MBA programs were first developed in late 19^th century America as industrialists sought scientific means of management. Nowadays, MBA programs respond to many different needs in non-profit organizations and for-profit corporations. Whether you’re a recent business graduate, a mid-career professional, or a top-level executive, there’s a graduate program in business administration that was designed with you in mind.

When choosing among MBA programs, three important aspects to consider include program schedule, program emphasis, and mode of delivery.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

First, regardless of whether the program is online or offline, it will probably fit one of these four schedules:

1)    Traditional MBA programs are full-time. They require about two years of full-time attendance. Nonetheless, some people can earn a MBA degree online while keeping full employment.

2)    Other programs are part-time and make it easier to balance full-time employment with schooling. These usually take about three or four years to complete.

3)    Accelerated programs are very time-intensive but provide the fastest route to an MBA.

4)    Executive MBA (EMBA) programs are designed around working professionals’ busy schedules. These programs tend to schedule class meetings on weekends instead of during the week.

PROGRAM EMPHASIS

A second point of distinction is program emphasis. MBA programs can have very different curricula. For example, at Florida Tech Online, students can choose from MBA concentrations in healthcare management, project management, and several other areas. Penn State’s online MBA program, on the other hand, does not include concentrations but emphasizes the integration of different areas of business.

MODE OF DELIVERY

Finally, a third difference is the mode of delivery. The main variable here is synchronization. Courses can be synchronous or asynchronous: they can require the professor and students to be online at the same time, or they can allow students 24/7 access to streaming video and MP3s of lectures.

In sum, MBA programs differ in a number of ways. While researching MBA programs, take time to find the best matches for your schedule, your areas of interest, and your preferred mode of information delivery.