For instance, if I were to get an MBA from the University of Phoenix Online or an equivalent online unversity would it hold any clout at any business looking for an MBA grad or would it be a waste of my time to get this degree. I dont want to spend the money on something that just wouldnt be of any use to me.
2006-06-13 05:50:41 · 14 answers · asked by Bart H 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
"It all depends" ... on what you want to do with it ...
If you are:
1) Seeking personal enrichment after attaining a baseline education/experience level - go for an online program that has a variety of courses covering intersection of 'traditional domains'. These are usually from the more respected 'bricks and mortar' universities, but a few of the newer ones might make the cut too. Just make sure you do the research beforehand. Will give you an incremental edge. Mostly personal satisfaction.
2) Seeking personal enrichment and don't have a strong baseline education/experience level - do not go for an online program. You will miss on the class interaction, interpersonal dynamics and worse, might be doing more harm to your career... Won't give you any significant edge. Mostly a deeper hole in the bank account...
3) Seeking professional growth after attaining a baseline education/experience level - go for a respected University that has a pedigree of quality 'bricks and mortar' education. Try for a combination that includes onsite classes, personal interaction with peers is integral to professional growth.
4) Seeking professional growth and don't have a strong baseline education/experience level - DO NOT go for any online program. You will miss on the class interaction, interpersonal dynamics and worse, might be doing more harm to your career... Won't give you any significant edge. Mostly a deeper hole in the bank account...
Hope this helps. Good news is, there are more options today than there were 2 or 3 years ago.
Another yardstick to keep in mind: Higher 'entry barriers' usually imply better quality. Don't just go for 'cash & carry'...
2006-06-13 06:24:50 · answer #1 · answered by obviously 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's true that most businesses may not give an on-line MBA any respect (even if it does deserve some). The truth is, getting an MBA doesn't teach you a hard skill so to speak. B-school is supposed to be more about the "soft" skills (e.g. working in teams, expanding a contact network, etc.) more than the hard skills of finance or activity based cost accounting. The soft skills aren't anything you can learn at an on-line school. I've seen an on-line MBA help people who are trying to climb up the corporate ladder in their current job if they were asked to go get an MBA by their supervisors in order to advance, but never for a new job or to switch careers. Good luck with everything...
2006-06-13 06:11:21 · answer #2 · answered by DannyBoy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the University.
I have taken classes at UOP and I can tell you it is a junk University. I wouldn't recognize a degree from that University because I know its sub-par. Other online places such as Walden are a little better and offer a different teaching angle and tougher classes. I would still not compare an Onile degree to a, Ivy-league degree but depending on what company you get a job for, it should be the same. It will most often cost less to get an Online MBA anyway, so whats the worry?
2006-06-13 05:56:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are strictly looking for respect, a Phoenix Online degree is a complete waste of time. So, is frankly most of the hundreds of MBAs out there (online or not).
You can quantify respect very precisely. Just look at the yearly ranking in either US News or BusinessWeek of the best business schools ranked by the average $ offer their MBA graduates receive. A few other metrics also count towards these rankings. But, the overall ranking is extremely highly correlated to the average $ offer.
Year in year out, the same schools dominate these rankings. They are Wharton, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Stanford, Columbia, Princeton, U of Chicago, UC Berkeley, UCLA.
If you have the GPAs, GMAT score, and business experience to get into any one of those programs you got it made. You are going to get respect big time with an MBA from any of those schools. Otherwise, you really won't. People will recognize you studied business, and you know something about the related quantitative theory. But, that is not why they will hire you or pay you big bucks. You will have to make it up due to your extraordinary self. The Harvard MBA just won't have to proove or demonstrate himself that much to get the big bucks. He'll just get it.
If it is the knowledge you need, and you can't get into any of those top notch programs (let's face it very few can, that is why they are such high priced talent), you still can learn a lot from any MBA, U of Phoenix online included. But, you coud learn just as much by buying the books and studying them yourself. You laugh, but that is how the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) program is structured. And, the CFA has become very well regarded on Wall Street in the investment management field.
But, as mentioned knowledge and respect are two totally different things. With Harvard, you'll get both. With U of Phoenix, you'll get just one out of the two, and not the one you have in mind.
The above is not what the U of Phoenix rep will tell you. But, what I am sharing with you is based on my own 25 years of working experience with a very average MBA (Thunderbird). I have studied and experienced this issue firsthand as a candidate and also as a recruiter.
2006-06-13 06:24:00 · answer #4 · answered by Gaetan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a former HR Manager for large corporations, I can tell you that I respected people who sought to become more proficient at their craft, but I didn't give much weight to online degrees when hiring. The reason is this: when a person studies for a degree of any sort, it should be to understand the field studied, not just to add initials after one's name (BA, MA, PE) in order to garner a higher pay check. My practical experience has been that those who only study online do so for employment advancement, not to really learn the subject. Therefore, those who actually commit to a bricks and mortar university seem to acquire a greater understanding of their field, and get to bounce ideas off of their peers, which is great experience for "real life" in the corporate world. Decision in companies are not made online in a vacuum, but through networking, sharing ideas, learning from other people, etc. Unless a company is so antiquated that all decisions devolve form the CEO, each employee is actually a cog in the wheel and has to hold their own weight.
2006-06-13 06:17:10 · answer #5 · answered by K C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having seen the amount of work some co-workers have gone through to get an MBA from University of Phoenix Online, I would say that some respect is deserved, just not that much.
I have not noticed any of them advancing any faster than non-MBAs internally, nor have recruiters been beating down their doors.
2006-06-13 05:55:22 · answer #6 · answered by O Caçador 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've hired many wonderful people that got their degrees online. A degree is a degree whether from Community college, online, or university. As long as it is an accredited school, no problem. You know what I love about people who get online degrees? It shows me that they have the discipline, dedication and drive to set goals and get there on there own!
2016-03-27 02:36:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as it is REGIONALLY accredited. Try www.keller.edu This was founded in 1971 as the pioneer in adult education (live classrooms in Chicago). Over time they expanded to other locations and with the changing lifestyles it now offers the opportunity to do online programs. Note... it is not an online university. It is an onsite with live campuses but you can do you work online!
2006-06-13 10:05:46 · answer #8 · answered by ayrose2623 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I think so. I think the University of Pheonix requires you to attend the school physically at least once a week I think. I'm not sure. It's so that they make sure you're actually the one doing the work? I think sometimes you have to show up for the finals at the location.
2006-06-13 05:56:25 · answer #9 · answered by Suzy Suzee Sue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF THE UNIVERSITY YOUR DEGREE IS ISSUED FROM HAS AFFILATION WITH AN ACREDITED UNIVERSITY AND NOT JUST AN OVER PRICED CIRRESPONDENCE WITH A PIECE OF PAPER UPON COMPLETION, FUTURE EMPLOYERS WOULD STILL GIVE MORE CONSIDERATION TO THE APPLICANT WHO HAS COMPLETED RELATED COURSES VERSES AN APPLICANT WHO DOES NOT.
2006-06-13 06:04:36 · answer #10 · answered by FREDRICK 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋