The Master of Business Management (MBM) at Azusa Pacific University (APU) is designed for working professionals and graduates who want to strengthen their management, leadership and strategic decision-making abilities. The 39-unit program combines business knowledge with ethical leadership, organizational development, global perspectives and practical projects, allowing students to customize their education through concentrations such as Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing and International Business.

Curriculum Structure

Core Coursework: Students build a strong foundation in management and organizational leadership through courses covering business strategy, human resources, research and organizational performance. Subjects such as Current Issues in Business and Management (MGMT 510), Applied Research and Analysis (MGMT 515) and Ethical Leadership (MGMT 581) help students evaluate business challenges, use research to support decisions and develop responsible leadership approaches. Additional courses, including Managing Human Capital (MGMT 517), Organizational Development and Change (MGMT 521) and Global Business Management (MGMT 541), strengthen their understanding of people management and international business environments.

Advanced Study and Concentration: Students develop specialized expertise by completing nine units in one chosen concentration. For example, the Marketing concentration includes Digital Analytics and Consumer Insights (COMM 504), Marketing Strategy (MKTG 527) and Strategic Branding (COMM 513). Students interested in Entrepreneurship can explore Entrepreneurial Decision Making (ENTR 520) and Entrepreneurial Finance (FIN 536), while the Human Resource Management pathway includes Labor Law and Negotiations for Human Resource Professionals (HROD 530) and Designing and Managing Compensation and Benefit Systems (HROD 531). Other pathways cover Healthcare Management, International Business, Organizational Development and Change, Public Administration, Sport Management and individualized Organizational Science.

Focus Areas: Business Management, Ethical Leadership, Organizational Development, Human Resource Management, Global Business Management, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Management, Marketing Strategy, Strategic Branding, Digital Analytics, Public Administration, Sport Management, Organizational Performance and Change Management.

Learning Outcomes: Develop effective leadership and management capabilities, analyze organizational challenges using research and analytical methods, manage teams and resolve workplace conflicts, understand global business environments, improve organizational performance, apply ethical principles to business decisions, develop innovative management strategies and lead positive organizational change.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The program emphasizes practical professional development through real-world business cases, service-learning projects, organizational field experiences and opportunities to interact with executives and industry professionals. Its curriculum supports the development of management, leadership, communication and strategic decision-making skills. Azusa Pacific University is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), while its School of Business and Management is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). The university is also a member of AACSB International; this membership should not be confused with AACSB accreditation.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): APU highlights the program's practical learning approach, experienced faculty and opportunities to connect with companies, executives and organizations through projects and field experiences. The university reports that its Master of Business Management program ranked No. 25 nationally according to UniversityHQ. APU also reports a No. 1 ranking among Christian colleges in California in The Wall Street Journal's 2026 Best Colleges rankings, which is an institutional distinction rather than a program-specific ranking. Graduates can pursue careers as Business Managers, Management Consultants, Operations Managers, Human Resource Managers, Business Development Managers, Project Managers, Marketing Managers and Organizational Development Specialists.