Grow Your Business Career by Degrees |
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August 13, 2006
by Sonja Albrecht
First Stop Online Degree Columnist
The MBA class of 2004 experienced an average 35% increase in salary upon graduating. If that's not enough to send you back to school, consider this: online education is making the MBA degree more accessible than ever. A Department of Education study found that three-quarters of all MBA students complete the degree while working full-time. Distance learning is driving this surprising statistic. The major draw of online MBA programs is the flexibility--students choose when and where they complete the coursework. For working professionals on a tight schedule, this autonomy is the only way to go.
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Amye Cole, Admissions and Marketing Director for Squaw Valley Academy, a private high school, spoke to me recently about her experience pursuing an MBA degree online.
FSOD: Why an MBA?
AC: My undergraduate degree is in Humanities, but my job involves marketing and financial analysis. I entered the job market without any formal training in these fields. As a marketing and admissions director, I do business analysis, publicity, and marketing for the school. I serve on the advisory board and review budget, so I need the financial background.
Fewer than 25 percent of MBA students majored in business as undergraduates. Find Schools
FSOD: Did you need to do any extra preparation to enter the MBA program, since you didn't have an undergraduate business degree?
AC: No, I just took a basic test to qualify for the MBA program.
FSOD: Why did you decide to pursue your MBA degree online?
AC: I live in a small town in California and there are no options for a master's degree within driving distance. I also chose an online degree because of the variable hours. I need to work on my own time schedule because I travel a lot. I need the flexible schedule of an online program.
FSOD: There are a lot of online MBA programs out there. How did you choose yours?
AC: I looked for accreditation. As a private high school Admissions Director, I know how important accreditation is. The school I chose is accredited by four boards. It's based out of Salt Lake City.
FSOD: What's the basic format of your MBA program?
AC: I'm doing an accelerated program. It takes a year and a half. I take one class at a time--two was too much, since I'm working full time. Each class is nine weeks long. Currently I'm enrolled in accounting.
FSOD: Describe an online education. How does it work?
AC: You read a selection of textbooks, and post comments to a discussion board. We post questions, or answer the professor's study question, and reply to each other. There are weekly essays, and the professor gives feedback. The professor doesn't grade them--there's a committee that reviews all essays and gives everyone numbers, 1-5, that correspond to a pass/fail grade.
There are also several exams throughout the program--they're difficult, and you have to get a 75-80% score to pass. These exams are administered at a proctor-approved site. The last six months of the MBA is the Capstone program, then the standardized C-MBA exam that all MBAs take.
Among all schools offering face-to-face MBA programs, 43% also offer online degrees. Find Schools
FSOD: How often do you communicate with faculty?
AC: Too often, almost! Regular contact with your advisor is required. The advisor is like a guidance counselor. We speak every two weeks or email. Even if you don't need it, you're required to check in at least monthly. They're really big on communicating at least once a month.
FSOD: What about the professors, do you interact with them?
AC: I've gotten minimal feedback from the professors, but it's probably because everything's ok. I've also taken two courses as independent study--for these, no interaction is required, no discussion board, committee review, or professor communication.
FSOD: Have you gotten to know your peers, the other students?
AC: No, not many are from California. Most people are much older than I am. At the beginning of the MBA program there's a three-week introduction--you get support and find out how the program works. We had live chats with other students online. Most are married with kids and have corporate jobs.
FSOD: Traditional B-Schools stress networking. Is that an option at your program?
AC: There's not a lot, but since I'm already established in the work world networking is not that important for my career.
FSOD: In conclusion, what would you say are the pluses and minuses of an online MBA?
AC: The downside is less feedback then I'm used to. The exams, for example, are graded and you don't usually find out which questions you got right or wrong. The pluses… It's cheaper than traditional school, and a lot more convenient. You learn the same material as you would on campus. The program is very rigorous, and I feel I'm getting a solid education.
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About the Author
Sonja Albrecht works as a writer and editor for an online media company. She has also taught college writing and completed a Ph.D. in English.
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