Quick Facts
Duration: Two years, on average
Starts: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Class schedule: Weeknight classes available
Formats: On campus, online, hybrid
On-campus location: Thousand Oaks
Fast-track your business career with an MBA from California Lutheran University. Our two-year business administration program efficiently and effectively guides you on your path to business expertise. We provide an in-depth understanding of business fundamentals, while you focus your passion on the areas of study that interests you most.
Students from around the world come to pursue their MBAs at our outstanding Southern California location, where we combine the unique perspectives of California’s influential market with an international business view. This combination deepens your global business knowledge while connecting you to influential networks within our regional community. See the MBA curriculum.
MBA Program Features
- Evening, online and hybrid classes that fit into your busy life and move at a pace that works for you
- Small class sizes where faculty know your name and guide your learning through meaningful collaboration
- Career-building skills you can apply immediately to benefit your organization
In this program, you will:
- Learn from business leaders who bring firsthand experience and insights from their industry success
- Develop management-ready skills through practical coursework and projects designed around real business challenges
- Build your career and your network through dedicated mentorships, internship opportunities and global business connections
- Think like an entrepreneur by learning how successful business leaders spark innovation and drive change in organizations of all sizes and stages
What Can You Do With a Business Degree?
Cal Lutheran’s School of Management is committed to helping our students discover and strengthen their sense of purpose while preparing them to bring their skills and talents to the world.
Graduates of our MBA program work for leading employers locally in Ventura County, regionally in California and across the country:
- Amgen
- Bank of America
- Anthem, Inc.
- Wells Fargo
- Baxter International Inc.
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
- County of Ventura
- Merrill Lynch
- Farmers Insurance
- Ameriprise Financial Services
- PennyMac Loan Services
- Northrop Grumman
- Verizon
- Kaiser Permanente
- J.D. Power
- The Walt Disney Company
- US Navy
- General Motors
- Raytheon
- Blue Shield of California
- and many, many more.
Throughout the year, the School of Management engages in unique events where students learn about new ideas and forge new relationships within a powerful and lively business community. These include:
- Entrepreneur Speaker Series – an opportunity for current and aspiring business leaders to network and learn from experienced entrepreneurs
- New Venture Fair – a chance for students to pitch their business ideas to a panel of expert entrepreneurs
- PRiME Competition – a competitive showcase where students share projects that support global sustainable development goals
“The business program is so well-rounded — you learn everything from marketing to finance to consulting to management leadership, all the key elements that are needed to run a successful business.”
Customization Options: MBA Emphasis Areas
You can work toward a general MBA or choose to earn an MBA with an emphasis area. The emphasis areas are:
Engage with the expansive finance field to prepare yourself for sought-after leadership positions and attractive salaries. This emphasis area enhances your understanding of budgeting, forecasting, analysis and more. You’ll also gain insights into pricing, global expansion strategies, mergers and acquisitions, treasury functions and more.
Emphasis electives options:
- Financial Strategy
- Strategic Financial Analysis
- Investment and Portfolio Management
- Real Estate Investments
- Buyouts and Acquisitions
- Behavioral Finance
- Innovations in Financial Technology
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- International Finance
- Advanced Analytics
Prepare for upper-level management roles with a combined focus on traditional management and technological innovation. This emphasis area focuses on the use of techniques to frame, analyze and solve business challenges. The coursework is grounded in evidence-based management, data analytics, database management and programming principles.
This emphasis area is now available completely online.
Emphasis electives options:
- Data Management
- Project Management
- IT Strategy and Business Value
- Healthcare Information Technologies
- Enterprise Systems
- IT Architecture and Infrastructure
- Emergent Technologies and Issues
- Special Topics in IT
- Innovations in Financial Technology
- Advanced Analytics
Enhance your marketing expertise with courses designed for current and aspiring marketing professionals. Covering essential topics like sales, advertising, digital marketing and brand management, this emphasis area is geared toward elevating your career and personal development.
Emphasis electives options:
- CRM in the Digital Age
- Sales Management
- Strategic Public Relations
- Strategic Brand Management
- Consumer Behavior
- Advertising Management
- Entrepreneurial Marketing and Selling
- International Marketing
- Advanced Analytics
- Special Topics in Marketing
Students who choose the MBA with an emphasis area have the option to take some courses online. However, they must complete all emphasis courses on campus at Thousand Oaks. General MBA students can complete all courses online, on campus or through a hybrid approach. See the MBA curriculum page for more details.
If you’re currently an undergraduate at Cal Lutheran, find out how you can take MBA courses during your senior year.
Frequently Asked Questions
On average, most students complete their MBA within two years. Full-time students can complete the degree in just over one year.
Yes, you can complete the MBA as a part-time or full-time student. We recommend that part-time students take no more than two courses per term if they are balancing a full-time job or other responsibilities.
You have three options for completing your MBA: in person at our Thousand Oaks location, online at your convenience, or a combination of both. Generally, you can complete your degree through any of those approaches, but there are some details to note:
- If you choose to add an emphasis area to your MBA program, you can take your core courses online, but all emphasis courses must be completed on campus at Thousand Oaks.
- If you choose an MBA with no emphasis area (a general MBA), you can complete your degree online, on campus, or as a hybrid degree.
Contact a graduate enrollment specialist at 805-521-9856 if you’d like more information on these options.
The School of Management offers a variety of events and career services to students. Here are some of those opportunities:
- Networking Events: The School of Management hosts several events throughout the year where students can interact with business and community leaders. These include the Entrepreneur Speaker Series, PRiME Competition, New Venture Competition, ACG Cup, and more.
- Career Services: The Cal Lutheran Career Services center supports students in planning for their careers and pursuing their purposes. The center posts more than 200 job and internship postings each week and has more than 20,000 employer contacts. They also offer events and on-demand tools for career mapping, interview preparation, and more.
- HUB 101: This coworking and incubation space for the regional startup community offers classes, seminars, speakers, and office space, all within an environment that fosters networking and creative enterprise.
- The School of Management also has collaborative relationships with many local associations, including the Association for Corporate Growth (a hub for the city’s business community), the Los Angeles Venture Association (Southern California’s premier forum for entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and professional advisors), and the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County.
Yes, Cal Lutheran offers a variety of funding options from internal and external sources. These include:
- Scholarships
- Grants
- Credit reductions
- Veterans benefits
- Employer discounts
Visit our financial aid page for detailed information. You can also call a graduate enrollment specialist at 805-521-9856 to discuss funding your education.
Ready to learn more? Download our brochure, and explore our curriculum page, admissions page and FAQ page.
Request Information
To learn more about the Graduate Degree Programs offered by the Cal Lutheran School of Management and download a brochure, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 805-521-9856.
