Another Business School Just Announced Plans for a New Online MBA

Alabama State University (ASU) is launching a new online MBA program this fall. The online MBA will be the school’s first MBA degree program.

ASU announced official plans for the MBA program in early May after years of demand and interest from students—nearly 90% of current ASU students and alumni say they are interested in earning the degree from the business school. The new MBA will be offered as an online program and can be completed in one year.

“We expect to see students from various levels and diverse backgrounds,” Caterina Bristol, ASU assistant provost and dean of the Graduate School, tells Fortune. “Already we have had interest from more mature adult learners to traditional-aged students as well as military learners and international students.”

PROGRAM BREAKDOWN

ASU’s online MBA program focuses primarily on data and analytics and is designed around seven core courses and three electives. Students can choose from a variety of specializations, including project management, enterprise resource planning, or general business.

To be eligible for admission, ASU says students should have an undergraduate degree in business and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Additionally, applicants will be required to complete undergraduate courses in accounting, finance, management, and marketing.

“The program is looking for individuals who want to advance their education and skills to improve performance in their current position, grow their business, or secure a new, in-demand job,” Bristol tells Fortune. “The candidates will demonstrate a strong commitment to professional growth [and] have good communication skills.”

The launch of the new MBA program is a monumental moment for ASU, which for years has pushed to gain approval for the program.

“For all who doubted that we could have an MBA degree at ASU, we can now say, ‘We did it and we did it quickly,’” Tiffany McCord, Academic Affairs Committee Chairwoman, says. “There has been so much social media chatter from alumni who want to get their MBA from ASU, so this is a great move for the University. We can now say to all of those alumni and others that you can get your MBA from ASU starting this fall.”

Sources: Fortune, Alabama State University