Getting an MBA is a good move for work-at-home moms who want to earn the necessary credentials in management as a preparation for further career advancement. Earning an MBA degree will make you more likely to be considered for a higher position and higher pay. In the past, the only way to get an MBA is through a traditional MBA program offered by a campus-based university. But the advent of the Internet has revolutionized access to education. MBA programs are now being offered online by many colleges and universities.

If you are planning to get an MBA degree and deciding whether to enroll in a traditional, campus-based or an online MBA program, it is important to know the similarities and differences, and more importantly, the advantages and disadvantages of both.

Similarities and Differences

Online and Traditional MBA programs share the same goal of training and preparing the students in the field of business management. Both traditional and online MBA programs have similar curriculum and level of difficulty. With a traditional MBA program, you will have to adjust your schedule so you can find time to attend your MBA classes. For work-at-home moms, this could mean attending evening or after-work classes.

Enrolling in a campus-based program also means commuting to and from school. This could present some difficulties for work-at-home moms who have their hands full most of the time. In this regard, online MBA programs present a more convenient and flexible alternative. With distance learning, you can attend classes from any location as long as you are connected to the Internet.

Benefits of Traditional and Online MBA Programs

Attending a traditional MBA program has its benefits. Traditional MBA programs require you to attend lectures on site and collaborate with your peers on group assignments. The physical interaction with other students helps foster a fruitful exchange of ideas and information. The interactive classroom environment where students work in groups on assignments closely simulates real world situations. This trains traditional MBA graduates for a productive career in the business world.

On the other hand, an online MBA programs curriculum usually consist of lectures, reading materials, and assignments available for download as electronic form as text, multimedia and audio files. Interaction is achieved through online channels such as discussion boards, chat, email and sometimes telephone calls. It is worth noting that modern businesses increasingly rely on online communication such as email, online chat and message boards. Thus, graduates of online MBA programs also enjoy the advantage of being prepared for the technological aspects.

The best benefit that traditional MBA programs offer is reputation. MBA graduates from renowned universities are viewed with high regard in the business world. But online MBA programs are fast catching up as more and more universities start to offer distance-learning opportunities.

Meanwhile, enrolling in online MBA programs has its unique benefits too. Aside from allowing you to work at your own pace, enrolling in an online MBA program requires you to be more disciplined compared to being in a classroom setting. With numerous distractions especially for work-at-home moms, online MBA students need to be focused so that the tasks will be accomplished successfully. Thus, online MBA students also get to hone their time management skills.

Both traditional and online MBA programs have their own advantages and disadvantages. For work-at-home moms, an online MBA program is an attractive choice for obvious reasons especially with graduates of online MBA programs now increasingly held in the same high regard as those of traditional MBA programs.