The mission of Dallas Baptist University Online Education is to support the delivery of quality, Christ-centered eLearning, incorporating modern technology to foster a flexible academic environment. Online courses offer students a convenient way to learn subject material, do research, take assessments, and communicate with professors and other students. The online courses are student-centered and designed to create a safe online learning community. Dr. Sandra Reid, Chair of the Graduate School of Business answered our questions about the online MBA program at Dallas Baptist University.
What type of student typically enrolls in your online MBA program?
Universally, our students come to prepare to be difference makers, to boldly live out their purpose, and to improve the standard of living for themselves, their families, their communities, and society overall. Our students have families, jobs, church and important volunteer activities, not to mention taking care of their own well-being. They are busy and we help them find ways to balance all these demands along with pursuing an MBA.
Dr. Sandra Reid, Chair of the Graduate School of Business
Are students required to spend time on campus?
Although we love, and strongly encourage, our students to visit beautiful University Hill, our online students are not required to spend time with us outside the online environment. We do our very best to serve our students’ needs meeting them where they are, at their convenience, throughout the academic journey. We also add daily, and weekend extended hours of operation in order to assist students outside of their normal workday.
How do students in the online MBA program interact with faculty?
Students have multiple ways of interacting with faculty similar to what happens in our traditional classroom instruction venues. These include conversations via telephone, email, and text in addition to Skype and other teleconferencing techniques. Students may participate in live chat through faculty office hour offerings, synchronous and asynchronous discussions, and / or include prearranged private sessions as needed.
Is there a concentration your online MBA is known for?
At DBU there are 7 concentrations offered fully online from which students may choose. A student may decide to be online in a particular semester, and choose to be in the classroom the next, or may select a combination of online with traditional classroom format. We have many formats so that students can find a schedule that works best for them, for their unique situation / demands. We have 8-week, 10-week, and 16-week semester options all online from which our students may choose. We offer what our students tell us will work best for them. We are not known for a particular concentration as much as we are known for providing options for even the busiest of schedules. Students come with a definite sense of urgency, they are driven by purpose to go boldly forward as servant leaders setting out to make a difference. At DBU, we empower dreams.
What opportunities do online MBA students have for networking?
The vast majority of students within the MBA are working adults in various stages of their careers. Students may be assigned to work in groups to complete projects during which time they will build lifelong relationships with fellow students and with their faculty. Much of the course work will be involving completing projects for leaders in organizations outside the University during which time strong bonds are established. Students and faculty will engage in lively discussion throughout the semester which reinforces friendships and long term networks. It’s really not different than the traditional classroom experience at DBU.
Do you offer career services and professional resources to online MBA degree candidates?
Yes, we have a Career Services staff who provide professional resources to online MBA degree candidates. The best networks are the relationships established within the student population in each online course taken.
What advice would you give a prospective candidate for your online MBA program?
Choose carefully! Select the program offered that will serve your needs, not their own. At DBU, we want to know what God is calling you to do. We will work closely with you to find the best ways and means to fulfill His plan for your life, to prepare you to make an impact on a global scale serving and leading in the midst of any challenge.
There are bars to be raised and lives to be transformed. New solutions to be brought to light and new organizations to be built. Whether your passion is in the corporate business world, non-profit sector, or a ministry organization, there is a reason you are considering if now is the right time for you to pursue an MBA. There will never be an easier time, a more perfect time to start on this academic journey.
My advice would be to start now; the world needs leaders of high character built on principles, Christ-centered servant leaders who will go boldly forward to live out their purpose. At DBU, we create Patriots of global impact.
Check out more interviews at Online MBA Report's Interview Series.
