Important Life Lessons From An MBA

Finding The Right Online MBA Program For International Business

You’re interested in studying international business. But you don’t have time to enroll in a traditional MBA program. You consider possibly enrolling in an online MBA. Yet, with the number of options, you find yourself wondering how to pick the right one.

Jordan Friedman, a contributor at US News, recently discussed how applicants can choose select the right online program for a degree in international business.

Accreditation Is Crucial

With a number of options to pick from, it’s important to seek out programs that are accredited, experts say.

Cheryl Oliver, associate dean for professional programs at Washington State University’s Carson School of Business, says students should find programs that have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

“Their faculty are paying attention not only to what’s current and what’s hot today, but also able to talk about the historical point of view, the philosophy, the theory, all related to business management and how students can use that framework to pivot at any time in their career as those things change,” Oliver tells US News.

Time Management

Most students choose to pursue an online MBA are already working full-time and can’t afford to drop their careers.

“More people are doing online programs because they don’t want to stop their careers and quit their jobs,” Ramesh Venkataraman, chair of Indiana University’s Kelley Direct MBA & MS programs, tells Poets & Quants. “They are doing perfectly fine and like their companies. So the quality of students in these programs is quite high.

But that also means that the competition and caliber of online MBAs can be just as tough. If you’re considering an online MBA, you’ll still need excellent time management skills.

“Like all prospective online students, they should weigh whether they have the time-management skills and self-discipline that an online master’s program typically requires,” Friedman writes.

Going Oversees

If you’re interested in international business, it might help to consider an online MBA from an overseas school.

“What I’m noticing in the market right now is that more and more schools outside the U.S. are starting online programs. That hasn’t always been the case,” Oliver tells US News.

Oliver advises students to consider why they’re pursuing a degree. If they’re interested in gaining recognition for an international brand, pursuing an online MBA from an international school might help, she says.

Moreover, experts say having an online MBA from an overseas school can offer some international perspective.

“This is increasingly valued by multinational companies,” Nigel Banister, strategic international projects director at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, tells US News.

There is also the possibility of actually getting some experience of travelling internationally, depending on your program.

Oliver says all of these are aspects students should consider when looking at programs.

“Students should look for as much immersion as fits their schedule and their desire as possible so that they can get the best value,” Oliver tells US News.

Sources: US News, Poets & Quants

Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below.