Friends University offers a convenient formula for success with their accredited online MBA degree. Students enjoy the advantages of online learning knowing they are receiving a quality education from an institution with a long-standing reputation of excellence. Rooted in the liberal arts tradition, Friends University believes higher education is the search for truth. The online MBA degree program allows students to learn from anywhere at any time at their pace. Classes are offered in eight-week sessions so students can start and finish as quickly as possible. We spoke with Dr. David Hofmeister, Dean of the Graduate School, who gave us detailed information and insight into the online MBA degree at Friends University.
Dr. David Hofmeister, Friends University Graduate School Dean
What type of student typically enrolls in your online MBA program?
Typically, business people with two or more years of experience enroll in the MBA program. Given the strengths and experiences business women and men bring to the program, the curriculum envelopes their collective backgrounds and provides in-depth learning experiences that position them for the next steps in their careers. For those who completed a bachelor’s degree in an area other than business, the program can include two foundational courses that provide academic information in business, technology, finance, and accountancy to ensure that the successful transition into an advanced business curriculum is realized. For those with a business degree or multiple years of working experiences in a business, the foundational courses are generally waived from the curriculum. These attributes are also common to the Global MBA program.
Are students required to spend time on campus?
Students are not required to spend time on campus. Enrollment, advising, library and other academic services are all available to students regardless of their proximity to campus for the MBA or Global MBA programs.
How do students in the online MBA program interact with faculty?
Faculty are available through typical communication channels such as email, phone, and mobile devices as well as through net-based meeting software, the learning management system, and potentially in person.
Is there a concentration your online MBA is known for?
The MBA has a core series of courses and six different concentrations: accounting, business law, change management, health care leadership, management information systems, and supply chain management and logistics. These areas of study strengthen professional development and provide increasing levels of expertise. In turn, the concentration further develops an individual for more specific career opportunities within business fields directly related to the area of study. The MBA generalist is still available as is the possibility of including more than one concentration in the MBA or some classes from one area of concentration and classes from another. The capacity to customize the MBA beyond the core courses can be particularly attractive to leaders how have responsibilities in more than one area in industry. The Global MBA operates similarly.
What opportunities do online MBA students have for networking?
Academic advising occurs through both an academic success coach and a program director. Given their interactions with the students, they help students make connections with other students. In addition, the courses require students to work together on collaborative projects and case studies. In addition, the Global MBA program includes a business residency in Beijing, China engaging with business owners, start-ups, and government officials, or a newly developing residency to Cape Town, South Africa, which includes social responsibility as part of the experiences by working with and in a Township.
Students are interact with each other through the learning management system. Rich communication-based learning activities and collaborative projects bring students together from their various locals to connect them with one another for purposeful learning experiences.
Do you offer career services and professional resources to online MBA degree candidates?
Career services and career professional development activities are available to all on-line students. The career professional development events are crafted through a curriculum that engages students where they are in their career and provides specific, intentional activities to enhance their growth and opportunities. These events have been designed by business students across several different programs to make certain that the activities function to help each participant gain a competitive edge in accomplishing the next step in her/his career.
What advice would you give a prospective candidate for your online MBA program?
The on-line MBA or Global MBA is designed to blend current levels of knowledge and expertise with what business professionals need in order to reach the next level in their career and beyond. The balanced workload, accelerated classes, and flexibility to take more than one class at a time or when work and/or family demands require more dedicated time to not take a class enable a flexible, customized series of courses and experiences crafted for today and tomorrow. Either program has student and academic services that ensure graduate students are well-supported in their learning and professional experiences through support from the program director, academic success coach and faculty.
Check out more interviews at Online MBA Report's Interview Series.
