Students at Salisbury University will soon be able to earn their business degree online, school officials announced.

The university's Franklin P. Perdue School of Business is launching an online version of its Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program in fall 2015. An accelerated version of the program may be completed in as quickly as one year, or students may choose a part-time track. Both campus and online options feature small classes in fast-paced seven-week sessions.

"We wanted to offer a more flexible and convenient version of our highly-competitive M.B.A. for working professionals and others," Dr. Christy Weer, Perdue School interim dean, said in a statement. "Courses will be led by the same excellent faculty who teach on campus."

The M.B.A. is one of SU's first fully online graduate programs.  Others include a M.S. in GIS Management and Social Work. 

Covering topics across the business spectrum, the program begins with an accounting concepts course. Students then study such areas as supply chain management and corporate finance, before finishing with capstone management and consulting courses.

The Perdue School is a member of SAP University Alliances and is accredited by AACSB International which, Weer said, allows it to offer an innovative and exceptional program:  "Our graduates will have cutting-edge skills for globally diverse, team-focused and technologically oriented work environments." 

SAP University Alliances is an international program that introduces students to technologies shaping businesses today. At SU, an SAP-enhanced curriculum gives students hands-on experience with software and applications to develop skills that complement their studies.

For example, several M.B.A. courses use Enterprise Resource Planning systems and Business Intelligence tools to highlight the integrated nature of business processes, including accounting, sales and marketing. This gives students a competitive advantage in the job market, Weer said, as they have opportunities to participate in virtual simulations and master skills that add immediate value to organizations.

The program is open to anyone who has completed an undergraduate degree and wishes to advance in his or her career. In the past, M.B.A. students have come from fields as diverse as archaeology, art history, accounting and engineering.

Competitive tuition rates provide a high return-on-investment, Weer said. The priority application deadline is March 1, with others accepted on a space-available basis.