Penn State Online MBA A world of possibilities. Online.
Table of Contents Earn Your Penn State Online MBA...3 ICE: A Skill -Based Approach to Learning...4 What You Can Expect to Learn...5 Online MBA Curriculum...6 7 We Are Here for You...8 9 Proven Leadership in Online Delivery...10 Begin Your Application Today... 11 The Penn State Online MBA provides a highly engaging and integrative learning environment for professionals who want to advance or change their career paths. The program can be customized to help you prepare for a broad range of careers, from project management and human resources, to business analytics and supply chain management. Our curriculum is taught by the same faculty who teach our resident students on campus. It s your assurance that you ll receive a top-quality education from expert educators who are widely respected in their fields of study. Janet Duck, Ph.D. Faculty Director, Online MBA Penn State Smeal College of Business 2
A leader in online learning since 1998 To learn more about the Penn State Online MBA, visit: worldcampus.psu.edu/mbaoverview
Earn Your Penn State Online MBA Flexible, Customizable, Respected The Penn State Online Master of Business Administration (MBA), led by the internationally ranked Penn State Smeal College of Business and delivered through Penn State World Campus, is a 48-credit program that allows you to earn a master s degree without interrupting your career. This interdisciplinary degree can provide you with a thorough understanding of all aspects of business management theory and practice while integrating key business concepts found in high-performing organizations. The Online MBA also gives you the flexibility to customize your course of study with a choice of 12 in-demand concentrations that cover the most vital functional areas of business. Because you are not part of a lock-step cohort, you have even more flexibility to customize an academic plan at a pace that works for you. You can complete the program in as few as 24 months, or extend the length of the program to suit your busy lifestyle. This respected program is one of the more reasonably priced programs available online to carry the elite AACSB accreditation, an honor reserved for the top 5% of all business schools worldwide. This seal of excellence signifies that you ve received a superior education from a program that has met the industry s most stringent educational standards. worldcampus.psu.edu/mbaoverview Smeal College of Business, Penn State 3
ICE: A Skill-Based Approach to Learning Collaborative Learning Embraces hands-on projects that promote team- based problem-solving, decision- making, and project management all of which are relevant in the contemporary business environment Penn State Online MBA courses are designed around the three-part ICE framework, a teaching and learning approach that incorporates the principles of Integration, Collaboration, and Engagement. Integrative Learning Unifies Engaged Learning Allows you concepts across previously siloed to apply business concepts in an business disciplines, allowing you to interactive and participative learning engage in authentic problem-solving environment through the use of from a comprehensive perspective virtual classrooms, collaborative video conferencing, discussion boards, mentoring, and more I am a nontraditional student. My colleagues are virtual, my workplace is global, and my schedule is unpredictable. The Penn State Online MBA has accommodated my needs perfectly. I have flexibility in my course load, and the program staff have all been unfailingly supportive. Dr. Michael Berelowitz, Online MBA Student 4
What You Can Expect to Learn Your online MBA education will help transform you into an executive-level decision maker as you learn to: use statistical techniques, as well as accounting and financial data, to analyze and evaluate business decisions prepare and deliver clear and compelling case studies about contemporary business problems demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills across multiple platforms identify and prioritize business challenges, apply logical reasoning, and develop alternative solutions develop leadership skills fundamental to managing a business analyze and solve business problems from multiple functional perspectives My life changed completely over the course of a single semester. I went from being a housewife to starting a new job. Luckily, I was able to change my pace of study in the program. What makes the Penn State Online MBA special is how it fits into your life, not how you fit into it. Yolanda Sosa, Online MBA Student It s incredible how applicable the course material has been to my job. The concepts I m learning in class can be implemented in a meeting or applied to a project the very next day. Stephen W. Fiehler, Online MBA Student 5
Online MBA Curriculum Begin with a Residency The Penn State Online MBA begins with a five-day Residency held at Penn State University Park in State College, Pennsylvania. During this event, you will start earning credits by immersing yourself in a team performance class. Designed to provide information, introduce resources, and foster valuable interactions with faculty and student peers, the residency will help prepare you for a successful integrative, collaborative, and engaging online learning experience. Lodging and meals during the residency are included in your tuition. Transportation is not included and is the responsibility of the student. Build a Core Management Foundation Our MBA program requires 48 credits, 39 credits of which will provide you with a solid understanding of essential management concepts. The suggested sequence of these 3-credit courses, as listed, is recommended for an optimum learning experience. Keep in mind that all courses within the portfolio are taught using our ICE approach to learning. 6 Online MBA Requirements 5-day Residency 48 Total Credits 39 Core Management Credits 9 Concentration Credits See course descriptions online: worldcampus.psu.edu/mbacourses Core Management Courses: Team Performance Financial Accounting Leadership Communications Data Analysis for Decision-Making Marketing in a Global Environment Financial Management Managing Supply Chains in Global Markets Economics for Business Strategy Managing and Leading People in Organizations Ethical and Responsible Business Leadership Global Strategic Management Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Managing in the Digital Economy
Customize with a Concentration Focus your expertise by selecting a 9-credit concentration in one of the key functional areas of business: Accounting Foundations can equip you with a level of knowledge similar in scope to an undergraduate major in accounting. Advanced Accounting focuses on advanced accounting course work; students are required to either have work experience or an undergraduate degree in accounting. Business Analytics covers how to use optimization and forecasting techniques across various areas of business, including supply chain, operations, forensics, and risk. Business Architecture explores the concepts of enterprise modeling approaches along with tactics to effectively execute organizational transformation and business strategy. Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship cultivates your expertise in the techniques, strategies, and business fundamentals required to innovate and sustain new products and services. Finance imparts an understanding of practical applications used to manage financial challenges, as well as financial theory to address future trends. General Management covers functional areas of business to provide you with a strong foundation in accounting, analytics, finance, and project management. Human Resource Management prepares you to make managerial decisions that integrate HR strategies and practices with organizational strategy to improve business performance. Negotiation and Influence combines negotiation theory, case discussion, and hands-on trial-and-error learning in an effort to identify, refine, and develop negotiation capabilities. Marketing Analytics presents marketing analytics knowledge needed to influence marketing strategy and decision-making tied to market evaluation, brand management, and customer acquisition and retention. Project Management uses problem-based learning to provide a strong foundation in project management theory and practice. Supply Chain Management provides logistics professionals with the knowledge to increase the efficiency of an organization s supply chain. Penn State consistently adds new concentrations to meet market demand. Visit us to see your available options: worldcampus.psu.edu/mbaoverview 7
We Are Here for You Virtual Teamwork The Penn State Online MBA has a unique Team Performance component to better prepare you for today s cross-functional business environment. Recruiters want to see that you can function effectively within a team to accomplish set goals. That s why we developed the program to integrate teamwork into every class. Each team is assembled to ensure that its members have diverse industry and personal perspectives. With your team members potentially distributed all over the world, you can learn to coordinate across time zones and effectively work in a global team environment. Faculty Engagement Our award-winning faculty members are instructors, researchers, consultants, practitioners, and course designers who specialize in bringing complex business concepts to life. Our team has extensive experience working with busy adult learners just like you. They have not only proven themselves successful in their industries, but they have also been trained to teach online using our integrative, collaborative, and engaged learning approach (ICE). The Penn State Online MBA was my first choice, primarily due to its innovative new curriculum. National rankings and my conversations with the program director solidified my decision. Ernie Martinez II, DVM, Online MBA Student Shawn M. Clark, Ph.D. Clinical Professor, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Penn State Smeal College of Business 8
Vast Alumni Network Upon your completion of the Penn State Online MBA, you will also become part of a proud worldwide network of Penn State alumni, including more than 85,000 graduates of the Smeal College of Business, and you will have the opportunity to leverage valuable Smeal connections throughout your professional career. Penn State has the world s largest dues-paying alumni association of its kind in the world and one of the most powerful networks. With more than 692,000 graduates, Penn State alumni live and work in every county in Pennsylvania, every state in the United States, and in numerous countries around the world. Chapters are created by Penn State alumni and friends in most major metropolitan areas, to allow supporters to share their Penn State pride and to meet other Penn Staters living in their area. Penn State s personalized career services and large and engaged alumni network are crucial to helping me achieve my career goals. Drax Patel, Online MBA Student 9
Proven Leadership in Online Delivery Flexibility and Convenience Penn State knows that as an adult student, you need flexible and convenient learning options. The online learning format offered by Penn State World Campus makes it possible to fit a graduate education into your life. Though courses have fixed start and end dates with assignment deadlines, you can decide when to do your course work to meet those deadlines. Reputation for Excellence Having a Penn State degree on your résumé is a great way to broaden your career options and prove to current and potential employers that you are a welleducated professional. No distinction will be made on your official Penn State transcript or diploma that your courses were completed online. 10 Accreditation Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and has an outstanding reputation as a research and teaching university. The Master of Business Administration degree is also AACSB accredited the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Student Support Services You will have access to an array of support services, including technical support offered by the friendly Penn State World Campus HelpDesk staff, and career counseling with a licensed professional counselor.
Begin Your Application Today Admissions decisions for the MBA are official GMAT or GRE score report; based on a review of the complete test waivers available to highly application portfolio. There are early qualified candidates and standard deadlines each semester, official transcripts from all institutions with courses beginning in January, attended May, and August. Class size is limited. To receive priority consideration for references the admission decision and scholarship résumé opportunities, submit your completed essay responses application portfolio by the early deadline. TOEFL or IELTS score (if applicable) For application deadlines and more Your application portfolio should information about the application include: process, please visit: application and fee worldcampus.psu.edu/mba GPA and test scores both or contact the program office. postsecondary cumulative Online MBA Program Office undergraduate GPA and junior/senior Email: psuonlinemba@psu.edu GPA required Phone: 814-863-0474 Did You Know? The faculty in our online program are As a Penn Stater, you will have the the same distinguished professors who support of one of the largest and most teach in our resident program, all of powerful alumni networks in the world. whom have been trained to provide superior online instruction. Penn State World Campus is consistently ranked as a top provider of online degrees by U.S. News & World Report. 11
For More Information Contact Us psuonlinemba@psu.edu worldcampus.psu.edu 800-252 -3592 (toll free within the United States) 814-863 -5386 (local and international) 814-865 -3290 Fax Admissions Counseling Hours 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday Thursday 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. ET, Friday Closed, Saturday and Sunday Penn State World Campus The Pennsylvania State University 128 Outreach Building University Park, PA 16802 This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Produced by Outreach and Online Education Marketing U.Ed. OUT 18-WC-1404/lrf/sss Copyright 2018 The Pennsylvania State University