Redesigned Master of Business Administration Focuses on Strategic Leadership and Innovation
The Calvin University School of Business announces its new, redesigned faith-based Master of Business Administration (MBA) focused on strategic leadership and innovation to meet the needs of today’s professionals who are ready to accelerate their careers.
Calvin School of Business faculty, staff, students, and alumni used a human-centered design process throughout 2023 to interview nearly 100 business leaders and prospective MBA students to guide the redesign of the program.
“The MBA program is tailored to equip future leaders with the skills needed to thrive in today’s ever-evolving marketplace,” said Jim Ludema, Dean, Calvin University School of Business. “It’s ideal for individuals seeking to transition from an individual contributor role to leadership positions, whether in a business, engineering, health care, education or other professions. No matter the industry, the program prepares students to become successful leaders in their organizations and communities.”
The MBA includes four pillars to ensure the program depth and breadth learners are looking for in an advanced degree:
Pillar 1 – Business Essentials
Students take a block of courses in accounting, finance, marketing, and operations and supply chain management to set the stage for advanced courses in leadership, innovation and strategy.
Pillar 2 – Leadership
Students take a block of leadership courses which help them develop as faithful leaders of high-performing teams and organizations.
Pillar 3 – Innovation
Students take a block of courses focused on strategy and innovation to help them learn to lead change in a world of social, economic, and digital disruption.
Pillar 4 – Electives
Electives allow students to align the program with their career objectives. With access to more than 100 elective courses in Calvin’s School of Graduate and Continuing Studies, students tailor their MBA to their current or desired career paths. The MBA offers concentrations in applied communication, finance, marketing and non-profit management, or students can pursue a general MBA without a concentration.
“Each business course includes experiential learning such as simulations and client projects,” added Ludema. “Students will connect with a dynamic community of innovators and business leaders, expand their networks, and build their capacity to lead transformational change.”
The program blends online coursework with essential in-person elements, making it accessible for full- and part-time professionals while fostering connections with peers, professors, and industry leaders. It begins and ends with a one-week on-campus residency focused on experiential learning and networking, while the remaining courses are conducted online, some featuring weekly live sessions and others completed at a student’s own pace with weekly deadlines in each course.
Kyle Small, Dean, Calvin University School of Graduate and Continuing Studies reflects on how the redesigned MBA brings value to the market.
“The end of undergraduate education in a Christian and liberal arts university is faithful citizenship; the end of graduate education is faithful leadership,” said Small. “The redesigned MBA at Calvin University is oriented to forming the whole person to lead with wisdom, skill, and faith. The intention behind building online and in-person learning communities is not simply a modality choice but an intentional design to 'do business better,' whether in marketplace, non-profit, education, or health care organizations.”
Recruiting for the first cohort is underway and classes start in August 2025. Visit online.calvin.edu to learn more and apply.
