Does the phrase "Professional MBA" scare employers?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by scotty, Feb 18, 2006.

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  1. scotty

    scotty New Member

    I'm considering UMASS's online MBA through the Isenberg school. However, the school issues a diploma that says "Professional MBA" rather than simply "MBA." A lot of schools do this, I realize, but not all of them. The UMASS name is recognizable, but I worry that the word "Professional" will spook a lot of hiring managers who look down on online degrees. Sure, I don't have to put the word "Professional" on my resume and application, but isn't that kind of being dishonest? Does an executive put "EMBA" on his resume when he completes an online "Executive MBA?" Thanks.
     
  2. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    I would think "MBA" would suffice on a resume.
     
  3. foobar

    foobar Member

    I'm not sure that most employers would assume that the degree is DL. When I read the first sentence of your post, I presumed that "Professional MBA" was just another marketing differentiation from "Executive MBA," and not different in any way.
     
  4. dl_mba

    dl_mba Member

    My experience is that the Hiring Managers would'nt even bother if your diploma says "Professional MBA" or "External"(in case of University Of London) as long as you have an "accredited" or a "known school" MBA.
     
  5. Sam-I-Am

    Sam-I-Am New Member

    WHO ARE these hiring managers who ask to see your diploma?

    I've interviewed people myself and never once thought to ask for a diploma; I've been hired by mom-and-pops as well as GF500s. Yet I've never been asked to produce a diploma for examination, and only for educational positions (i.e. teaching) have transcripts been requested.

    If someone asked to see my diploma, I'd look at them like they had three heads and wonder whether I really wanted to work for that anal retentive ball of paranoia sitting across the desk from me.

    If you're wanting to be absolutely candid, then put: "MBA, UMass, Professional Program" on your resume. There's no need to put extra letters in front designating the particular type of MBA taken.
     
  6. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member

    Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the professional MBA at UMass is not structured the same as their regular MBA. I thought I remembered that this degree lacked the extra hours that would have been completed in the regular program for a specialization. If Little Faus still posted here I'm sure he could clear things up as he was enrolled in this program.

    If what I said is true (and I'm not all that confident that it is) and without addressing the ethics how it is listed on a resume, wouldn't an employer have an interest in knowing which program the student completed? If the differences are as I stated, then the regular program requires the student to take several more hours to complete the degree.
     
  7. dl_mba

    dl_mba Member

    I have changed 3 jobs (2 fortune 500 and 1 mom-pops) in the last 7 yrs and have never been asked to show the transcrips nor the diploma.
     
  8. little fauss

    little fauss New Member

    The professional MBA requires 37 credits plus an intro course that's non-credit, but works out to about the same amount of work as a three credit class. The regular MBA is 55 credits.

    So they're undoubtedly different, but they have almost entirely the same required classes--difference is in the electives required in the main program.

    I list my MBA studies (not completed yet) at UMass as "MBA, in progress, Isenberg Professional Program". I have no ethical dilemma with that, as it describes precisely what I'm doing. Main reason I do it is to distinguish my degree from those programs that some schools call "professional MBAs" and run only a few weeks. The only reason the Isenberg school calls the PMBA such is to distinguish between it and their regular program with the more extensive elective requirements: the PMBA is for professionals who already have grad degrees or significant work experience (there are, for example, lots of physicians in this program, I doubt many would sign up if they were required to take 18 cr hr in a "specialty"--I think they've already determined that). In any event, both are AACSB-accredited as MBAs.

    One note: the Isenberg professional MBA, even though it's only 37 cr hr, still requires more coursework that several AACSB-accredited MBA programs that are not considered "professional". One quirk I've noticed is that MBA programs can be AACSB accredit and yet range all over the bvoard, from as little as about 30 cr hr up to 60 or so cr hr--yet all called "MBA", all equally accredited.

    Finally, I left these boards for a long time because my life took a crazy tilt-a-whirl turn over the last few months. Hard to describe at the moment, I'll post a bit later today and let you know--at least those who are interested. Missed ya, JoAnn!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 19, 2006
  9. simon

    simon New Member

    First the good news, Primarily, the MBA is from the U. of Massachussets, a highly regarded university.

    However, you are right to be concerned by the term "Professional", that precedes the degree's title, MBA. It implies a distinction between it and other MBAs. The question one needs to ask themselves is why should a student take any risks of being queried by a prospective employer (that is if the employer even tells the applicant what is on their mind) regarding this distinction when there are numerous online MBA degree programs available that clearly relate that the degree is specifically an MBA, an Executive MBA, etc.

    A similar situation relating to the significance of degree titles presented itself to a friend. He was attending Capella University's doctoral program in Human services with a specialization in "Professional Counseling". However, after commencing the program the school decided to change the name of the specialization to "Counseling Studies". He was very unhappy with this change of title because some of the factors for her initially selecting and commencing this doctoral program was that the degree title was congruent with his future career goals to teach at the college level and that the degree title was the same as his license to practice.

    In fact most traditional universitities term this doctoral degree program"Counselor Education" which is the standard title in Academia. This resulted in my friend's perception that a doctoral degree entitled"Counseling Studies" may be preceived by prospective employers as something less than the latter (it reminded her of the title of another discipline "Social Studies"). He subsequently departed from the doctoral program.

    I am not suggesting that you or anyone else not select an online degree program based on a degree title IF the curriculum is very solid as is the reputation of the school. The University of Massachussets is a case in point. However, at this point in time, distance online education has not yet attained the recognition and status of traditional school issued degrees that should make one think through very carefully regarding the potential pitfalls of obtaining an online degree that in any way may potentially raise redflags in the eyes of a prospective employer. There are just too many options available to place oneself in such a situation. Simon.
     
  10. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member

    Why, speak of the devil (and he shows up!) Hmmm, maybe you moniker should be little faust ;)

    I'm glad to hear that your life has regained some sanity. Does this mean you are gainfully employed once again? This place has been rearranged by a recent scandal. Regardless of your conservative political views, maybe you can buck a trend and hang around. Its good to hear from you.
     
  11. little fauss

    little fauss New Member

    I was away for months, then started lurking exactly one week ago. It's good to speak to you.

    Scandal? Why please do tell! (if you're at liberty). I had no idea there was a controversy while I was away.
     
  12. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member

    Little fauss, check your private mail.
     
  13. blahetka

    blahetka New Member

    Diploma/Transcript

    I've never been asked to show a copy of my diploma, nor have I asked to see one. I've been asked to provide a transcript (for adjunct positions), but that's the extent.

    However, when i was in Venezuela a year ago, my cuñada and I were discussing the differences in the job markets between here and there.

    She asked if the US was still using transcripts, or if employers wanted to see the diploma. The question took me aback, as I never heard of showing a diploma. I told her we used transcripts.

    She told me that in Venezuela they would ask to see the actual diploma. Not sure if that was academia only (didn't think to ask) or on a whole. She told me the concern was a transcript would be easy to forge.

    That's when it dawned on me. My suegro's diploma was a HUGE thing (I believe a C-size document). Very ornate (and now yellow with age). It also explains why a Venezuelan friend of mine was let down when she saw my SJSU MBA diploma. She is finishing up her degree. She asked me if my diploma was a copy or the real thing. I told her it was the real thing, and she said, "I'm doing all this work and that's all I'll have? An 8X10 diploma??? I want something to cover my entire wall!" Of course, she was exaggerating, but she was expecting something more...... impressive.
     
  14. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    I speculate that the diploma might say "Professional MBA," but the transcript will probably just read Master of Business Administration.
     
  15. gildeer7

    gildeer7 New Member

    I finished the UMass Professional MBA program last year. The diploma does say "Professional MBA." It didn't bother me a bit to have Professional MBA on the diploma. Other programs call their part-time MBA's different names. For example, Georgia State University lists several different MBA's on its website: Flexible MBA (full-time or part-time), Executive MBA, Professional MBA, and Global Partners MBA. As long as you are honest about how you got the degree, I don't think interviewers care about the adjective in front of MBA.
     

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