New MBA and MOL Concentrations Available
As interest continues to increase both for Regent University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, and it’s Master of Organizational Leadership (MOL), the School of Business & Leadership (SBL) is broadening its areas of concentration. Students can specialize in five new areas of study in addition to the 12 already offered. Servant Leadership, Small Business Data Analytics, Kingdom Business, Small Business Information Technology, and Economics concentrations are available starting Fall 2016. Each is offered on campus or online.
Servant Leadership (MBA)
The MBA with a concentration in Servant Leadership aims to prepare students for a career marked by excellent management skills with a service-first approach. The program emphasizes strategic pathways to problem solving, ethical decision-making, and learning how to lead and follow for success. Classes will engage with proven servant leadership models and theories, explore the behavior of notable servant leaders and their effect on organizations, and evaluate biblical examples of servant leadership and learn behaviors and insights to manage teams successfully.
“SBL is home to the leading experts in the world on servant leadership — both practical and published,” said Dr. Greg Stone, MBA program director. “It just made sense to share their cutting-edge research with our students.”
Graduates can follow these potential career paths:
- Retail Management
- Executive Business Opportunities
- Business Development
- Business Consultation
Small Business Data Analytics (MBA)
The concentration in Small Business Data Analytics takes an entrepreneurial focus to help students discover actionable metrics that can help them make better decisions. This customizable program offers courses in analytics, data mining, and data analysis for decision making. Students will gain an overview of data analytics in small business management and technologies to enhance data-driven decision making. Classes explore fundamental concepts and techniques of data mining and how they apply to social media database concepts and management information systems. Students will learn how to formulate and research a problem and how to influence betters.
“Data analytics has historically been an arena for large corporations,” said Stone. “Social media has changed all of that, so that now ‘mom and pop’ sized businesses can derive the same informational benefits as their large counterparts.”
Graduates can follow these potential career paths:
- Operations Management
- Marketing Research
- Business Development
- Executive Leadership
- Business Consultation
Kingdom Business (MBA and MOL)
“Kingdom Business reflects the growing global-church intention to integrate business objectives with the call to the Church to take the gospel to the world,” said Stone. “Now, we’re putting organization and application to the phenomenon.”
The Kingdom Business concentration merges the world of business and the world of mission in areas such as finance, marketing, operations, economics and strategy. It seeks to prepare students for a global career that allows them to build kingdom-strategic business ventures that help change the world for Christ. This comes through researching and analyzing biblical kingdom-business principles and how they apply to modern business culture and practices. Students will learn how to organize, evaluate, and blend global economic needs, opportunities and resources required to build kingdom-strategic business ventures, and investigate Scripture for servant leadership examples and how they can help your venture succeed.
Graduates can follow these possible career paths:
- Global Project & Account Management
- Nonprofit & Parachurch Business Development
- Executive Business Leadership
Small Business Information Technology (MBA and MOL)
The Small Business Information Technology concentration focuses on developing the information, data and technology structure for small businesses, as these areas continue to soar and exponentially impact business success or failure. Students will be equipped with skills in IT analysis, systems technology and ethical decision-making. Classes examine information systems hardware, software and architecture, project management, and managerial tools like decision support systems.
Graduates can follow these possible career paths:
- Small Business Management & Development
- Executive Business Leadership
- Information Technology Business Consultation
- Risk Management & Data Analysis
Economics (MBA)
The economics concentration helps students prepare to advance in financial institutions or a broad range of other industries. An economics concentration is one of the most versatile, high-paying, in-demand areas. Students will be equipped with skills in economic forecasting and methods for business analysis. Subject matter includes economic forecasting and methods for business analysis. Students will study the foundations of work and wealth, enterprise and stewardship, money, interest and debt, and the role of government in the economy. Graduates will understand trade policies, know how to conduct cost/benefit analysis and solutions to trade and finance issues.
Graduates can follow these possible career paths:
- Economist
- Financial Reporter
- Financial Analysis & Management
- Research Analyst
- Executive Financial Leadership
- Personal Financial Consultation
“We are very excited to offer these new concentrations to our students,” said Dr. Steve Firestone, MOL program director. “We continue to look for new concentrations to meet the needs of our students and help better prepare them for their future endeavors.”
The SBL added new concentrations of franchising, Healthcare Management, Not-for-Profit Management and Innovation Management between its MBA and MOL programs in 2015. Students enrolled in a General Management MBA can opt to take courses from any of the new concentrations.