Help me decide...

Hello,

I am new to this board, and I must say that I have gained a lot of insight from posts here and on a couple of other online boards. I am considering a DL school for my MBA. I have narrowed down my search to a few schools, and would like to get some feedback from the members of this board.

MY BACKGROUND:

• I am 32 years old.
• I have a B.S. in Computer Science from an RA brick and mortar school here in Texas.
• I have over 10 years of work experience in my field.
• My employer won't pay for my education, so cost matters.

MY GOALS:

• I need an MBA degree to climb up the corporate ladder.
• I would prefer a concentration in Project Management or Leadership.
• I may work here in the U.S. or move abroad (Europe, Far East, or even possibly Middle East).

Following are the schools I like so far:

AMBERTON UNIVERSITY:
Pros:

• RA.
• Rated and conceived pretty highly.
• Price is competitive for Texas residents.
• Close to home.

Cons:

• Does not offer specific concentrations.
• I will have to take an additional 12 hours of pre-requisite courses driving the price as well as the completion time up significantly.

COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY (CSU):
Pros:

• Offers my desired concentrations.
• Price is even better than Amberton.
• Have heard lots of good things about the school.
• Not RA, but have strong ties to RA schools, just in case I plan to go for my doctorate.

Cons:

• Not RA.

ASHWOOD COLLEGE:
Pros:

• I love the $100/month payment plan.
• Best price including all the study materials (books etc.)

Cons:

• Does not offer specific concentrations.
• Not RA.

ANDREW JACKSON UNIVERSITY:
Pros:

• Fair price.
• Been around for a long time.

Cons:

• Does not offer specific concentrations.
• Not RA.

Following are my questions to the folks who would like to reply:

1. Given my situation, which one of my choices do you like the best? Why?
2. Would you recommend a school not on my list? Why?
3. How are NA schools/degrees conceived in other countries?
4. Typically, how much time one is required to spend per week (or day) in order to graduate in 2-2.5 years?


I thank you in advance for replying to this post and helping me out with a major decision in my life.

Regards,
mharoon

 

Try this its cheap, Recognized, and can be done via DL. Look it up


http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=973

 

One Correction

Although Columbia Southern University is not RA (it's DETC), I think that an MBA program at Columbia Southern will lead to RA MBA degree from The University of West Alabama (UWA). UWA is RA, so your MBA will be RA. If business program accreditation (AACSB) is not important to you, I will advise you to go with one of the least expensive RA graduate programs (Amber).

Ike Okonkwo, PhD

 

I thought Amberton had a Strategic Leadership concentration.

 

Re: One Correction

Thank you for your advise, however, I am lost here! What do you mean by "lead to". Does it mean that I can transfer my credits to UWA after a while and get my degree from there?

Thanks again!

 

Hi, welcome to Degreeinfo. I was impressed by your well organized question. Unfortunately, business isn't my field so I'll be of limited help.

Here's one:

California State University at Dominguez Hills.

http://som.csudh.edu/distance.asp

Why do I mention it?

They offer an MBA entirely by DL, with no campus visits required. Students around the world are enrolled. Cost is $9,000. Regionally accredited. The California State University system has 23 campuses, 350,000 students and is known internationally. (And I did a DL degree from CSUDH myself, so I'm biased.)

BTW, if you have a CS background and international interests, you might be interested in CSUDH business IT professor Larry Press' work on the global diffusion of the internet.

Here's the full-text of 77 of Press' papers:

http://som.csudh.edu/depts/cis/lpress/interest.htm

 

If you live in Texas, have you thought about...

http://www.telecampus.utsystem.edu/programs/MBA/mba_advisors.html

Otherwise, look at these options...

http://www.huizenga.nova.edu/programs/masters_mba_online_curriculumOrder.cfm

http://mba.unl.edu/distance.html

All are RA and should be reasonably priced. UNL may have the better cost unless you live in Texas for the UTS System instate tuition.

Also, have you thought about a degree other than an MBA? M.S. in Organizational Leadership, M.A. in Leadership, etc.

 

mharoon,

I have a B&M BA, and completed the Columbia Southern MBA-Project Management last year. I was under a time constraint so I stayed with the CSU MBA because it was self-paced. Several issues to contemplate: Only the CSU-NCU Northcentral University) articulation agreement will get you into a DL PHD program. Neither UNA or UWA offer DL PHDs at this time. You will need several of the prerequisite classes (statistics for example) should you go on to a PHD.

I found the CSU program well organized, rigorous in some areas, not so rigorous in others. I went into the program specifically to acquire the project management courses because of some of my professional requirements. I spent less than $6500 on the program since there was an academic discount and I kept my grades up. I would have spent the same working on just a certificate at some schools or project management programs. There is still some academic discount but not as good as it was last year. If you want to become a PMP then there are other programs that could be beneficial. But none as cost friendly unless you live/move to North Carolina. Western Carolina University has a masters in Project Management that is AACSB accredited. Expensive if you don't live in the state.

You will find other schools, including outside the US, listed at www.PMI.org. Be leery of some of them and the lack of accreditation.

I have to agree with Duff that other degree areas may broaden your options.

 

Ashwood/Ashworth

If you decide to go here (CAUTION!!!), take a hard look at the enrollment contract. The website price is $2000 less than they price on your documents. This is an infamous used-car saleman trick that should send up a red flag.

 

Good point, I didn't think about this. I however digged deeper at CSU/UNA web sites, and it seems like that the degree I will be awarded will be from UNA. If that's the case, then I should be able to pursue my doctorate at practically any school, since I will have a degree from an RA school. I still have some questions about this, though. On CSU's web site the quoted per credit price is $154/hour, but on CSU/UNA alliance site it's $300/hour. I have sent e-mails to both schools for clarification -- will post here with their responses. Even if it's $300, I still think it will be worth the price for an MBA from an RA school. Opinions?

Glad to know. On the average, how much time did you spend per week?

Thank you for your response, and I look forward to hearing back from you.

 

Re: Ashwood/Ashworth

Wow, I had no idea! Thanks for the info. It's strange that none of the other posts I read about Ashwood on the newsgroups or elsewhere stated this. If you are right, then this school is totally off my list!

 

I just heard back from both CSU and UNA. Basically both imply that CSU is helping with marketing of UNA's MBA program. Also UNA will accept two courses from CSU which are:

• International Business
• Advanced Marketing

So in short, CSU and UNA have two different MBA programs. Former costs about $150/credit hour, and the latter costs $300/credit hour. One may join CSU, take the above two courses, then transfer to UNA if cost is a big concern.

 

Re: Re: One Correction

Your question has been answered. Yes, University of North Alabama (UNA) will award the MBA degree, and for MEd. program, it's UWA.

Ike

 

UNA is a fine school and well received here in the south. But for $300 per credit hour there are several other options if the MBA is your decision. However, If the UNA 8 week schedule had been available I probably would have gone that route. They have a CIS concentration.

For other consideration. I have just received confirmation from Troy State-Troy that their MSM program now has a MIS concentration. About the same price as the UNA MBA but a little more flexible.

The University of Illinois-Springfield has a MIS Masters that is quite reasonable.

If you can define your career goals a little more some of the other members can provide a wealth of perspective on the various paths.

 

Accred Problem?

Did I read recently of a probation or other accreditation problem with UWA. I know that they are working with CSU for the couseling masters degree. That seems strange an RA institution working with a DETC institution towards a masters. beside the UNA/CSU connection, can you8 think of any others?

 

UWA was placed on probation by SACS.

http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/03cractdec.pdf

While the programs appear joint they are not. CSU is the contact for on-line application and other marketing/question/articulation issues but each university awards its own degrees. If I were CSU I would strive to have as many of these relationships as possible. As pointed out by others in the forum SACS does not readily accredit institutions offering on-line programs only.

As for UNA and UWA, both reach limited markets either due to competition or locality. UNA is in competition with several universities including the University of Alabama-Huntsville(AACSB accredited and located right next to one of the Army's largest bases). On-line efforts expand their market base. CSU did a good job of marketing their resources.

 

Re: Re: Re: One Correction

Not entirely accurate. CSU offers an MBA program on its own. In addition, it provides the online framework and marketing for UNA's MBA program. They are, however, two different programs.




Tom Nixon

 

Yes, they're on probation, but only for 12 months (provided they fix things). Mostly a slap on the wrist for problems with their governing board.

From the Tuscaloosa News:

"A 2002 trip by a SACS committee concluded that the 13-member board of trustees was possibly involved in micromanaging the affairs of the university. A follow-up evaluation, in October 2003, found the situation significantly worse. In the intervening year and a half, the board had split into two factions, both holding claims to be legitimate bodies."

It sounds like the hope is to get these children to play together better. 5 of these trustees just went off the board and it sounds like the new members are being picked specifically to fix this problem.


Tom Nixon

 

Would you

Hi Tom,
I know that you are a student in the school copunseling program but would you recommend enrolling in the MSCE program for the RA psych credits. It seems like a really good deal if the accreditation thing is minor. Incidentally, will the diploma read Columbia or West Ala?

 

SACS is earning their keep and following their guidelines. I have associates who graduated from both UNA and UWA. Neither person has anything but regard for these institutions. UWA is long standing and I believe will correct any issues.

However, if Tom is a student at UWA I will defer to his more intimate knowledge.

The diploma (and transcripts) will read from whichever school you graduate from.