UWA to offer MBA degree online beginning fall 2015
LIVINGSTON, Ala. –The University of West Alabama has expanded its online offerings to include the master of business administration degree. The new online degree program will be offered this fall
UWA’s online MBA is a 33 credit hour program, designed to accommodate those who would like to further their careers while balancing a busy schedule. Students can complete the program in just over one year.
UWA’s flexible online MBA is expected to be especially appealing to those who have already begun their careers and are looking to specialize their skills and qualify for promotions or pay raises.
The curriculum includes eight core classes in accounting, business administration, computer information systems, economics, management, and marketing.
The requirements for the general business emphasis and the finance emphasis offer flexibility with a student’s current position of employment, allowing two of three classes within each emphasis to be replaced by an advisor-approved independent project. The benefit of this option is that it could be possible for a student to use an approved project from their workplace for academic credit.
“Students typically gain more from an educational experience when they have the chance to apply theory to a real-life setting,” explained Dr. Wayne Bedford, dean of the College of Business. “Using a project from work to fulfill an academic requirement is a unique opportunity to implement what the student has learned at UWA and immediately see the impact of this program on his or her career.”
“An independent project can have the greatest learning impact, yet it can feel like less work because the student is doing much of the ‘learning’ while at work,” Bedford explained. “The independent project is a great way to enhance the educational experience by combining academics with real-life.”
UWA’s online MBA is not only flexible and convenient, but it is also affordable. Tuition is $429 per credit hour or $14,157 for the entire degree. UWA does not impose out-of-state tuition for online programs.
UWA offers five online terms per year – two in the fall, two in the spring, and one in the summer. Students can start the MBA program with any of the five terms. The deadline to apply for the first fall term is July 30, with classes beginning August 17. Minimum admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited college or university and an acceptable Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) test score. Further details, requirements, and resources are available at www.uwa.edu/Online_Education.
FLEXIBILITY LEADS TO SUCCESS
An important advantage of UWA’s online program is that each student is assigned an online advisor. The advisor will help students through every step of their program from admission to graduation. This is particularly helpful to students who are new to online classes.
Robert T. Floyd, a recent MBA graduate, serves as business analyst and regional sales manager for Harvest Select. He is a member of the first MBA graduating class at UWA, and he earned the degree in the middle of a busy working schedule.
“The program was flexible enough to allow me to earn my MBA while working a full-time job that required a great deal of travel,” Floyd said. “I enjoyed the valuable interaction between students and professors and found that faculty and staff were always eager to help every student excel.”
Floyd is on the path to furthering his career, and he attributes much of his success to his UWA MBA degree, saying that he’s been able to apply many of the principles learned in the program to his work environment.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONLINE EDUCATION
In addition to the MBA, UWA currently offers over 30 graduate programs in education, five undergraduate business degrees, and a bachelor of science in psychology, all completely online.
For its education programs, UWA Online has Teacher Connect, a program that allows scholarship opportunities for teachers within partnering school systems. With the coming launch of a Business Connect program similar scholarship opportunities will be available to partnering businesses and employers.
In addition to the forthcoming Business Connect opportunity, UWA Online will also offer to all UWA alumni a $500 tuition voucher at the beginning of their MBA program.
UWA has special programs for military members and their immediate families.
To learn more about UWA’s online MBA or a Business Connect partnership for your business, contact an online recruiter at 1-877-892-1835 or via email at uwaonline@uwa.edu<mailto:uwaonline@uwa.edu>.
For more than 180 years, the University of West Alabama has served the west central Alabama area and beyond through educational opportunity, academic research and public outreach. A four-year university offering the traditional campus experiences and online programs. For more information on UWA, visit www.uwa.edu.