Finding the time to earn an advanced degree at a brick-and-mortar college can be impossible for many working professionals. Chances for career advancement often depend on attaining an MBA, but overcoming the challenges can be daunting for many. An online program can be the perfect choice for working professionals looking to take their career to the next level.
Staying in the Workforce
Leaving a steady job and losing a regular income and benefits isn’t realistic for most employees. For individuals already in the workforce, an online MBA program allows you to maintain a steady presence at your job and continue in your current role with an eye on the future. Completing an MBA while working full time can be challenging, but the peace of mind knowing you can remain at your job and continue to earn an income is priceless.
Easy Access
For those with both work obligations and family responsibilities, an online program is a perfect alternative to on-campus courses.
Students have the flexibility to access coursework from home, the corner coffee shop or the airport. Are you a night person? You can access online courses 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can plan your studies to fit your schedule. The freedom to complete coursework on your own time at any hour of day offers individuals with competing obligations an alternative to a traditional degree.
Seasoned Professors
Choosing an online degree program doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice relationships with professors or interaction with other students. Online students have the ability to remotely contact their instructors with questions or concerns.
In addition, professors in online programs often come from across the country and are experts in their field. Learning from someone who has worked in your career field, who understands the business world, and has professional contacts can be invaluable for students.
Gain Valuable Knowledge from Diverse Peers
Online students don’t have to sacrifice interaction with peers. Engaging in an active community of motivated student learners is still possible with an online program.
The ability to connect with others outside of a local setting allows students to gain valuable insight from peers in other regions of the country. The interaction with a diverse class helps students to understand different perspectives for a more well-rounded education. The exchange of information with other students — who are often working professionals outside of your region — can enhance the knowledge you’ll gain from the program itself.
Networking
Since online students interact with peers with diverse backgrounds and professions from a wide geographical area, they are able to take advantage of opportunities to expand their networking reach. As students get acquainted and work in groups, they’ll begin to naturally build out their professional network.
The ability for students to begin classes when it’s convenient for them sets Southern Oregon University’s online MBA programs apart from the competition. SOU offers five rolling start dates per year so students don’t have to wait for the next traditional semester to roll around.
The online MBA also offers accelerated seven-week courses, so students can get their MBA in as few as 16 months. The flexibility of an online MBA makes achieving your dreams more feasible than you imagined.
Learn more about SOU’s online MBA programs.
