Best and quickest MBA for an english major (prereqs for MBAs)

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by qvatlanta, Nov 30, 2004.

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  1. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    Hello,

    I made one post in another forum here and received some very good advice and feedback. Since then I have done a ton of research into online MBAs. I have not found any site or thread with the same topic as I am posting about now, so I thought I would share my results and ask if anyone has anything to add to it.

    My own situation: I am an English major currently in a managerial position. I enjoy my job, but as the head of a small satellite office within a major corporation my prospects for advancement are somewhat limited. Before that, I was a Ph.D student in literature but dropped out at the ABD stage. I don't regret my studies in literature at all. In fact, I wouldn't have gotten the job I have today without them. However, after deciding to get an MBA I've found out that I'm at a disadvantage when it comes to most programs, which require lots of undergraduate business prerequisites.

    I was originally looking into for-profit places like DeVry and Strayer which promise easy entry and quick graduation. However, from advice on this forum and lots of research I found cheaper and better options. Here's the list so far, which only includes US colleges.

    AACSB-accredited
    1) University of Florida 2-year MBA program
    Pros: No prerequisites. Ranks very high. Cons: You have to go to Gainesville for a weekend every few months. Very, very expensive. 48 credits in all.

    2) Umass Amherst Isenberg online MBA
    Pros: All prerequisites can be satisfied with one special course. Some courses can be taken without taking the prerequisite first. 37 credits in all. Reputable business school. Transfer and prerequisite policy laid out fairly clearly. Cons: Expensive ($3000 for the prereq course; $600 a credit).

    3) Colorado State 2-year distance MBA
    Pros: no prereqs. 36 credits in all. Cons: seems like skipping a semester might be difficult, although the FAQ says it can be done; course structure is not flexible. Somewhat expensive (500$ a credit). THREE letters of recommendation necessary.

    4) University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Distance MBA
    Pros: 4 undergrad prereqs, 3 of which can be satisfied with CLEPs. One of those 3, Business Communications, should be very easy for an English major to get out of. Core requirements are lighter than the other programs listed, which gives students a chance to earn an emphasis in 9 different specialized areas. 36 credit hours in all. Cons: Somewhat expensive ($480 a credit). Not as reputable as first 3 listed.

    Second Tier: RA and ACBSP or IACBE-accredited
    1) Brenau University MBA in Leadership Development
    Pros: Economical ($383.00 per credit hour). Only 30 hours required in all for MBA. Prereqs can be satisfied with a an extra catch-up 6-credit graduate level course. Better administrative attention than at large colleges. Cons: Only 2 electives in program total. Small. Decent local reputation but otherwise not well known.

    2) Bellevue University
    Pros: Cheap! $310 per credit hour. Also, Bellevue has the insanely great idea that prereqs count towards the 36 credit total. People WITH prereqs can waive out and take electives instead; people without prereqs just don't get to take electives. Cons: reputation not known.

    I have decided to apply and start off at Brenau, for a variety of reasons, but will keep options open for the other ones on this list. Please tell me what you think and add any others that might fit the bill. My ideal MBA program would be 1) of good quality 2) short duration 3) economical 4) have interesting electives 5) not be too easy to get into, but possible with a low GPA + high GMAT or other test 6) friendly and efficient administration. I don't expect to get all of those at the same time though... I'm very happy to have found the 5 options I listed above.
     
  2. TomICAVols

    TomICAVols New Member

    Have you considered Liberty University's MBA program? It shares a similar price range as the last two.
     
  3. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    Try Cameron University - $250 a credit and is ACBSP accredited.

    www.cameron.edu
     
  4. dl_mba

    dl_mba Member

    You can try University of North Alabama (formerly Florence state University).

    http://www2.una.edu/business/mba/index.html

    http://www.colsouth.edu/una

    Tuition: $300/credit.

    MBA concentrations in Management, New Venture Management, Marketing, and Computer Information Systems.

    The University College of Business, who has been offering MBA programs for over 30 years is also accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and also cooperates with and participates in academically-related programs as may be conducted by external groups such as the American College of Life Underwriters, the American Institute of Banking, etc.

    I also heard that the school is planning for AACSB soon.
     
  5. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    Thanks, but I don' t think any of those would make my list. Extra criteria: 7) Secular (rules out Liberty) and 8) Very little or no prereqs. Cameron requires 4 extra graduate courses for non-business BAs. UNA requires 5 extra graduate courses. They may be good choices for those with a bit more undergraduate background in business.
     
  6. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    Back when I was first looking for a DL MBA, the "quickest" one I came across was Baker College. If I remember correctly, there were no pre-reqs and the entire program was designed to finish in little over a year. I think City University was also about the same. Both were in the $300 dollar range per credit back in 2000.

    I wouldn't use this too much as a criteria. Getting in is one thing, getting out is another! I thought Heriot-Watt was a degree mill because they didn't require GMAT or even a bachelor's degree. However, after doing some research about their program, I was impressed. In the end I turned down City and Baker and went with them.
     
  7. novemberdude

    novemberdude New Member

    I have given your list some thought and while I haven't looked at the big folder from when I was doing my own MBA research the only school that springs to mind is Baker Universityn (mentioned by another poster already).

    I personally like Bellevue a lot. They have been offering the program for quite some time, and it is a very standard MBA program, with a good number of elective courses. Name recognition is a problem of course.

    Other schools that I like:

    California State DH - No good for you because of qualifying program.

    Texas A & M Commerce - qualifying program, think 18 credits?

    Regis University - Jesuit

    St Joseph's College - Non secular

    Marist - Non secular

    Morehead State - AACSB with good reputation but 18 hours of qualifying program.

    University of Wyoming - $540/credit hour, 30 credits, prerequisites required but not sure how many.

    As far as I can tell you've narrowed down your list pretty effectively.
     
  8. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    Good point. However, the main reason I'm thinking "not too easy to get into" is because of group projects. If a program has easy entrance but difficult completion, then that means a high failure rate. If you're assigned a lot of group projects, that means you have a greater chance of getting dragged down by other group members who are just not prepared enough.

    For Heriott-Watt, that problem wouldn't be relevant, since from what I've read about the program it's totally based on individual work.
     
  9. raristud

    raristud Member

    Have you visited Amberton University? They
    offer two online MBA concentrations and
    tuition is only $600 per graduate course. If
    you are concerned about being admitted,
    Amberton University will accept you
    unconditionally ( with transcripts from all
    college and universities attended ) if you
    have an undergraduate 3.0 gpa or 4
    graduate courses completed from other
    colleges and universities. If you would like to
    transfer 4 courses for Unconditional
    Admissions to Amberton Universities MBA
    program, you may complete 4 graduate
    business courses at Fort Hays State
    University ( cheap tuition ). Make sure the
    courses at Fort Hays State University match
    the course titles from Amberton University.

    http://www.fhsu.edu/virtualcollege/
    http://www.amberton.edu/Graduate_2003.htm

    http://www.amberton.edu/

    Happy Hunting

    Ray

    --------------------------------------------------
    Northcentral University
    Master of Arts in Psychology : currently enrolled
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 2, 2004
  10. beachhoppr

    beachhoppr New Member

  11. A benefit of Marist is that it's AACSB. The downside is that they have some pre-reqs (accounting, management, finance, marketing, economics, stats)

    Cheers,
    Mark
     
  12. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    Here's an update... I'm more than halfway through my first online MBA course at Brenau, where I've been accepted and decided to stay. The first course is a monster 6-credit prerequisite for non-business undergrads, with modules in statistics, accounting, marketing and management. The financial accounting module has been especially useful, since last year I was drafted into running every single one of my immediate family's IRAs and it's been tough figuring out how to handle all the investment choices.

    So far I like the coursework, and I'm especially pleased with the administration. Things run pretty smoothly, and whether I call in or drop by the satellite campus everyone is friendly and helpful. One downside is that there are only two electives in the program, but it's going to be hard to figure out exactly when to take them, since the program is not that big and the electives aren't offered that frequently. Taking one course a term, I'll definitely be done by the end of the next year... and it could take me a year and half if I push it a bit.
     

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