DL Masters or MBA Degree in Six Months?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by krazymack, Nov 25, 2002.

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  1. krazymack

    krazymack New Member

    I am sorry that I am asking a question that may have been answered before. I tried searching the forum but couldn't really find a definite answer. I would like to know if there is any regionally accredited or DETC, Distance Learning Masters Program or MBA that can be completed 100% online in as little as SIX MONTHS perhaps a self-paced program. I know this may be a little outrageous of a question for some of you. But, I am just curious if such program exists. Preferably with an affordable price.

    Thanks so much.

    :)

    P.S. I am just curious about this. Which is why I am asking the question?
     
  2. AsianStew

    AsianStew Moderator Staff Member

    8months yet expensive!

    Hey there Krazymack,

    Well, i've actually obtained info from an online university that is Regionally Accredited. American InterContinental University, they offer a 8month program. However, it's damn expensive!
    I believe only for those 8 months, it's 27G's US!

    There may be some more out there i've not seen, but in 6 months, I don't think i've come across any unless it's from a Mill.

    You have a good one! Thanks,
     
  3. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    There may be such a program - but I have to wonder. The top tier schools typically require two academic years of very full-time study. Can someone cram that much material and learning into just six months?

    If you can find such a program, you may be able to earn the letters "MBA" in six months - but can you achieve a similar experience to even a middle tier program in such a timeframe?

    Regards - Andy

     
  4. John Roberts

    John Roberts New Member

    Krazymack, even if you were granted 30% of the credits for other graduate courses, it would still be a hell of a task.

    Would you hire someone that said they had completed an MBA in 180 days? (superman that is).

    As Andy said, retention and experience in this case wouldnt work for the MBA your looking for, even an Heriot Watt whiz kid couldn't do it this fast, and without doing a Thesis or Project?.

    I too am wondering if there is such a program, even if it was $25K, doubt it.

    J.R(ic)
     
  5. Steve King

    Steve King Member

    The short answer is, no. Regionally accredited or even nationally accredited (DETC) masters degree programs will require real work on your part. Programs that are six months long are usually not accredited and not something an employer will be impressed with. Undergraduate degrees often accept credit through a protfolio (because of your life experiences) or for-credit examinations (e.g., CLEP); but this seems less so for graduate level credit.

    But there are options close to what you're looking for. If you are really willing to work hard, you could complete Touro University International's MBA program (regionally accredited) in about a year. But it will take some real work and dedication for at least 12 months. I'm sure there are other masters and MBA programs of similar duration that are also accreditated, I'm just not familiar with them.

    In my personal opinion, the key is to get started. I don't mean to say that you shouldn't investigate all of your options first. That's great. What I mean is that too often we think, "Two years!?! But I want to get my degree now." Then we procrastinate, looking for the quickest/best/cheapest/whatever degree program. It doesn't take long before you think about how far you could have come in a real degree program if only you had begun when you first had the chance. (At least, that's what I've found to be the case.)

    Don't sell yourself short. Aim for a degree program where you will actually learn something and will be proud (or at least not ashamed) of having. You'll be much happier in the end.

    Steve
     
  6. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Well said, Steve.

    Leaving aside issues of reputation of a quickie program, it would be terribly brutal trying to cram two years worth of work into less than half the time. I make no claims for myself in regard to brains or organization, but I think you would have to be the bloody demiurge to get it done at all. Then, the question of real learning and subsequently usable retention of material is pretty doubtful.

    Unless you were given a drop-dead deadline on the job to get the MBA by such and such a date, it does not seem worthwhile.

    I do not question your motives, Krazymack, but how would you swing it?

    :confused:
     
  7. krazymack

    krazymack New Member

    Thanks so much for your replies everyone. :) It was very nice of you guys to reply. I truly appreciate all of your responses.

    I had a little curiosity on if such programs were available. But I guess realistically it would be tough to do so. I probably wouldn't have the guts to complete such program if it was available.

    Reading the following article about Philip Jones who completed an MBA in 29 weeks, kind of compelled me to have such interest. Eventhough his own experience was rather tough.

    http://www.back2college.com/fasttrack.htm

    I guess a year wouldn't be too bad for any program. I am thinking of working on a distance learning degree that I can do extremely well on with respect to time and cost is my main agenda.

    Because I'd ideally like to one day attend an Ivy League institution (Columbia) or top rated program (NYU, GWU, Brandeis, Boston U. Georgetown) for a second masters. (My dream is to one day is to graduate from an Ivy League or well rated type of institution.) Then on to Law School -- no matter what tier the school is. (Technology/Cyber Law) I like education if you can tell.

    So my plan was really trying to impress the admissions officers at an these well rated institutions. (I know I will get flack for this) In doing something outrageous.

    There is a story about Eric Coyle, a young man who completed five undergraduate degrees simultaneously in six years. He happened to get in to Georgetown University Law School.

    http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1998/May-04-Mon-1998/news/7405952.html

    So I wanted to do something out of the ordinary. I guess that plan wasn't the most wisest and I should treat education for what it is -- an edifying and learning experience not a rat race.
     
  8. Cory

    Cory New Member

    Assume 30 credits to get the MBA. For this example assume that this translates to 10 classes each worth 3 credits.

    In a normal classroom environment you would need:
    3hr per week (class time) * 16 weeks (normal semester) = 48hrs
    9hr per week (study time) * 16 weeks (normal semester) = 144hrs
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    192hrs

    I think recommendations for EBS MBA courses are around 200hrs of study time, so that would be in line with this estimate.

    It is, technically, possible to complete the 1920hrs of work for the degree in six months, but it wouldn't be easy and it would be a full time job (and then some). There are some that may argue that less time is required to learn the material, which may be true, but I'm going to stick to these numbers, for now.

    To complete 1920 hours of work, you are looking at 24 weeks of 80 hour weeks, or just over 17 weeks at 112hrs/week. This would hit your six months figure, or for Superstudent, just over four months. For an eight month program, to cover the same number of hours, you are looking at 60 hour weeks.

    I think that what you know is more important than how long it took you to learn it, but I will agree that a six month program is really pushing it. I have considered taking six months off and attempting to complete an EBS MBA from start to finish, just because, but it would be quite a challenge and EBS seems to offer the only respected program that is flexible enough to be able to do so...
     
  9. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    The Edinburgh Business School MBA is based solely on passing nine examinations.

    During the seven years I was involved in marketing this program (1991-98), during which time it became the largest MBA in the United States (with students coming from more than 70 of the Fortune 100 companies), there were a very small number of people who took and passed all the exams at a single sitting (morning and afternoon over a 5-day period).

    The most impressive was a senior VP of a major US corporation who came into our office on the last possible day to register for exams (March 31), then took and passed all nine exams in early June.

    One way of looking at it: MBA in 10 weeks, start to finish.

    The way the student put it was that it had taken him 20 years to get good enough to do that.

    (CPAs and Chartered Accountants only needed to take 7 exams, since Accounting and Quant Methods were waived. There were a small number of these who took and passed the seven exams at one diet.)

    On another hand, there were also some people who took all nine exams at one diet and passed none.
     
  10. John Roberts

    John Roberts New Member

    This beats Lawrie Millers 'BA in 4 weeks' even on the Masters section of his site.

    So there you go Krazymack, why wait 6 months, go challange the HW exams...that appears to be the best and fastest route.

    Thanks for the info John Bear.

    This should do it even for Gavin Kennedy, and I would be interested to know how many graduates received their MBA frm HW going this route?

    J.R(ic)
     
  11. Myoptimism

    Myoptimism New Member

  12. believer

    believer New Member

    Columbia Southern University, a distance-learning university, in Alabama is approved by the DETC. A second option is to become a Certified Business Manager (www.cbmexam.com) This certification is excellent in place of, or addition to, an MBA.
    Good luck.

    Working, MBA, CBM
     
  13. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    Re: Re: DL Masters or MBA Degree in Six Months?

    As noted elsewhere in this thread, the regionally accredited AIU offer an MBA that can be completed in 8 months, not as the exception, but the rule, for those with an undergraduate degree in Business. It is not a question of earning the letters, "MBA", but of earning a regionally accredited master's degree in Business.

    It seems to me that program time-to-complete is no measure of quality. Quality, learning, competency, can only be assessed in terms of outcomes. In respect of the average middle ranking or third tier US regionally accredited MBA, I think it transparent that many an experienced businessman who already holds an undergraduate degree in Business, would find completing MBA program requirements in six moths or less, no great hardship.

    Perhaps I should post an example of someone who has done just that, and more - having completed the Business undergraduate degree in six months, using the BA in 4 Weeks model, then the MBA in a further eight months, and who is currently toying with the idea of a run at the Touro Business Ph.D.

    I would be happy to contrast this individual's academic competence and Business know-how with that of any two year MBA graduate of a middle or third tier regionally accredited institution.

    Lawrie Miller
    http://geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/
     
  14. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    Not really, at least within the context of the issues discussed in this thread. Lawrie Miller's, "Accelerated Master's Degrees by Distance Learning" was originally entitled, "7 Weeks study to an Accredited Master's Degree". That is, it is possible to complete all necessary study for certain regionally accredited master's degrees (and the foreign equivalent thereof) in only seven weeks.

    Lawrie Miller
    http://geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/
     
  15. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    Well said. I think this observation and advice more important that any other offered in this thread. More than anything else the important thing is to "do". Life rewards action.

    Indeed, and if that program of which one can be proud is completed in 6 months rather than a year or two, be prouder still. There is nothing wrong with efficient use of available time and resources. Economy of effort is no vice. There is no reason why those, suitably prepared by experience and prior formal learning, cannot complete any necessary revision and demonstrate competence in a discipline at master's level in eight months, or six months, or less.

    Lawrie Miller
    http://geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/
     
  16. Professor Kennedy

    Professor Kennedy New Member

    In data we trust

    John Bear: "The most impressive was a senior VP of a major US corporation who came into our office on the last possible day to register for exams (March 31), then took and passed all nine exams in early June."

    I didn't believe it when I read it but being cautious in contradicating John's memory on these matters I had the data base checked and found, yes, a US person sitting and passing all nine MBA exams in one sitting (June 1998), having paid his exam fees in March 98. We have no record of when he purchased the texts or how long he had been studying them. As hw was 33 when he managed this feat his '20 year' preparation would have made him 13 when he started!

    This led me have John Roberts question answered and I found the following information.

    Only 8 people (not including our friend above) since 1992 out of 6,554 EBS MBA graduates have sat and passed all more than five EBS MBA exams in one sitting. But nobody has managed all nine other than our US friend (UK Data Protection laws prohibit me mentioning his name).

    The breakdown is: 8 passes, 1 person (UK); 7 passes, 4 persons, (2 UK; 1 Canada; 1 Hong Kong); 6 passes, 3 persons (2 UK; 1 Canada).

    At over one and half million words it would take some time to prepare for the EBS MBA examinations - with early double the wordage now with the eMBA materials - and I would not advise anybody to assume they will emulate these nine people. Our exam regime is too tought for the overwhelming number of our distance learning students to contemplate more than two core classes per exam diet.
     
  17. John Roberts

    John Roberts New Member

    To Prof Kennedy & Lawrie, taken as this being the case with someone finishing the DL MBA in less than 12 months, how do we now take this same person to a full Ph.D (not a DBA) in less than 12 months..is this possible, and where are the schools that would offer this option? (for this exercise we shall assume a 20 year executive pro).

    BTW Gavin, did anyone check if that US guy in 1998 completed some CPD or the Harvard executive summer school program or similar, since this would have been a good prelim to the HW MBA passing.

    J.R(ic)
     
  18. Professor Kennedy

    Professor Kennedy New Member

    UK Data Protection Act prevents disclosure

    John

    The UK Data Protection Act prevents any disclosure of personal details about any student, whether they are in the UK or outside it, and therefore I cannot add to my earlier message. The legal penalties for breach of the Act are personally highly disadvantageous and for EBS would be too serious to contemplate.

    Sorry about this and I appreciate your point as a helpful one.
     
  19. telfax

    telfax New Member

    A PhD in 12 months!!!!

    I don't care how bright someone is, or how many years they've been a CEO (or whatever), no respectable or worthwhile PhD can be completed, from scratch, in 12 months! I guess the only exception would be if someone had been doing extensive research and had it completed and could write it up, together with a full literature review that was already to hand and complete...but even then it would have to be examined and the examiners may reject or refer the thesis/dissertation. In any event, most universities stipulate a minuimum and maximum period of time (at least in the UK) to complete a PhD for both full-time and part-time students. I guess if someone was also going for a PhD by published works (and was a prolific academic writer) 12 months may be possible but even then I have my doubts.

    The jump between completing a master's (especially if all by examination with no research skills training) and doing a doctorate is huge but all too often candidates don't realize it! They think it is 'more of the same'. The trouble is, some institutions are allowing this to happen - and I'm thinking of RA places in the US and their equivalent in SE Asia and the Pacific Rim.

    We are now devaluing the doctorate in my view and the more we 'widen access' by allowing so many different streams for people to enter university, the more we'll be looking for rigour by producing more and more programmes. The growth in professional doctorate programmes in the UK over the last 10 years is testimony to this fact. Additional testimony is the fact that so many people in the US get through general course work and comprehensive written exams but then become ABD (all but dissertation). The general course work does tend to be 'more' of the master's level stuff and then people can't 'hack it' (or won't make the real effort) to do the thing that matters: research and a scholarly and worthwhile thesis (dissertation). The more programmes and people we construct the greater will be the call for the creation of some sort of 'advanced doctorate' to replace the PhD.

    'telfax'
     
  20. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    Re: A PhD in 12 months!!!!

    Some Institutions are already asking for Post-Docs instead of PhDs given the massive factory production of this degree by some universities. A good university normally doesn't accept more than one or two PhDs candidates per year in a faculty. It is crazy to think that some of the virtual universties are producing PhDs graduates at the hundreds level. I also see the need to create a new degree after the doctorate given the massive competition of PhDs in the market.
     

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