Frequently Asked Questions

What do MOL students look like?

MOL students are working adults with bachelors degrees who have demonstrated effectiveness in leading and managing others in the workplace (private sector, profit/nonprofit, or ministry related). They believe their future effectiveness would be greatly increased through the learning and credentials of an accredited graduate degree in the field of leadership and organizational effectiveness. Their preference is that the degree would be integrated with a Christian world view in order to have the confidence of their faith as the underpinnings for the use of all the tools and skills they acquire through the degree.

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What is the difference between an MOL degree and an MBA degree?

Biola's MOL program attracts working professionals who are seeking to grow in their leadership skills through learning how to effectively work with and develop people in the context of an organization. MOL students study three primary areas: Best practices in leadership, personal leadership style, and a Biblical approach to leadership. As they progress through the program, MOL students are taught to integrate and then apply these three areas in their workplaces. MOL students design and implement a final project in their workplaces as the culmination of their learning in the program, with the oversight and guidance of an MOL professor.

Biola's MBA program attracts those who are seeking to master a range of business topics, including finance, accounting, marketing, strategy and operations, for a complete understanding of the modern organization. The courses are integrated with each other and with Scripture so that graduates can become effective change management leaders with their organizations. Each MBA student is paired with a business mentor for the duration of the program to augment their out-of-class experience. For more information on Biola's MBA program, please click here.

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How many units will I need to take?

36  Total units to complete the program:
16  required core units (usually taken in sequence)
4  units practical Research Project
6  units Graduate Level Bible>
4  units MOL electives
6  units general elective
(MOL or other graduate level subject area approved by advisor)


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How much is tuition?

$550 per unit (for the 2009-10 academic year)

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How much will books cost?

Each class will vary, but most students tell us they spend approximately $50-$125 per 2-unit class for books.

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How long does it take?

Most on-campus students finish within 27 - 33 months. The on-campus program is flexible to accommodate a number of different paces, so length will vary based on the student's particular priorities. Students have finished in as little as 16 months (working on a full-time basis), and others have taken up to 4 years.

The Modular program takes 3 years to complete. If students wish to accelerate, it can be completed in 2 or 2.5 years.
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What do the on-campus and modular schedules look like?

MOL classes are designed to accommodate working adults. In the on-campus format, classes are scheduled in the evenings and occasionally on weekends. Most core courses take place on Thursday or Monday nights, and are generally taken in sequence. (One full weekend course is required--the Leadership Challenge course.) Other elective course nights are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Occasionally a Friday or Saturday elective course may be offered. Classes are held from 6-10 p.m., with the exception of weekend courses.

The modular delivery allows students to take courses online in spring and fall, and come to campus for a two-week intense residency. Students should plan to take two weeks' vacation for this residency period in the modular program.

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What about transfer units?

The MOL does accept transfer units on a case-by-case basis. The MOL can only accept graduate-level units from accredited universities. Generally a course description from the school will be required for review. The MOL can accept up to 12 units of transfer credit. If you have questions about transfer units, please call the MOL office and ask to speak with the academic advisor.

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What financial aid is available?

Student Loans

Many MOL students utilize student loans, namely the federal Stafford loan, to finance their education. This is the most widely used and most readily available form of financial aid for MOL students. The first step in applying for a student loan is to fill out the FAFSA online.

Scholarships

Due to the generosity of private donors, there are limited funds available to the MOL program to distribute in the form of scholarships. These funds are distributed based on a variety of factors, including financial need and academic excellence. Scholarships awarded vary from funds to apply to an indivudual course to a renewable annual scholarship. If you would like to apply for a scholarship, please contact Sarah Ailes in the MOL. Those interested in a scholarship must complete their application for admission to the program AND the scholarship application by June 1st (for the fall semester) or November 1st (for the spring semester).

Employer Assistance

A number of MOL students are able to utilize assistance from their employers to help cover the cost of tuition. We encourage you to seek information from your employer about this option.


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What are the application deadlines?

December 1st for the spring semester, July 1st for the fall semester.
If an application is accepted early enough, students may have the option of getting a "jumpstart" by taking an interterm (January) or summer course. This should be addressed early in the process to ensure probability of enrollment.

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What are the requirements for the program?

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college.
  • A grade point average of "B" or higher. (Applicants with less than a "B" may be admitted on a case by case basis.)
  • A minimum of three years' managerial or supervisorial experience
  • Completing an application
  • 3 references (on forms provided in the application)
  • Statement of career objectives (one to two paragraphs)
  • Current resume highlighting leadership experience
  • Personal interview
  • Current email address


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What does "leadership experience" mean in the list of admissions requirements?

Applicants to the MOL program at Biola should have a minimum of three years of leadership, supervisory, or management experience, gained outside of college. This could be an official management position at work, a position of ministry leadership at church, or an unofficial team or project leader position. The ideal MOL student will have gained enough experience leading people to be familiar with the basic challenges a leader faces. This requirement ensures that all students have a basic "real world" foundation upon which to build in the program. Classes are conducted on the assumption that the students have experienced the ups and downs of leadership and are currently in a position in which they can apply the classroom lessons to real life.

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Why is leadership experience required?

The purpose of requiring supervisorial or leadership experience is two-fold: First, students must have a background which allows a basic knowledge from which to draw during study. Simply giving students "head knowledge" does not prepare men and women to be leaders. Second, we work to build a cohort of students who can speak a similar language through which to interact. The cohort is a major component of this program, as we find that students help each other nearly as much as professors do.

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