April 27, 2008

MBA Degree Online at Pennsylvania State University

Curriculum Distance Learning MBA Online - The Pennsylvania State University

The goal of the online MBA is to give you the decision-making tools to communicate, solve problems, and develop strategies across all functional areas of business. The online MBA curriculum focuses on the integral knowledge required to develop managers with the fundamental skills needed to be successful in high-performance organizations.

Operate at a Strategic Level
Penn State Graduate School faculty developed a curriculum relevant to today's competitive business environment. In the MBA courses you will integrate cross-functional skills across 6 business themes; upon leaving the program you should be able to evaluate and solve problems from multiple perspectives, making you more effective in your current role and preparing you for greater management responsibility.

The business themes are derived from the values and concepts found in the Criteria for Performance Excellence of the Baldridge National Quality Program and include:
  • leadership
  • strategic planning
  • customer and market
  • information and analysis
  • human resources
  • process management

Create a Network of Professionals
In addition to the online courses, 2 residency experiences, of 1 week each, enhance the integrative focus of the online MBA curriculum and provide additional opportunities to interact with persons from a wide range of professional backgrounds. Both the online courses and the on-site experiences are highly interactive and collaborative, allowing you to build strong ties with others and gain perspectives from other disciplines and industries.

Apply Your Knowledge Right Away
Along with a flexible schedule, earning your MBA degree online while you continue to work full-time offers the unique advantage of applying knowledge as you learn. As a student in the iMBA program, you can apply course concepts in your job immediately. This practical application improves the learning experience and allows you to provide value to your employer each day. Also, you'll have access to your network of peers throughout the program, which may help you in tackling the challenges you face at work.

Convenient Online Delivery and Group Interaction
Penn State faculty have teamed up with professionals to provide you with a quality online distance education experience. Interaction is integral to effective online learning and critical to the focus of the online MBA program. Group work and team interactions are accomplished through a variety of technologies that enhance content and facilitate learning. Communication tools and applications include bulletin boards, e-mail, listservs, chat, and Web conferencing.


Source: For more information on distance learing MBA degree online at the Pennsylvania State university, visit http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/iMBA_curriculum.shtml

April 24, 2008

How Useful Is An MBA Degree?

How Useful Is An MBA Degree? By Rose Mary

Many business schools are currently offering MBA degrees. It is one of the most sought after qualification now. To an individual, an MBA degree is a great investment. The cost for a full-time MBA course includes course fees, accommodation costs, living expenses, time spent in studying and loss of earnings. Despite the high price to pay for an MBA degree, it is still considered a worthwhile investment. This is because an MBA degree is a useful qualification to have. It can enable an individual to progress successfully in his or her career. If you are considering whether to enroll in an MBA course, you should find out what an MBA degree can do for you. The following points will enlighten you on how an MBA can impact on your future.

* The MBA degree opens new job opportunities for its graduates. Those who possess this degree have more career options. As the MBA course teaches a broad area of management skills, it helps to create opportunities for its graduates to move from a specialized discipline into general management. The graduates are no longer restricted to only seek for jobs in their own specialized field. They can switch careers and move to some other professions.

* The MBA degree equips a person for management posts. If a person who is trained in a specialized field gets promoted to a higher position, he or she may need to undertake a more strategic management role. The training an MBA course provides helps to equip a person for this role. For example, an engineer who lacks general management training will benefit from the course if he is promoted to be the head of the engineering department.

* The MBA degree can help increase an individual’s salary. After obtaining the MBA degree, many graduates either gained a promotion with an increase in salary or found better paid jobs. Ultimately, many of them went on to climb impressive career ladder. They enjoyed success in both rank and salary.

* As the MBA degree is the most versatile higher education credential in the world, those who have this degree can consider working abroad. Hence, the MBA degree opens up opportunities for a person to select an international career path.

* The MBA course equips its students with the essential knowledge required for starting their own businesses. The course teaches the students about business management and how a company should be run. Thus, MBA graduates can have the option of starting their own business after completing the course.

* The MBA course provides opportunities for network building. In each MBA class, there is a diverse group of students who come from different parts of the world. The students get to know one another through class interaction and participation. Strong ties are often cultivated among the students.

* The MBA course provides a good learning experience. An MBA class consists of a group of highly competent people from various professions and educational background. As they interact with one another, each student can find out from other students how other businesses are run and learn about better methods and strategies being utilized by other businesses. Hence, an MBA course provides good exposure and wonderful insights to its students.

* The MBA course serves as a form of personal development for an individual. MBA graduates gain intellectual confidence and analytical ability that they need for their careers. The course provides them insights in problem-solving and enables them to take a broader view of organizational problems.

* The MBA qualification provides personal fulfillment for an individual. Some people desire to obtain an MBA degree and consider it as one of their life’s goals.

As seen from the above, the MBA degree has many benefits and is a useful qualification to acquire. Besides, the course is an interesting and enriching one. It gives you a fruitful experience of personal development, education and network building. Taking an MBA course is indeed a worthwhile way to spend your money and time! To find out more information on distance learning MBA course, you are encourage to request for a free catalogue at distance learning MBA to make an informed decision.

About the Author: Rose Mary
Freelance writer on various interest topics
To find out more information on distance learning MBA course, you are encourage to request for a free catalogue at:
http://www.internetbizcenter.com/distance-learning/articles.htm

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=96341&ca=Education

April 19, 2008

Earning An MBA Degree Online - Is It A Good Idea?

Distance Learning Programs : Earning An MBA Degree Online - Is It A Good Idea? By Tuppy Glossop

Whether you get your degree online, or in a traditional college program, the MBA degree has become the entrance ticket to corporate life. Without a Master's in Business Administration it will be difficult for you to be taken seriously as a candidate for management jobs; for promotions; or even for challenging assignments. If you want to take your career to a higher level -- whether at your current company, or with another employer -- you should seriously consider getting your MBA.

The problem for most students, however, is how to add the time commitment of graduate school into their lives. Some will choose to return to school full-time, but for many a two year break from a corporate salary just isn't feasible. For these students, earning an MBA degree online has become an attractive option; but there are several questions you should ask yourself before you make the decision to do this.

- Will an online MBA be accepted in the corporate world? When distance learning first became popular, some of the schools that initially offered students the opportunity to study online were, let us say, not of the first-rank academically. The worst of them were simply degree mills, businesses willing to sell a diploma to any willing buyer. Even the more legitimate operations had yet to be accredited. As time moved on, the world of online education attracted more established colleges and universities into the marketplace. Although less reputable operations still exist, it's now possible to earn an online MBA from some of the most prestigious businesses schools in the world. A degree from such a school, or indeed from any properly accredited school, will be accepted by employers without question. More to the point, your diploma will simply state that you have your MBA; neither it nor your transcript is likely to specify whether you studied online or not.

- Will I miss out on networking opportunities? Simply put, yes. Business school offers unparalleled access to others who, like you, plan to storm the gates of the corporate world. Your fellow classmates may include would-be entrepreneurs who will go on to found the next Google, FedEx, or Home Depot. And a campus environment allows for much easier and more flexible interactions than you can achieve online. But that doesn't mean that you'll have no opportunities for networking in an online MBA program. Many of your courses will demand participation in discussion forums, interactive chat environments, or video conferencing. Even simple email groups offer the savvy student a chance to meet potential friends, collaborators, or partners. Networking online is slightly different than face-to-face, but it's still important to present yourself pleasantly and professionally; to give more than you receive; and to listen attentively to what you're being told.

- Do I have the self-discipline to complete an online MBA program?

Whether you study on campus or online, business school is hard work; you should expect to put in long hours, both in class and studying independently. But without the discipline of class attendance and a regular schedule, online MBA students face more of a challenge in focusing on their studies. You have to be sure that you can put aside hobbies, a trip to the movies, or even a night on the couch watching the play offs, in order to make time for class assignments, essays, and studying for tests.

Particularly if you're continuing to work full-time during your college program, time management is a vital skill for success in business school. Distance learning lends itself well to flexible scheduling, since you can often choose to listen to lectures at a time that's convenient for you. But you do have to schedule the time to actually listen to them; the work still has to be completed.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/earning-an-mba-degree-online-is-it-a-good-idea-318849.html

About the Author:If you can focus effectively on your studies, then you should have no hesitation about earning your MBA degree online . But the decision to earn an online college degree should not be made lightly.

April 16, 2008

MBA PROGRAM - Should you pursue an international MBA?

MBA PROGRAM - Should you pursue an international MBA? by kriya

Students opt for an international MBA degree for different reasons. These include international exposure, career change, networking opportunities and gathering cross-cultural experience. However, an international MBA degree usually costs more than an Indian MBA degree. Also the application process may be lengthy and consume a significant amount of time.

You should choose the MBA program which to your requirements. For example, if you have to take time out from your own business to do the MBA you should enroll in a one-year program. Another candidate who is giving up his job to do an MBA program may opt for a two-year course. It is also important to check if the business school you are considering will develop those qualities you need to achieve your short and long-term goals.

If you have a financial constraint and fail to secure a scholarship or tuition waiver, you may decide to attend a lower ranked university or an MBA program of a shorter duration. Otherwise you could increase the number of schools you apply to in order to correspondingly boost your chances of being selected by at least one.

Going to the right business school makes a lot of difference to your future. So before you select the schools do talk to alumni of that institution, check facts about the school on the Internet and discuss the matter with a local representaive of that institution before taking a final decision.

refer to :http://www.manyagroup.com/modules.php?name=25a2b_mba_applications for more information.

About the Author
I am riya and working in Princeton Review - Manya Abroad . I am admission counselor for gre,gmat,toefl,study abroad,educational loan schemes.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=811839

April 14, 2008

Why MBA is important to you?

MBA Articles : Why MBA is important to you? by J.J.

Current worldly state stresses the importance of higher education though we had achieved certain success in career wise. One of the most recognized degree is MBA, which stands for Master of Business Administration, has been one of the most extensively pursued master's degree across the globe. Usually, it has been now labeled as a 'preferred' qualification or as a requirement now in work resume.

The successful MBA foundation is phenomenal as its curriculum consists of finance, marketing, statistic and others that make a successful candidate to be included in preferred category. It is because they have ability to think broadly about business decisions and switch forth and freely to adapt to different needs and environments.

Through MBA filtering process, the best students with the best reputation can be selected from a pool of candidates. Of course, that means candidates with a highly record of excellence and achievement is highly favored and most likely to be recruited. With the degree, we can too, conclude about the drive of the person that holds it. Sometimes, they are the full time working professional who willing to spend their time to pursue the higher education. It's such an accomplishment to manage both career and education swiftly.

MBA also teaches us issues about how we can build up a successful portfolio of business knowledge and skills and network of colleagues and MBA alumni. Identification of business problems can be addressed and analyzed more consistently. Communication skills in individual and teamwork aspects can be strengthening in a long run. People management skills can be mastered as usually the person who deals with the customers mostly influences the business deal. First impression is important, and a second impression doesn't count.

It is said that the degree is a must as it guarantees professional qualification, which is a demand from industry. If you are a successful holder, it does give the eligibility and also means that you have obtained the theoretical base for building the practical achievements. It also could be the way to change your career path and set up your own business. Research has shown that the failure rate for small businesses started by an MBA is about 50 percent less than the standard failure rate.

No matter what the importance is, approach the studies with an open mindset and correct attitude and it can develop oneself into full capacity.

About the Author
J.J. Yong - an Internet marketer and a pre-university biology coach. He has a site that is providing information about online MBA degree.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=821818

April 9, 2008

Avoid the 4 Common Mistakes Make by Online MBA Students

Distance Learning MBA Articles : Avoid the 4 Common Mistakes Make by Online MBA StudentsAuthor: Amelia Turner

Pursuing your distance learning Master of Business Administration degree, MBA online, is your wise decision because an MBA prepare you to face more challenges tasks in your career and equip yourself to meet the pre-requirement of any managerial position. However, many online MBA students are making some common mistakes that may harm your chances of finding success. Don't let yourself making these mistakes:

Mistake #1: Enroll Into Unaccredited Online MBA Program

Many online students are enrolled into an online MBA program, distance learning program, because they are attracted by the program features, cost and some un-verified guarantees advertised by the online university. These advertisements may be published by diploma mills for the purpose of squeezing your money with an exchange of fake MBA degree that worth nothing and these MBA degrees are not accepted in the job market. Try to imagine what the consequences are, if you carry this fake MBA degree to apply for career switch or job promotion.

It is important that you enroll into a proper accredited online MBA program which the accreditation agency is the one that is recognized by Department of Education. A proper accredited MBA degree program is a qualify assurance of your MBA degree and many employers are using this benchmark when they review the MBA degree of their candidates. Hence, always spend your time to confirm the legitimate accreditation information about the online MBA program that you are interested to sign up.

Mistake #2: Enroll Into MBA Program with Wrong Specialization

MBA cover a wide range of specializations. You can choose an MBA program with specialization or concentration that is related to your career goal. Many online MBA students do not realize that they have many options in selecting their MBA specialization. Most students are selecting the common specialization such as marketing, finance and business management. Although, these MBA specializations can provides you with the necessary knowledge and prepare yourself for managerial job promotion but if you can choose an MBA specialization that is closely related to your career, then you can maximum the value of MBA degree because it contains courses that are related to your working field.

For example, if you are in the healthcare industry, an MBA program with specialization in Healthcare Management may be more appropriate than MBA program with specialization in Business Management. Hence, get the full information on the available MBA options before you sign up any online MBA program so that you have the chances to select the best online MBA specialization that best fit your career goal.

Mistake #3: Loose Focus on Their Online MBA Study

Many students will easily lose focus on their MBA study if nobody looks after their shoulder and many are end up with unable to complete their MBA study. Online MBA program provides you with flexibility to plan your own study schedule but it may easily cause you to neglecting your assignments, course works or projects if you are a kind of students that required attention and motivation from instructors or lecturers to guide you along your study path.

If you are insisting in getting your MBA online, then, you should manage your time properly for work, live and study and stick to you schedule firmly so that you will stay focus on your MBA study. You may get help from your spouse or family members to act as your motivators or reminders so that you won't accidentally go out of your study track.

Mistake #4: Paying the MBA Program with Their Own Money

MBA is the most common master degree program, and one of the most given financial aids degree program especially from employers. Many online MBA students not realize that there are many financial aids options to fund their MBA study, end up with paying their MBA program with their own money.

If you are a working individual who are taking online MBA program, first check with your company on the available financial aids. You should utilize this employee benefits to fund your study if your company has fund allocations for employees' continuous education program. Beside that, many universities do provide financial aids for their students and there are many resources to find your qualified financial aids either online or offline. So, get your online MBA study funded with these financial aids and save your own money for other purpose.

Summary

MBA is the best degree program that can help in your career advancement. Avoid making some common mistakes made by online MBA students that may harm your chances of finding success with an MBA degree.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/online-education-articles/avoid-the-4-common-mistakes-make-by-online-mba-students-240879.html

About the Author:

Amelia Turner, an educational article writer for http://www.your-online-degree.info/ You can find more details information and free resources about online MBA degrees, online business degrees, financial aids and other online education programs that can help you to make decision to earn your degree online.

April 7, 2008

Are Online MBA Degrees Respectable?

Distance Learning MBA Articles : Are Online MBA Degrees Respectable? by Amelia Turner

Earning an MBA degree is a popular option for mid-career professions to increase their competitive edge for moving their career to the highest achievement. In conjunction with the popularity of online education, more and more universities make their MBA program available online. While the available of MBA in online format presents the golden opportunity for many working individuals to acquire a valuable qualification without disrupting the current career, many still worry about the respectability of online MBA.

Although online education has been available for many years, there are working adults who plan to earn their MBA online still have some concerns about whether the MBA degree they are going to earn through online degree program will be accepted in the job market and help in their career. In fact, their worry is valid, because there are employers prefer to take candidate who earn their degree from campus-based universities than online schools. Why it happens? Is this mean the online MBA degrees not respectable?

Surveys results show that most employers concerns about online degree are more toward the fake degrees. Because of education industry is one of the most profitable business due to high market demand on education needs, it attracts those diploma mills to go into this market by offering degrees that are not accredited by accrediting agency recognized by Department of Education. The fake degree issues are serious especially in online education area. As an online student, if you accidentally enroll into online MBA program offered by one of diploma mills, the degree will not be accepted by employers as most employers today know how to identify between the real and fake degree.

The key factors that determine the respectability of an MBA degree are accreditation and reputation. The school that offers MBA degree programs must be properly accredited by specific regional accrediting authority. A school of good repute can also add it's respectability to an online MBA degree. If you want to earn an online MBA degree that is respectable and carries the most value in helping your career, you must pursue the online MBA program offered by accredited school which has good reputation and well known by most employers. The yearly best online school award can be a good indicator to find the best online MBA program.

In term of the online MBA cost, it is vary from one school to another. An online MBA program may cost anywhere between $10,000 and $100,000. Generally, the better well known school, it online MBA degree may cost more but the price may worth if the degree offer by the school is widely accepted in the job market. Besides the MBA cost influence by the reputation of the schools that offer the degree, the price is also determined by the number of courses and credit hours to complete the degree program.

In short, the online MBA degree is equally respectable to MBA degree earned through campus-based schools. The only thing you need to be aware is there are many fake degree programs around, you must be careful when searching for an online MBA program. Enroll only an MBA degree program offered by accredited school with good reputation.

About the Author
Amelia Turner, an educational article writer for http://www.your-online-degree.info You can find more details information and free resources about Online MBA degrees, financial aids and other accredited online education programs

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=861741

Career Guide - Is Earning An Online MBA Worth It?

Distance Learning MBA Articles : Career Guide - Is Earning An Online MBA Worth It? by Amelia Turner

In today's competitive living environment, going back to school is a popular option for working individuals to build their skill set and stay competitive to current employment and be more attractive to future employers. MBA is one of the most popular educational options especially for mid-career professions to be trained for more advanced leadership roles in various businesses and industries. Today, a number of accredited universities offer online MBA degree program, making an MBA not only more affordable but much more convenient also. The question is: Is earning an online MBA worth it?

Let look at some facts before you get an answer for the above question:

An online MBA degree won't guarantee you a great job and salary, but the odds of increasing your earnings will increase after earning your MBA degree. Many companies have a salary scale based on educational background. According to the recent survey of financial workers based on skill, education and seniority levels found that Chief Financial Officers who get to the position without a degree have an average salary o $38,950, those with a bachelor degree earned $50,000 extra, which is $88,850, and MBAs at the position earned an average of $105,000. This shows that the Return of Investment (ROI) with an MBA degree is well worth it.

In the employer's point of view, if the company has a managerial position available for internal promotion; there are a few candidates who are capable to fulfill the requirements of the position, and there are MBA among the candidates. Who do you think have a better chance to get promoted? Employer sees an MBA as a proven fact that the candidate has been trained for the knowledge and skill in leadership and advanced management job. Hence, an MBA will increase the competitive edge of an employee when come to job promotion which the suitable candidate needs to be selected among a group of employees.

Well, an MBA degree not only increases your competitive edge within your current employment. Along your career path, you may want to advance your career by applying a better job position in other companies. By holding an MBA degree, the odds of getting hire will increase when you compete with other candidates who are applying the same position.

Earning an online MBA is worth it if you are looking for opportunities to make a successful career in advanced level. But, enrolling in an online MBA program is not a decision to be taken lightly. Besides ensuring the online MBA program is offered by an accredited school, you must also enroll into an MBA with the right specialization which help the most in your career. During the process of studying, you need hard work, time and effort to complete the degree program.

Summary

As the fact shows that many online MBA graduates have used the degree to excel in workplace, gain promotion and achieve career success, earning an MBA degree is worth it as long as you are getting the degree from a positive reputation and properly accredited online school and your selected specialization was appropriate for the type of work you wanted to do.

About the Author
Amelia Turner, an educational article writer for http://www.your-online-degree.info You can find more details information and free resources about online MBA, online schools and other accredited online degree programs

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=856442