Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Program overview

A hybrid-online MBA program in Seattle to develop leadership skills and unite business principles and ethical practice

A hybrid-online program with a lowered cost, the MBA program at Seattle Pacific University integrates competence and service to others in a business master’s degree. You will learn to think and act strategically, apply in-depth knowledge, communicate effectively, work in teams, and provide values-based leadership from a general-management perspective.

Discover how this AACSB-accredited program can help you reach your goals.

SPU MBA students work at a coffee shop

Overview

Shape the future. Change the world.

You’re ready to harness the power of business for good and go deeper into a role that challenges you as a business leader. Now fully online, an MBA from SPU can satisfy your desire to rise to the challenge of thinking differently and becoming a better leader who can shape the future and change the world.

Discover how business principles and ethical practice unite to lay a foundation for business as service to others.

School of Business, Government, and Economics distinctives

  • Hybrid-online MBA program based in Seattle, a global economic hub — where the future unfolds with opportunity and challenge.
  • AACSB accredited, which only 5% of schools globally obtain, SBGE is listed as a “Best Business School in the West” by The Princeton Review.
  • Applied, experiential, and collaborative-based MBA curriculum with business classes to give you purpose-driven, cross-functional leadership skills in business, government, and civil society.
  • Responsive and caring faculty members who create a cooperative and reciprocal learning environment.
  • Deep ethics emphasis and foundation that offers a first-class business education through the lens of Christian faith and values. The School also operates the Center for Faithful Business. SBGE is one of five PRME Champion schools in the U.S.
  • SPU’s Mentor Program advantage gives students like you access to more than 2,000 business people and professionals from a variety of companies, industries, roles, and levels of experience. Meet one-on-one with a mentor or multiple mentors for a richer learning experience and network of contacts.

Another important distinctive: Faith

An MBA from Seattle Pacific integrates business competence and Christian character, enabling students to think and act strategically, apply in-depth knowledge, communicate effectively, work in teams, and provide values-based leadership from a general-management perspective to serve the common good through business.

We invite you to watch these stories taken from our Faith & Co. documentary film series that show businesses exemplifying this perspective.

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Curriculum

Curriculum

The MBA program develops your readiness to act as a purpose-driven, cross-functional leader. The 50-credit curriculum includes core and elective courses organized into four course clusters. It presumes prior learning in the foundations of business. A minimum of 50 credits must be earned, at least 36 of which must be completed at SPU.

Core courses

Your core courses, 38 credit hours, develop a whole enterprise view. You may not fulfill these courses by undergraduate coursework; transfer credit will be given only for graduate-level courses covering the same body of knowledge from other AACSB institutions. 

Elective courses

By selecting specific sets of elective courses, you can tailor the degree to meet your individual needs and your career interests.

View the degree requirements for these emphasis areas:

Transfer credit

Transfer credit from other institutions will be given only for graduate-level courses from AACSB-accredited schools covering the same body of knowledge. Students may transfer a maximum of three courses (9 credits). Acceptance of transfer credit is determined by the associate dean for graduate programs. Elective course offerings vary each year based on student interest and relevance of subject matter to the business community. Consult the graduate director to select a customized and appropriate sequence of courses.

Dual degree: MBA and MA/Theology or MDIV

Through a program offered by the School of Business, Government, and Economics and the Seattle Pacific Seminary, you can earn two advanced degrees in the time it would take you to earn the same two degrees separately.

Program schedule and timeline

You may apply to the MBA program in any quarter. (View a list of application deadlines per quarter.) To accommodate working professionals, online course-discussion sessions meet one evening per week for 10 to 11 weeks.

Time to complete the degree depends on previous business coursework taken (for undergraduate business majors) and number of classes taken per quarter (including summers). Typically you will take one or two classes per quarter. On average, students complete the MBA in two to three years.

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Online vs. On Campus

Choose the delivery format that works best for you — on campus or online.

When weighing the two formats, consider the amount of time you have to dedicate to schoolwork and commuting. Can you attend at the cohort’s pace, or do you need more flexibility to ensure your courses can fit in with your busy schedule? Here are some points to compare:


MS DAB - Online vs. on campus
Online On campus
Curriculum Same curriculum Same curriculum
Faculty Same faculty Same faculty
Class meeting Weekly self-managed asynchronous online learning + synchronous online interactions with faculty and fellow students One evening per week for each course
Pacing Cohort (2 courses at a time; 2 years to complete) Flexible pacing (1–4 courses at a time; 1–3 years to complete)
Entry Autumn Quarter start Rolling start (enter in any quarter)
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Certificates

Certificates

Not quite ready to commit to earning an MBA, but you know you want to make a bigger impact at work — or move into a new role? Check out these 13 Graduate Business Certificate programs and see how they can fit into your goals.

When you receive a graduate business certificate at SPU, you will

  • Receive the same learning experience and work with the same expert faculty members.
  • Complete your certificate in one year’s time.
  • Apply credits toward an SPU graduate business degree, including the MBA program, if you subsequently decide to seek a degree. 

Analytical Skills in Business Certificate

Advance your career with a certificate in Analytical Skills for Business. With this graduate certificate, you’ll develop knowledge and skills in the basics of quantitative ( economic, financial, and data) and qualitative analysis (situation analysis). You will be ready to analyze business decision situations.

Business Systems and Strategy Certificate

The graduate certificate in Business Systems and Strategy develops knowledge and skills in strategic management from a Christian perspective. You will be ready to provide values-based leadership to organizations to drive toward the goal of using business to serve the common good.

Creating and Distributing Value Certificate

The graduate certificate in Creating & Distributing Value develops knowledge and skills in the basics of marketing, operations management, and information systems. You will understand the key concepts and processes of these core functional areas responsible for creating and delivering an enterprise’s value proposition to consumers.

Cybersecurity Certificate

The Cybersecurity graduate certificate develops knowledge and skills in the basics of cybersecurity, information and IT risk management, and business intelligence. It will position you to enter the IT risk management field.

Data Analytics Basics Certificate

The Data Analytics Basics graduate certificate develops knowledge and skills in the basics of managing data and databases, knowledge management, and mining and visualizing data to obtain insights that inform decision-making. It will position you to enter the data analytics field.

Data Analytics Programming Certificate

The Data Analytics Programming graduate certificate develops knowledge and skills in statistically analyzing large data sets and interpreting the findings and relating them to business decisions. You will be ready to use important analysis programming tools such as R and Python, and tools for managing and analyzing data sets in the cloud.

Financial Analysis and Reporting Certificate

Advance your career with a certificate in Financial Analysis & Reporting. With this graduate certificate, you’ll develop knowledge and skills in the basics of financial and managerial accounting, and corporate finance. You will be ready to analyze and interpret financial statements, analyze costs, prepare budgets and evaluate performance against them, and evaluate the financial merits of various financing options, capital projects, and other types of investments.

Human Resources Management Certificate

The graduate certificate in Human Resource Management develops knowledge and skills in HR from a Christian perspective. You will be ready to provide values-based leadership to the HR function of an organization to drive toward the goal of using business to serve the common good through great employment practices and policies.

Impact Entrepreneurship Certificate

The Impact Entrepreneurship graduate certificate develops knowledge and skills that enable an entrepreneur or intrapreneur to pursue opportunities that will yield virtuous outcomes, It addresses both new start-up businesses and innovations in well established enterprises.

Information Systems Certificate

The Information Systems graduate certificate develops knowledge and skills in information systems and the strategic importance of IT for organizations. It will position you to enter the IS/IT field.

Managing Organizations Certificate

The Managing Organizations graduate certificate develops knowledge and skills needed to manage organizations effectively. You will be ready to provide values-based leadership to organizations tin pursuit of using business to serve the common good.

Responsible Leadership Certificate

The graduate certificate in Responsible Leadership develops knowledge and skills in leadership, communication, and ethical sensitivity and reasoning from a Christian perspective. You will be ready to provide values-based leadership to teams and larger organizations to drive toward the goal of using business to serve the common good.

Understanding Business Contexts Certificate

With the graduate certificate in Understanding Business Contexts, you’ll develop your understanding of how the economy works and society’s ground rules for engaging in commercial activities. You will also learn the key concepts related to statistically analyzing and drawing insightful inferences from data to inform business decision-making.

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Career Opportunities

Career opportunities

Receiving your MBA from Seattle Pacific University can open numerous opportunities for you as you pursue your career goals — while it also enables you make a difference in the lives of those around you. Here are just some of the career avenues that your Master's in Business Administration can open up for you:

  • Budget manager
  • Business consultant
  • Chief executive officer
  • Corporate and business strategist
  • Data analyst
  • Entrepreneur
  • Ethical algorithm auditor
  • Finance manager
  • Human resources manager
  • Information technology director
  • Investment fund manager
  • Purpose officer
  • Senior project marketing manager
  • Third-sector intrapreneur
Jovonia Taylor-Thibert, MBA '12

In early March 2020, Jovonia Taylor-Thibert, MBA '12, became a director in the Amazon Robotics Team, focusing ergonomic innovations and designs into the company’s technology. Read more.

Career support

  • Supporting the careers of our graduate business students and alumni is a high priority for the School of Business, Government, and Economics. These career resources are available:
  • The Center for Career and Calling Resources for Current Graduate Students, which include online vocational resources and résumé tips, workshops, and events. 
  • Job leads are posted in SPU's job posting board, Handshake, as well as in the SBGE LinkedIn group.

Career counseling, job-search coaching, and résumé assistance

Where do you plan to work once you graduate? How do you plan to land your next job? If you just started your graduate business program, you might not know what is on the other side of your degree. A list of qualified, vetted career counselors and coaches is available to students who desire one-on-one assistance (i.e., résumé writing, career exploration counseling or job search coaching, career assessments, or other related activities).  This is on a fee-for-service basis.

Professional and career development workshops

Managing your career is critical for success in today’s turbulent environment. To accelerate your development, each quarter we host one career related workshop on topics such as job searching, networking, résumé writing, interviewing, etc.

Alumni/student networking events

Connecting alumni and current students together is a win-win for everyone. Networking events are held to connect and help current students and SBGE alumni navigate life in the workplace.

Mentoring

A mentor can be a pivotal influence in your career. Our Center for Applied Learning offers a world-class, individually customized mentoring experience that pairs you with a mentor based on your career goals and aspirations. Find out more about the Mentor Program.

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Costs

Tuition and Fees for 2022–23

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$778

per credit

$778/credit
$2,697/3-credit course
*$38,900

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$50

application fee

See additional fee details.

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50 credits

to complete

(if prerequisites satisfied.)

Finance your learning

Before applying for aid, you must first be admitted to a graduate program. Make sure you:

  • Enroll in at least 3 credits (or half-time) toward a degree or eligible certificate each quarter.
  • Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.

Just like undergraduates, you may take advantage of scholarships and loans. SPU does not have a deadline for graduate financial aid, though earlier is always better than later! Learn more

Fees

Learn more about administrative, certification, and other program fees.

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Application

Admission requirements

Generally, you must have at least a 3.0 GPA in your undergraduate studies, at least a 500 GMAT total score (25V, 30Q, and 4.4AW) and evidence of at least one year of continuous, full-time, substantive work experience after receipt of the bachelor's degree on your résumé.

Applicants must submit the following:

  • Online application and $50 application processing fee.
  • Current résumé as evidence of a substantive work experience. You will need at least one full year, continuous full time, post-bachelor’s degree experience at the time of application. More is preferred. This is a significant factor in the admission decision process. Applicants with less than one year of post-baccalaureate professional work experience, but who are otherwise strong candidates and are currently employed in a meaningful professional role, may be considered.
  • Official transcript from colleges or universities attended. Include the transcript from the institution that granted your bachelor’s degree with the posted degree appearing on the transcript. Also, send official transcripts for all institutions attended following your undergraduate degree, as well as any other schools where you earned credits that may be used to request waivers of foundations courses.
  • GRE/GMAT test scores are optional for admission for applicants with a 3.0 GPA or higher in their bachelor’s degree.
  • Personal statement (3–4 pages) responding to the essay questions listed in the online application.
  • Two professional letters of recommendation listed in the online application (optional).

Application Deadlines

The application for admission, application fee, and personal statement must be received by the dates listed below. Recommendation letters, official transcripts and test scores must arrive before an admission decision can be made.

Quarter/Starting Month

Application Deadline

Autumn/September

August 1

Winter/January

November 1

Spring/March

February 1

Summer/June

May 1


Pre-Qualified Students

Qualified individuals may take up to five courses if they have an undergraduate degree (as evidenced by an Official transcript(s) from an accredited institution); a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0; and a minimum of one year full-time post-baccalaureate work experience (as evidenced by a current résumé).

Prequalified students must apply for admission to take additional courses. Prequalified status does not guarantee full admission at a later date.

Conditional Admission

You may request conditional admittance into the School of Business, Government, and Economics under these conditions: 

  • You are a student who needs an F-1 visa to study in the United States.
  • You have graduated from an accredited four-year institution. Your transcript must show completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
  • You have achieved at least a 3.0 GPA on the US 4.0 scale.
  • You have a minimum of at least one year, continuous full-time, post-bachelor’s degree experience at the time of application. You will be required to submit a résumé with job titles, duties, start date, and end date (month and year). Internships and job training are not accepted as full-time employment.

If approved, you will receive a Conditional Letter of Admission from SPU. Conditional admission assures that you will be considered for admission, if you satisfy all admission requirements at the time of your intended enrollment.

Please complete this form to request conditional admission to a graduate program in the SPU School of Business, Government, and Economics.

Visiting Graduate Students

If you have been admitted to a graduate degree program in another accredited institution, you may enroll for up to 9 credits at Seattle Pacific University ― with the approval of the School of Business, Government, and Economics.

To gain admission as a visiting graduate student, you must submit:

  • Online application and $50 application processing fee.
  • Letter from the dean’s office at your home institution stating that you are good standing at that institution.
  • Current résumé.

Questions?

For other questions, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

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International Applicants

International students are an important part of Seattle Pacific University. A vibrant and active international population, SPU’s international graduate students represent 32 different countries.

International students are also eligible to complete this MBA program online from their own countries.

International Student Applicants

In addition to general admission requirements, international students must also submit:

  • TOEFL score of at least 86 on the iBT, or an IELTS official score report of at least 6.5 if English is not your first language. Otherwise strong applicants with a TOEFL score of 68–85 (IELTS 6.0) may be probationally or conditionally admitted with the requirement to successfully complete SPU approved ESL coursework prior to or at the outset of enrollment and continuing as needed.
  • Official financial statement reflecting financial support equivalent to the cost of the first year of graduate study. Complete the Declaration of International Student Finances form and send it to the address listed on the form, along with an original bank statement and copy of your passport (front and back).
  • For non US transcripts, provide a transcript evaluation by World Education Services (WES) or Foundation for International Services Inc. (FIS). (A page-by-page evaluation is sufficient, but a course-by-course evaluation is needed to determine if any prerequisite foundations have been satisfied.)

All official transcripts must be submitted in English. International applicants are responsible for all costs associated with this service. 

Questions?

For other questions, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

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