Mason School of Business Launches New Online MBA

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The Raymond A. Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary is launching a new online MBA program, the school’s first all-digital degree program, with classes beginning August 24 (you can see the QS Distance Online MBA Rankings here, by the way).

The two-year program features a curriculum created and taught by Mason School faculty. The 49-credit program includes six courses per year, with each course taking just over seven weeks, and a required residency on the William & Mary campus in Williamsburg, Virginia. The total cost is $1,020 per credit, excluding the residency fee.

The new program joins an increasingly crowded field that includes existing online MBA programs offered by such respected institutions as the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School and Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, as well as non-degree alternatives such as massive open online courses, or MOOCs. Top business schools such as Wharton are aggressively moving into such online offerings.

The William & Mary program promises an experience similar to the one Mason students receive – including world-class faculty and small classes – but with the convenience of online access, including a customized mobile app. The program, which is offered in conjunction with the higher education online services provider Everspring, is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Online MBA curriculum to include new coursework element

The curriculum includes courses in accounting, organizational behavior, business analytics, finance, marketing, strategy, and more. One of the things that sets the new program apart is the coursework, which is specifically designed to help students frame complex business problems, develop a systemic approach to solving them, generate solutions and persuade others of their value.

“The curriculum goes beyond the typical quantitative skills learned in an MBA, adding specialized classes and projects that will teach students how to identify and solve complex business problems,” said online MBA director Pam Suzadail. “This ability and mindset – the structure to think creatively in a business framework – will immediately provide value to the students and the companies they work for.”

Online MBA in line with William & Mary’s history

William & Mary is one of the original eight “Public Ivies,” a group of publicly funded institutions that for the last 30 years have been considered on par with exclusive Ivy League schools in terms of academic rigor, top faculty, and highly qualified students. Founded in 1693, it is second-oldest university in the United States.

Todd Mooradian, Mason’s associate dean for faculty and administration, says the new MBA program is designed with that history in mind.

“The key themes of the programs are those that have defined the William & Mary educational experience for over three centuries,” he said.  “We’re emphasizing breadth of knowledge, communications, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving: the Renaissance toolbox.”

Applicants to the program must have at least two years of prior work experience, in addition to a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. Applicants from a wide range of academic fields and professional disciplines will be accepted. Deadlines for fall admission are April 7, May 5, and July 7.