Students can now earn an MBA at their convenience
Kennesaw State University has teamed up with four of Georgia's other institutions of higher…
Georgia (Jan 9, 2001) — Students can now earn an MBA at their convenience
Staff
Abstract
Kennesaw State University has teamed up with four of Georgia's other institutions
of higher learning to offer the state's first "WebMBA."
Students from across Georgia now have the opportunity to earn a master of business
administration degree over the Internet. A weekend retreat hosted by KSU Jan. 5−6
brought faculty and students together for the first and only time. The next time they
will see each other will be at graduation.
"If you talk to a faculty member‚ it will be on the telephone and that's the closest
you're going to get‚" KSU Associate Dean for Graduate Business Programs Rodney G.
Alsup told the inaugural WebMBA class at the retreat. "What that does is‚ it changes
the learning environment and it puts the burden of learning on the students. The old
undergraduate model of learning is not going to work in this program. You're going
to learn on your own; you're going to learn from each other; and you're going to learn
from us−and we're going to learn from you."
The WebMBA is offered through a consortium of Georgia public universities including
Georgia College & State University‚ State University of West Georgia‚ Georgia Southern
University and Valdosta State University. Students applied to a particular university
to get into the program. Those institutions' names will appear on their diplomas.
Thirteen members of the inaugural class are KSU students.
Thirty−eight students will study and do coursework over the Internet for the next
two years. Sixteen professors will monitor dialogue‚ provide direction and answer
questions‚ according to KSU Director of MBA and Master of Accounting Programs Harry
J. Lasher.
"When someone has a question‚ he or she puts it on the question board and anyone‚
faculty or students‚ can respond and discussions ensue online until the problem is
solved‚" Lasher said. "In this situation‚ students have to accept the responsibility
of learning even more than in a face−to−face class. This is truly a learning community
we are creating‚ and there's a greater commitment of time and intellectual energy
that's required."
Students said the overwhelming advantage to earning an MBA online is convenience.
"The nature of my job and the time constraints are why I chose the WebMBA program‚"
said Terrie English‚ who works at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. "I also
have two granddaughters I like to spend time with and I can do this after they go
home."
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its approximately 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the third-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 92 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status, and one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
