MBA vs. MIS, and a question about for-profits in Atlanta

Discussion in 'IT and Computer-Related Degrees' started by qvatlanta, Nov 5, 2004.

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  1. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    Hello,

    I'd like to know if anyone would be kind enough to offer me some advice. For the last 3 years I have been working in the financial services industry and am currently the manager of a small office. Even though I have never taken any computer courses at all, I'm basically the first line of tech support for the office as well as being the manager, and I handle a lot of advanced functions in Excel, Access, computer networking, technical writing, and have worked on the user interface side of application development.

    I'd really like to continue on in a job that is a bit more advanced than what I'm doing now. Basically, I'm good at any kind of practical management of non-tech people (except for sales... salespeople kind of freak me out) and also at communicating and working with tech people. Although my BA degree is in English, I pick up computer skills pretty quickly, have decent graphic design skills and know a bit of baby programming (HTML, CGI). I also enjoy working with databases.

    I'd like to get an MBA or an MIS within two years. I'm still trying to figure out which would be more valuable. I honestly do not have much respect for a general MBA I could get at a for-profit or community college. I just don't think it would teach much that I don't already know from my practical experience or reading books about management, whereas an MIS could actually give me more hands-on technical knowledge about running complicated systems. I also realize I might have to take some catch-up courses if I went for an MIS or MIT. On the other hand, if an MBA is really more marketable and practical, that's what I would do.

    I am looking into places that have both traditional and distance learning. I'd like to have some classroom interaction as well as the option to study from home. The places I've looked into so far are Devry, Strayer, AIU and UoP. All of these have campus locations in Atlanta. An AIU rep told me I could get a MIS in under a year, going to class only on the weekend, and this just does not seem realistic. Plus, they absolutely refuse to tell me how much it would cost. I have heard lots of people here in Atlanta and online complain that DeVry/Keller is overpriced. Strayer is not cheap but they are quite upfront about their costs ($342 a credit hour for graduate courses, $200 a class for books). That's about the upper limit of what I would pay; it may be possible for me to get some tuition reimbursement from my company.

    Thank you in advance for any recommendations or advice you would care to make.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 5, 2004
  2. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Do you realize that with Strayer you're dealing with quarter-hours, not semester-hours, and as a result you'll need 54 of them, not 36, to get your Master's? That's $18,468 total. I'd look for a decent state school, surely Atlanta has some?

    -=Steve=-
     
  3. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    Re: Re: MBA vs. MIS, and a question about for-profits in Atlanta

    What is AIU's total $30-40,000? I like Boston University's program at $24,400.
     
  4. Oherra

    Oherra New Member

    I am attending AIU online because the price is not quite so bad for me with my tuition reimbursement. A masters from AIU will run you somewhere in the $30,000 range. I do not know how the on campus classes work, I'm 4 hours south of Atlanta so I am attending online.

    The online classes are 5 weeks each, and have a pretty intense workload each of the 5 weeks. If you were only attending a class on Saturday, I expect there would be a significant amount of homework and out of class reading to do.
     
  5. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    Hello,

    I fully realize that a degree at Strayer would cost $22,000 total, including projected book/supply costs.

    Although there are many MBA programs offered by state and local colleges, most of which I could probably get accepted into, they are either more expensive or else do not have a class schedule that is flexible enough. For example, Georgia State has night classes, but I often have to work late at night. That's why I'm looking for a place that is as flexible as possible and where I can take a mix of on-campus and online courses.
     
  6. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    One thing you haven't mentioned is reputation. I would think a name school would be a much more valuable asset when job hunting. If so I would stay away from U of P, Strayer, and AIU. Depending on your field this may not be a concern for you. Good luck.
     
  7. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    I had assumed that the four places that I mentioned all had about the same reputation: pretty low, but OK for technical concentrations. Is Devry/Keller really above the pack?
     
  8. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    Take a look at:

    Auburn:

    http://www.auburn.edu/distance_learning/splash/

    University of North Alabama:

    http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/una/student/stundents.html

    University of Illinois-Springfield:

    http://mis.uis.edu/


    The Atlanta area is lacking in DL type programs. However Georgia has a virtual campus but the best place for you to look would be:

    www.sreb.org

    All of the above degrees will require leveling classes. My BA is in English but I work in IT and found only the statistics classes to be tough.

    I like the UNA degree best because of the IS concentration and it provides adequate knowledge for most office environments. Good accreditation and a well received school. Uses DVD so you have your lectures. Auburn also uses DVD.

    If you will be handling the data/voice/video transport external to your office there are other degrees that will better prepare you.

    Regards,
     
  9. agilham

    agilham New Member

    The other question to ask yourself is whether you really want to manage techies all your life? If you go for the MIS, there will be some people who immediately stick you in the pigeonhole labelled "tech management". You sound as if you're extremely interestied in operations, so I'd be more inclined to go for an MBA and stick in some IT management and operations electives. For the same amount you'd pay for an MIS from UoP you could have an MBA from UMass http://www.isenberg.umass.edu/MBA/PartTime_MBA/Online/ which is rather more marketable nationally than UoP

    Angela
     
  10. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    A similar question comes up a lot in the SHRM forums as "Should I get a masters in HR or an MBA?" The short answer is if you want to do more than work in HR the rest of your life, get the MBA.

    A general MBA can be very useful and should teach more than things you read in management books. MBAs that "specialize" are nothing more than a general MBA, with a couple of elective courses attached. To me that is hardly enough exposure to the subject to justify the extra tuition cost.

    So to people going the MBA route I usually recommend just getting the general MBA, and then work on getting certifications on whatever field you want to specilize in. (e.g. CPA, CFA, MSCAD, PHR, Six Sigma, or whatever.) You will be much more employable.

    The more I think about it, it might be better to get the certification first, and then go for the MBA. It's probably give you a better picture of if you want to work in that field or not. Just an idea.

    Of course if IT/IS is really what you want to do and there is a MIS program that you really like, then by all means, go for it.
     
  11. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    "MBAs that "specialize" are nothing more than a general MBA, with a couple of elective courses attached. To me that is hardly enough exposure to the subject to justify the extra tuition cost."

    Perhaps some. But in the case of UNA the general MBA requires the same credit hours as the MBA with specialization. The MBA-IS provides 5 classes with the CIS designation, 3 graduate credits shy of the magic 18 hours for teaching.

    There are numerous other MBA programs with specializations that provide similar flexibility. The key is course designation, for very often specializations are designated with an MBA, MGT or some other designation that does not help should the individual want to teach a subject. Of course this point is moot if the indivdual does not want to teach.

    In the world of maximum utility I see the MBA with a specialization as pretty flexible with broad application.
     
  12. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    Thanks so much for all the commentary. As a result of some of the things that were discussed here, I went back to GSU and looked at their Flexible MBA program. It might take me longer to complete it, but apparently their program is pretty reputable, some courses are offered online, and it costs $190 per credit hour for in-state residents. I can also get a concentration in Information Systems. Right now that's what I'm leaning towards.
     
  13. Myoptimism

    Myoptimism New Member

    Hi qv,
    Have you looked at the career growth MBA at Kennesaw State University? It looks like it can be done on weekends, along with dl. They are also AACSB accredited, which really is the gold standard for business programs.

    Another possible option might be the Georgia WebMBA program.

    Good luck,
    Tony
     
  14. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    Hello,

    Thanks for suggesting Kennesaw; I am looking into that as well. I'm scheduled to take the GMAT late next month and will apply to the following three places:

    1) GSU Flexible MBA
    2) Kennesaw Career Growth MBA
    3) Brenau University MBA

    Brenau University is not AACSB-accredited but it is RA and IACBE, which at face value makes it more valuable than the for-profits I was initially looking into... and cheaper too. The great advantage is that their campus is only 4 miles away from where I work. With Atlanta traffic that's a big deal. They also offer courses online.
     
  15. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    "With Atlanta traffic that's a big deal."

    Ah, the I-85 parking lot......
     

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