Bruce E. Winston, PhD, Dean, Regent University School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship joins us today to discuss their distance learning program.

Tell us about the distance learning programs offered in the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship, at Regent University.

The School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship (GLE) offers all of its programs by distance: (a) Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership (Ph.D.), (b) Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL), (c) Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MOL), (d) Master of Arts in Strategic Foresight (MSF), and (e) Master of Business Administration (MBA). The MBA is also offered as a blended program with one-half of the course interaction occurring on campus in traditional classrooms.

What is the typical duration of each of your programs?

This varies by program. The Ph.D. is a 60-credit program that can be done in three and a half years with most students completing in four and a half years. ** The DSL is a 60-credit program that can be finished in four years. For both doctoral programs, there is a maximum of seven years allowed to finish. The MOL and MSF are 33-credit programs that can be finished in as little as one year full time with most students completing the programs part time in three years. The MBA is a 42-credit program that can be finished in one and a half years full time or two and a half years part time. Master’s students may stop taking courses for one or more semesters, which would extend the length of time to finish the degree. For the three master’s programs, there is a maximum of five years allowed to finish. GLE operates year round with three trimesters per year.

What would you say makes the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship programs different and better than other comparable online programs?

The answer to that ties closely to our history and early role in the development of high-quality, online educational programs.  The School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship is the result of a 2006 merger that combined the university’s schools of business and leadership studies. Our predecessor, the School of Leadership Studies, was formed in 1995 specifically to deliver a doctoral-level leadership degree by distance education, leveraging available technologies and an innovative approach to online curriculum administration.  The result was the nation’s first fully-accredited, online Ph.D. degree in organizational leadership. The program’s curriculum capitalized on the benefits of asynchronous, computer-mediated communication, which introduced a high degree of flexibility for professional students who often traveled or required nontraditional class schedules. Rather than a lecture style, which is typical of many distance programs, where the professor is active and the students passive, we built curriculum in which the online dialogue topics require the student to actively engage the content to solve complex problems. In this model, students are active and instructors (no longer ‘professing’) become reactors to the dialogue and help guide the discussion to facilitate the maximum learning experience.

A benefit of the ’students-prepare’ approach is that every student has to participate to the desired/measured/graded level. This allows instructors to get to know each and every student. When I taught in the classroom, I would know five or six of the fifty students, but most of the others I wouldn’t even know their names except to match up exam grades to grade book entries. Both students and faculty have commented how much stronger the relationships are in our distance courses than anything previously experienced in the on-campus environment. We know the value of face-to-face interaction and we begin our doctoral programs with a 10-day residency experience in which students get to know each other as well as the instructors. This allows students to establish a working relationship with the instructors who will be critiquing the doctoral students’ work. The doctoral programs include a 10-day residency at the beginning of each year of study with the balance of the student’s coursework conducted completely online. Our master’s programs do not require a residency, but offer an optional two-day residency that students can attend.   Residencies for the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship are held at our four-diamond facility – the Founders Inn & Spa http://foundersinn.com/ – and for our out-of-town students (both doctoral and master’s), we provide the hotel rooms and meals at our expense.

The curriculum is built for full-time employed students and structured to allow a measure of flexibility within the semester that will accommodate the peak times of work and life that sometimes interfere with a traditional academic schedule.

GLE has faculty-performance standards that require instructors to respond to students’ requests within one business day, drafts within three business days, and grading all assessments within one week. This insures students get the requisite feedback to help with future assessments.

How important would you say accreditation is when choosing an online college?

Extremely important. Regent University is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).  Our school is also a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and we are preparing to apply for accreditation with this association to further substantiate the quality of our MBA programs. Accreditation, both for the university and the specific discipline, shows a measure of integrity and quality. Both are important concepts for GLE.

There is some debate as to whether or not online degrees are as worthwhile as traditional degrees. What steps does the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship take to ensure that online students are receiving the same education that they’d receive in a classroom?

Using our own on-campus and online MBA programs as an example, we’ve noted that in general, those enrolled in our online programs tend to outperform the on-campus students. Part of this comes from the higher level of relationship with faculty and peers generated through online dialogue requirements uniquely associated with online degree programs.  The level of learning experienced by students in the online program is also enhanced by their familiarity and use of our extensive online library resources, current research available on the web, and interaction with other online students occupying key industry roles and located throughout the U.S. and the world.  As to quality assurance measures, our programs go through scheduled curriculum reviews and we use extensive surveys to collect student feedback — which earn consistently outstanding ratings.  Course projects, papers, tests, and other measurement devices provide our online students direct input from faculty who I have seen to be as committed to the student’s professional success as to his/her learning experience.

What would you say are some of the benefits of earning a degree online rather than in a traditional classroom?

Flexibility. While there are time constraints within the context of a semester, a student is not bound to specific hours on a Tuesday night.

Convenience. No traffic. No parking issues.  And, if you do your best work at odd hours of the day/night, you can log on to our online courses and post a dialogue message anytime that ‘great idea’ strikes.  For those who travel, you have access to all of your courses and online resources just as soon as you connect to the Internet.

Success.  In a typical classroom, when the instructor asks a question, the student is expected to have an immediate response and is not provided the opportunity to think deeply about either the question or the response.  Within the online learning environment, however, students can devote more thought to the question, which, in turn, precipitates a greater understanding of the issues and how one might effectively communicate the solution.

Access to high profile, guest lecturers. It is much easier to invite a content specialist from anywhere in the world to join an online discussion than it is to coordinate the logistics of an out-of-town lecturer who has a limited presentation schedule. Through the use of online dialogue exchanges and recorded interviews, the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship can bring the best from around the world to our students.

If a student enrolled in one of your programs was interested in finding an internship in their field in their area, do you have any means of assisting them in acquiring an internship position?

Since our students are older and most often already working full time, we don’t focus on internship or placement. Our doctoral students’ average age is 42 and most are in their career of choice or will look into moving into academic positions as mid-career or late-career changers.  Those in our master’s programs have an average age of 36 and enroll in our programs with the intention of advancing within their current place of employment or possibly launching a new business.

Does the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship offer any job placement services to your students and graduates?

No. In addition to the response in item 7 above, the advent of online job boards and Internet businesses such as monster.com, theladders.com, and career-builder.com, to mention just three, there is not much need for placement services for our students.

Is financial aid available to students in your programs?

Yes. There are a few limited funded scholarships for specific types of MBA students (entrepreneurial, Eastern-European) as well as U.S. Federal student loans. In addition, there are a limited number of exchange scholarships for students from academic institutions that participate in the university’s tuition-exchange program.

Do you have any advice for students enrolling in online classes for the first time?

Some thoughts:

1. Good online programs will utilize technology to enhance your educational experience, but should not require that you possess sophisticated technological abilities — just the basics of Internet navigation, email, etc.

2. The learning should be intense, but the advantage is that you will truly learn the material — which is why you are pursuing your degree.

3.  Remember that the distance program takes as much time, if not a bit more, than an on-campus program.  As you pursue your degree, you should eliminate as many non-essential activities as you can until you’ve earned your degree.

4. For dialogue-based programs like those offered by the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship, prepare early, begin early, and dialogue evenly across the open period.

5. Online programs lack the cues of ‘class schedule,’ so students that are self-disciplined tend to do better and get things done on time.

6. Ask questions.  Although you may be on the other side of the country or traveling overseas, your instructor should be readily available via email and/or by phone to address your questions within specific timeframes as determined by the school — usually within one to two business days.

7. Improve typing speed and accuracy.

What do you enjoy most about your position at School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship?

I am committed to Regent’s mission and purpose and specifically to the mission and focus of GLE. My personal values are well-aligned with GLE’s values.

The virtual design of our program allows me to participate as an instructor from anywhere in the world that I have a high-speed Internet connection. If I wake up at 4 a.m. and decide to be ‘up’ for a while, I can ‘go to class’ and participate. Whether I am in my office, my home, or at the beach, I can participate with students, staff, and instructors from around the world — literally, we have students, staff, and faculty located both domestically and internationally. We operate seamlessly, which is one of the many reasons that we are the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship.

To Request more information about the Global Leadership and Entreprenurship School at Regent University, Go here to visit them online.

Thank you Bruce, for sharing and participating in this piece for Online Degrees 2.0

That concludes our interview!  

About Bruce E. Winston, Ph.D.

Dr. Winston has been a part of Regent University since 1991, both with the School of Business and the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship. Currently, he is the dean for the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship.In addition to his administrative and academic duties as dean, he teaches in the GLE doctoral programs and is active in the GLE seminars and conferences.

Dr. Winston’s research interests include servant leadership, organizational development and transformation, leadership development, distance education and technology in higher education.

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Dr. Lillian Hallberg, Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs & Director of MBA Programs at Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School joins us today to discuss distance education.

Tell us about the distance learning programs offered at Suffolk University.

Suffolk University offers an MBA completely online. We also have an Accelerated MBA for Attorneys and an Accelerated MBA for CPAs also offered completely online.  Students may complete a concentration in accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, information systems or marketing.  Although we do not have a required residency, our online students have the option of enrolling in MBA classes at our main campus in Boston, and our off site location in North Andover, Massachusetts. For those who do not live in the Boston area, we offer the option of transferring in 6 credits of MBA elective courses from another AACSB accredited MBA program near where the student lives.

What is the typical duration of each of your programs?

The Suffolk MBA Online is a 30 to 55 credit program, depending on your educational background. The 24 credits of MBA core classes may be waived with appropriate courses taken at the undergraduate or graduate level, within 5 years prior to entering the MBA, with an earned grade of B or better.  With three terms in the MBA Online (Fall, Spring and Summer), a student taking 2 classes per term, could complete the 55 credit program in three years; much less if the core courses are waived. Some students choose to accelerate the pace.  Alternatively, those with financial concerns or caps on reimbursement from their companies, may take up to 5 years to complete their degree.

What would you say makes Suffolk University programs different and better than other comparable online programs?

We have September, January and May entry points. In addition, our MAPS option allows an individual to register for a maximum of 6 credits (2 core courses) prior to taking the GMAT. This allows an individual to test-drive the online delivery method….or perhaps decide if the MBA is really the degree of choice before making a final commitment. Others need more time to study for the GMAT but don’t want to procrastinate on beginning their coursework.  Obviously, MBA core classes completed in the MAPS option then count toward the Suffolk MBA if the student subsequently applies and is admitted to the MBA – either online or on campus.

I also believe our weekly live chats for each course insure a richer learning and networking experience than say,  a program that provides all materials via i-pod.  One more thing to add: for those Suffolk MBA Online students within commuting distance of our main campus in Boston, our one-week global travel seminars are a popular option. In 2007- 08 we have one-week travel seminars to China, Brazil, London, United Arab Emirates, and Germany. Students must attend three classes on campus, generally on Friday evenings, and then travel for one week to the particular country, experiencing global business first-hand. These count as an elective toward the MBA degree and include corporate visits and meetings with global executives.

How important would you say accreditation is when choosing an online college?

I believe accreditation is a  benchmark for standards of excellence. Suffolk University’s  Business School holds AACSB accreditation and thus our campus MBA and online MBA are AACSB accredited.   For an individual seeking an online education,  AACSB accreditation means the online MBA is held to the same standards of quality as the campus program in terms of faculty quality and curriculum content.

There is some debate as to whether or not online degrees are as worthwhile as traditional degrees. What steps does Suffolk University take to ensure that online students are receiving the same education that they’d receive in a classroom?

This is an easy one to answer!  The admission criteria to the MBA Online Program are identical to  Suffolk’s campus MBA.  The curriculum, faculty, course expections and learning objectives are also identical to the campus MBA.  Although Suffolk University has an excellent library, let’s face it.  Today’s busy professional who is a part-time student on campus is going to access library resources remotely, just as the online student does!  And Suffolk’s library has incredible resources specifically related to  an MBA student’s needs, all available from remote access.  Online and campus students have advising appointments with the same MBA advisor, either in person or via telephone.  Perhaps the best testament to the  quality of our online courses is that  part-time campus MBAs have the option of completing up to 4 of their courses  online and many of our students take advantage of this option!  Thus the networking experience  is all the more richer for our online students.

What would you say are some of the benefits of earning a degree online rather than in a traditional classroom?

For today’s busy professional, the flexibility afforded by an online program may be the only way some individuals can attend graduate school.  Some people tell me they worry an online class will lack the interaction you get in a face-to-face campus classroom. I belive that is a myth, at least in a high quality online program. While there is no residency requirement in the Suffolk MBA Online, we do require a 90-minute weekly live chat for each course. Chats are scheduled in convenient evening hours and are limited to 18 persons per course to insure maximum learning. This insures weekly real-time interaction between faculty and students. Chats are archived so a faculty member can go back and evaluate an individual’s participation. Each week faculty also put up several open-ended questions about the weeks’ lesson and establish a “threaded discussion”.  Students log in any time, any place, and enter their comments. What we find happening, just like in a conversation, is the content gets richer and more detailed as the threaded discussion progresses through the week. Again, this is archived and faculty can evaluate participation.  I also believe today’s  globalization of the business world means that membership in a virtual community and learning to work in virtual teams is a vital line on a resume for today’s corporate executive.

If a student enrolled in one of your programs was interested in finding an internship in their field in their area, do you have any means of assisting them in acquiring an internship position?

Yes, our MBA Online students have access to our Career Services Office, precisely becuase they are considered Suffolk MBAs.  If a student does not live in the Boston vicinity, they can access our Career Services Office via the web or telephone.

Is financial aid available to students in your programs?

Yes. Students applying to the MBA Online Program at Suffolk are eligible for financial aid in terms of merit awards (scholarships) and low interest loans. Merit awards are based on the GMAT score and undergraduate cumulative GPA.

Do you have any advice for students enrolling in online classes for the first time?

Yes!  Think of an online class as a virtual community and remember the importance of networking in terms of career enhancement!  Because of the nature of online education, many of your classmates will be working professionals.  Get to know your online classmates just as you would your campus classmates.  Also, never make the assumption that because you are an online student, you are an outsider to the University or to your particular program. You are a bonafide student and therefore should expect all of the rights and privileges afforded to campus students in terms of library resources, etc.  If you live near the campus, ask to be notified about campus events and, in particular, networking opportunities.  For example, we invite all of our Suffolk MBA Online students to our MBA EDGE events on campus. These are professional development events open to all MBAs.  For example, in October we are having a Bring Your Boss or Colleague to Lunch event with the President and CEO of Au Bon Pain as a speaker, talking about the globalization of that company.  All MBAs, including online students, are invited to come!

What do you enjoy most about your position at Suffolk University?

As Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs and Director of MBA Programs, I am responsible for the MBA, MBA Online, and Global MBA Programs.  I especially enjoy talking with prospective students about these different options and how they might fit their career goals.   I also enjoy the opportunity to interact with the corporate world and our alumni as  I meet with individuals to discuss internship possibliities, professional development opportunities,  and   ways to insure the Suffolk MBA curriculum remains relevant in a career focused way.

To Request more information about the online MBA programs available through Suffolk University, Go here to visit them online.

Thank you Dr. Hallberg, for sharing and participating in this piece for Online Degrees 2.0

That concludes our interview! 
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Dr. John Anderson, Associate Dean, University of Nebraska – Lincoln joins us today to discuss distance education.

Tell us about the distance learning programs offered at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

UNL’s traditional 48 semester hour MBA curriculum is now available on-line. This totally asynchronous on-line delivery allows you to complete your entire degree without on-campus residence.  Our on-line delivery along with modular scheduling allows today’s business professionals the opportunity to participate in an internationally-recognized program without putting careers on hold to live in residence on campus. The flexibility of on-line delivery brings the UNL MBA to them – on their schedule.

What is the typical duration of each of your programs?

Our distance students proceed through the program at their own pace. Our MBA curriculum can be completed in as few as two years, but we allow students up to 10 years to complete the program.   Most of our students will take three to four years to complete the program.

What would you say makes University of Nebraska-Lincoln programs different and better than other comparable online programs?

Unlike many distance MBA programs which have been specifically developed for the on-line market, this is the UNL MBA.  We have accessed the strengths of our campus program and made our time honored curriculum and internationally recognized faculty available to our distance students.  Our on-line delivery is totally asynchronous, with no required campus visits and is available at a very affordable cost.

How important would you say accreditation is when choosing an online college?

Both regional and AACSB accreditation are as critical when selecting on on-line MBA as they are when selecting an on-campus MBA.  Unaccredited or privately accredited programs have flooded the early on-line MBA market simply because they need not concern themselves with accreditation standards.  Fortunately, that trend is changing as more accredited programs are offered on-line.

There is some debate as to whether or not online degrees are as worthwhile as traditional degrees. What steps does University of Nebraska-Lincoln take to ensure that online students are receiving the same education that they’d receive in a classroom?

Our online curriculum and faculty are the same as our on campus program.  We require all MBA students to complete a nationally normed standardized assessment “Major Field Test in Business” prior to graduation.  Through this assessment, we can not only compare the effectiveness of our on-line delivery with our on-campus delivery, but we can compare our graduates against graduates from other schools.

What would you say are some of the benefits of earning a degree online rather than in a traditional classroom?

The most obvious benefit is that busy working professionals are no longer required to place their career on hold to attend a full time campus MBA program.  On-line students can continue the same program through job relocations and temporary reassignments.  Additionally, prospective MBAs have a broad selection of quality programs from which to choose, programs which do not require physical proximity to a campus.

If a student enrolled in one of your programs was interested in finding an internship in their field in their area, do you have any means of assisting them in acquiring an internship position?

Yes, our MBA internship and placement coordinator’s services are available to both campus and distance students.  All students are encouraged to take advantage of an internship during their program.  Students without business experience are required to participate in an internship.

Does University of Nebraska-Lincoln offer any job placement services to your students and graduates?

Yes, we have a placement coordinator in the College of Business Administration whose services are specifically provided for both campus and distance MBA students.  In addition, the University provides career placement services and job postings via Husker Hire Link and on-campus interviews by corporate employers.

Is financial aid available to students in your programs?

Yes, financial aid services are available to both campus and distance students.

Do you have any advice for students enrolling in online classes for the first time?

For those who have never taken an on-line course, I tell them to visualize the course web site as their classroom.  A classroom that is open 24/7.  A classroom that should be visited regularly, but need not have other students nor the professor present when visited.  A classroom in which lectures are available on demand, and homework assignments and completed exams can be submitted regardless of the time of day.  As I work with prospective students during the preadmission process, I emphasize the importance of self discipline and technology comfort.  Since our entire preadmission process is base on web information and email communication, absence of these qualities is easily recognized.

What do you enjoy most about your position at University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

The opportunity to provide high quality educational training and mentoring is immensely satisfying on a personal level.  Working to accomplish our mission of fostering intellectual curiosity, business insight, and effective leadership is challenging yet highly rewarding.

To Request more information about the distance learning programs available through University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Go here to visit them online.

Thank you Dr. John, for sharing and participating in this piece for Online Degrees 2.0

That concludes our interview!

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Phil Turner, Vice Provost for Learning Enhancement at the University of North Texas joins us today to discuss distance education.

Tell us about the distance learning programs offered at University of North Texas.

We currently have 31 completely online degrees and certificates, including three completion bachelor’s degrees in General Studies, Organizational Development, and Applied Technology and Performance Improvement. We also have an MBA in Strategic Management available, as well as numerous Masters degrees and Graduate Academic Certificates available online.

Our newly created QEP/Next Generation courses are an exciting addition to the more traditional online course. UNT is in the third year of a seven year journey to transform large enrollment undergraduate courses by engaging and enabling faculty members to design, apply, and assess innovative instructional techniques. QEP’s goal is to improve student learning through engagement with the subject matter, with the faculty and with each other.

What is the typical duration of each of your programs?

Typically the programs follow the semester schedule – with a few courses beginning or ending at mid-semester.

What would you say makes University of North Texas programs different and better than other comparable online programs?

1) QEP/Next Generation Courses – improving undergraduate large-enrollment courses. You may learn more about these courses at http://web3.unt.edu/cdl/QEP/

2) We currently work with various institutions to offer our courses through a variety of programs: Project SAIL, Western Governors University, The Sloan Consortium, JERGroup, SREP Electronic Campus, Texas Distance Education and various other repositories of online courses.

3) Offer “blended courses” – technology rich courses with online/on-campus meetings.

4) Several of our Masters Programs use an innovative approach that combines geographically-based onsite Web “Institutes” with online courses and virtual community-building opportunities. As an example, the School of Library and Information Sciences programs at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the University of Minnesota and Emory University.

5) We offer “award winning” courses designed to encourage interaction between students and faculty.

6) UNT’s online degree and transcript do not say “distance learning.”

7) UNTeCampus offers information for labs and face-to-face requirements.

How important would you say accreditation is when choosing an online college?

Very – UNT is the largest provider of online credit courses among Texas public universities. A diploma from UNT means something, whether one is considering online education or a more traditional educational route. All of UNT’s degree programs that are online are accredited by regional and special accrediting agencies.

There is some debate as to whether or not online degrees are as worthwhile as traditional degrees. What steps does University of North Texas take to ensure that online students are receiving the same education that they’d receive in a classroom?

UNT’s online degree programs go through the same accreditation process as their on-site counterpart. UNT is proud of the rigor of its online degree programs. These courses are reviewed and approved before they are offered to students. These courses are not easier than face-to-face courses, in fact, they often require more discipline and technical skills than courses held ON CAMPUS. Online courses are very interactive – with the instructor and with other students. This interaction is valuable in demonstrating knowledge and understanding concepts.

Another way we demonstrate the equality of our online courses – UNT’s online degrees and transcripts do not say “distance learning” – they carry the same credit, the same weight, as our more traditional courses.

What would you say are some of the benefits of earning a degree online rather than in a traditional classroom?

Some of the benefits of online courses are:

1) the increased ability to interact with fellow students and faculty, 2) access to a wide range of content not bounded by the physical space of the institution, 3) the flexibility to work around job and family schedules, 4) one can travel and still work toward educational goals, 5) no commuting (save gas AND time by “commuting online”), 6) for those in the military – they don’t have to put their education on hold.

If a student enrolled in one of your programs was interested in finding an internship in their field in their area, do you have any means of assisting them in acquiring an internship position?

YES – UNT’s Cooperative Education and Internships “Academics at Work” program integrates classroom theory with work experience specific to a student’s major. The primary focus is to give students a broader educational experience through work. Many times, these positions can also lead to full-time employment upon graduation.  http://www.unt.edu/coop/

In addition, programs work with professionals “on the ground” throughout the areas where our students reside to set up internships as well as to supervise the students in these internships.

Does University of North Texas offer any job placement services to your students and graduates?

YES – UNT’s Career Center is available to online students. Through this portal, information regarding employment, internships and career services such as resume writing and interviewing skills are made available to all students of UNT. http://careercenter.unt.edu/

Is financial aid available to students in your programs?

YES – financial aid and scholarships are available to online students as well as more traditional ON-CAMPUS students.  http://essc.unt.edu/finaid/

Do you have any advice for students enrolling in online classes for the first time? 

A few things to remind students that are wanting to sign up for online courses:  1) These courses usually fill up the quickest – so register early, 2) be sure to sign in the FIRST DAY of CLASSES because they can be dropped for non-attendance, and 3) DSL or a cable connection are probably the best types of internet connections for these courses, 4) be aware that an online course will be as rigorous or even more rigorous than an onsite course so block out three hours of dedicated time for each semester hour of coursework and “clear the decks at home or work” to be sure that you succeed.

What do you enjoy most about your position at University of North Texas? 

For the past 11 years, I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of wonderful people to create the infrastructure to transform teaching and learning that is one of the best in the world. I have seen faculty repeatedly think outside the box to create amazing online learning and blended learning opportunities. Finally, I have had the chance to design and teach my own online courses as well as to lead the creation and delivery of an online program that is now the second largest in the nation and the best!

To Request more information about the distance learning programs available through University of North Texas, Go here to visit them online.

Thank you Phil, for sharing and participating in this piece for Online Degrees 2.0

That concludes our interview!

George Barnes, Director for the Global MBA Online program, School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas joins us today to discuss their program.

Tell us about the Global MBA Online program (GMBA), in the School of Management, at The University of Texas at Dallas.

The Global MBA Online is an online extension of the 53-hour Professional (part-time), campus-based, MBA program.  As such, courses are drawn from the same curriculum, are taught by the same full-time faculty, and are offered each of three semesters/year.

What is the duration of the GMBA program?

As an extension of the part-time program, GMBA students proceed at their own pace.  Taking 2 courses each semester would permit completion in just over 3 years.  A student must complete the MBA program in no more than 6 years.

What would you say makes GMBA program different and better than other comparable online MBA programs?

The GMBA is accredited and anchored by the same full-time faculty that teach in the campus programs.  It is flexible and requires no residency.

Proctored exams required in some courses can be taken at an institution of higher education or testing center in a city of the student’s choice.

Faculty work one-on-one with instructional designers, and a production studio located in the School of Management is used to ensure high quality audio-streaming and video files.

There is some debate as to whether or not online MBA degrees are as worthwhile as campus-based MBA’s. What steps does The University of Texas at Dallas take to ensure that online students are receiving the same education that they’d receive in a classroom?

The online MBA students are taught by the same full-time faculty as students in the campus-based program.  Courses, drawn from the same curriculum, are offered on the same semester-basis, and feature the same approaches to instruction as the campus-based courses: lectures, written assignments, group projects, exams and media-assisted peer to peer and peer to instructor discussions – some real-time, but most asynchronous. The comparable quality control across MBA degree programs permits GMBA students to be awarded the MBA without any “online” notation.

What would you say are some of the benefits of earning a MBA degree online rather than in a traditional classroom?

Benefits of the online approach rather than the traditional classroom include:

• The program requires 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
• Time flexibility for students who are working, have travel conflicts or personal/family issues that prevent them from attending a class at a regular fixed time and day
• Students can continue to pursue their degree even when transferred to another city/country.

Does University of Texas at Dallas offer any job placement services to your students and graduates?

The job placement services of the School of Management are available to all degree-seeking students and alumni.

Is financial aid available to students in your programs?

UT-Dallas financial aid is available to all degree-seeking students, online or campus-based.

Do you have any advice for students enrolling in an online class for the first time?

Take a self-assessment dealing with such issues as type of learner, comfort level using technology, absence of face-to-face contact, and self-discipline.  The GMBA website features a 10-question self-assessment for prospective students.

What qualities and/or accomplishments do you look for when admitting students to your program?

Pre-requisites are the same as for the campus-based Professional (part-time) MBA degree program: undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, standardized exam (preferably the GMAT), computer literacy and an adequate level of math to take the quantitative core courses.  No special accomplishments are required such as a certain number of years of working experience.

To Request more information about the Global MBA Online program available through The University of Texas at Dallas, Go here to visit them online.

Thank you George, for sharing and participating in this piece for Online Degrees 2.0

That concludes our interview!

About George Barnes

“The Global MBA Online dispels time and place as obstacles to earning a degree and extends delivery of the School’s existing MBA resources to students who can’t commit to regularly scheduled classes on campus. These students — really our customers — are people who may live outside the UTD geographic area or travel extensively for their organizations. They may also have relocated to other cities prior to finishing their UTD degrees.”

- George Barnes, Director, Global MBA Online, And Senior Lecturer, International Management

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