MBA | School of Business | Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma, Washington

PLU MBA

See and do business differently

a transformative experience

Welcome

Dear Prospective MBA Student,Welcome to this snapshot of the MBA Program at PLU! The very fact that you’re reading this suggests that you’re considering an exciting new journey in your professional life. You may be seeking an advanced degree in order to further your career, or to launch a new career path altogether, or perhaps you’ve been thinking about pursuing an MBA for years, or for all of these – and other – reasons.

Most of our MBA students are working adults for whom time is critically important. They also selected PLU for our AACSB accreditation and our legacy of quality and small class sizes. We work to balance these factors in delivering a program that meets the demands of professional managers and entrepreneurs.

Recently, the PLU MBA Program was recognized by Princeton Review. Based on student testimony, they rated PLU’s MBA program as among the “top 15” nationally in the categories of Global Management and General Management. Where you earn your degree is important!

PLU is a place where people know and care about each other. We’d enjoy getting to know you as you consider graduate study and your professional future. If you would like to learn more about the program, please make plans to attend one of our monthly MBA Information Sessions or call our MBA Director who would be happy to discuss the MBA Program or schedule a visit to an MBA class. You can reach the Director at (253) 535-7330 or plumba@plu.edu.

Sincerely,

Jim Brock, Ph.D. Dean, School of Business Pacific Lutheran University

PLU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS MISSION

The School of Business provides a supportive learning experience that challenges each student to:

1 Acquire relevant business skills;

2 Apply them to create sustainable value; and

3 Prepare for a purposeful life of achievement, inquiry, integrity, leadership and service.

We are especially committed to scholarship, innovation and a global perspective.

The PLU MBA Program is founded on the cornerstones of leadership, creative innovation, global awareness and ethical responsibility. The PLU MBA is a transformational academic experience in which you will begin to see and analyze the business world differently.

As a PLU MBA, you will be able to proactively lead in uncertain times to drive innovation and change in any organization. You will have developed a global business perspective. You will have more fully refined your personal ethical standards as a guide in dealing with global, social and financial decisions. In short, you will be a more responsible and prepared leader.

The PLU MBA Program is flexible, relevant, effective and most of all, transformative.

The

PLU MBA

LeadThe PLU MBA has given me the tools to translate market need into disruptive innovation. I have a new perspective on leadership and ethical responsibility that has advanced my career within a Fortune 500 global company.

YOAV SIBONY, PLU MBA 2007

Changing the way you think about businessNo other program in the region offers you a transformative learning experience with a global emphasis that includes a 10-day international experience. With a PLU MBA you will acquire more than business competencies. You will emerge with a sharpened ability for strategic analysis, strengths in leading change, and a pre-disposition for action. And, you will have heightened awareness of and dedication to life-long learning and service to your community.

PLU MBA courses are integrated and build upon one another in demonstrating how each area of the business contributes to the overall operation and success of an organization. Because of this purposeful curriculum design, you will begin to see business more completely and strategically. The faculty will challenge you to go beyond traditional business theory – to push you past preconceived notions of what can and cannot be done.

You will learn from peers who represent many industries and diverse academic backgrounds. The average student is 30 years old and has more than seven years of work experience. Whether you come with a bachelor’s degree in business, the sciences, or some other field, your experiences and perspectives will add valuable insight to the classroom.

A Transformative

Experience

“Employers expect that MBA graduates can operate in a dynamic international environment, and the PLU MBA program prepares you to do just that. We also take very seriously the call to act responsibly and ethically in our world – that’s the PLU difference.”

DIANE MACDONALD, JD, MBA teaches graduate courses in ethics and law. In addition to her position on the faculty at PLU, she is a practicing attorney whose primary area is business law, including counseling start-up and privately held businesses, legal risk management and financial planning.

TERM 1BUSA 509Global Business Perspectives

BUSA 510Legal, Ethical & Social Dimensions

BUSA 511Accounting for Decision Making

TERM 3BUSA 521Supply Chain & Operations Management

ECON 520Economic Policy Analysis

Elective

TERM 4BUSA 519Information Systems & Knowledge Management

COMA 543Conflict and Negotiation

Elective

TERM 2BUSA 513Marketing Management

BUSA 515Organizations & Leadership

BUSA 517Corporate Finance

TERM 5BUSA 523Managing Innovation & Change BUSA 590Strategy & Global Competitiveness

Elective

The structure and design of PLU’s MBA Program offered me a top level education. This high level of knowledge gives me the ability to understand and manage complex operational, ethical, and strategic issues of contemporary business.

RUCHITA SHETTY, PLU MBA 2010

Innovate

Choose your pathAt PLU, we understand the demands on your time. PLU MBA students come to campus two evenings per week with classes starting at 6 p.m. You will begin the program by taking the MBA core, a set of strategically developed courses built around global awareness, innovation and ethical responsibility. As you progress through the program, you can choose elective courses to fulfill a program emphasis area, or pursue a general MBA where you tailor the choice of electives to your interests.

The PLU MBA Program is designed to be completed in five terms (20-22 months), but you can take longer if you prefer. You can start your MBA in Fall, Spring, or Summer term and set the pace which works best for you. However, it must be completed within seven years.

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION MANAGEMENT The pace at which new product and process technology is generated throughout the world continues to grow exponentially. The PLU MBA Program offers this emphasis to meet the critical need of managers to understand rapid innovation, constant competitive pressures and shorter product life cycles.

HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT Health care is a $1.9 trillion industry in the United States. This emphasis area is targeted to students seeking leadership positions in organizations across the health care spectrum – including hospitals, pharmaceuticals, assisted care facilities, provider networks, managed health, insurance and others.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & CLOSELY HELD BUSINESS Although closely held business and entrepreneurial firms face many of the same challenges as large corporations, leaders must contend with unique dynamics and issues, such as planning for family succession or securing venture capital funding. This area of emphasis is designed to help you sustain and grow your business.

Emphasis areas:

“The PLU MBA Program’s international experience offers a unique opportunity to go beyond ‘global perspective‘ as an abstraction, and see first-hand how business strategies and practices are enacted in different cultures. There is no substitute for learning through guided first-hand experience.”

THAD BARNOWE, PH.D. teaches graduate courses in global business, organizational design, leadership and organizational change. He is the recipient of three year-long Fulbright grants. He has been a Presidential Fellow at the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird).

A Program with

Flexibility

SucceedI have reached a point in my career where I require a complementary set of skills to institute the change my organization needs. The PLU MBA is giving me the expertise to explore, develop and successfully implement my vision.

DAVID BROWN, M.D., PLU MBA CANDIDATE 2011

Leading innovation internationallyWe all know that the world is changing. Those who understand how and why are more likely to succeed; the PLU MBA puts you in a position to do exactly that. You will interact with senior executives doing business on a global scale. You will gain a keen understanding of emerging markets around the world and be better prepared to operate successfully in diverse environments. And, you will gain a comprehensive view of business processes and best practices.

All businesses, from large corporations to small family firms, are affected by the growing integration of the world economy and by the impact of advances in technology. No matter what your area of emphasis will be, you will find both a global perspective and a technological emphasis infused throughout your PLU MBA coursework.

As part of your MBA program, you will engage in a 10-day international experience. You will visit international companies that are demonstrating best practices and hear from business leaders who are making innovative changes to stay on the cutting-edge. The 10-day experience is linked to the Global Business Perspectives course. You can complete this experience any time during your program.

The PLU MBA program is unique among regional choices in the Pacific Northwest with faculty that have not only been rigorously trained at excellent universities, but also have substantial international, corporate executive, law, investment banking, and entrepreneurial experience. Beyond consulting, some faculty have faced the day-to-day rigors and decision pressures of running small and large businesses themselves. The value to you as a PLU MBA student is simply a superior education using a mentoring model in small classes.

Global Scale

“Globalization and technological innovation are the most significant drivers of strategic change in today’s knowledge economy. Global perspective and affinity for innovation are the two most important attributes of successful business leaders in the 21st century.”

CHUNG-SHING LEE, PH.D. teaches courses on innovation management in the PLU MBA Program. He is an expert on the economic and socio-technical implications of electronic business in Asia. Dr. Lee is a member of two editorial boards – International Journal of Innovation, and Technology Management and Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal.

Faculty with industry experience: 84%

Faculty with international experience: 95%

Business on a

AchieveThe MBA Program provided me with the skills and knowledge to succeed in any part of the business world. From finance to international trade, PLU’s program gave me a well-rounded education to compete in today’s global markets.

CHRISTINA REIP, PLU MBA 2009

Developing effective leadersBecause you are considering an MBA, we know that you are driven toward achievement and that you strive to use your talents to make a difference – in yourself and your organization. Because you are considering an MBA at PLU, we also know that you share our concerns about economic, social and ethical sustainability.

The PLU MBA Program emphasizes skill sets that directly affect the way you see and do business – both now and in the future. Your program includes thought-provoking courses such as Legal, Ethical and Social Responsibilities of Business, and Organizations and Leadership. These courses will challenge you to analyze complex situations and make tough business decisions. You will begin to look for the appropriate balance among organizational goals and priorities, the bottom line, and protecting the social and ethical climate of society.

Through courses such as Supply Chain & Operations Management, Marketing Management, and Strategy & Global Competitiveness, you and your peers will produce real business strategies, conduct research and analysis, present new product ideas, and recommend real business solutions for enterprises. You will also take a course in Conflict & Negotiation to build your skills to effect change, enhance alliances and manage the competing interests of your stakeholders. These skill sets are critical to your success – not just as a leader in business, but as a leader in your community.

The Responsibility of

Leadership

The PLU MBA Executive Leadership Series is a professional and educational development program that features local and national executives, entrepreneurs and renowned authors. In a small, intimate setting, industry leaders share the wisdom they have acquired along their career path, as well as detail the trends and issues emerging in their fields.

Recent speakers include: Robert Marcovitch, President, K2 Sports; Charles Witzleben, President, Supervalu International; Peter Parsons, creator of Halo; and Don Morken (PLU BBA, 1960) President and Managing Partner, Genesee Investments.

“The PLU MBA Program provides a framework for superior understanding of business challenges while enabling students to develop and grow as individuals and leaders. Students learn to work in teams on real-world business projects offering the unique opportunity to go beyond ’theory‘ as an abstraction and learn hands-on to develop marketing strategies and practices.”

SVEN TUZOVIC, PH.D. teaches graduate courses in Marketing. He earned his doctoral degree in Marketing from the University of Basel, Switzerland. His research focuses on service quality, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and relationship marketing.

Combining my formal education and industry experience as an international corporate executive, manager, and engineer, I strive to bring theory and concepts to life in the classroom through application of industry best practices that have not just been learned and researched, but personally driven.

KORY BROWN, PH.DAfter sixteen years of experience in the wireless and semiconductor industries, Dr. Brown earned his Ph.D. in Management from the University of Utah. His research interests include: collaborative innovation, innovation networks, technology management, and entrepreneurship.

Integrate

Creating valueThe MBA Program encourages creative and innovative thinking. Part of your program will be continually seeking to identify issues and challenges in the workplace that can be addressed in new ways; at PLU, we call this “value creation.” Creating value in your organization requires that you sharpen the tools that will help you secure resources, manage spending, implement technology and streamline the supply chain – as well as possess the leadership skills to implement change. You will develop these strategic skills in courses such as Managing Innovation, Accounting for Decision Making, and Economic Policy Analysis.

Named after the family of investment pioneer, Don Morken (PLU BBA 1960), the Morken Center for Learning and Technology is home to the School of Business and the MBA program. The $21 million facility is designed to advance the integration of 21st century technology into the teaching and learning process.

The Morken Center was awarded gold-level certification as a sustainable, LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified building. Among the environmentally friendly features are geothermal heating and cooling pumps, efficient light fixtures, and wood paneling from certified sustainable forests. Even the concrete floors and carpets come from recycled or recyclable products.

Complete with wireless network access, powerful computing resources, projection cameras and all facets of video technologies, the Morken Center allows faculty and students to be more creative, effective and efficient in both teaching and learning.

Face the

Future

Our MBA students are challenged to see business problems in the broader context of societal issues. Short-term financial implications of decisions are considered along with the long-term influence decisions have on the sustainability of business. Creative solutions that integrate ideas from disparate disciplines within an ethical framework are emphasized.

SUSAN HARMON, PH.D.teaches graduate marketing courses, including marketing research and sustainable marketing. She holds her B.S, M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from University of Alabama. Her research interest is Consumer Behavior. Prior to entering academia, Susan worked over ten years at BellSouth in the area of customer satisfaction research and earlier at a custom marketing research firm.

The Morken Center for Learning and Technology

NetworkThe MBA program provided me with three arenas to learn from: the instructors, my fellow classmates, and the State Farm MBA Executive Leadership Series. Although I value what I learned in class, the opportunity to interact with executives through the Speaker Series was the most valuable. I am grateful I had the opportunity to listen and learn from the experiences of high level executives.

RYAN HART, PLU MBA 2009

Don Morken (PLU BBA ’60) addresses MBA students at the State Farm MBA Executive Leadership Series.

Building your networkYou will be joining a select group of highly qualified and respected MBA alumni. The PLU MBA is connected to the business community in the Puget Sound area – and beyond - through fellow alumni, including members of the Executive Advisory Board (EAB) of the PLU School of Business. The role of the EAB is to provide guidance, support and assistance to the School of Business in fulfilling the school’s mission. In addition, our alumni participate in networking events and mentorship opportunities through the PLU Business Network. These opportunities connect you to some of the fastest growing companies and the largest enterprises in the region, as well as to entrepreneurs and leaders in closely held businesses.

School of Business Executive Advisory BoardExecutives from a number of organizations are represented on the School of Business Executive Advisory Board including Microsoft, Wells Fargo Bank, Puget Sound Energy, Good Samaritan Multicare Hospital, Moss Adams, and investment houses.

Connection

“The Executive Advisory Board works with the PLU School of Business to determine how we can help create a positive experience for PLU students. We look for opportunities to better prepare students for post graduation roles in business and the community. Through teams, the EAB works to support the students and PLU to be resources for events, fundraising, strategy and other needs as they arise. It is a rewarding role to serve on the EAB and provide guidance and resources to the PLU School of Business.”

BRENDA MORRISExecutive Advisory BoardCFO, Icicle SeafoodsPLU BBA 1991

Make a

The PLU MBA focuses on developing pragmatic toolsets with cross-disciplinary perspectives that open doors to inventive solutions. Our graduates have the training to objectively view, competently analyze, and confidently choose courses of action. We do this by integrating real data, companies, and decisions into the experience, and by routinely linking the classroom to the Monday 8 a.m. decisions our graduates face.

DR. KEVIN K. BOEHis an experienced investment banker and management consultant. His investment banking experience includes over 100 successful strategic advisory, public and private corporate finance and M&A clients for which he has raised over $6B (US), and completed over $5B (US) in M&A transactions. Dr. Boeh’s research involves the intersection of corporate finance and corporate strategy with an international emphasis. He earned his Ph.D. in Finance at the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.

Prepare

PLU MBA Students

Who we are

• Average class size: 15

• Average age: 28

• Average years of work experience: 6

• Age range of our students: 24 to 56

• Female: 29%

• Undergraduate majors: 27 different majors

• Students with an undergraduate major other than business: 60%

• Average undergraduate GPA: 3.31

• Average GMAT score: 535

• Percentage with military experience: 24%

• Countries represented:10 China, Denmark, India, Iraq, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Vietnam, US

• Percentage of international students: 23%

PLU MBA students come from diverse backgrounds, academically, geographically, and professionally. The collective experience creates a dynamic classroom environment where students not only learn from their instructors, but also from those sitting next to them in the classroom.

Here’s a profile of our students:

AACSB ACCREDITEDThe Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)International accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools world wide. Institutions that earnaccreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. AACSB International accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in management education. PLU has been accredited by AACSB since 1971.

GlobalThe international experience offers a unique, memorable and diverse experience that can’t be found elsewhere. Not only have I been able to use the experience throughout the various courses in the MBA program, but the international experience has affected the way I think in my own career and also in my everyday life.

ANNILEY RAIHL, PLU MBA 2010

DR CHUNG-SHING LEEled a group of PLU MBA students to Hong Kong and Taiwan in Spring 2010.

What’s your

Next Move?Your future is waitingThe PLU MBA Program is designed to be an intensive part-time evening program that you can complete in just 20 to 22 months. There are three entry points into the program (fall, spring and summer).

Admission to the PLU MBA Program takes more than strong test scores. The Graduate Committee also looks at how your experiences will add valuable perspective to the classroom.

How to get started:

• ATTEND an Information Session – offered monthly. Check dates at http://www.plu.edu/mba

• SCHEDULE a personal appointment and/or classroom visit by contacting the MBA Director at plumba@plu.edu.

• COMPLETE the online application at www.plu.edu/mba.

• SUBMIT a current résumé

• WRITE a 300 word statement of your educational and professional goals. Describe how your professional experience and education will make you a contributor in the classroom.

• SELECT at least two people to write letters of recommendation on your behalf. These may be mentors, supervisors or former professors. You will find the recommendation forms included in the online application.

• REGISTER for the GMAT exam at www.mba.com and study with a prep book or through a GMAT prep course.

• CALL US us at (253) 535-7330 with any questions about the program or application process.

PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITYMaster of Business Administration School of Business, Tacoma WA 98447 (253) 535-7330 email: plumba@plu.edu

www.plu.edu/mba

See and do business differently