Distance MBA worth Max $10,000 (USD)

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Gjay, Mar 2, 2009.

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  1. Petedude

    Petedude New Member

    I find myself wowed by this option too. . . as in "Holy MSAs, Batman!"-wowed. This would be faster and cheaper than all of the inexpensive MBAs mentioned above! And for us CA residents, there's some brand-name utility on the degree to boot!
     
  2. vinodgopal

    vinodgopal New Member

    I am surprised that a RA degree in USA works out to such a price. There could be a catch though. Who knows maybe the MSA sylabus might not transform the student quite to the businessman "thought process" an MBA should display.

    MBA is about case studies and stuff that could make managers out of people. A master's degree in administration could just make a non-MBA just a notch smarter.
     
  3. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    I hired people (or borrowed them from another department) and someone with this degree would be treated no differently than someone with an MBA. Finding mentally sharp employees was my first priority. The main academic requirements were those that related to the project I was working on. Two areas I always needed help with were cost schedule control criteria (American Graduate University gave excellent tuition in this area) and cost-benefit analysis (the CSUB MSA has this course). So a smart person looking for a job would highlight relevant courses on his resume in response to the job posting descroption [e.g. "I earned an MSA from CSUB that included courses in cost-benefit analysis, statistics, and project management].
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 3, 2009
  4. Petedude

    Petedude New Member

    There's a valid point. An MSA is more geared to validate that someone has an effective enough education to run some portion of an enterprise-- as opposed to MBAs who are supposed to be smart enough to build enterprises from scratch, run 'em to make gazillions of dollars then sell 'em. An MBA should be a bit more well-rounded.

    But I don't think necessarily an MSA takes away from the holder, either-- as others have pointed out, personality, skills and experience matter as well. The management jobs that list a master's as a requirement aren't usually specific as to what program unless they really require a specific educational background (e.g. Master's in MIS for a systems analysis manager).
     
  5. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    Precisely my point regarding perception. In theory at least, the MBA eventually runs the business, the MSA runs the administrative aspects of it. I am very intrigued by this degree, but I don't think it can be considered equal to the MBA. To me anyway, the MBA would be on a level with the MA or MS in Management, MA in Leadership/Strategic Leadership/Organizational Leadership, etc. The MSA is a notch down on the executive ladder. No?

    Pug
     
  6. vinodgopal

    vinodgopal New Member

    for those who wish to complete a "Masters degree" then it is a good bet. Affordable and fetches you a myriad of clerical jobs. But in case you want to surge ahead as a top company vice president or Chief operating Officer and get paid more than $20,000 a month, then it is got to be a MBA to propel your career. However MBA in a regular school is a safer bet actually.
     
  7. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    I tend to agree, but what if someone already has 20 years in the business world, 10 at an executive level? Does the professional experience validate the MSA, or does the MSA cast doubt on the quality of the professional experience?

    Pug
     
  8. vinodgopal

    vinodgopal New Member

    hmmmm after a point especially when a person has put on so many years of hard work at the top, those credentials could slight any masters degree. Maybe a doctoral degree could only help surge him ahead with that kind of experience as you suggest. The big question is will the MSA be worth the trouble he spends time on? Cant such an executive afford a MBA from perhaps a bigger boy in the business like say a Yale?
     
  9. vinodgopal

    vinodgopal New Member

    Even otherwise he would just move on with or without the Master's degree. Just my humble opinion.
     
  10. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    It's about return on investment. Could I afford a high end, big name MBA? Yes, if I really wanted to. Do I want to spend the cash? No, not at all. In all probabilty I have reached a plateau in my career. The masters degree would really be about future job security in the event of downsizing or career change. And to clarify, I've had a lot of executive sucess, but I am a far cry from a Wall Street CEO. My company has about 400 employees and does business in 9 states. So while my experience is meaningful, it's not like I'm the VP of Coca Cola or General Dynamics.

    Pug
     
  11. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    think hard before not considering an MBA. The University of Alabama Huntsville recently changed the name of the MSM to MBA.

    http://cba.uah.edu/mom/mom.html

    http://www.uah.edu/news/newsread.php?newsID=901

    ""We are trying to be responsive to our students," said Dr. C. David Billings, dean of the business school since it was created in 1981. "They have repeatedly asked us to change the name of the degree. They think they have a competitive advantage in subject matter because of the focus on technology, but they are also at a competitive disadvantage because employers are looking for that MBA label.""
     
  12. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Yet another thread that has gone off topic....

    Just sayin'.
     
  13. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    I'm thinking that, for $10,000 and under, you're not going to find much beyond a few DETC MBAs. Not prestigious, but legitimate and accredited.
     
  14. bmills072200

    bmills072200 New Member

    Don't forget about Jacksonville State University. RA, AACSB and only 30 credits - 10 classes

    Total Program $9,000...
     
  15. vinodgopal

    vinodgopal New Member

    Ofcourse for those who can afford the Masters under $5000 it is a great choice. In hindsight I feel you must be the best judge in your situation. An MBA can sometimes be a distant mirage of prosperity in this cometitive world and would eventually be treated like any other masters degree albeit the student's exposure to mangement ways of thinking.
     
  16. GameTech

    GameTech New Member

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