MBA in Economic Development and MA in International Development Programs at Eastern University

Eastern University's School of Leadership and Development is blessed to house two graduate degrees geared towards forming Christian development practitioners: the MBA in Economic Development, and the MA in International Development. Both of these degrees have an international and an urban (US domestic) concentration.

Over the last 29 years, more than a 1000 alumni from these two programs have gone on to work in the United States and all over the world with a host of Christian and secular development, relief, advocacy, and community service organizations, city, state, and government entities, churches and mission agencies, and businesses. Directed and taught by faculty with extensive experience in the field, the programs are crafted so that they are academically rigorous, intense, and current, rooted in God's word and geared towards preparing students for a lifetime of discipleship, witness, and service wherever Christ leads them.

The Masters in International Development gives students the spiritual, analytical, and technical skills needed for prayerful and effective practice of transformational development. It is based on the recognition of the need for holistic understandings and approaches that address the underlying economic, social, cultural, political and spiritual challenges in this kind of work. The program is geared towards nurturing practical skills in holistic community development, advocacy, disaster relief and mitigation, microfinance, and sustainable development. In this context, we prepare our students to serve as learners, servants, facilitators, leaders, and managers of development and relief programs and projects, understanding and informing what they do through Scripture and the importance of sharing the saving news of Christ.

The MBA in Economic Development incorporates this same outlook and approach, but takes it a step further. The program is founded on the perspective that business has an intrinsic role to play in building the Kingdom of God. Christians can view business and their activity in business as God's tool of transformation for our world. Business can play a significant role in alleviating human suffering and solving social problems.

Eastern University's MBA in Economic Development program believes that we are to prepare students who are theologically informed, have a strong sense of social justice, possess great business acumen, and have a keen desire to serve God and society through business. Our program combines "tough-minded and tender-hearted" business actions that values an equal partnership between "market and mission" and seeks to nurture the passion and commitment of its students for job and wealth creation, justice, and the verbal proclamation of the good news of Christ.

Development Field Practicum Options

3-Month Development Field Practicum associated with the fulltime traditional program

The field semester requirement for the MBA in Economic Development and MA in International Development is a 3 month assignment where students seek an opportunity with an organization (nationally or internationally depending on their concentration) of their choice to use skills acquired while in the program with that organization. The student is required to identify the organization and make the arrangements for the DFP, filling out and submitting the appropriate paperwork required in order to register for the DFP. The student must have a concrete project or role in which they are working with that organization in order for the time to be counted towards the DFP.

Delivery:

The full-time 15-month intensive combines full time in class, some residency and online education while on the field. Though the development field practicum requirement from Eastern University is 3 months, students often choose to extend their time with organizations as they are looking for more permanent opportunities, while learning lots from others at the organizations.

The MA program is a 30 credit program and the MBA is a 42 credit program and the field semester is added to each program for credit at 2 credits.

Deadlines and Cost:

The final application deadline for international students is May 25th and June 1st for US students. Eastern University has rolling admissions so you can begin and complete your application process as soon as you desire, just identify the planned year of enrollment.

Students begin the program with a comprehensive orientation and a day with Dr. Tony Campolo for an Introduction to "Theories of Social Change"

The current cost of tuition is $650 per credit and both programs qualify for FAFSA (FAFSA is for US students only). In addition, the School of Leadership and Development offers 15% institutional aid grants to US and Canadian students. Grants are also awarded to international students from developing countries and are based on need.

Application Requirements and Process:

The programs are open to candidates who hold a Bachelors degree or equivalent from an accredited institution with a 2.5 overall GPA. The application process for both programs is simple and straight forward, but the MBA does require the completion of four business pre-requisite courses and the GMAT test.

If you are applying to the MBA program (offered only in the US) candidates must have completed the GMAT test or have plans to complete it as well as the following business pre-requisite courses before matriculating:

1. Introduction to Accounting (Managerial and Financial Accounting or Accounting I & II)

2. Introduction to Business Statistics

3. Introduction to Business Finance

4. Introduction to Economics (Micro and Macro)

Download Mail-In Application or Apply Online

You can download the application using this link at http:www.eastern.edu/admissions/pdf/Graduate_Appor apply online athttps:secureweb.eastern.edu/grad_application/index.html. If you complete the application online the $35 application fee is waived.

Admissions Requirements for US Citizens and Permanent Residents:

• $35 Application Fee (waived if you apply online)
• Application Form
• Admissions Essays A & B (Please remember to put your name on all submissions)
• Three Letters of Recommendation submitted with Eastern University recommendation forms from:
  • Your Pastor
  • Your current employer (if applicable)
  • A Professor or other person familiar with your vision, ministry, and your achievements both academically and professionally

• Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
• Current resume (CV)
• Disclosure of Online Expectations (DOLE) Form (Mandatory for all applicants)
• SLD Institutional Aid Form (if applicable)
• Official results of the GMAT (MBA Program Only)with a score of 450 or higher
• Official results of the TOEFL or IELTS (if required)

Admissions Requirements for Foreign Students Applying to Study in the US

To apply to a program and in addition to the documents listed in the admissions procedure above, you are required to provide the following:

• Official transcripts and Transcript/Credential Evaluation: If the applicant's undergraduate degree is from a non-US institution the applicant must submit a transcript evaluation from a recognized evaluation agency (www.naces.org)
• TOEFL exam results with a minimum score of 550 (written), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet), or a minimum IETLS score of 6.5 -- unless the student was educated in the English language from a country where English is the primary language of instruction
• Supplemental Income forms
• Copy of passport
• Health Forms completed and submitted

Application Decisions are made within 7 - 10 business days.