Business Administration

Prepare for Leadership

With degree options from associate to bachelor to MBA, your education will be as focused as your professional plans. Entrepreneurship, strategic leadership, finance, and health services administration – we cover important ground given the needs of our state and the world. No matter where you start, you’ll grow your knowledge as well as your prospects for success.

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Pathways

Business Administration

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

Alaska Pacific University offers four specialized academic certificates designed to equip professionals with essential skills in leadership, management, and investment. The four certificate options are the following: Alaska Rural Management, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Investments, and ANELP. Keep reading to see which one is the right fit for you! 

Overview: The Alaska Rural Management Certificate provides foundational skills and understanding of management, as well as discussion and consideration of management issues in rural Alaska. The Certificate is designed to provide relevant education for Tribal administrators, utility managers, and municipal managers and to improve access to management education. The Certificate also provides an educational pathway into the Business Administration Associate of Arts degree.  

Admission Requirements: 

  • Application
  • Application Fee*
  • Official Final High School Transcript**
  • Official College Transcript(s)

*Fee waiver available for those who qualify
**If less than 24 college credits earned

Minimum GPA: 2.5 or higher – If you have a GPA lower than 2.5, there is an additional step in the admissions process, and we are happy to work with you to complete your application.

Application Deadlines: 

  • Fall: May 1 (Priority) / August 1 (Late)
  • Spring: November 1 (Priority) / December 1 (Late)
  • Summer: May 1  (limited courses available)

Program Outcomes:

  • Community leadership roles
  • Tribal Administrator
  • Self-Employed
  • State/Local Government role

General Overview: The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Certificate is designed for students who wish to develop a better understanding of how entrepreneurship has evolved, where it’s headed, and learn how to take an idea from concept to concrete action. This certificate program introduces and uses tools, strategies, and materials used in business development across the globe, which are applicable to everything from standalone projects to building a long-lasting business. Students are expected to work on 1 idea throughout the series of courses to fully embrace and learn the entrepreneurial thinking and doing process. Students should expect to attend at least a 1 startup event in Anchorage or their respective community and engage with other entrepreneurs. The Certificate is awarded to those students who complete the requirements in the recognition that they have attained an advanced level of competency in the field of entrepreneurship. 

Admission Requirements: 

  • Interview
  • Resume
  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume
  • Essay
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Official Final Transcript(s)
  • GPA Scores

 

General Overview: The Investments Certificate program is designed for students wanting graduate level expertise in investment strategies and mechanics. It can be pursued independently of the MBA or as part of the MBA by using free electives to fulfill the Certificate requirements. The theory behind investment strategies will be developed, and students will gain practical experience through a full-year of management of the student fund.
Requirements for admission to the Certificate program are the same as those for the Master of Business Administration program.

Admission Requirements: 

  • Interview
  • Resume
  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume
  • Essay
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Official Final Transcript(s)
  • GPA Scores

Application Deadlines: 

  • May 1 (Priority) / August 1 (Late)
  • Spring: November 1 (Priority) / December 1 (Late)
  • Summer: May 1 (limited courses available)

Overview: The Alaska Native Executive Leadership Program (ANELP) Certificate is offered by APU in partnership with Afognak Native Corporation, The Aleut Corporation, CIRI, Chugach Alaska Corporation, and Bristol Bay Native Corporation. The curriculum represents relevant, executive leadership development, co-designed to enhance and grow the capacity of future Alaska Native leaders. ANELP is open to leaders from all Alaska Native Corporations and related organizations. ANELP admits students in the Fall semester only.

Admission Requirements: 

  • Interview
  • Resume
  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume
  • Essay
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Official Final Transcript(s)
  • GPA Scores

Application Deadlines: 

  • Fall: May 1 (Priority) / August 1 (Late)
  • Spring: November 1 (Priority) / December 1 (Late)
  • Summer: May 1  (limited courses available)

Program Outcomes:

  • CEO Alaska Native Corporation
  • CEO Alaska non-profit agency
  • Senior Executive private industry

Degree Roadmap:

Leadership is an experiential course that enables the student to examine several leadership styles, traits, and behaviors. The student will also discover a variety of group creative problem-solving techniques and processes. The students will examine their leadership role within a team-building environment. Students participate in class exercises and in an outdoor experiential lab environment.

Organizational Development examines the theory and practice of change processes in organizations, this course will pay special attention to the planning and management of change. Globalization, technological advances and community expectations all impact the nature of work and how organizations are designed. Students will examine the constraints and opportunities of sustainability in organizations and the roles leaders play in fostering innovation, and determining the timing and rate of growth.

Negotiation and Decision Making introduces the theory and practice of negotiations. The course also covers major topics in decision-making, including the psychological biases and factors relevant to decision-making under uncertainty. This course covers various types of negotiations, the negotiation process, and decision processes. Students will participate in several simulations and learn how to prepare for both negotiations and decisions, and assess the outcomes.

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Business Administration

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS

APU’s Associate of Arts in Business Administration offers an applied, relevant learning experience for students seeking career advancement. Year round entry points and a fully online, evening program give you the flexibility you need to finish your degree while attending to your other responsibilities.

APU’s Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration is an excellent and affordable choice for students with less than 60 academic transfer credits who intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business. The AA degree gives you the necessary foundational understanding of principles and practices you need to succeed in entry-level positions in in business and other industries as well as the credits you need to advance directly into APU’s bachelor’s degree program in Business Administration and Management.

This program is a good fit for experienced professionals across a wide variety of fields needing a degree in order to advance in their careers. The program emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning. Small peer cohorts provide the context for collaborative learning and engaged discussion.

Experienced faculty mentors draw on real world expertise, providing personalized support and a professional network to guide you toward your career goals.

Career Opportunities
  • Tourism
  • Human Services
  • Health Care
Foundational Studies
  • Written Communication (4)
  • Presentation & Media Literacy (3-4)
  • Critical Thinking (3-4)
  • Computation (3-4)
    Intellectual Traditions (4)
  • Creative Endeavors (4)
  • Intercultural & Spiritual Understandings (3-4)
  • Biological/Physical Scientific Inquiry (4)
  • Social/Behavioral Scientific Inquiry (3-4)
  • Social Responsibility (2)
  • Personal Responsibility (1-2)
Major Studies
  • Foundations of Business (3)
  • Financial Accounting (3)
    Entrepreneurship (3)
  • Marketing (3)
  • Macroeconomics (3)
  • Microeconomics (3)
  • Organizational Behavior (3)
  • Strategic Human Resource Management (3)
  • Managerial Accounting (3)
  • Business Law (3)
  • Business Finance (3)
  • Operations & Quality Management (3)
Self-Determined Studies

Students in the AA program are encouraged to take courses that meet the BA requirements. Credit-by-exam, credit earned through military training, or assessment of prior learning is encouraged to meet minimum graduation requirements.

  • Application
  • Application Fee*
  • Official Final High School Transcript**
  • Official College Transcript(s)

*Fee waiver available for those who qualify
**If less than 24 college credits earned

Minimum GPA: 2.5 or higher – If you have a GPA lower than 2.5, there is an additional step in the admissions process, and we are happy to work with you to complete your application.

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Business Administration

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Leadership begins here. APU’s Business Administration program emphasizes relevant project and place-based learning. Online and evening courses in an accelerated format mean you can finish your degree while tending to your other responsibilities. Experienced faculty mentors draw on real-world expertise and provide personalized support and a professional network to guide you toward your career goals.

APU’s bachelor’s degree in Business Administration is a good fit for experienced professionals across a wide variety of fields needing a bachelor’s degree in order to advance in their careers. APU’s IACBE accredited program emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning in areas like leadership, values and ethics, organizational change, communication skills, human resources, quality improvement, and financial statements and accounting and more that are directly relevant and immediately applicable to students’ work environments. Small peer cohorts provide the context for collaborative learning and engaged discussion. Students can choose a non-profit or health-care management emphasis for their degree.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from the Bachelor of Business Administration program are pursuing careers in fields such as:

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Hospitality and Tourism
  • Small Business Ownership / Entrepreneurship
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Graduate School
Health Care Management

A degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Health Care Management provides an overview and understanding of the business functions necessary for providing services in the management of health-related organizations.

Accounting and Finance

Business and non-business students can add a minor in Accounting and Finance to their major program degree to build accounting and finance skills for business, public entities and not-for-profit organizations, or pursue professional certifications for fields such as Certified Public Accountant or FINRA Series 7 Financial Services Representative.

Accounting and Finance

Business and non-business students can add a minor in Accounting and Finance to their major program degree to build accounting and finance skills for business, public entities and not-for-profit organizations.

Business Administration

The Business Administration minor is designed for students majoring in non-business degree programs who want to build skills demanded by businesses, public entities and not-for-profit organizations.

Health Care Management

The Health Care Management minor is for students majoring in non-business programs seeking to enhance their degree with the skills demanded by health care and human services management, businesses and not-for-profit organizations.

Foundational Studies
  • Written Communication (4)
  • Presentation & Media Literacy (3-4)
  • Critical Thinking (3-4)
  • Computation (3-4)
    Intellectual Traditions (4)
  • Creative Endeavors (4)
  • Intercultural & Spiritual Understandings (3-4)
  • Biological/Physical Scientific Inquiry (4)
  • Social/Behavioral Scientific Inquiry (3-4)
  • Social Responsibility (2)
  • Personal Responsibility (1-2)
Major Studies
  • Foundations of Business (3)
  • Financial Accounting (3)
    Entrepreneurship (3)
  • Marketing (3)
  • Macroeconomics (3)
  • Microeconomics (3)
  • Organizational Behavior (3)
  • Strategic Human Resource Management (3)
  • Managerial Accounting (3)
  • Business Law (3)
  • Business Finance (3)
  • Operations & Quality Management (3)
Self-Determined Studies

Students in the BA program are encouraged to choose an emphasis (Non-Profit Management or Healthcare Management). Credit-by-exam, credit earned through military training, or assessment of prior learning is encouraged to meet minimum graduation requirements.

  • Application
  • Application Fee*
  • Official Final High School Transcript**
  • Official College Transcript(s)

*Fee waiver available for those who qualify
**If less than 24 college credits earned

Minimum GPA: 2.5 or higher – If you have a GPA lower than 2.5, there is an additional step in the admissions process, and we are happy to work with you to complete your application.

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Business Administration

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Whether you are a working professional seeking to advance in your career, change careers or to develop additional skill sets and wider expertise in your current position, APU’s Master of Business Administration supports your goals by emphasizing a broad understanding of successful business operations and the development of critical skills you need to be an effective leader in today’s complex and dynamic business world. Under the guidance of faculty mentors and industry leaders with experience in a wide variety of fields, you will have many opportunities to collaborate on place-based real-world projects. 

Busy working adults pursuing an MBA at APU discover a career-enhancing and cost effective option in a format that supports work-life balance.

Gain mastery of core business concepts through seamless integration of classroom learning with relevant, hands-on application in the workplace.

Close faculty mentoring and collaborative learning in a small cohort of your professional peers support your investment in your future.

Career Opportunities

APU alumni, building upon their experience and education, contribute in the advancement of for-profit and not-for-profit operations. Their roles are as corporate managers, executives, policy leaders and entrepreneurs.

Finance

MBA with Concentration in Finance combines the breadth of the MBA with the depth required for careers in finance: understanding the securities markets, raising capital, valuations, and portfolio and investment theory.

Health Services Administration

MBA with Concentration in Health Services Administration builds upon the MBA Core with specialized courses in finance, policy, ethics, and law, healthcare systems, and strategic management, and the opportunity to explore emerging issues both locally and globally, with an emphasis on issues unique to Alaska.

  • Application
  • Application Fee
  • Official Transcripts
  • Essay
  • Resume
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Interview

*Fee waiver available for those who qualify.
**If less than 24 college credits earned.

Minimum GPA: 3.0 or higher – Applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be considered upon review by the graduate Program Director and or Graduate Studies Committee.

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Executive MBA in Strategic Leadership, EMBA SL

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

The Executive MBA in Strategic Leadership (EMBA SL) enhances and advances critical leadership skills needed to shape and guide organizations in today’s ever shifting environments. Built upon the MBA core curriculum, the EMBA SL informs effective leaders who understand and can implement sustainable strategies.

Busy working adults pursuing an MBA at APU discover a career-enhancing and cost effective option in a format that supports work-life balance.

Gain mastery of core business concepts through seamless integration of classroom learning with relevant, hands-on application in the workplace.

Close faculty mentoring and collaborative learning in a small cohort of your professional peers support your investment in your future.

Career Opportunities

Upon completion of the degree, students will have:

  • A broad range of managerial skills including the importance and practice of accounting, finance, marketing, management, and law. Students will appreciate the importance of these functions to the operation of telecommunications firms, as well as be able to integrate these areas in the context of particular business models
  • Exposure to, and analysis of, a variety of strategic options, including financial, technical, value chain, marketing, and organizational dimensions
  • An appreciation for the importance of, and boundaries for, ethical management decisions
  • Students will also be effective communicators, quantitatively literate, and effective team members and leaders
Finance

MBA with Concentration in Finance combines the breadth of the MBA with the depth required for careers in finance: understanding the securities markets, raising capital, valuations, and portfolio and investment theory.

Health Services Administration

MBA with Concentration in Health Services Administration builds upon the MBA Core with specialized courses in finance, policy, ethics, and law, healthcare systems, and strategic management, and the opportunity to explore emerging issues both locally and globally, with an emphasis on issues unique to Alaska.

  • Application
  • Application Fee
  • Official Transcripts
  • Essay
  • Resume
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Interview

*Fee waiver available for those who qualify.
**If less than 24 college credits earned.

Minimum GPA: 3.0 or higher – Applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be considered upon review by the graduate Program Director and or Graduate Studies Committee.

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Business Administration

Dual MBA-JD Program

An MBA-JD program is a dual graduate degree that allows participants to complete a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Juris Doctor (JD) program in a coordinated and accelerated way.

Candidates best suited for this type of graduate program typically have strengths in both areas of study, including excellent writing abilities and sound analytical skills. Students can expect to develop a strong understanding of the business environment and the practice of law and a strong foundation in creating policy.

The program is a dual degree NOT a joint degree, meaning participants enroll in both programs and complete one discipline fully before starting the next, generally the MBA prior to the JD.

During the MBA portion of the program, you’ll dive into relationship courses like leadership, HR and employment law, and business ethics, as well as quantitative subjects like financial statement analysis, data science, managerial economics, and corporate finance. A big part of graduate business school is focused on making strategic, data-informed decisions, developing your leadership style, and learning from a cohort of professional peers.

During the JD portion of the program, you’ll prepare to become a practicing attorney with courses ranging from torts, criminal law, and contracts to constitutional law, property, and family law to prepare you for Bar exam success. Elective courses in subjects such as American Indian Tribal Law and Tribal Court Practice will prepare you to serve the diverse communities in Alaska.

Career Opportunities

An MBA-JD bridges gaps between business and law schools. Potential career paths mirror this, including in-house legal counsels or risk-management directors.  Common positions for someone with an MBA-JD are CEO, attorney, public policy director, financial manager, and the variety of careers available in both business and legal industries.  

The MBA-JD is a dual degree with separate admissions processes, what that means is candidates must apply to each institution AND yes, they have different requirements and timelines to do such.

APU REQUIREMENTS
Apply directly to APU:

  • A current resume
  • Two letters of recommendation dated within the past year
  • Completion of an admissions interview with program area faculty
  • 500-800 word essay addressing personal and professional goals related to the MBA
  • Transcripts – looking for accounting, economics, math through algebra and stats, and management (this can be achieved in other ways)

APU ADMISSIONS TIMELINE
APU has rolling admissions and there is no set deadline. Applications accepted in Fall, Spring and Summer.

SEATTLE U REQUIREMENTS
To apply, you must submit the following through the Law School Admission Council:

  • Completed online application
  • LSAT or GRE General Test score
  • Two-page personal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Character and fitness disclosures, if any
  • Official undergraduate transcripts – looking for the ability to complete a rigorous academic program

SEATTLE U ADMISSIONS TIMELINE

  • September 1 – We begin accepting applications for the following year’s entering class
  • January 1 – Deadline for Access Admission Program consideration
  • March 1 – Priority application deadline
  • July 1 – Final application deadline
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ANELP

Graduate Certificate

The Alaska Native Executive Leadership Program (ANELP) is a graduate certificate designed to equip future executives with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in today’s competitive business climate. Tailored to the unique needs of Alaska Native corporations, the program fosters a holistic approach to leadership by identifying areas for improvement and implementing strategies for meaningful change.

Recognizing the importance of strong Alaska Native leadership, Afognak Native Corporation, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, Chugach Alaska Corporation, The Aleut Corporation, and CIRI partnered with Alaska Pacific University to create this uniquely Alaskan executive education program. These corporations oversee some of the largest and most diverse businesses in the state, and ANELP prepares emerging leaders with the business acumen and vision necessary to drive growth, diversification, and long-term success.

In addition to the graduate certificate in Alaska Native Executive Leadership, students may elect to enroll in Alaska Pacific University’s traditional MBA program. Credits earned in ANELP can be applied toward a MBA; for example, students could complete a quarter of their MBA through ANELP.

ANELP offers students in-depth knowledge of key business areas through a structured, nine-month curriculum. Each of the nine modules lasts one month, combining two days of in-person instruction at the Alaska Pacific University campus with flexible pre- and post-assignments that can be completed remotely from anywhere in the world. To enhance learning and professional growth, each participant is paired with a mentor from their sponsoring organization, providing guidance in setting career goals and identifying future development opportunities.

Learning Modules Include:

  • ANCSA History and Context (MBA 60910)
  • Leadership Styles and Effective Communications (MBA 60920)
  • Leading Your Human Resources (MBA 60930)
  • Federal Government Contracting (MBA 60960)
  • Evaluating Options: Risk Management (MBA 60970)

Required Courses:

  • MBA 55000 – Tools for Success (0)
  • MBA 60910 – ANCSA History and Context (1)
  • MBA 60920 – Leadership Styles and Effective Communication (1)
  • MBA 60930 – Leading Your Human Resources (1)
  • MBA 60940 – Developing High Performing Organizations (1)
  • MBA 60950 – Budgeting and Planning for Sustainability and Growth (1)
  • MBA 60960 – Federal Government Contracting (1)
  • MBA 60970 – Evaluating Options: Valuation, Risk Management & Diversification (1)
  • MBA 60980 – Strategy Development and Implementation (1)
  • MBA 60990 – Working Effectively with Boards of Directors (1)

Individuals identified as high potential leaders by an Alaska Native Corporation or other organization may apply for admission to the ANELP program. To gain program admission, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications, submit the online application for ANELP, admission documents, and signed Executive Sponsorship and Financial Agreement forms.

Successful applicants will have the following qualifications:

  • An executive referral and corporate endorsement
  • Commitment to attend all sessions and successfully complete all modules
  • Minimum of three years of managerial-level or above work experience
  • Currently holds a leadership position
  • A bachelor’s degree or 10 years of progressive work experience
  • Strong oral and written presentation skills
  • Identified potential to meaningfully contribute to the Alaska Native community
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Accreditation

The Institute of Business and Public Policy at Alaska Pacific University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).

IACBE ACCREDITED PROGRAMS PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT 2024-2025

IACBE World Headquarters
11960 Quivira Road, Suite 300
Overland Park, KS 66213

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