Is it time to pursue an MBA? Or have you
identified candidates in your company
whom you want to sponsor in obtaining their MBAs? Perhaps these ideas have
been on your mind for a while, but because
of career demands you’ve just never
seemed to find the time to act.
Technology has advanced online learning
options so that students who cannot commit to regularly scheduled classes on campus can still pursue their degrees. While a
quality program is just as rigorous and
complex as a campus-based program,
online degrees afford a level of flexibility
that prior to the Internet was just not possible.
Smart Business asked George Barnes,
director of the Global MBA Online program, School of Management, the
University of Texas at Dallas, about the
benefits of obtaining an MBA online.
How do online options make it more convenient
for an executive to obtain his or her MBA?
An online program dispels time and place
as obstacles to earning a degree.
Executives often have many meetings and
travel requirements that prevent them
from attending classes on fixed days at
specific times. Those who do start a campus-based program may find themselves
transferred to another city or country, so if
they transition to the online program, they
won’t have to forfeit any credits they’ve
already earned. While there is flexibility
with the online program, there are still
some structured requirements. Our Global
MBA Online program, for example, follows
the same semester pattern as the campus-based program, with all courses beginning
and ending at the same time. Online students in a course that requires a two-hour
exam are given a two-day window during
which they can choose the start time.
What qualities are required to be a successful distance learner?
You have to be disciplined, self-motivated
and able to take responsibility for your education rather than have it ‘come at you’
while sitting in a classroom. You have to be
comfortable with technology and have the necessary computer skills. Online learners
should also have no particular need for the
face-to-face socialization that takes place in
the classroom. In the distance learning environment, socialization takes place in chat
rooms, on discussion boards and, in some
cases, in virtual classrooms, but the students — unless enrolled in a hybrid program of some sort, which requires in-person
attendance on some type of regular basis —
will never actually be together in person.
How is the distance learning environment
structured?
Online degree programs require the student to participate in virtual teams, engage
in self-directed learning and utilize time-management skills, all of which are
required to function in today’s business
environment. Students and faculty interact
via streaming audio lectures, downloadable course files, online text-based conferences/threaded discussions, real-time text-based chatting, Web conferences and electronic submission of written assignments.
Is the quality of education any different than
that which would be obtained on campus?
In a well-structured, accredited program the requirements for obtaining a degree
online are just as rigorous as a campus-based program. At UT Dallas, our program
is an extension of the campus program
using the same faculty and curriculum. The
word ‘online’ does not appear in the transcript or on the diploma.
What should prospective students look for in
a program?
The program should be accredited and
should have serious admission requirements. What is the quality of the structure,
delivery and faculty? Is it the same curriculum offered on campus? Do you have
access to the same faculty as the students
on campus? Is the program user-friendly?
The student needs to determine what
degree of flexibility he or she is looking for,
and then ensure that the program accommodates it. Is the program a hybrid? If so,
would it be impossible for you to attend the
regularly scheduled times in the classroom? Is there a lot of real-time interaction
required? Can you commit to that?
What solutions does an online program offer
to companies that want to further the education of senior-level managers?
For a company, access to one high-quality online MBA program can be the solution
to upgrading the business skills of senior-level managers, no matter where they are
located. It’s a particularly attractive option
for multinational companies. For example,
a company might send 10 people it has
identified as future leaders through the
program, knowing that all 10 will receive
the same instruction. Those 10 can live
anywhere in the world.
GEORGE BARNES is director of the Global MBA Online program, School of Management, the University of Texas at Dallas.
Reach him at (972) 883-2783 or [email protected]. For more
information, go to www.som.utdallas.edu/globalmba.
