Hey All, I am thinking about staying at Liberty University after I complete my current degree and go on for an MBA. It would serve me well in the area of ministry I am pursuing. Some pros for me is that I could continue to receive my military discount rate of only $250/CH and it is a RA school. However, what could be a major con is the fact that the program is not affiliated with the AACSB. I have just learned about this organization since joining the board and would like to ask those in the know if the lack of this accreditation would render my Liberty MBA as worthless. What makes an AACSB MBA so important? Thanks in advance for any answers you could provide!
The lack of AACSB accreditation doesn't make any business degree worthless. With rare exception, the primary industry that places emphasis on hiring those who have degrees from AACSB accredited schools are other AACSB accredited schools. In other words, if your goal is to become a business professor at an AACSB accredited school, AACSB accreditation is crucial. Most other employers probably don't even know (or care) about this form of accreditation. AACSB accreditation is talked about frequently on this board but if you mention it to most prospective employers outside of academia, you will likely get a blank stare in return.
Well, in addition to being helpful as someone who oversees a 501(c)(3) ministry, it is also beneficial to function in the role of executive pastor for a congregation.
Thank you for your informative response. Since it is not my goal to teach business courses at a university, it sounds like the Liberty MBA will work out just fine if that is the route I choose to go.
The Liberty MBA program is a solid program. If you are interested in pursuing an AACSB MBA online, you might want to take a look at Jacksonville State University. JSU only charges $439 per credit hour for its 30 credit hour MBA program. This means the entire degree can be completed for a little over $13k. JSU | Distance Education | Program Information The Liberty MBA, in comparison, is more expensive. You have two options with the Liberty MBA. First is the 36 credit hour program without a specialization at $465 per credit hour. This fee is based on full-time enrollment. Liberty charges more if you are only a part-time student. At the full-time rate the degree will be nearly $17k. The second Liberty MBA option is the 45 credit hour program. In this option you take more credits in a specific business discipline...like an MBA in accounting, for instance. At the full-time tuition rate it would cost about $21k to complete the program. JSU is actually the more affordable program and it has AACSB accreditation, too.
I appreciate the info on JSU. I'll stick with LU because it will be more affordable for me. All graduate courses are capped at 250/CH for active military, or in my case, honorably discharged veterans. The price has had an impact on my decision to continue with them for other degrees. Thanks again!
Oh, I forgot that you mentioned you get the discounted military rate at Liberty. If that's the case, then the Liberty program is the more affordable option, even with the higher number of credits required to complete the degree.
Indeed! Only $9,000 for the 36 hour or $11,250 for the 45 hour program. My only concern in the program is the class called Business Research Methods. That's a course that sounds dangerously like statistics all over again - a class I struggled with during undergrad and for my MA. It almost held me back from going to grad school for counseling.
In most schools a methods of research course and a statistics course are two very different things. I took both courses at the undergrad level. The methods of research course I took was more of a qualitative course. It focused on how you acquire data. The statistics course was where the number crunching came in.
Hi Lance - In case you're interested, here's the master list of DL MBA programs. https://sites.google.com/site/aggietechie/home/dlmba
Thanks a lot, Kizmet. A few of the Alabama schools look like a good option (namely Auburn) because I do some on campus courses, as well. Plus, their in-state tuition might be better than what I get at Liberty. Besides, I'm beginning to get a little OCD with the matching degrees lol.
Personally, one Master's degree should be enough unless you are changing careers in a drastic manner. You can learn all that you need to properly manage a 501(c)(3) from self-study, non-credit programs or at most a Graduate Certificate. My mantra is to keep moving up. I however cannot seem to find a magical combination of price, framework and subject matter for Doctoral study. I am all over map in my interests. I want it to relate to work to help cover costs with Tuition Reimbursements but I also want to do what interests me. If MBA study is that interesting go for it but remember you are already well qualified for your job and will be even more so with your M.Div (sorry, i must guessing here). Good luck with what you choose.
Or maybe from this book... http://www.amazon.com/Earn-Your-MBA-Toilet-Unlimited/dp/1607744244#reader_1607744244
That looks like a winner to me. After reading an individual page you can use it to wipe. Eco-friendly too!
Your advice is sound. This would actually be my third Master degree from Liberty if I chose that route. I have looked at several doctoral programs for my D.Min. which is what I would be interested in if I pursued a doctorate. However, that would require three years after the completion of my M.Div. anyway. Also, the MBA could open up doors in an executive pastorate position if I decided to go down that road. I will also admit that the dissertation phase of a doctoral program has also got me somewhat apprehensive. Frankly, when it comes to research I struggle. The coursework doesn't frighten me, but I would hate to go that far and fail because of my oral defense or having a substandard topic.
Dang, two Master's is more than enough, three is bordering on indicating a mental illness (just kidding). Maybe it's just me but the degrees themselves really do not open doors it is what you can do with your own abilities and the combination thereof. An earned Doctorate in the Ministry is quite impressive. I would suspect it would help much more so for Senior Leadership positions than an MBA. From what I have heard from others who have completed any type of earned research-based Doctorate is that if you really connect with your topic you will have no problem with your Oral Defense. I think the position many take at that time is that they need to be approved by the committee. In reality if the work is truly new and solid you the Candidate will be teaching the committee. If I ever get to that point it would be no different than when I stand up in front of other IT professionals like myself and teach them about a new product my company has just released. In that case I am the "expert". Back to you. Seriously, in my opinion a THIRD Master's is way too much.
You might actually be right! Could be, but don't tell that to Michael Nicholson! lol Michael Nicholson, Kalamazoo, Mich., Resident, Has 29 Advanced Degrees And Counting (VIDEO)
Oklahoma State offers a discounted tuition rate for active duty military. Not sure what the costs would be, but might be worth looking at.