Correction appended
The GW School of Business unveiled four online graduate programs Thursday that will use social networking and mentoring programs to keep graduate students connected.
An online masters of business administration, masters of tourism administration and two masters of science degrees in information systems technology management and project management will be offered, part of a plan to boost enrollment as business schools nationwide jostle to make their mark on online learning.
The suite of graduate programs are dubbed “GWSB: DC,” or digital community. The school partnered with the education technology company Pearson to use social networks and multimedia to teach ethical leadership, globalization and social responsibility.
“We are striving to leverage technology to help us grow without sacrificing that which we hold dear – student attachment to and feeling of belongingness in our program,” Associate Dean for MBA Programs Liesl Riddle said in an email.
The business school’s first online MBA program in healthcare landed a spot among the top 14 online graduate business programs in January’s inaugural U.S. News & World Report ranking of online graduate programs.
The new programs will use the same curriculum as the business school’s face-to-face professional MBA program, Riddle added, and will not be as specialized as the healthcare program.
Business school administrators said last fall that reaching more students through online programming was a priority as other top schools launched new programs.
The school could develop the programs into a hybrid model, which combines classroom and online learning, after their first year, Riddle said. Business school alumni will also team up with students in a mentorship program.
“With the GWSB:DC online MBA, we are now able to reach a broader distance-learning audience with our programs beyond students interested in the healthcare industry,” Riddle said.
This post was updated June 18, 2012 and June 20, 2012 to reflect the following:
Due to incorrect information from a source, The Hatchet incorrectly reported that three online degree programs would be offered. The business school will actually offer four new online degrees. Also, due to incorrect information on a University website, the Hatchet incorrectly reported tuition charged for the online MBA program. Students will pay $1,420 per credit.
