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About the MA in Innovation Degree

Why Study Innovation at Cedarville?

In a world that values creative, thoughtful problem-solvers, advance your career with a degree that prepares you to be an innovator and leader. Cedarville University's online Master of Arts in Innovation (MAI) — a unique collaboration between Cedarville's Plaster School of Business and the International Center for Creativity in Columbus, Ohio — will equip you to drive innovation across various sectors, fostering a culture of creativity and problem-solving that reflects God's design.

Choose from three concentrations to shape your curriculum:

  • Business Analytics and Visualization
  • Business Innovation
  • Healthcare Innovation (NEW)

From design thinking to strategic analysis, our curriculum blends theoretical insights with practical application, empowering you to lead change and contribute to economic growth through a biblical lens. You'll engage in hands-on projects, case studies, and real-world challenges to develop a robust "problem worth solving" that you'll explore throughout your studies.

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What Sets Cedarville Apart?

  • Biblical Worldview
    All courses are built on the solid foundation of Scripture.

  • Online
    All courses are offered in an online format, with flexible part-time and full-time completion options.

  • Leading-Edge
    This degree is one of a kind among evangelical Christian universities.

Program Overview

Program Highlights

Biblical – With Cedarville’s biblical focus in every course, you will recognize God as the Master Creator and the author of all creativity.

Specialized – You will choose from one of three concentrations: Business Analytics and Visualization, Business Innovation, or Healthcare Innovation.

Hands-on Learning – As part of your online coursework, you’ll learn by doing, blending knowledge and skills, theoretical ideas and practice. 

Career Preparation – Along with this focus on innovation, you will study practical business coursework in leadership, marketing, and business creation that will equip you as a valuable asset in any organizational setting.

Online — Courses are offered in convenient online format, allowing you to study from anywhere in the world.

Flexible — Seven-week terms provide flexibility for working professionals.

Adaptable — Interactive course websites optimized for multiple devices including computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Affordable — Affordable tuition and available financial aid.

Supportive — Dedicated program advisor ensures support while you pursue your degree and maintain other commitments.

Networking Community — Cohort-based approach builds community and network for Christian professionals.

Berry Center for Free Enterprise — Engage with renowned business professionals through speaker series, gain hands-on experience by participating in various events, and explore numerous opportunities to get involved with free enterprise and entrepreneurship. These initiatives offered by Cedarville's Berry Center for Free Enterprise will deepen your understanding of the biblical basis for free markets and help equip you to make an impact for Christ in the business world. Explore the Berry Center for Free Enterprise

What Can You Do With a Master of Arts in Innovation?

A master's degree in innovation will prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities. You can pursue roles such as innovation managers, product development managers, business consultants, entrepreneurship advisors, or technology commercialization specialists. You may find employment in various sectors, including ministry, missions, technology companies, consulting firms, startups, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or within larger corporations that value innovation and seek to stay competitive in a rapidly changing business environment.

Here is a sampling of job titles:

  • Chief Innovation Officer
  • Product Innovation Manager
  • Marketing Director
  • Director of Product or Service Design
  • User Experience Consultant
  • Senior Design Engineer
  • Entrepreneur

Admission, Costs and Aid, Start Dates

Admission Requirements — The first step in your graduate school journey at Cedarville is to apply for admission.

MA in Innovation admission requirements

Costs and Financial Aid — Your decision to pursue quality, Christian graduate education represents a valuable investment in your career and professional development. To assure your degree is also affordable, Cedarville graduate programs are competitively priced and can be supplemented with a variety of financial aid.

MA in Innovation Cost Information

Program Start Dates — Applications are accepted throughout the year, and you can enroll and begin classes in August, October, January, March, May, or July.

Concentrations — Choose from three in-demand concentrations for the MA in Innovation:

  • Business Analytics and Visualization
  • Business Innovation
  • Healthcare Innovation

Program Curriculum

You will take the following core courses as part of the Master of Arts in Innovation:

  • Management and Leadership of Organizations
  • Strategic Marketing Planning
  • Emerging Trends and Opportunities for Innovation
  • Design Thinking Principles for Innovation
  • Advanced Design Thinking Principles for Innovation
  • Business Modeling and New Venture Creation
  • Creativity to Entrepreneurship

Then, you will customize your degree by choosing a concentration based on your career goals:

Business Analytics and Visualization

  • Managerial Data Analysis
    – Course prerequisite: Undergraduate statistics course or equivalent competency
  • Data Warehousing and Visualization
  • Business Forecasting and Econometrics
    – Course prerequisite: BUS-6100 and an undergraduate economics course or equivalent competency
  • Data Mining for Business Analytics

Business Innovation

  • Information Technology for Competitive Advantage
  • Project Management
  • Responding to the Marketplace
  • Applied Leadership

Healthcare Innovation

  • Healthcare Models and Systems
  • Technology in Modern Healthcare
  • Innovation and Quality Improvement in Healthcare
  • Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare Systems

Program Format and Related Programs

Cedarville offers both graduate and undergraduate programs, with flexible completion options. You may also want to consider these related programs as you consider the degree or program that is a best fit for you.

Program Level and Format

  • Graduate
  • Online
Student smiling while holding laptop in one hand and writing on whiteboard with the other hand.

From Our Faculty:

  • The concept of innovation is needed in every organization and is applicable to a broad range of professionals. It’s the marriage of creative problem-solving with business, and it can serve anyone — people in charge of company departments, engineers, executives.
    Jim Stevenson, President, International Center for Creativity
    Jim Stevenson, director of the International Center for Creativity
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Program Contacts

Photo of John Delano

John Delano, PhD

Associate Dean, Robert W. Plaster School of Business; Professor of Information Technology Management

Contact

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Kelley Anderson

Graduate Enrollment Advisor for Business and Innovation

Contact

Photo of Jim Stevenson

Jim Stevenson

President, International Center for Creativity

Contact

Robert W. Plaster School of Business

Program News