Getting An MBA Degree Online Is Now Very DoableTeresa Cape Meshako has been on doctor-ordered bed rest since the 28th week of her pregnancy, but is finishing up her masters of business administration program through the University of the Incarnate Word. Meshako is one of 120 students working on obtaining their MBAs through the San Antonio private university's Universe Online program. She's working on her degree on her Sony Vaio laptop, from the maternity wing at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington. Another classmate has been working on his degree from various Army posts and at one point was taking classes in Iraq. "I'm finishing my last semester here at the hospital," Meshako said. "That's the flexibility of being able to do the Universe Online program. You're able to continue honing your technical skills regardless of the bumps you face in life." More business schools nationwide are offering online programs, according to a survey by BusinessWeek Online. The number of business schools with students taking online MBA courses rose to 81 in 2003, up from 71 two years ago. The average number of students enrolled in such programs jumped to 81 from 45 in 2001. The University of the Incarnate Word has been offering MBA classes online since 2000. At the University of Texas System, a consortium of seven campuses collectively called "UT TeleCampus" has been offering the MBA online classes since 1999. Since then, the MBA online program at UIW has grown from 10 to 120 students. The UT TeleCampus MBAO program started with 187 students; this fall the UT program enrolled 493. "The TeleCampus was really begun as a way to offer better student services for students taking distance education courses," said Rob Robinson, associate director for UT TeleCampus. "This was at the same time that all things Internet started appearing on the scene and we started to invent ways to build online courses and had a lot of 'aha' moments about what was possible." At UIW, University Online director Cyndi Porter said the growth of online programs came about as employers started requesting partnerships with universities for more flexible programs. "For the most part, this is mainstream now," Porter said. "Five years ago, there were people who were nervous about online programs, but this has been around now." UIW has a partnership with the U.S. Army's E-Army U program, which allows soldiers to earn bachelor's and master's degrees and professional certification through distance learning programs from 29 colleges and universities nationwide. The UT TeleCampus has a similar partnership with Delta Airline's Delta U program for its online MBA program. |