What is Online MBA? A Beginner's Guide to Online MBA in 2024
Nowadays, learning is a part of the career plan of almost everyone. While there is a wide range of career options to choose from, there is also a variety of professionals to compete with, at the workplace! With so many career choices and a lot of competition in every field, finding the right educational degree to pursue can be a challenge. Many freshers as well as working professionals consider pursuing an online MBA Program as a crucial stepping stone to land in jobs at large organizations. Working professionals must pursue an online MBA to demonstrate their competency in their respective fields. It is also an asset for budding entrepreneurs.
If you are wondering whether enrolling for an online MBA program will set you up for career success, then you have reached the right place. Here’s an outline of what you can expect out of an online MBA program. This article will help you decide whether it is a good fit for you or not. review
An online MBA can be richly rewarding and can promise you a great career potential. Let’s find out how:
What is an Online MBA Program?
An online MBA program is a convenient and advanced way of earning an MBA degree. MBA programs focus on developing the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in business. These programs offer lectures on virtual learning platforms and allow aspiring managers and business professionals to learn at a pace that is ideal for them, without feeling stressed.
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What Are Online MBA Programs Like?
Typically, your course instructor will expect you to take the following actions yourself:
- Review the learning objectives
- Go through the lecture materials
- Submit assignments
- Participate in the discussion boards
12 Reasons why you should enroll in an Online MBA Program
Earning an MBA online can seem daunting, making students often wonder - is the experience online the same as in the traditional classroom setup? and, ‘will the format be suitable for me? If you are looking for answers to similar questions, then the following benefits of an online MBA will help you make an informed decision. Here are the top 10 reasons why you should do an MBA:
- Career Advancement: An online MBA is an essential step in your career advancement. It opens up new opportunities and gives you the skills that help you procure your dream job or fulfill your dreams of being the boss of a successful start-up. If you plan to move ahead in your career, you must take up an MBA course. It is one of the best degrees to pursue because of its diverse and attractive career options.
- Learn New Skills: An online program will provide you with the requisite knowledge, skills, and ethics to fit right into the business community. It is one of the best ways to acquire new skills that can help you create value for your company.
- Flexible: Your home or office is going to be your classroom. Wouldn’t that be great? You can work on your online degree at any time of the day or night. You have access to a quality education whenever and wherever you want, as long as you have access to a computer.
- Broadens Knowledge: An online MBA program provides you with a vast knowledge of different topics. Students develop a holistic foundation in various business disciplines such as finance, marketing, and accounting. There are a variety of specializations that allow students to gain in-depth knowledge in specific areas of their interest, such as business analytics and international business.
- Develop Managerial & Interpersonal Skills: With an online MBA, you can enhance your managerial and business skills. You might have the best technical skills in your organization, but it is the soft skills that differentiate between a successful employee and a skilled employee. An online MBA helps you develop and enhance the managerial and interpersonal skills that are critical for success in today’s workplace and will help you to shape the culture of your team in many ways.
- Offers a Wide Selection of Specializations: In a space as vast and wide as the internet, there is a wide range of MBA specializations that you can choose from.
- Your Professional Network Expands: An online MBA program will help you build your network of people. The professional network you develop while pursuing the program will extend beyond your peers and professors to include contacts outside of your program. You will be able to interact with working alumni, business leaders, and some other professional connections through online classes, online discussions, and virtual social events. With an extensive network, you will be able to keep up with the changing global business environment and discover new ways to adapt fast.
- High-Paying Jobs: An online MBA program helps you land in a high-paying job. After earning an MBA, you can easily get a high-salary job. However, for that, you will have to choose your course providing institute and specialization wisely. The salary aspect also depends on the course/specialization and the course provider you choose, as well as the industry and the company you join.
- Greater Job Security: Nowadays, the fear of unemployment has made today's career market competitive. Earning an MBA degree will add to your skillset and will make you an important member of your organization. Even if you resign from your job, your qualifications, knowledge, and skill-set will stay with you, increasing the chances of returning to work faster.
- Makes your Resume Stronger: An Online MBA can strengthen your resume by adding those specific skills to your resume that employers are looking for. Learning new skills will help your resume look better in comparison to other candidates.
- Easier to Switch Careers: With an MBA qualification, it will become much easier for you to make career transitions, as an MBA is proof of your expertise and your skills to switch careers or start a new business as an entrepreneur.
- Worldwide Recognition of your Credentials: An online MBA certification/degree is recognized worldwide. On completion of your online MBA, your online certification/degree will be acknowledged across the world and your credibility will increase among business people. This will open doors to a variety of career opportunities.
Online MBA vs Traditional Classroom MBA
The traditional classroom education allows students to attend courses on campus (brick and mortar rooms) and includes hands-on training, face-to-face interactions with teachers as well as fellow students.
Despite how the course is held, both the systems – online and offline let students collaborate with classmates and instructors and let you enhance your knowledge and skills. While both education systems have their pros and cons, it depends on the ability of the student, his/her budget, whether he/she is flexible enough, whether the student would be able to concentrate as well as the level of discipline the student is ready to offer.
For some students, online education can prove the best while for others the traditional method might be the only best choice. With students finding themselves fulfilling the family and job commitments, it is up to them to choose the system that will suit them the most.
What Do You Learn in an Online MBA Program?
Online MBA programs are known for their comprehensive curriculum and practical applications. Students learn about accounting, finance, marketing, organizational behavior, economics, management, and business ethics. Soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership, are also developed. The exact courses and assignments vary by the program/specialization you undertake.
Online MBA Syllabus
Every online MBA Program has its own curriculum/syllabus with one thing in common, i.e., the objective of all online MBA programs is to provide some practical knowledge of business along with some core competencies to students to help them advance in their career. While the syllabus of the online MBA program will vary from college to college, here are some of the common topics in the syllabus of an online MBA program:
Semester 1:
| Business Communication & Presentation Skills | Business Statistics |
| Business Research Methodology | Marketing and Consumer Behaviour |
| Finance for Non-Finance | Macro Economics & Policy |
| Operation Research | Micro-Economics |
| Financial Reporting and Analysis | Organizational Behaviour |
Semester 2:
| Costing Products and Services | Human Resource Management |
| Data Science Using R and Python | Managing Stakeholders and Legal Processes |
| Project Management | Strategic Management |
| Indian Banking and Financial Markets | Managing Operations and Supply Chain |
| Indian Economy in the Global Context | Managing Financial Resources |
Semester 3:
| Applied Business Research | Intellectual Property |
| Problem Solving Skills | Leveraging IT for Business |
| Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility | Consulting Skills |
Semester 4:
| Ethics | Leadership Development |
| Integrated Decisions Making | Cross-Cultural Consumer and Industrial Buyer Behaviour |
| International Marketing Research |
What Skills Do You Learn in an Online MBA Program?
- Technical Skills: The different courses in your online program will help you gain related technical knowledge and skills. In an online program, you will get familiar with new tools and software, collaboration tools, and basic troubleshooting issues. In the extremely competitive workplace environments, technical skills will give you a distinct advantage in your career.
- Soft Skills:
- Leadership Skills: Leaders motivate themselves and others to do the right things. It is about motivating the team to achieve a common goal. MBA students learn leadership skills through a combination of courses in the MBA program, such as psychology and sociology. Furthermore, when you pursue an MBA degree, you participate in group discussions, group projects, and assignments that enable you to showcase your leadership abilities.
- Risk Management Skills: In today's workplaces, there is always some risk involved. An MBA program will teach you risk management skills so that you can assess, identify, and assess the risks and make an informed decision.
- Problem Solving & Decision Making Skills: Employers look for such individuals who have the ability to quickly devise creative solutions to each problem in the workplace, no matter how big or small the problem is. An online MBA program will enhance your decision-making skills so that you know how to anticipate, identify, solve, prevent, as well as learn from problems that occur in the workplace.
- Critical Thinking Skills: Critical Thinking is the ability to analyze a concept objectively after thoroughly considering the facts and various perspectives to reach a logical conclusion. MBA students learn to ask analytical questions that lead to better decisions. An online MBA program will help you understand how to think independently without judgment and bias.
- Communication Skills: Nowadays, communication skills are not just essential in your professional life but they are crucial for social living as well. MBA programs help the learners to enhance their communication skills because employers look for such individuals who will be able to express their ideas and communicate the vision to their superiors and team.
Online MBA Specializations
While many learners pursue general online MBA programs, some students often look for specialization in a particular field or aspect of the business. Specialization can help you stand out in the job market and reach high-level executive positions.
Most specialized MBA programs provide general coursework first and require students to focus on their specialized areas in later semesters. This enables learners time to evaluate or change their specialization during the program.
Here are some popular specialization options for online MBA programs:
| Finance | Supply Chain Management |
| Marketing | International Business |
| Healthcare | Information Technology |
| Accounting | Hospitality Management |
| Entrepreneurship | Project Management |
| Human Resource | Information Systems |
Roadmap to pursue an Online MBA Program
Before enrolling in a Program
- Prepare for Applying – Plan your budget, explore funding options, get professional references or letters of recommendation (if required)
- Identify online course providers
- Check the course starting dates – choose the one which is feasible for you
- Secure funding
- Enroll in the online course
On starting the Program
- Take core courses
- Build relationships with your coursemates
- Participate in online discussions
- Attend online social events
Towards the end of the Program
- Finish required coursework
- Choose a niche or specialization
- Attend networking events
- Make connections with companies
- Graduate
How much do MBA Professionals Earn- MBA Professionals Salary in India
The average salary of fresh Online MBA graduates ranges from Rs. 5-6 lakh per annum in India.
Top Industries hiring MBA Professionals
- Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)
- Health Care/Pharmaceuticals
- Information Technology
- E-Commerce
- Consulting
- Retail Management
Job Profile/Role for online MBA Graduates
- Financial Manager
- IT Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Financial Advisor
- Human Resource Manager
- Management Analyst
- Entrepreneurship
- Operations Manager
- Senior Business Analyst
- Business Development Manager
- Business Development Executive
- Project Manager (IT)
- Assistant Human Resources Manager
- Relationship Manager
- Marketing Executive
- Business Analyst (IT)
- Area Sales Manager
- Financial Analyst
- Regional Sales Manager
- Account Manager
- Management Consultant
Top Recruiters
- Infosys
- EY (Ernst & Young)
- Tata Consultancy Services
- Accenture
- Amazon
- Apple
- Deloitte
- JP Morgan
- McKinsey
- Cognizant
- Wipro
Eligibility to pursue an Online MBA Program
| Education: | Typically, the basic eligibility criteria for an online MBA is a Graduation/Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline or equivalent from a recognized university with a minimum of 50%. |
| Work Experience: | While most programs do not require prior work experience, some of the programs might ask for 2-3 years of work experience to enroll. |
| Entrance Exams: | There are no entrance exams for online MBA programs. |
Skills & Personality Traits Required to take up online MBA Program
- Willingness to Learn
- Open Mind
- Online Presence
- Self-Motivation
- Basic Computer Skills
- Time Management
How long does it take to complete an Online MBA Course?
The average time commitment for online MBA programs ranges from 2 to 3 years.
There are a variety of colleges that provide accelerated online MBA programs which are usually short-spanned compared to other programs. Some online MBA programs are asynchronous allowing students to study at their own pace, whereas others are synchronous, in which students have to attend live classes at a specific time
Many MBA programs require about 30 credit hours. Thus, depending on the school that you choose and its course layout, you should expect to spend about two years completing an online program If you choose a specialization, then you may spend extra time learning it.
How much do Online MBA Programs Cost?
The overall course fee for the online MBA program is relatively less as compared to the regular MBA program, however it will vary from college to college.
While the tuition rates for online and on-campus MBA programs at the same University/School are often the same, some B-schools charge a lower fee for online courses than their on-campus tuition rates. Online MBA programs offer several cost-saving benefits, such as fewer fees and no costs for the commute.
The prestige of a University can also affect the cost of your degree. Online MBAs from prestigious institutions generally come with hefty price tags.
With many established institutions getting into offering online MBA programs, you can look for certified university courses. Online MBA degrees from universities receive accreditations from internationally affiliated bodies.
The average fee of an online MBA program could range from INR 80K to 10 Lakhs.
Select Your Program After Thorough Research
All online MBA programs are not designed in the same manner. Many employers notice where job applicants have earned their degrees from while sorting through the pile of resumes. Therefore, you must choose a program after doing thorough research. You should opt for such a course that suits your personal career goals, whether those lie in finance, marketing, human resources, strategic management, or any other domain.
How to Choose Online MBA Course
- Assess and evaluate your options in terms of:
- Program Cost
- Duration & Per-week time commitments
- Accreditation [Affiliated to international, national, or regional institutions]
- Expected Outcomes
- Compare the cost with the program outcomes
Popular Online MBA Colleges In India
- Amity University
- ITM University
- Karnataka State Open University
- National Institute Of Business Management
- Symbiosis Institute Of Distance Learning
- Jindal Global University
Popular Online Portals offering Online MBA Programs
- Coursera
- edX
Aquib is a seasoned wordsmith, having penned countless blogs for Indian and international brands. These days, he's all about digital marketing and core management subjects - not to mention his unwavering commitment ... Read Full Bio
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