Chapter One
A Higher Education Revolution
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Misinformed Perceptions About an Online Degree
The Advertising and Marketing of Online MBA Programs
Is It Really Online or On-Campus?
Graduate Degrees in Business-Related Fields
A Variety of Teaching and Learning Approaches
Where Do You Want to Take Your Career?
A Credential or Knowledge?
The growth of the Internet and new education technologies
have brought revolutionary changes to the way colleges and universities offer
courses and degree programs. It is no longer uncommon for hard-working
individuals to earn a legitimate, fully accredited MBA entirely online without
setting foot on campus. Plus, employers across the globe have come to realize
that job candidates who earned an MBA online are just as valuable and
knowledgeable as those who earned an MBA in a traditional face-to-face
curriculum.
Online MBA programs consist of courses in which students and faculty
interact with each other in a variety of ways over their Internet connections.
In the early 1990s, one of the earliest U.S.-based institutions to offer a fully online MBA program
was Regis University, a private Jesuit institution located in Denver, CO.
Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada is another early provider of a fully
online MBA program, launched in the early 1990s. The institution with the largest number of online MBA
students is the University of Phoenix, another early provider of online degree
programs. There’s also a good number of highly recognized public and private
institutions now offering online MBA programs, including Arizona State
University, Drexel University, Florida State University, Indiana University,
Syracuse University, University of Florida, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the
University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and many more reputable higher education
institutions throughout the world.
Online MBA programs vary substantially in their quality, content, and
organizational structure. You can find a great deal of information about any
online MBA program by visiting each institution’s website. An extensive library
of continuously updated links to
these programs worldwide are located at
http://www.edpath.com/onlinemba.html.
I believe this is the most extensive collection of live direct
links to online MBA programs offered by institutions in the U.S that you will
find anywhere. However, you’ll need to do a lot more than only Internet-based
research before you decide on which program to pursue.
The purpose
of this eBook is to help you make the right decision that works best for you.
This first chapter is only the beginning. If you haven’t looked at the Table of
Contents yet, now is a good time to check it out to at least get a sense of what
you need to start considering.
The
majority of students enrolled in online MBA programs are busy adult working
professionals, ranging in age from their late 20s to late 40s. Online learning
has become an increasingly popular way for them to earn an MBA credential
primarily because of the flexibility these programs offer. People who travel
frequently on their jobs or have both work and personal responsibilities that
severely limit their ability to physically attend classes are now going online.
Additionally, employers see the
benefits of this type of learning as web-based training and professional
development programs increasingly move into the corporate mainstream.
There are
advantages and disadvantages to learning online. Students who require live,
face-to-face, social interaction in an educational setting aren’t cut out for
online learning. Students who enjoy communicating online, are self-directed,
disciplined, highly organized, and don’t need to physically see and communicate
with instructors or colleagues are typically ideal online learners.
The primary
advantage of online learning is that it offers the flexibility of managing your
course responsibilities at times that are the most convenient for you. Other
advantages include:
• You don’t have to
drive to a campus and waste time trying to find parking.
• You won’t sit in an
uncomfortable space for an hour and a half at night, after a hard day’s work,
listening to a lecture that you may not be receptive to.
• You will listen to and
view lectures (depending on the educational technology being used) and access
course materials and assignments at your own pace (within the constraints of the
class schedule) from any Internet-connected computer.
• If you are having
difficulty with understanding a concept or theory, you can always listen to and
view online learning presentations and materials repeatedly until you do
understand.
• You will have more
time to better formulate significant ideas and concepts in online discussions,
as opposed to spontaneously responding to live classroom discussions. Since all
your classmates and faculty are doing the same thing online, these online
discussions tend to be richer and more meaningful. Plus, students who tend to be
shy in the live classroom are more likely to open up and add knowledge and
insights to online discussions.
Online Learning Disadvantages:
Of course,
online learning has its drawbacks. I would not, for instance, recommend online
learning for younger, non-working professional students who have the time to
commute to a campus for a full-time MBA program. Some of the disadvantages of
online learning include:
• The exciting and
positive aspects of learning through face-to-face interaction between students
and faculty do not exist. However, some schools have brief residency
requirements where this type of interaction does take place (see more on this later in this
chapter and in Chapter 3).
• You won’t visit the
Student Union restaurant for a quick sandwich, or people watch at the campus
quad, or walk to the rathskeller for a cool one.
• You will experience
frustrating computer software and Internet-access snafus on occasion.
• Your instructor or the
institution itself may not be able to respond to your questions and concerns in
a timely fashion.
• If you are required to
work with a project team or group, which is very common in online MBA programs,
you may not get along with your cohorts, or you may find yourself doing a
disproportionate amount of work.
Misinformed Perceptions About an Online Degree
Many people
think that online degree programs are somehow lighter in academic rigor and
degree stature than traditional, face-to-face programs. The truth is, however,
online degree programs are no different in rigor and stature than traditional
face-to-face degree programs. That important sheepskin given out at graduation
does not stipulate whether or not a degree was earned online or on campus.
Taking
courses online is in no way easier or less time consuming than attending live,
face-to-face classes. You still have to read the textbook and other course
materials, take the obligatory tests, turn in homework assignments on time,
write reports and research papers, participate in discussions, and possibly do a
lot more work than you would in a traditional classroom environment, depending
on the course you are enrolled in.
Additionally, earning a degree online does not cost any less than earning a
degree on campus.
Finally,
you may hear people claim that online programs are not worth the effort because
they lack some of the most important aspects of traditional face-to-face
programs, such as the opportunities for networking and the importance of
interaction with colleagues. To put it quite simply, these types of claims are
not true. You’ll see throughout this eBook direct quotes from educators and
students about how online learning fosters excellent networking opportunities
and meaningful peer-to-peer interactions.
“Online
education is growing; the technology is getting better; students are attuned to
it; and it offers a whole lot of convenience and aspects that allow the
extension of an educational experience to students who otherwise cannot attend a
campus environment,” said Jerry Trapnell, chief accreditation officer,
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
“We are very pleased to have adopted standards that we think are
adaptable to the delivery of education at a distance.”
The Advertising and Marketing of Online MBA Programs
You may
have seen some of the ads for online degree programs on television, or in direct
mailers sent to your attention, or while surfing the Web. These ads don’t
scratch the surface of what online learning is really all about.
If you are
surfing the Web, keying in phrases such as “online MBAs,” “distance learning,”
etc., through any of the popular search engines, such as Google, MSN and/or
Yahoo, carefully scrutinize your search results. Many Internet directories of
online MBA programs that show up in search-engine results only list a very small
portion of what’s really available.
Many of the
most prominent and highly respected providers of online MBA programs don’t
advertise broadly and are selective about whom they accept into their programs.
Other programs generate relatively large promotional campaigns and have what can
be considered less stringent admission requirements and acceptance policies.
As more
institutions move to providing online MBA programs in an effort to better serve
busy, working-adult professionals, the marketplace becomes busier and the level
of noise and unreliable information increases. This eBook will help you cut
through the noise.
Is It Really Online or On-Campus?
Now, to
make life confusing (nothing is simple in our Digital Age), many so-called
online MBA programs are not fully online. Some have short residency requirements
that can vary in length from one weekend to one week or more each semester or
quarter. Other programs may require only one brief orientation residency at the
beginning of the first semester or quarter.
Moreover,
as you review what kind of online MBA program options are available, you may run
into higher education institutions that you might misinterpret as being online
programs, but, upon closer inspection, are not online programs at all.
These are institutions that offer MBA programs in a distance education
format, which can often mean that courses are held off-campus in satellite
offices, usually at more agreeable times of the day or week, such as weekends or
evenings, and are thus geared for working professionals.
Other MBA programs that you will see referred to as “online” are really
offered in what’s called a blended or hybrid learning format. This means that
completion of the program requires a substantial commitment to attending
physical classes, but not as many physical classes as a traditional face-to-face
curriculum. Many Executive MBA programs, for instance, are moving in this
direction by having students switch every other weekend from live courses on
campus to courses online in order to lessen the amount of time that students are
required to physically attend classes.
Blended/hybrid MBA programs are not covered in this eBook. However, MBA
programs that do have relatively short residency requirements are covered in
this eBook.
Graduate Degrees in Business-Related Fields
In addition
to online MBA programs growing in numbers, online graduate degrees, without the
MBA designation, in other business-related fields, are increasing in numbers. At
the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University, for instance,
online master’s degrees are offered in accounting and financial management,
human resource management, information systems management, network and
communications management, project management, and public administration. At the
University of Maryland University College (UMUC), which is the largest
state-university provider of online degree programs, online master of science
degrees are offered in accounting and financial management, accounting and
information technology, computer systems management, e-commerce, environmental
management, health care administration, and information technology management.
The amount
of time required to earn your MBA online can vary greatly. Online MBA programs
are always slotted into the part-time graduate-level program category because
they are geared toward busy professionals who don’t have time to pursue a
graduate degree on a full-time basis. This does not mean that you cannot carry a
full load of graduate credits online and earn your MBA as quickly as possible.
However, an academic advisor from any school that is noted for having a
challenging curriculum will advise prospective students to take the part-time
route.
Depending
on the institution, program type, and your educational stamina,
you are looking at anywhere from one year (for what could be considered a highly
unique accelerated program that takes into consideration your educational
background) to two or three years, or more, to complete an online MBA program.
What it
costs to earn an MBA online varies greatly, and the wording about tuition costs
can get confusing. At the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL), the tuition rate
listed in 2008 was $1,080 per three-semester-hour course, and the entire MBA
curriculum requires a minimum of 16 three-semester-hour courses, for a total of
about $17,280. At the University of
Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), the 2008 tuition was $2,055 for a
three-credit-hour course, and you will need to take a total of 36-51 credit
hours of courses, depending on your academic background, which equals anywhere
from $24,660 to $34,935. In addition, other costs can come into play, such as
technology fees, the cost of books and supplemental materials, and the necessary
software and hardware you will need to purchase if you don't already have it.
Both the
UNL and UCCS programs do not have any residency requirements that would incur
additional costs, such as travel and room and board expenses. Both programs can also be
considered bargains when you compare them to the tuition rates at some of the
other institutions offering online MBAs. The cost in 2008 for the entire online
MBA program provided by the Penn State University World Campus was $49,000,
which covers all tuition, books, and other course materials, fees, and room and
board during two one-week residency experiences. Transportation costs to the two
required residency experiences us not included.
The
University of Florida’s online MBA program runs about $41,000 for total program
fees, which does not include expenses for seven weekend residency requirements.
Students are required to meet in Gainesville during each of seven terms to take
finals and participate in case presentations. Travel and lodging expenses for
these seven campus visits must also be factored into the total cost.
Lots of
different media and software can come into play inside any so-called online
learning degree program, making them, strictly speaking from a technical point
of view, not completely online. These include CD-ROM and DVD-based lectures with
simulations, satellite and television broadcasts, video taped programming, and
printed textbooks (yes, you will still be required to read textbooks). For the
fully online side of things, however, you can expect to have a special account
with your institution that provides you with username and password access to an
online library, to an e-mail account, and to what’s called a course management
system (CMS) that faculty and students use to organize their online course work
and the interactions that occur inside them.
A course
management system is software that provides most of the tools and interface to
present an online course on both the student’s and faculty member’s computer. It
is the shell that holds all of an online course’s functions, including the
course syllabus, discussion board, live chat room, reading materials, lectures,
assignments, a grade book, electronic file exchange functions, and access to
outside resources such as the campus library.
A Variety of Teaching and Learning Approaches
Of course,
every institution uses a variety of education technologies in its own unique
way. For example, there are many different course management systems, some
created and provided by commercial vendors, and others, known as home-grown
systems, that are created and provided by the host institution. Each have unique
features and functions that students and faculty are required to master.
Instructional approaches are different at each institution. Lectures,
assignments, projects, and discussions may require a variety of
student-to-student and student-to-faculty communications and collaborations, as
well as a good number of independent-study, self-directed accomplishments. From
a general point of view, the successful online student is active, creative,
dependable, highly organized and a skilled communicator with the written word.
If you
decide that earning an MBA online will be your educational pathway of choice,
you’ll need a certain skill set to get through the journey. Beyond having the
obvious computer and Internet connection, and the typical academic and software
skills, you’ll need to understand the following:
• How to download and install
software.
• How to conduct solid
research online.
• Depending on the nature of
the program, how to effectively communicate both asynchronously, primarily
through discussion forums and e-mail, and synchronously, primarily through live
chats and teleconferencing.
• How to attach, send,
archive and read electronic files.
• How to write clearly and
intelligently, because everything you do in an online learning environment will
be driven mainly by you typing on a keyboard, getting your thoughts, concerns,
and knowledge clearly understood by your instructors, fellow students and the
program administrators who support you.
Your search
for the right online MBA program entails a close examination of a number of key
ingredients. Here’s a short list of details you’ll need to sort through before
making any kind of decision:
• Total cost of program
• Program length and start
and end dates
• Admission requirements
• What kind of
institution is it? Does it have a good reputation? Is it accredited? What are
the students like? What kind of credentials do the faculty have?
• What kind of online
MBA curriculums are offered? How are courses taught? What kind of online student
support services does the institution have?
Many of the
finer details of this short list, and much more, are explained throughout this
eBook.
Where Do You Want to Take Your Career?
Of course,
embarking on any educational endeavor
entails a thorough understanding of your goals and aspirations. If you
are seeking a career with a large, well-known, multi-national global investment
banking firm, then an online MBA program from a nationally recognized school,
such as Arizona Sate University, Syracuse University, or Indiana University, is
something you might want to strongly consider. However, if you are seeking
career advancement at your current job as a marketing director or product
manager at a manufacturing plant in your home town,
you might want to enroll in an online MBA program that is closer to home
and not nearly as expensive. The education you will get from a smaller school
that has a local reputation, as opposed to a national or international
reputation, may be just as rigorous as any program out there. So, the odds are
pretty good that the knowledge you will have gained from a school recognized in
your local area will hold up quite well in most career advancement pursuits.
Do you
need an MBA for the credential itself, which, in some cases can indeed get you
that promotion; or, do you want an MBA to move up the ladder of success through
the knowledge you have gained and are
capable of applying to your business life?
If you are
a seeker of knowledge, then find an online MBA program that emphasizes learning
over a lifetime, whereby you are taught business management foundational skills
that can adapt to today’s
fluctuating business climate.
If you are
looking “only” for the MBA designation to add to your resume, enroll in the
shortest, least-expensive, easiest-to-apply-to-and-get-accepted program you can
find.
Choosing the right online MBA is relative to where you want to take your career (and your intellect), plus how much money and time you are willing to invest. In the following chapters I show you how to find the online MBA program that is right for you, how to get accepted, how to pay for it, and how to succeed during your educational experience and after you graduate.
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