BA in Business
What you study matters, so we focus on what you need to succeed.
Courses are selected based on what employers need and want. You study core business topics designed to launch your career. Oak Valley’s prescribed schedule of four courses per semester across eight semesters allows you to graduate in two years and eight months — well ahead of your peers and at a fraction of the cost of other colleges and universities.
Learning Outcomes
Program learning outcomes (PLOs) define success. Every course is rigorously developed modeled after curriculum from the most prestigious universities across the globe. Learning outcomes are predefined in ten core described below.
Student learning outcomes (SLOs) ensure accountability. From the PLOs professors craft lectures, activities, and readings designed around specific SLOs. Each course has three priority PLOs from which professors develop 2-3 core SLOs. Students demonstrate proficiency and application of these lessons through projects, presentations, and assignments.
Program Learning Outcomes
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Business Practice
Master core principles in business (e.g. marketing, accounting, finance) as they apply to theoretical and real-world situations.
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Written Communication
Express complex ideas in writing to inform, persuade, or engage your audience.
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Critical Thinking
Explore ideas, information, and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, sometimes characterized as deep thought, or thoughtful consideration of the problem/challenge presented.
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Creative Problem Solving
Combine and synthesize ideas, data, evidence, or expertise to develop solutions to complex challenges.
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Biblical Literacy
Analyze and synthesize themes, historical perspectives, and the framing of Bible accounts and lessons.
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Oral Communication
Prepare presentations to increase knowledge, foster understanding, or promote change.
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Lifelong Learning
Appreciate higher education to inspire your creativity, God’s place in your life, service to others, and depth of knowledge.
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Quantitative Literacy
Solve problems from a variety of sources, applying quantitative arguments in writing, tables, graphs, and charts.
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Information Literacy
Evaluate external resources to ensure their accuracy and applicability to convey ideas or solve problems.
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Career Preparation
Develop skills to explore, search, and prepare for careers that align with your personal, professional, and spiritual priorities.
Year One
Creating a foundation and building core competencies
Unlike other colleges and universities where your first year is defined by general education and large lecture halls with hundreds of students, at Oak Valley College, you jump right into a blend of liberal arts and foundational coursework as well as business and theology courses.
Also, unlike other programs, you will complete three semesters, allowing you to advance your education and career.
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Your first-year learning outcomes are foundational in nature, designed to give you the skills you need to improve and master second and third year learning outcomes and student success.
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Your first-year business courses focus on start-ups, developing quantitative and business communication skills, and gaining an appreciation of how organizations are structured to thrive.
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Gaining an appreciation for Biblical themes in literature and society is your starting point to understanding Christian theology. From there, you will survey the Old and New Testament.
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Your first-year provides you with an appreciation of lifelong learning as you develop foundational college writing skills and explore early American history, and US Government, and politics.
Year Two
Advanced courses and specialization
Your second year at Oak Valley helps you explore advanced topics in business, theology, and the liberal arts. Your education quickly shifts through a dozen courses to allow you to begin to master topics and skills in the professions.
Second year is also the time where most students will engage with a mentor, complete one or more internships, and go on one or more CEO Visits.
Year two is an ideal time for students to tap into their God-given talents and passion.
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Second-year students move from foundational, introductory, or survey level learning into developing and mastering their abilities at the undergrad level. Coursework and assignments become increasing complex asking students to analyze and synthesize problems, lessons, and applications.
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Students complete core business courses during their second year, including marketing, accounting, project management, and their first capstone course (Launch Pad - Strategy and Planning)
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Second year Theology courses are many students favorite courses in the degree. Course include Systematic Theology and Leadership, which cover complex themes and lessons students are able to apply to their everyday lives.
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Second-year liberal arts courses cover philosophy, art, music, and literature. Through a well-rounded historical perspective of the most inspiring and culturally significant thoughts and creative expressions in history students gain valuable insights on how western civilization developed and thrived over thousands of years.
Final Year
Finishing strong
Your final two semesters focus on strengthening your skills and completing the degree with abilities and a passion to pursue your life after college. You will complete the Launch Pad (three course capstone), where you develop a new product or service for a business, nonprofit, ministry or government organization. You will also end your undergrad experience in a flurry of final projects and assignments designed to give you the tools you need to be the best version of yourself.
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Courses students complete in their final two semesters can best be described as mastery-level experiences. This is where students demonstrate the ability to blend theory and practice to analyze and synthesize complex challenges and problems.
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The focus of the final year at Oak Valley is the Launch Pad. Students are pushed to complete their project and analyze the results (what they learned and how they grew through the process). In addition to the Launch Pad, students complete courses in business law, finance, accounting, and human resource management.
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Spiritual Formation is the final Theology course students complete. This course provides a personal exploration of a student’s theology approach to the world. It is a profound conclusion to the student experience at Oak Valley and helps students frame what comes next for their faith journey.
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While there are no distinct liberal arts courses during the last two semesters, students are encouraged to continue their lifelong learning by applying what they learn to improve their communities, families, and self.
“The Launch Pad forces students to build something of their own. They become makers in the real world for real people.”
Professor Tony Angelo