School of Business and Leadership

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Ronald W. Ferner, M.B.A., Dean 

Professor

William R. Bowles, Ed.D.
Timothy S. Yoder, Ph.D. 

Assistant Professor

Thomason Varghese, M.B.A.

Part-time Faculty

Gail Z. Benchener, M.S.
Yunn Kang, M.Div.

Adjunct Faculty

Sali Kaceli, B.S. in Bible
John Mesher, J.D. 
Susan B. Smith, M.B.A.
Jeremy P. Van Etten, M.B.A.
 

The School

In America today more business degrees are conferred upon college graduates than any other degrees. But succeeding in business is about more than getting a job. And the marketplace needs more than graduates with business degrees. Business is influential and people in business shape the world we live in.

Students who are serious about their faith and and want to be successful business leaders, managers, or entrepreneurs can bring those commitments together at PBU.

Students in the School of Business and Leadership receive an education that prepares them professionally and personally through the development of business skills, ethics, integrity, and character development. A biblical wordview is integrated in every subject, whether business communications, accounting, or organizational leadership.

On both the undergraduate and graduate levels, students are mentored by faculty with business and leadership experience. Faculty instill and encourage initiative, responsibility, creativity, and the applicaiton of wisdom in and out of the classroom. Practical business experience through internships, student groups, and employment strengthen the business education at PBU. Graduates of the School of Business and Leadership serve in for-profit and non-profit business careers.

Mission Statement

The School of Business and Leadership offers undergraduate and graduate programs that aspire to educate students to serve Christ in the church, society, and the world by integrating the business skills learning process with a biblical worldview to produce biblically minded, well-educated, and professionally competent men and women of character.

The mission statement is realized by pursuing the following major goals in all of the School’s programs:

• Admitting students from diverse backgrounds with high leadership potential.
• Engaging students with a powerful Christian developmental experience using a nurturing educational process.
• Fostering a biblical world/life perspective grounded in ethical standards, a global outlook, deep functional knowledge, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
• Developing programs that foster intellectual and spiritual maturity, leadership potential, and a global view of missions.
• Sustaining an environment that attracts, develops, and retains the finest faculty in the world for this purpose.
   

The Programs

Dual-Bachelor’s Degree Program

• Bachelor of Science in Bible
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

This program follows the model of other PBU dual-degree programs. In 4-1/2 years, a student can earn a B.S. in Bible degree and a B.S. in Business Administration degree. A Business Administration student takes 39 credits in biblical studies, 46 credits in arts and sciences, 3 credits in integration, and 63 credits in business for a total of 151 credits. Fifty percent (32 credits) of the business credits must be taken in residence. The student in Business Administration can select from the following elective tracks: Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Management, Marketing,  Nonprofit Management, or Sports Management.

Core courses in the business program include Accounting, Marketing, Computers and Information Concepts, Economics, Business Law, Principles of Management/Leadership, Organizational Finance, Information Technology, Business Communications, Applied Statistics, Business Policy and Strategy, Case Studies in Business, and International Business. The student is also required to take four electives and complete an internship, which is designed as a practical pre-career experience.

Dual-Level Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Programs

• Bachelor of Science in Bible (with a second major in Business Administration)
• Master of Science in Organizational Leadership

• Bachelor of Science in Bible (with a second major in Business Administration)
• Master of Business Administration

Each academic year the School of Business and Leadership will accept a limited number of students into the dual-level bachelor’s/master’s degree programs which lead to a bachelor’s degree in Bible (with a Business Administration major) and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership or a bachelor’s degree in Bible (with a Business Administration major) and a master’s degree in Business Administration. The B.S./M.S.O.L. program requires 39 credits in biblical studies, 46 credits in arts and sciences, 3 credits in integration, 42 credits in business, and 33 graduate credits in organizational leadership for a total of 163 credits. The B.S./M.B.A. program requires 39 credits in biblical studies, 46 credits in arts and sciences, 3 credits in integration, 42 credits in business, and 36 graduate credits in business and leadership for a total of 166 credits. Either program can normally be completed in 5 to 5 1/2 years. Students can apply for these programs during their second year at the University.

Business Minor

A minor in business is also available. A minimum of 18 credits of focused study in business is required and may be added to any of the existing undergraduate degree programs in the University. This minor is not accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.
 

Related Program Information

Internships and Career Opportunities

PBU is located in a major metropolitan area and has access to numerous organizations which provide valuable internship experiences. PBU students have completed internships with Bloomberg Financial, Vanguard, Hertz, Enterprise, Lincoln Financial, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia KIXX, QVC, various hospitals, mission agencies, banks, and small businesses. PBU students are consistently rated among the best interns by their direct supervisors.

A great variety of global career options are available in church and non-profit administration with mission agencies, publishing houses, bookstores, schools, camps, counseling centers, and television and radio stations. These organizations need dedicated Christians with professional business and leadership skills.

Careers in the secular business world are many and varied, including international opportunities. Business Administration can help prepare a student to become an entrepreneur, executive, manager, accountant, business analyst, manufacturing supervisor, store manager, human resources manager, sales person, marketer, or fund raiser, to name a few.

Students in Free Enterprise

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is an international organization founded in 1974. Currently, over 1,800 colleges and universities world-wide have SIFE groups on their campuses. SIFE’s mission is to provide college students the best opportunity to make a difference and “to develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through learning, practicing, and teaching the principles of free enterprise.” (www.sife.org)

PBU-SIFE, founded in 1999, is available to all PBU students, and business majors are encouraged to become involved in the program. SIFE students provide community service, conduct educational outreaches, and promote entrepreneurship and free enterprise. PBU-SIFE has achieved national ranking as a top twenty team at the SIFE National Exposition.

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