Concordia Studying Separate Business School

Concordia University has taken a step toward launching a separate business school that would double the number of students who leave the Irvine campus with a graduate or undergraduate degree in the discipline.

The university’s regents agreed at their December meeting that officials should continue studying the feasibility of a school of business, campus officials announced Monday. The regents are scheduled to vote on a proposal in March.

Steve Christensen, Concordia’s executive vice president for university advancement, said a new school would respond to student demand. About 40% of the Lutheran university’s students become teachers. A survey of the 1,500-student campus showed that another 40% of undergraduates want to go into business, Christensen said.

At present, there are 172 undergraduate business majors and 40 people enrolled in the master of business administration program.

“It won’t be for everyone,” he said. “Our focus is on a value-centered education, one centered on integrity. We’re a Christian university, so we’re going to take a Christian approach.”

Existing business schools in Orange County include ones based at UC Irvine, Chapman University, Azusa Pacific University and Pepperdine University.

Concordia’s business school would cost an estimated $8 million to $10 million for a building, plus another $2 million for endowed faculty chairs and scholarships, Christensen said.