As many students are off on their summer breaks, universities are still hard at work with the summer semester and preparing for the fall. This past month has brought many announcements of a new online MBA programs, a revised online MBA program, multiple articles about the life of an online MBA student, and a new OMBAT ranking for Online MBA programs in International Business.
This News in Review is proud to highlight Niagara University, Spring Hill College, Campbell University, and interesting resource articles from US News and World Report.
Enjoy the latest news for Online MBAs!
New Programs
Niagara University
Niagara University's College of Business Administration announced it is now offering an online MBA program, which will begin in the fall of 2017. This program has a strategic management concentration, focusing on business analytics and creative problem-solving.
According Interim Dean of NU's College of Business Administration Dr. Tenpao Lee, "This program will allow students to increase their technical and managerial skills, while learning core business knowledge in the context of today's increasingly digital global economy. It has been constructed to create value for corporate employees as well as small business and entrepreneurial ventures."
Faculty will teach weekly courses live and online, which provides students with the flexibility of an online program with the benefits of being in an on-campus class. The program does require students to attend a two-day residency on campus at the beginning of the program, which serves as both an orientation and a networking opportunity. The program can be completed in two years and consists of 11 courses.
NU's College of Business Administration located in the Buffalo-Niagara region of New York State and is accredited by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. It is ranked #44 for Regional Universities North (in a tie) by U.S. News and World Report.
Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama has created an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Students can complete the program through a one- or two-year path.
The program includes courses on business ethics and corporate social responsibility, as well as case studies which apply the principles of ethics to activities within complex organizations. Chair of Spring Hill's Division of Business James Larriviere, PhD, said of the online MBA program: "Now those interested in advancing an existing career in logistics or supply chain management or embarking on a new career path can achieve their goals. The business faculty for this program are actively engaged in research and consulting – we are not just academically engaged; we are practically engaged in the field. And, we are familiar with the need for busy professionals to receive quick and precise feedback – particularly in the online environment."
Spring Hill was founded in 1830 and is a private, Roman Catholic, Jesuit, liberal arts college. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Revised Program
Campbell University
Campbell Business is revising its MBA program beginning in fall 2017 with an updated core curriculum, more electives, and specialized course tracks for financial services and healthcare management. Campbell Business Dean, Kevin O'Mara says of the revisions, "The embedded emphasis on analytics, innovation, digital marketing, and ethics are highly sought by today's employers and will complement the more traditional business areas."
The MBA program is 37 credit hours, with ten core courses and three electives. In addition to a full-time and part-time on-campus program, students can choose to pursue their degree as an online program as well. The Online MBA is taught by full-time Business faculty and can be completed entirely online.
The Lundy–Fetterman School of Business at Campbell University was founded in 1983 and is in Buies Creek, North Carolina. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Campbell is ranked #33 by U.S. News and World Report for Regional Universities South.
Reference Articles
U.S. New and World Report ran an article on June 6, 2017, called Assess Online Programs as a New, Soon-to-Be Parent. Interviewing 31-year old, new mom Erin Kendrick, the article details the benefits new parents find when it comes to pursuing online MBAs. The article finds that Kendrick and other new or expectant parents are turning to online programs because of the flexibility they offer in terms of both location and time.
When considering an online degree program, the article provides six questions for new or soon-to-be parents to ask in order to ensure the program the choose will work for their family:
- Can you choose how many courses you take each term?
- Can you take breaks as needed?
- What student services are available?
- What is the weekly time commitment?
- Are there any live classes?
- Is travel required?
U.S. News and World Report also recently ran an article called The Average Online MBA Student, examining the goals and demographics of the average online MBA student in the U.S., based primarily on data from U.S. News. Noting the appeal of the flexibility for working professionals, online MBA students are often balancing full-time jobs and studying in the evenings. Of the 124 ranked online programs that provided information to U.S. News, 91 percent of online students are working full-time while pursuing their MBAs.
According to a 2016 survey by Aslanian Market Research and the Learning House, business remains the most popular online graduate discipline. According to U.S. News, the average online MBA student is 33 years old, which is older than those who are pursing full-time programs on-campus (27 years). Being older, an average of 89 percent of students enrolled in ranked programs in 2015-16 had, on average, eight years of previous work experience, vs on-campus students, who averaged a bit over four years.
