Kepha Institute Online Master's Program

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Program Features

Distinct from traditional MBA programs, the Kepha College Chinese Online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program inherits the century-long educational legacy of CIU. It emphasizes the integration of professional business acumen with foundational truth, aiming to reshape core values and broaden existential horizons.

Driven by a unique mission and calling, the program convenes a distinguished cohort of ethnic Chinese faculty holding Ph.D. degrees and tenure-track positions at leading global business schools. Beyond their academic rigor and timely dissemination of cutting-edge industry insights, these professors are deeply committed to cultivating meaningful relationships with students, employing a pedagogy of life influencing life.
Faculty members have meticulously produced pre-recorded video lectures for online learning, affording students the flexibility to manage their academic schedules autonomously. This is complemented by live, synchronous interactive sessions conducted entirely in Chinese, ensuring seamless pedagogical engagement free from language barriers.

Beyond the cultivation of specialized business competencies, the program places a profound emphasis on the formation of business ethics and foundational life principles. Furthermore, the extensive global alumni network of this century-old institution empowers students to develop a comprehensive cross-cultural and global perspective.

Real-time online face-to-face courses to establish effective interaction between professors and students

Recorded video courses explain basic concepts, theories, methods, and models

Comprehensive reading materials expose students to cutting-edge corporate case studies, as well as novel theories and perspectives within the field of business studies.

The content and form of assignments are rich and diverse, helping students effectively combine theory and practice

Provide online groups for students and teachers, where you can communicate with students and teachers at any time

No language barriers: The instructors use Chinese to teach, and students use Chinese for assignments and interaction with professors, with no language barriers.

Application-based admission: No need to spend time and effort preparing for the joint entrance examination, focusing on the practical application of what you have learned

Affordable tuition: Thanks to the dedication of professors and the support of donors, cost-effective tuition is achieved. Pay for one course at a time, without having to pay all tuition fees at once.

Authoritative Accreditation: Graduates can obtain a degree accredited by an authoritative U.S. accrediting agency

Flexible learning: The combination of online recorded courses and face-to-face interactive courses with professors allows for flexible and free time, suitable for on-the-job learning

Premium Faculty: The program boasts an international instructional team, all holding doctoral degrees and tenure-track appointments at prominent global business schools, bringing extensive academic, pedagogical, and practical expertise.

Expand your territory: The global alumni network of a century-old school, with the same foundation of truth and values, expands the territory of life in relationship connections

Emphasis on Practical Application: The curriculum prioritizes the expansion of cognitive paradigms and the practical application of theoretical knowledge. In addition to advancing professional business competencies, it robustly emphasizes the cultivation of business ethics and foundational life values.

Application Requirements

  • Applicants are required to hold a bachelor’s degree or higher; preference is accorded to candidates with professional experience in non-profit organizations.
  • The program may selectively admit a limited number of applicants without a bachelor’s degree. Such candidates must hold a high school diploma or an associate degree, be at least 25 years of age, successfully complete two Kepha MBA preparatory courses, and pass the corresponding evaluations. For detailed information, please consult an admissions counselor.

Application Process and Method

1

Fill out the application form on the official website

2

Submit complete application materials as required

3

Material review passed

4

Register for admission

  • Consultation email: kepha@ciu.edu
  • After submitting the pre-application on the registration website, you will receive an email with the application guide, and the admission will be based on the order in which the complete materials are submitted.

Introduction to the Academic System

12 core business and specialized track courses (36 credits in total).

The curriculum encompasses all major domains of management, including strategic management, finance, accounting,
marketing, operations and supply chain management, innovation and entrepreneurship, human resources management, and leadership.

Foundation Courses (30 credits)
Business Research and Data Analysis
Organizational Leadership and Ethics
Information Systems and Technology for Business
Marketing
Managerial Finance
Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making
International Business Credits
Strategic Planning and Management
Economics for Business Management
Strategic Operations and Supply Chain Management
Concentration Courses
(6 credits)
Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Business Law
Organizational Behavior and Change Management

Note: The curriculum may be slightly adjusted, please refer to the course selection notice after admission

CIU Kepha College Individual Credit Courses – Lightweight Learning Portal

What is NDSS?

NDSS (Non-Degree Seeking Student) offers a flexible entry point for learning, allowing students to take formal credit-bearing courses and earn academic credit without enrolling in a full degree program.

Through the NDSS program, learners are able to:

  • Authentically experience course content and academic pacing.
  • Evaluate pedagogical styles and instructional quality.
  • Explore academic disciplines within an accessible, low-barrier environment.
  • Make informed decisions prior to committing to a comprehensive degree program.

Try before you commit

Academic Features

  • Enrollment is capped at a maximum of four credit-bearing courses.
  • Facilitates rigorous academic engagement while mitigating excessive cognitive and temporal burdens.
  • Provides integration into authentic classroom settings, ensuring a comprehensive educational experience.
  • Serves as a transitional pathway to future degree programs, ensuring full transferability of earned credits.

Value Proposition

  • Flexible Entry
  • Facilitates the initiation of academic study without the prerequisite of a full degree commitment.
  • Informed Decision
  • Assists in evaluating the pursuit of further education through authentic academic engagement.
  • Provides lifelong learners with opportunities for sustained, interdisciplinary academic advancement.

Application and Admission

The application procedure for the NDSS program aligns closely with that of standard degree-seeking programs. It necessitates the submission of foundational application materials (e.g., academic credential verification) to uphold instructional excellence and rigorous academic standards.

Enter lightly.

Decide wisely.

MBA NDSS (Master of Business Administration)

Program Features

CIU Kepha College’s online, credit-bearing business courses are derived from a rigorously designed MBA curriculum, enabling learners to select high-quality, graduate-level business courses on an as-needed basis without committing to a full degree program. These courses integrate a global perspective with the development of cross-cultural leadership skills, all grounded in character formation and ethical reasoning, thereby fostering simultaneous growth in both professional competence and personal integrity. Each course can be taken individually or combined flexibly, and credits earned may be transferred toward a future MBA degree in accordance with applicable policies—truly realizing the concept of “learning before committing” and “applying knowledge to practice.”

Recommended NDSS Courses

The following courses encompass the core knowledge domains of the MBA program. Learners may freely select courses according to their personal requirements or refer to the suggested pathways to progressively construct a systematic framework of business knowledge:

Management and Leadership Track

BUS 5020 C: Organizational Corporate Leadership and Ethics — Understand the core principles of effective leadership; highly recommended as an introductory course.

BUS 5030 C: Organizational Behavior and Change Management — Master practical frameworks for team management and organizational transformation.

Marketing and Strategy Track

BUS 5050 C: Marketing — Systematically study market analysis, brand strategy, and digital marketing paradigms.

BUS 6050 C: Strategic Planning and Management — Cultivate a holistic perspective and strategic decision-making capabilities.

Finance and Decision-Making Track

BUS 6010 C: Financial Management — Establish core competencies in financial analysis and capital decision-making.

BUS 6020 C: Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making — Interpret financial statements to robustly support managerial decision-making.

Business Analytics and Digitalization Track

BUS 5010 C: Business Research and Data Analysis — Drive business decisions utilizing empirical data.

BUS 5040 C: Information Systems and Business Technology — Comprehend digital transformation and the application of business technologies.

Operations and Economic Analysis Track

ECN 6010: Managerial Economics — Comprehend the impacts of macroeconomic and microeconomic environments on corporate enterprises.

BUS 6040 C: Strategic Operations and Supply Chain Management — Optimize operational processes and quality control.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Track

BUS 5060 C: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Business Law — Develop entrepreneurial thinking, business model design, and legal risk awareness.

BUS 6030 C: International Business — Expand global operational perspectives and seize cross-border entrepreneurial opportunities.

Suggested Learning Pathways: Completing 2–3 courses within the same track can constitute specialized academic modules—such as “Management and Leadership,” “Marketing and Strategy,” “Finance and Decision-Making,” “Business Analytics and Digitalization,” “Operations and Economic Analysis,” or “Entrepreneurship and Innovation”—thereby providing robust endorsements for one’s curriculum vitae and professional advancement.

Learning Outcomes

By taking NDSS offered by CIU Kepha College, learners will be able to:

  • Master core concepts, cutting-edge knowledge, and practical tools within their selected business domains.
  • Enhance cross-cultural communication skills and international business acumen to effectively adapt to diverse professional environments.
  • Establish a leadership consciousness and decision-making framework firmly grounded in ethics and core values.
  • Receive rigorous, graduate-level academic training, with the potential to transfer earned credits into an MBA degree program in accordance with stipulated regulations.

Target Audience

  • Working professionals seeking to elevate their managerial capabilities or broaden their business knowledge without an immediate plan to pursue a full degree.
  • Prospective applicants considering an MBA degree who wish to preliminarily experience the instructional quality and academic pacing prior to matriculation.
  • Specialists requiring knowledge in specific business domains (e.g., finance, marketing, strategy) to effectively navigate current professional challenges.
  • Entrepreneurs and organizational administrators aspiring to advance their careers within cross-cultural contexts.
  • Lifelong learners desiring simultaneous growth in both personal character and professional competence.

Fall 2026 NDSS Course Offerings

Semester Start Date: August 24, 2026. The deadline for the submission of complete application materials is July 31, 2026.

NDSS Course
BUS 5010 C Business Research and Data Analysis
ECN 6010 Economics for Business Management
BUS 6010 C Managerial Finance
Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Business Law

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition

The college offers special tuition rates for students from developing countries and regions; fees are paid on a per-course basis, so there is no need to pay for all courses upfront.

Estimated tuition fee: US$9,000, approximately 60,000 RMB.

*Note: The tuition fee is an estimate under the current state. The school has the right to change the tuition fee due to administrative or uncontrollable factors. The specific tuition fee is subject to the registration at that time.

Scholarships

The program has financial aid, and the specific policy is based on the notification of each semester after enrollment:

  • Application period : In principle, there are no grants in the first semester, but you can apply from the second semester.
  • Requirements: B+ or above in the previous semester.
  • Funding amount: $100–$200 per course.
  • Number of Places : Please note that the number of places is limited and it may not be possible to meet all the needs of the applicants.
Business Courses: $630 per course

The original tuition fee was $1800/course (3 credits), and the special tuition fee is $630/course (3 credits)

Specialized Courses: $630 per course

The original tuition fee was $1800/course (3 credits), and the special tuition fee is $630/course (3 credits)

Network Course Platform Usage Fee: $30/Person/Semester

Populi Online Teaching Platform

Faculty

陈洁 博士

MBA项目主任和营销客座教授
  • 博士(消费者行为学),普渡大学,美国
  • 硕士(企业管理),南开大学,中国
  • 学士(国际贸易),南开大学,中国

晏星皓 博士

供应链管理客座教授
  • 博士(管理科学和定量方法),普渡大学,美国
  • 硕士(自动控制),南开大学,中国
  • 学士(自动控制),南开大学,中国

黄国华 博士

人力资源管理客座教授
  • 博士(管理学),中国香港科技大学,中国香港
  • 硕士(管理科学与工程),中国科学技术大学,中国
  • 学士(理学),中国安徽师范大学,中国

孙黎 博士

管理学客座教授
  • 博士(全球战略管理),达拉斯德州大学,美国
  • 硕士(营销),香港中文大学,中国香港
  • 双学士(哲学和科技信息管理),中国人民大学,中国

何健维 博士

金融学客座教授
  • 博士(会计与金融学),杜伦大学,英国
  • 硕士(金融学),伊利诺伊大学厄本那-香槟分校,美国
  • 硕士(国际经济学),中正大学,中国台湾

王刚 博士

商业信息系统客座教授
  • 博士(管理信息系统),亚利桑那大学,美国
  • 硕士(工业工程),路易斯安那州立大学,美国
  • 学士(工业与管理工程),天津大学,中国

王坤 博士

会计学客座教授
  • 博士(会计学),德克萨斯农工大学,美国
  • 硕士(会计学),新墨西哥州立大学,美国
  • 硕士(会计学),北京工商大学,中国

Testimonials from Teachers and Students

Dr. Jie Chen

MBA Program Director / Visiting Professor of Marketing

The most sustainable development is building skills on the foundation of truth. The MBA talents we cultivate should not only possess excellent professional competencies but also hold truth as their moral foundation.

Within the MBA program at Kepha College, we uphold two core pedagogical philosophies. On the one hand, we are dedicated to cultivating students’ abilities to apply critical thinking to resolve real-world problems; on the other hand, we aim to impart an entrepreneurial spirit driven by a mission of truth.

Joe Wu

Fall 2022 MBA Student

If you enroll here, you will discover that the MBA faculty are extraordinarily dedicated.

Not only are there weekly pre-recorded lectures and post-class assignments, but there are also opportunities for weekly live interactions. The professors are even willing to connect with students via direct messaging to answer questions and assist in shoring up foundational knowledge gaps.

In many comparable programs on the market, regardless of the tuition paid, it is unlikely to find faculty willing to go to such lengths—let alone in a program with such accessible tuition. This environment is clearly not suited for those merely seeking a credential; rather, it is designed for students who genuinely wish to learn from their professors.

Jelena Jin

Fall 2022 MBA Student

Upon initial enrollment, I harbored a clear objective: to lay a solid foundation for future mid-level career advancement, hoping to distinguish myself within the industry and attain greater competitive leverage. However, as my academic journey deepened, particularly through the edification of each professor’s rich life experiences, I gradually realized the profound and far-reaching significance underlying this gift.

Today, my perspective has transcended personal ambitions, focusing instead on how to translate the invaluable knowledge and experience I have acquired in both the philanthropic and commercial sectors into practical action, serving a broader community of those in need.

I am confident that, upon graduation, I will emerge as a professional in the non-profit sector equipped with both business knowledge and commercial acumen. Furthermore, I will assist more grassroots organizations in establishing social enterprises. I am committed to asking “why” more frequently and striving to contemplate the mission of organizational development from diverse, cross-industry perspectives.

Looking back upon graduation, I might have found numerous reasons not to pursue an MBA, but once I commenced the journey, I found it exceedingly difficult to find a single reason to regret participating.

School Start Time

School start time: The school starts in spring, summer and autumn every year, which are early January, early May and late August respectively.

Each semester is 16 weeks, and each course lasts 16 weeks.
The entire curriculum can be completed in a minimum of 24 months, with a maximum allowable duration of 10 years.

Duration of Study

Business Courses

8 weeks per course; two courses are conducted sequentially within each 16-week semester (only one course is offered at any given time)

Professional courses

8 weeks per course; two courses are conducted sequentially within each 16-week semester (only one course is offered at any given time)

Students in this program who meet all course requirements and complete their studies will receive

Columbia International University (CIU)

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree

(Master of Business Administration)

欢迎申请 CIU kepha 学院 !