Online Program Overview
Curriculum
The Isenberg School Part-time Online Business Degree Completion Program offers all of the upper-level coursework Online required to complete a degree with a major in Management or Marketing.
Admission Requirements
A successful Applicant will have at least 60 transferable college-level credits completed prior to applying for admission. These credits should satisfy most of the University's general education requirements and the Isenberg predictor course requirements;Calculus, Statistics, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics and some of introductory business courses. Many of these courses are not offered online through UMA and will need to be completed online elsewhere or onsite locally to yourself prior to applying to the program.
The curriculum is heavily focused on understanding the role of business in society and its interdisciplinary nature. To graduate, a student must complete a core set of UMA general education requirements and Isenberg requirements, since these are usually completed during freshman and sophomore years, it is expected that many applicants will have completed most or all of these before entering the program. In addition, it is expected that many applicants will have completed some introductory business courses. University general education requirements, Isenberg predictor course requirements and introductory business courses add up to approximately 60 credits.
You can find out more about the University's general education requirements and other university graduation requirements from the Guide to Undergraduate Programs. Once you get to the home page, click onto "Academic Information", and then click onto "University Graduation Requirements."
Requirement Summary
Specific Isenberg School requirements for all majors foster the development of analytical skills, quantitative analysis, writing and communication skills. Currently we offer our Online Degree with a major in Management or Marketing. For a summary of requirements please see Requirement Summary.
In general, online BBA graduates must complete 33 credits of Isenberg School core courses and 18 to 21 credits of major requirements. The rest of the curriculum is comprised of general education courses and electives, allowing you flexibility for transfer credits. You may transfer a maximum of 75 credits including CLEP, you are required to earn a minimum of 45 resident credits (credits earned for work done through UMass Amherst, UMA), at least 30 of these credits must be taken after matriculation-starting with your semester of acceptance into the program.
Semester Information
There is some flexibility in the course offerings with some courses offered more than once a year, you will work with an Advisor on an individualized degree completion plan to ensure you can complete your degree in the time frame that suits your goals and other commitments.
Spring and fall semesters are approximately 14 weeks long; you can take up to 11 credits.
Summer courses are over a 6 or 12 week session you can take up to 7 credits per session. Currently summer is a required session as some courses are offered only during summer.
The intensive Wintersession is not a required session, it is three weeks long in January and requires an average of 40 hours of course work per week, you can take up to 4 credits; winter2009 may be the last wintersession.
Which semesters you attend and how many courses you take depend on your other obligations, financial aid requirements and your goals for completion.
You can find out more about current online course offerings from the Continuing & Professional Education web site.
No college credits?
The part-time Online BBA degree completion program curriculum is designed to fit with the course requirements of the Commonwealth Transfer Compact offered at any of the 15 community colleges in Massachusetts (find out about online options for completing the Compact at Mass Colleges Online). Completion of the Transfer Compact is not a requirement for acceptance into the program, nor does it guarantee admission. However it does gurantee that you will have at least 60 transferable credits and that UMA general education requirements will be completed. If you maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above and have completed the Isenberg predictor courses you will be a great candidate for acceptance.
About Online Courses
Most online business courses in the part-time Isenberg School Online Degree Completion Program are taught by the same outstanding faculty and Graduate students that teach on-campus in Amherst.
Courses are taken via the internet and this technology is the tool that allows you to interact with your professor and the other students in your class. The online learning environment provides you with the same opportunity as the live classroom to discuss questions, explore issues in depth, and to work collaboratively with your classmates. The only difference is that you are able to engage in these activities from anywhere at anytime - the online classroom is tailored to fit your schedule. You will, of course, also have to take exams in most courses. You will have deadlines to meet and time limits for exams and quizez.
Online courses are available for registered student to view a week before the course actually starts. This is an excellent opportunity to make sure you can log-on ahead of time and look at the course content to assist in preparing for a successful semster/session.
Textbooks should be purchased and in hand before the course starts as to not fall behind. Especially for the shorter sessions!
Questions?
Many of your questions may be answered here Just the Facts.
Feel free to contact Tania Fuller, Coordinator of the Isenberg School Online Business Degree Program, for additional information.