CultusThree years ago, when Suchitra Pandey, then an executive at a finance company, enrolled for an online MBA program in Finance from one of the reputed B-schools in India, she never knew how this additional degree along with her current job could easily pave a path for her career growth. Currently working as a manager in the same company, there is never looking back in the career for her. Gradually, many young as well as working professionals understand the advantages offered by online education. However, in the current scenario where almost every next business school is offering e-learning MBA course, it becomes crucial to make the right selection of the program. Online MBA courses not only offer advantage of flexible learning, but also are cost-effective. This is one of the best modes of study to earn a desired degree in the field of your interest. Moreover, employers in the job market have started recognizing online degrees, thus adding advantage to your career progression. Here we share the five useful tips on how to choose an online MBA program:
1) Accreditation is important
Accreditation is an important criterion for students at the time of selecting an MBA course or college. At present, there are several accredited and non-accredited institutions, which offer recognized or unrecognized MBA courses in different specializations. A right course can change the direction of your career path. Hence, it is vital to check accreditation for MBA institutes as well as online MBA programs offered by them. Accreditation is another way of ensuring quality education.
There are several reputed MBA colleges, which offer online MBA course:
• MIT School of Distance Education
• Symbiosis Center for Distance Learning (SCDL)
• Indian School of Business Management & Administration (ISBM)
• Clinical Research Education and Management Academy (CREMA)
• AVAGMAH Online School Many B-schools in India offer online MBA courses for working professionals as ‘EMBA programs’.
These programs are designed to prepare corporate executives for their mid-management, business, or top management roles.
2) Choosing MBA specialization
The branch of study you choose in your MBA course decides your future job opportunities. Many people take up online courses to add value to their existing field of work. For instance, a marketing professional can study online MBA program in Marketing to boost his career. Online MBA courses are offered in different specializations such as General Management, Marketing, Human Resource, Operations, Finance, and International Business. Hence, the selection of MBA specialization should be in line with your career plan and learning style.
3) Curriculum detail
Not just MBA specialization, it is also important to check the course curriculum. This is mainly because you will never be interested in choosing a wrong program that does not offer knowledge in your desired field of work.
4) Course duration
Another important point to consider while choosing an MBA course is its duration. As per your career plan, you can decide if the course delivery meets your requirement or not. Moreover, it helps you to plan your other priorities as per the duration of the program and allot time for self-study.
5) Consider cost factor
The cost of several online courses varies from one institution to another. Hence, it is advised to compare the course cost of different colleges before enrolling. This helps you to arrange for any financial assistance and get an estimate of the total cost of earning the degree. So, whether you plan to study dual courses at a single point of time, continue job with higher studies or start a business, online MBA course is a lucrative way to fast track your career. This gives the much-needed boost to your career plans in lesser time and cost.
At the end, some quick tips:
Do’s: Evaluate your career goals and choose online course after considering its cost, duration, curriculum, and scope.
Don’t: Promotion of college and course should not be the criterion to judge any online program. Many institutions promote their online courses and brand but are not worth the cost.
Do’s: Research about the required details of the online program and its acceptance in the job market. This includes research about accreditation, online study assistance, student-alumni interaction, and job placement.
Don’t: Since this is a self-managed mode of study, do not compromise with your study hours for the exam. If you are a working professional, e-learning requires time management skills in the candidate.
Author’s bio: Swati Srivastava is an avid writer and blogger who loves to share her knowledge and ideas on a wide range of educational and career related topics. Her articles are published on various reputed websites like Shiksha.com. Follow her on Google+