a prospective MBA student?

Williams: My advice to prospective MBA students is to truly embrace the experience and prioritize building connections with your classmates. The relationships you form can be as valuable as the knowledge gained from top-notch professors. I still keep in touch with several classmates, and even though we’re in different industries, we regularly exchange ideas and insights. These connections create a lasting professional network that supports and inspires long after graduation.

What to Expect from the Pepperdine University Online MBA

Admission Requirements: The Graziadio School of Business and Management takes a holistic approach to admissions. Therefore, no minimum GPA is required although the school does specify that the GPA must be “acceptable.” The part-time, online MBA program requires two years of full-time work experience. Students must submit an application, an application fee, one essay, a current resume, GMAT/GRE test scores, and official transcripts. A GMAT waiver is available if applicants have three years of full-time professional work experience and a STEM bachelor’s or master’s degree. The application fee is waived if prospective students attend a class visit.

International students must provide proof of English language proficiency through tests such as TOEFL. Accepted international students must secure a nonimmigrant F-1 student visa and maintain full-time status throughout the program. Full-time status is six credits for graduate programs.

Study Plan: Students in the Pepperdine part-time online MBA take 8-10 credits per trimester. The program can be completed in 24 months at this pace, however, students can take up to seven years to complete the program. The 52 credits are completed in six trimesters of fourteen weeks each. Courses consisting of four credits require four hours of class time, and students should expect to spend two hours on homework and projects for every one hour of class time. This totals to an expectation of 12 hours weekly per four-credit course. The program begins in the fall, spring, and summer.

Curriculum: The Pepperdine University MBA consists of 15 courses taken over six, 14-week trimesters for a total of 52 credits. Elective work begins in trimester four. Core courses include behavior in organizations; quantitative analyses for business operations; accounting information and control systems; prices, profit and market economy; financial management of the firm; marketing management; and more. In addition to core courses, students choose 12 units of electives from one of the seven online concentrations. For the general track, students choose a combination of electives that best fit their business goals.

Courses in the finance concentration include valuation and corporate combinations; global capital markets and institutions; real estate investing and finance; and investments and portfolio management.

Courses in the marketing concentration include market innovation and commercialization; global brand management; marketing communications and the digital age; and global business intensive.

Courses in the digital innovation and information systems concentration include DIIS portfolio and project management; business process analysis and innovation; databases and big data management; managing cybersecurity, risk, and policy; designing, sourcing, and building digital platforms; and digital innovation and strategy.

Courses in the leadership and managing organizational change concentration include leadership and ethics; leadership theory and practice; business negotiation and the resolution of conflict; talent management; leadership: great leaders, great literature; managerial creativity and innovation for leadership; organizational dynamics and managing change; and advanced principles of organizations and leadership.

Courses in the business analytics concentration may include advanced statistical tools; databases and big data management; optimization modeling; predictive analytics; valuation of real options; healthcare analytics; marketing informatics; simulation modeling; information security data analysis; business analytics and intelligence; applying analytics to achieve business impact; business process analysis and innovation; multiple attribute decision analysis; and social media analytics.

Courses in the entrepreneurship concentration may include entrepreneurship and the generation of new venture ideas; building a business model; launching a new venture; and the feasibility of new venture ideas.

Courses in the global business concentration may include global capital markets and institutions; global brand management; and global business intensive, as well as other course options.

Online Experience: Pepperdine’s School of Business and Management uses the Graziadio Learning Environment and Network (GLEAN) as their online platform for interactive learning. This learning management system fosters real-time collaboration by allowing students the ability to share screens, see videos of other students using Google Hangouts or other web-conferencing tools, and employ social media tools such as Yammer to share coursework and develop social connections with program colleagues. The online program is designed to mimic face-to-face interactions through the use of the GLEAN system. Class sizes are limited to 15 to 20 students.

On-Site Requirements: One on-campus weekend immersion is required in Los Angeles, CA, to complete the Pepperdine online MBA. The weekend-long personal and leadership development workshop fosters the understanding of learning objectives with other classmates; sets the tone for the online MBA experience; promotes collaboration, teamwork, and communication; and conveys the ethics and values Pepperdine University seeks to instill in MBA graduates. It also cultivates a sense of community with other students, faculty, and staff who might not otherwise be present in an online experience. Students will also complete a self-assessment exam. There is also an optional week-long global learning intensive offered as both an immersion experience and for credit for some concentrations.

Paying for the Pepperdine University Online MBA

Graziadio School of Business and Management online MBA tuition numbers are listed in the tables below, and do not include books and other fees. Additionally, students are responsible for travel expenses and room and board for the required on-campus immersion as well as the global learning intensive. Prospective students should contact the admissions department of the Pepperdine University online MBA program for a customized tuition estimate.

Financial aid is available in the form of subsidized and unsubsidized student loans, federal grants, merit-based scholarships, and matching scholarships. Students must comply with federal regulations in order to receive federal aid, including meeting the minimum credits earned and GPA requirements. To qualify for the Pepperdine merit-based scholarship, students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and an acceptable GMAT score. Recipients of this scholarship must also maintain a 3.3 GPA throughout the MBA program. Pepperdine University also offers a matching scholarship program in which they will match the offered package from another AACSB-accredited MBA program. Qualifications apply. Applicants are also encouraged to seek outside resources for help paying for their MBA degree including employer education reimbursement programs.

Sara Navratil

Writer

Sara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She's the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about entrepreneurial and general business topics, and providing detailed information on online MBA programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.