April 14, 2009

CONTACT:
Debra O'Donnell, WSU Center for Distance and Professional Education Director of Marketing, Recruiting and Communications
509/335-4680, debrao@wsu.edu

Frances Ryan, WSU CB Marketing and Communications Manager
509/335-3957, frances_ryan@wsu.edu

Washington State University Launches Online MBA

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University’s College of Business, in partnership with the Center for Distance and Professional Education, is launching an Online MBA program beginning fall semester. The program initially will be available for part-time enrollment, and beginning fall 2010 for full-time or part-time enrollment.

The Online MBA program consists of 39 semester credit hours and is comparable to WSU’s Accelerated One-Year MBA offered on the Pullman campus. Like all WSU College of Business academic programs, the Online MBA is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Courses are offered completely online and no campus visitations are required.

WSU has been a leader in graduate business education for more than 50 years, with programs on the Pullman campus and around the state. ‘It’s a natural evolution to offer an online MBA,” said Mark Fuller, Chair and Philip L. Kays Distinguished Professor in Management Information Systems. Fuller added, “We’ve had a B.A. in business administration online since 1997 and we have a track record of graduating highly employable students.” He added, “We’ve had so much success with online academic programs that students and employers understand that a degree from WSU is a degree from WSU, regardless of how students took courses.”

Fuller noted that WSU Online MBA courses are accessible 24/7 in an asynchronous format, allowing maximum flexibility for working professionals. “We use a variety of online tools that allows significant interaction between faculty and students,” he said. “Those same tools allow students to participate fully in group projects and team presentations.”

In addition to 24/7 course access and tech support, Online MBA students will have support services, including advising, financial aid and career counseling, registration assistance, and help maneuvering the WSU system. “Students don’t have to worry about going this alone,” said Rich Miller, Online MBA advisor. “There is a whole dedicated staff, really a campus within the Pullman campus, to support online students.”

The program is designed for recent graduates who have a bachelor’s degree in business administration as well as mid-career professionals seeking to gain a global advantage in today’s highly competitive business environment. Complete information about WSU’s Online MBA is available at http://www.omba.wsu.edu.