Profit with a Purpose: Earning Your MBA at Southern
The world needs more business leaders who bring Christian principles like compassion, ethics, and servant leadership to the workplace. At Southern, we're creating those leaders every day.
A Mission-Minded Approach to Earning Your MBA
What is "missional business"?
Here at Southern, we believe that being successful in business doesn't have to come at the expense of bringing principles like equality, open-mindedness, trust, respect, and compassion to the workplace.
That's why we've created this unique, mission-minded MBA program and these guiding lights are at the core of everything we do. We're creating the next generation of ambitious entrepreneurs and business leaders who are passionate about things like ethical sourcing, hiring and buying local, and following Christian teachings.
If you're passionate about evangelism, building communities, and giving back to those less fortunate—while succeeding in business—then this may be the program for you.
Our mission-minded approach has helped our graduates go on to accomplish incredible achievements with their MBAs. With emphases in Accounting, Healthcare Administration, and Management, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from a diverse range of materials that will prepare you to make a profound impact on the things that inspire you.
When our MBA students graduate, they position themselves for promotions, increase their earning potential, enter entirely new fields, and create businesses that solve challenges for people every day.
Keep reading to learn more about the different areas of emphasis you can learn about in Southern's MBA program.
Whatever your personal and professional goals are, earning an MBA from Southern can help you get there.
The real-world applications for earning your MBA are broad and varied. Whether you want to create revolutionary new products, found a start-up, or become a top executive for a large company, the world needs strong, educated business leaders who know how to influence change, deliver results, and drive positive impacts on the world.
In Southern's program, you'll have the opportunity to choose from three areas of emphasis, as well as our dual degree programs. Let's take a closer look at each and determine which emphasis is right for you.
Accounting
This emphasis is designed for people who are looking to get the most out of their careers in Accounting while practicing servant leadership and driving meaningful change. Southern MBA accounting graduates have gone on to earn advanced roles like auditing manager, tax manager, and even chief financial officer (CFO). In these types of roles, you’ll still get to work with numbers but it’ll involve making more important decisions, building financial strategies, and managing a team of people.
Management
At its essence, the Management emphasis will build on all of the skills, strategies, and knowledge you’ll learn with the core MBA curriculum, with a special focus on servant leadership and people management. The best leaders aren't only business savvy and good with numbers—they're able to read people, manage complex personnel situations, and bring employees together toward a common goal.
DNP/MBA and MSN/MBA Dual Degrees
If you want to become a nurse administrator or you’re passionate about the business side of healthcare, then these dual degree programs will help get you to influence positive change and work with executives to achieve organizational goals. Graduates of these dual-degree programs learn interdisciplinary expertise in nursing, business, and healthcare leadership. They are in high demand and enjoy increased earning potential and career advancement opportunities.
Healthcare Administration
Become a leader at the intersection of healthcare and business.As people strive to take more control of their health, there is a strong need for administrative leaders who can manage teams, navigate healthcare policy and regulation changes, adopt new technology at your facilities, develop new and innovative approaches to operations and patient care, bring new healthcare products to market, and support patients in accordance with God's teachings.
MSW/MBA Dual Degree
If your goal is to open your own social work practice, then this path may be for you. Our MSW/MBA dual degree program meets at the intersection of social work, business, and healthcare leadership. It’s one thing to be passionate about helping others, but running a successful business takes a whole different set of skills. This dual degree would also help you pursue careers working at hospitals, in the school system, with government agencies, and with law enforcement, just to name a few.
Get an Inside Look at the Emphases in Southern's MBA Program
Want to learn more about what you'll study in each of these areas of emphasis and how they'll help you take the next steps in your career?
Download our guide, Profit with a Purpose: Earning Your MBA at Southern Adventist University to get more of your questions answered!
What Salaries Can You Earn With an MBA?
Salary ranges for MBA professionals vary widely based on industry, level of experience, location, and many other factors. Part of the appeal of earning an MBA is that it opens you up to so many opportunities to pursue what it is that you're most passionate about.
Here's a quick snapshot of some of the most common career paths that Southern graduates have taken and what their earning potential could be. Because the world of business is so broad, we also recommend that you thoroughly research your particular field and area of interest to get a better sense of what your salary range could be.
Accountant with an MBA
$94,000
Healthcare Administrator
$85,000
Nurse Administrator
$118,880
Social Worker with Own Practice
$70,873
MBA Salary (National Average)
$115,000
MBA Salary (Tennessee Average)
$73,682
Discover more about Southern's mission-minded approach to business, explore our dual degree options, and how our MBA program can help advance your career as a compassionate business leader.
Inside this interactive experience, you'll find insights into:
- Each of our three areas of emphasis: Finance, Healthcare Administration, and Management
- Our dual degree programs:
- Social Work - MSW/MBA
- Nursing - DNP/MBA and MSN/MBA
- Which courses you'll get to take and what you'll learn
- Deadlines and important application information
- Additional resources to help you make an informed decision about taking the next step in your career.
![1302398_[Southern] GS MBA eBook Cover_052522](https://discover.e.southern.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/1302398_%5BSouthern%5D%20GS%20MBA%20eBook%20Cover_052522.jpg?width=400&height=557&name=1302398_%5BSouthern%5D%20GS%20MBA%20eBook%20Cover_052522.jpg "1302398_[Southern] GS MBA eBook Cover_052522")
Here is a brief overview of the MBA program details at Southern. For more information about our dual degree programs, visit the program pages:
Eligibility and Prerequisites
- Bachelor's degree: A bachelor’s degree (in any area) from an accredited program
- GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00
Admission Process
- Graduate application: Submit a graduate application (with a non-refundable fee of $40).
- Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
- Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms (completed by work supervisors or professors).
- GMAT requirements: Submit scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test taken within the past five years. Possible exceptions may apply.
For a more detailed look at the MBA Program, visit our Program Page.
Application Deadlines
TERM
U.S. RESIDENTS
INTERNATIONAL
Fall
July 1
May 1
Winter
November 1
September 1
Summer
April 1
February 1
Looking for More Program Information?
We’d love to chat more with you about the specifics of the MBA program! You can request additional program information or schedule a meeting with a Southern representative below.
Visit Program Page Request More Information Schedule a Meeting
Meet the Faculty Who Embody Our Approach to Missional Business
Our dedicated faculty members are committed to helping create the next generation of mission-minded business leaders. Bringing decades of experience to the classroom, they're passionate about sharing their knowledge and real-life business experience with their students to help them find success and make an impact where it matters most.
We encourage you to reach out to our team with questions about our program!
Why Southern?
The 8-week mini-session course structure offers optimal flexibility and balance so that you can earn your degree without sacrificing your career and personal life. The faster program allows students to focus on fewer courses at a time so they can learn the material without stretching themselves too thin. This program is also offered completely online.
Wherever it is that your passions take you, earning a mission-minded MBA from Southern will prepare you to become a stronger business leader and influence change wherever you go.