GCU Online MBA | Grand Canyon University Colangelo College of Business

• Online MBA
• Online MBA - Accounting
• Online MBA - Business Analytics
• Online MBA - Cybersecurity
• Online MBA - Finance
• Online MBA - Health Systems Management
• Online MBA - Leadership
• Online MBA - Marketing
• Online MBA - Project Management
• Online MBA - Sports Business
• Online MBA - Strategic Human Resource Management
• Online MBA/MSL (MS in Leadership)
• Online MBA/MSN - Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems

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By Sara Navratil Reviewed By Jocelyn Blore Reviewed By School

Updated January 17, 2024

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For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 118 schools in our BSchools.org database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.

The Colangelo College of Business at Grand Canyon University (GCU) offers a 100 percent online master of business administration (MBA) with a general path or one of 10 emphasis areas. In addition, GCU offers a dual MBA/MSN degree with an emphasis in nursing leadership in healthcare systems and a dual MBA/MS in leadership degree. No campus visits are required for any of the MBA programs.

The MBA areas of emphasis include:

• Accounting
• Business Analytics
• Cybersecurity
• Finance
• Health Systems Management
• Leadership
• Marketing
• Project Management
• Sports Business
• Strategic Human Resource Management

The general MBA comprises 46 credits. Students can earn the general MBA in as little as 24 months if they “double up” on courses at least three times and have waived credits. Adding an emphasis adds eight credits, or two courses, to the program for a total of 54 credits.

The dual MBA/MSN in nursing leadership in healthcare systems comprises 76 credits and helps prepare graduates to take on leadership positions such as chief nursing officer, chief executive officer, nursing administrator, and other healthcare-related administrative positions. A 150-hour practicum is included in the MBA/MSN program.

The dual MBA/MS in leadership degree comprises 66 credits. As with all of the programs, each online course lasts eight weeks. Students may “double up” and take more than one course every eight weeks if approved, in order to graduate more quickly. Graduates of the dual MBA/MS in leadership degree can take on positions such as business operations manager, management consultant, administrative services manager, or human resources manager.

The GCU MBA programs emphasize servant leadership and ethical decision-making, delivering courses through a Christian worldview and community. Key topics covered include critical thinking, critical analysis, leadership development, operations management, and effective communication.

The MBA and most of the emphasis areas are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The cybersecurity and sports business emphases are not ACBSP-accredited, although the core MBA portion of these degrees is accredited. In addition, the MSN in nursing leadership in healthcare systems is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Finally, the MSN portion of the MBA/MSN is designed to meet the standards set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is located in Phoenix, Arizona. GCU offers several online, evening, and in-person graduate degrees.

What to Expect from the GCU Online MBA Programs

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the online MBA programs must have earned a minimum GPA of 2.8 or higher in undergraduate coursework and hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. If an applicant does not meet the minimum GPA requirement, they may be eligible for admission through GMAT or GRE test scores. In addition, applicants to the MBA/MSN pathway must hold an unencumbered RN license in their state of residence.

Admissions materials include an application and application fee, official transcripts, proof of RN licensure for the MSN program, and proof of English language proficiency if applicable. No GMAT or GRE is required unless the applicant does not meet the minimum GPA requirement.

Study Plan: The GCU online general MBA consists of 12 courses while the MBA with an emphasis area includes 14 courses. All of these courses last eight weeks each, except for the introduction to graduate studies in the College of Business course, which lasts four weeks.

The MBA with an emphasis area adds two eight-week courses, which may be taken in parallel if approved. The MBA/MSN program includes a 150-hour practicum experience. Each person’s time to completion will vary depending on prior education, transfer credits, waived courses, and the rate at which courses are taken. Start dates land every eight weeks.

MBA Curriculum: Core courses for the MBA programs include an introduction to graduate studies in the College of Business; leadership and organizations; accounting practices; finance principles; applied business probability and statistics; marketing management; economics; quantitative methods; managerial accounting; managerial finance; operations management; and strategic management.

Additional courses for the emphasis areas are as follows:

• Accounting: Advanced financial accounting; advanced financial statement analysis
• Business Analytics: Applied analytics for business; descriptive and diagnostic analytics
• Cybersecurity: Cyberwarfare and applications; enterprise security infrastructure design
• Finance: Investments; advanced financial strategies
• Health Systems Management: Legal and ethical principles in healthcare; healthcare policies and economics
• Leadership: Leadership styles and development; organizational development and change
• Marketing: Services marketing; international marketing
• Project Management: Fundamentals of project management; agile project management
• Sports Business: Sports business revenue generation; sports business analytics
• Strategic Human Resource Management: Acquiring, developing, and leveraging human capital; designing HR for competitive advantage

Dual MBA/MSN Curriculum: The dual MBA/MSN program comprises 74 credits and includes the following MSN courses: introduction to advanced registered nursing; organizational leadership and informatics; translational research and population health management; evidence-based practice project; organizational development and change; principles of healthcare financial management; performance improvement and quality in healthcare; acquiring, developing, and leveraging human capital; and leadership and healthcare systems practicum.

The following MBA courses are included: introduction to graduate studies in the college of business; accounting practices; finance principles; economics; marketing management; quantitative methods; operations management; managerial accounting; managerial finance; and strategic management.

Dual MBA/MS in Leadership Curriculum: The dual MBA/MS in leadership program comprises 66 credits and includes the following courses: introduction to graduate studies in the college of business; leadership and organization; accounting practices; finance principal; economics; applied business probability and statistics; quantitative methods; managerial accounting; marketing management; operations management; managerial finance; leadership styles and development; strategic management; servant leadership; leadership and innovation; organizational development and change; and coaching, mentoring, and leadership development.

Online Experience: Grand Canyon University uses its own unique Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver asynchronous online courses. The GCU platform provides a rich, collaborative, interactive learning environment. Incorporated into the online programs are recorded videos and lectures, assignments, readings, group projects, discussion boards, online chat, and email. Other components included in the online platform include the academic calendar and calendar reminders, and online forums.

GCU focuses on student success through a variety of student services including an online library and bookstore, technical support, academic advising and admissions counseling, financial aid services, and ACE online tutoring. The faculty also keep office hours.

On-Site Requirements: The GCU online MBA programs are 100 percent online; however, students must complete a 150-hour practicum at an approved facility local to where they live and work for the dual MBA/MSN program. Online students are also welcome to participate in graduation on campus and visit campus at any time.

Paying for the GCU Online MBA Programs

Interested parties should contact the Grand Canyon University Colangelo College of Business for a complete cost estimate as MBA tuition may change each year. A special rate is available for active duty and active reserve military personnel. Prospective students may speak with a university counselor to learn more.

Graduate students may be eligible for graduate student loans through the FAFSA. Graduate students may also wish to inquire with their employers regarding tuition reimbursement programs and tuition discounts, as well as with outside entities for private loans and community and organizational scholarships and grants.

Sara Navratil

Writer

Sara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She's the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about entrepreneurial and general business topics, and providing detailed information on online MBA programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.