Academic Awards	Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts, Minors, Certificates
Dean	Rowlanda Cawthon
Departments	Graduate and Undergraduate

The School of Business offers a broad range of business programs that serve students of traditional age, adult undergraduate students, and graduate-level students. Daytime weekday classes and once-a-week accelerated evening classes are structured to ensure the highest of quality and applicability for business students.

Mission/Vision

The mission of the School of Business is to develop high-character, competent, and skilled business leaders who serve and thrive in the workplace through the integration of faith and learning. The vision of the School of Business is to be the clear leader in developing Christian business leaders who bring extraordinary value to the workplace.

Core Values

In carrying out our vision and mission, the School of Business is guided by the following core values and expected outcomes:

Character – We model and develop business leaders who personify Christ’s inherent characteristics. We believe that character is about demonstrating distinctive qualities and excellence in our Christian faith, educational practices, and personal and professional life.

Leadership – We demonstrate and teach business leadership competencies that enable our students to lead with influence in the workplace. We believe that leaders who couple thought leadership with the Christian faith have the potential to bring extraordinary value to the workplace.

Skill Development – We prepare business leaders who are capable and ready to work. We are committed to ensuring that our students can communicate and demonstrate to employers that we prepared them with identifiable professional skills.

Integration of Faith and Learning – We integrate scholarly teaching practices that apply a Christian worldview and connect Christian faith and the business discipline. We understand that this process drives our actions and relational experiences with students, inspiring how they may act and relate with others in their personal and professional lives.

Collaboration – We work continually to build partnerships with the business community. We recognize that this collaboration will positively impact our students and contribute to our success as a business school.

Service – We cultivate business leaders who understand the importance of engaging in continual acts of service. We set the example by engaging in service activities and helping students identify their passion in business to fulfill their God-given calling.

Undergraduate Program

The School of Business provides business education within the context of a Christian perspective, empowering students to serve as leaders, managers and entrepreneurs with high-character, competence and business skills. All students take a series of core courses in the fundamentals of economics, accounting, management, marketing, and finance before they focus on advanced major courses.

The School of Business offers:

• Small class sizes
• Experiential learning
• Mentoring professors
• Career development opportunities
• Quality instruction involving real world experience

We believe that business is an extraordinary opportunity to:

• Serve others
• Fulfill a unique calling
• Create positive social change
• Honor God by contributing to a vibrant economy

Three Majors available

Business Administration – Students take courses in marketing, management, finance and accounting. They are prepared for a variety of careers, including starting their own business.

Management – Students learn to lead people and manage projects. They are prepared for a wide variety of careers in business, nonprofits or government service.

Marketing – Students study consumer needs and learn to position a product or service in the marketplace. They pursue careers in advertising or sales.

Business Internship

All business students work to complete an internship experience in their junior or senior year in which they apply business theory to a real workplace and build their own professional network.

International Study Tour

All business majors participate in a study tour to explore the dynamics of international business on location. Previous tours have gone to Prague, China and Japan. A course fee will cover transportation, lodging and some meals.

The course is required for the junior year. Contact the School of Business for current information about the location and cost.

Accreditation 

Northwest University’s business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Accreditation standards are based on the Baldrige National Quality Program. Employers find value in knowing that Northwest University uses the same standards as those used by other organizations to recognize excellence.

Admission to the School of Business

Traditional students in any of the School of Business majors are required to apply for Admission to Major during the second semester of their second year, prior to taking any upper-level business courses.

Entrance Requirements

1. Submission of the Admission to Major Application
2. Completion of two of three lower-level business courses with a grade point average of at least 2.50
3. Admission to Major interview may be requested
4. Transfer students should review requirements with their advisor

Course Sequence

All business majors take the same courses during their first two years. The lower-division core courses ensure that students have a solid understanding of business principles before they start their upper-division major courses.

The lower-division core courses:

• Survey of Economics
• Business Statistics
• Financial Accounting
• Managerial Accounting
• Business Communication

Students must consult with their academic advisor to ensure that they take upper-division majors courses in sequence, since not every course is offered every semester.

5-year BA/MBA

This accelerated, dual-degree program is designed to graduate students with a combined Bachelor of Arts in a Business major and Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree within five years. The combined degrees prepare students for professional careers in business, government or nonprofit organizations. Students begin taking four first-year MBA courses in their senior year and apply those 12 credits to their undergraduate requirements. The student is then able to finish the rest of the MBA in the following year, thus eliminating a year of college tuition.

Admission Requirements

1. Apply to the program at the beginning of the Junior Year with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 or above. Submit an essay describing why they want to be in the program.
2. Generally students will take six MBA credits and six undergraduate credits each semester of their senior year. The senior year credits are charged at the undergraduate tuition rate. All remaining undergraduate credits must be completed at Northwest University. Students may take no more than 15 total credits (MBA and undergrad combined) each semester in their senior year. No more than 12 MBA credits may be taken while still an undergraduate. Once students complete all undergraduate courses, they will be charged at the MBA tuition rate as they continue on to MBA courses.
3. Maintain 3.3 Cumulative GPA during their Senior Year.
4. Students complete all 36 of the required MBA credits.
5. This program is not available to the Business Management and Organizational Management majors offered in the Online programs.
6. Since the  Marketing major has discrete major requirements, students of this major will need to substitute elective credits for their MBA course work in their senior year. The Business Administration and Management majors can substitute one or two courses from their undergraduate major.

Course Sequence

Senior Year (Fall/Spring)

• BUSM 5413 Organizational Management
• BUSM 5573 Financial Management
• BUSM 5433 Project Management

MBA Year (Summer, Fall, Spring, Summer)

• BUSM 6xx3 MBA Business Elective
• BUSM 5773 Faith, Ethics and Business 
• BUSM 5453 Marketing Management 
• BUSM 6253 Intermediate Accounting for Managers
• BUSM 6473 Applied Economics for Managers
• BUSM 5463 Operations Management
• BUSM 5253 Business Innovation and Research
• BUSM 6xx3 MBA Business Elective
• BUSM 6753 Corporate Strategy

Graduate Programs

• Master of Business Administration*
• Master of Science in Information Technology Management*
• Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership*
• Ed.D. - Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership*

* SEE APPLICABLE GRADUATE CATALOG FOR DETAILS

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