Palm Beach Atlantic University: A Comprehensive Look at Academic Programs and Opportunities

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), a private, nondenominational Christian university in West Palm Beach, Florida, offers a distinctive Christian learning experience. Founded in 1968, PBA has grown into an institution with nine colleges focusing on the liberal arts and professional studies. With a student-faculty ratio of 9:1 and 55.6% of its classes having fewer than 20 students, PBA provides a personalized academic environment. The university's commitment to academic excellence is complemented by a range of support services and enrichment programs designed to help students thrive.

A Wide Array of Academic Programs

PBA offers a diverse range of academic programs across its various colleges. The most popular majors at Palm Beach Atlantic University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; Psychology; Visual and Performing Arts; Theology and Religious Vocations; Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies; Education; and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. These programs are designed to provide students with a comprehensive education that prepares them for success in their chosen fields.

Rinker College of Business

The Rinker College of Business offers undergraduate degrees that provide the core competencies characteristic of a successful graduate entering a dynamic, global business environment. Base majors include bachelor’s degrees in accounting, finance, economics, business and law, international business, management (with general and small business concentrations), and marketing.

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) is a dual modality offering, which may be taken by both day and online students. The Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA) allows a dual-major from the Rinker College of Business and another PBA school to obtain a business degree. Each of the base majors provides the opportunity for students to choose a four-course franchising concentration, including a franchising-unique internship.

The Marshall E. Rinker Sr. School of Business (RSB) offers both generalized and specialized business master’s degree programs. The RSB MBA includes preparation for leading an organization, managing in a diverse global context, thinking creatively, making sound decisions and exercising good judgment under uncertainty, and integrating knowledge across fields. The curriculum associated with the MBA program is designed to provide the knowledge necessary to succeed as a general manager/business owner. Six core concentrations are available through the MBA program, including Accounting, Enterprise Systems, Finance, Marketing, and Project Management. The RSB MAcc program includes an understanding of the specified discipline from multiple perspectives, an understanding of the specialization context, and preparation for careers or further study. The curriculum associated with the MAcc program is designed to provide the knowledge necessary to succeed as a future CPA.

Other Notable Programs

PBA offers a variety of other undergraduate and graduate programs, including:

Business Administration, B.A.
Christian Studies, B.A.
Christian Studies, M.A. + Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S.
Christian Studies, M.A. + Community Development, M.S.
Christian Studies, M.A. + International Development, M.S.
Community Psychology, B.S.
Community Transformation and Chaplaincy, M.A.
Computer Science, M.S.
Doctor of Nursing Practice, D.N.P.
Doctor of Pharmacy, Pharm.D.
Educational Leadership, M.S.
Gaming & Interactive Media Design, B.A.
Intercultural Studies, B.A. + Global Development, M.S.
Intercultural Studies, B.A. + Master of Divinity, M.Div.
International Development, M.S.
Leadership and Organizational Behavior, B.S.
Master of Divinity, M.Div.
Medicinal & Biological Chemistry, B.S.
Ministry Leadership Studies, B.A.
Ministry Leadership Studies, B.A. + Master of Divinity, M.Div.
Ministry, B.A.
Ministry, B.A. + Master of Divinity, M.Div.
Ministry: Concentration in Pastoral Ministries, B.A.
Ministry: Concentration in Preaching and Teaching, B.A.
Philosophy, B.A. and Masters of International Development, M.S.
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, B.A. and Masters of International Development M.S.
Politics, B.A. and Masters of International Development M.S.

Academic Support and Enrichment

PBA is committed to providing students with the resources they need to succeed academically. Students have access to a wide variety of tutoring, academic coaching, academic enrichment activities, and workshops.

Writing Central

Writing Central is a resource for the entire campus community. Open six days per week, the Writing Central office houses trained tutors and writing coaches who provide guidance to students.

The Frederick M. Supper Honors Program

The Frederick M. Supper Honors Program enriches the PBA learning experience and enables students to heighten their academic pursuits.

SOAR and Welcome Week

SOAR (Student Orientation Advising Registration) is a one-day pre-registration program offered during the summer. During Welcome Week, students enjoy extended orientation programming right before the beginning of classes.

A Christian Learning Experience

PBA offers an extraordinary Christian learning experience, integrating faith into its academic programs and campus life. Chapel is a requirement for all full-time undergrad students. "Workship," PBA's community service program, seeks to respond to human needs with Christ-like action in the community and throughout the world, with the intention that such community service might help PBA students discern their vocation and develop a lifelong habit of servant leadership. Since it was established at PBA in 1968, PBA's Workship program has partnered with over 200 organizations in Palm Beach County. PBA mission trips are offered yearly for PBA students. PBA mission teams travel to countries all over the world and minister through evangelism, performing arts, street ministries, construction, medical outreach, sports workshops, and more.

Campus and Facilities

PBA's campus is located in West Palm Beach. The first structure built specifically for PBA, the W.G. Lassiter Jr. Student Center, was completed in 1982. This was followed by PBA's Johnson Hall and Sachs Hall in 1989. A new PBA campus was established in Orlando in 2002 and in Wellington in 2002. Classroom buildings at PBA include the Vera Lea Rinker Hall, the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy, Borbe Hall, MacArthur Hall, Rinker Hall, Oceanview Hall, The Greene Complex for Sports and Recreation, Memorial Presbyterian Church, Fern Street Theatre, Holy Trinity Church, and Okeechobee Hall.

In 2022, PBA launched its God-Sized Dreams campaign, a capital plan to expand academic programs and innovative spaces on PBA's West Palm Beach campus. A permanent home for PBA Athletics is in the form of a 78-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus at 3401 Parker Avenue in West Palm Beach-just a short drive from PBA. The campus, located between I-95 and Parker Avenue just north of Southern Boulevard, provides PBA facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate and intramural and club sport competitions.

Growth and Expansion

PBA has experienced unprecedented growth on its West Palm Beach campus. In 2024, PBA celebrated its third consecutive year of record-breaking enrollment. Now, PBA has over 4,100 students, with more than 80 countries represented. PBA contributed more than $435.6 million in economic impact to Palm Beach County in 2023-2024. This growth at PBA, coupled with the economic boom that South Florida has experienced in recent years, positions PBA to respond to market changes, expand academic programs at PBA, and build new, innovative spaces through PBA's God-Sized Dreams campaign.

Under the expansion plan, PBA will undertake four key projects. In January 2024, PBA broke ground on the first: the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall, after a historic donation from a longtime PBA supporter inspired the launch of the campaign at PBA. The university will also build a world-class performing arts center, a welcome center, and a new health sciences complex at PBA.

Athletics

The PBA athletic teams are called the Sailfish. PBA's colors are navy blue and white. PBA is a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) since the 2015-2016 academic year as a provisional member for most their sports (achieving D-II full member status in 2016-2017); while PBA's men's and women's track & field teams compete as NCAA D-II Independents as the conference does not sponsor these sports. PBA's Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus has beach volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis, and running trails as well as a new state of the art weight and training rooms. The sailfish is a predatory billfish, distinguished by its prominent dorsal fin and ability to accelerate to speeds unmatched by any other fish, up to 68 mph. When PBA was founded in 1968, PBA founders looked to nautical themes for PBA's varsity athletic teams. The sailfish is reflected in PBA's current athletics logo.

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