Upper Iowa University Expands It's Online MBA Program, Adds Face-To-Face Options

Upper Iowa University has expanded its online master's degree program in 2014 to include face-to-face and classroom options, the Associated Press reported.

Students enrolled in the private school's Master of Business Administration (MBA) program are now able to pick from the online program or, at some of the university's locations, take evening, weekend or daytime classes to meet their MBA requirements.

Enrollment in the university's online MBA program has increased by 46 percent in the past year. However, Kristopher Blanchard, associate professor of business and chair of the MBA program, said that despite the success of the online program, more students are demanding classroom options as well.

"Not everybody learns in the same way, and some people are not comfortable with taking courses completely online. They want to study in a classroom and take advantage of those networking opportunities," Blanchard said in a press release. "At UIU, we say, 'Your degree. Your way.' Offering more options for the MBA program ensures that we are giving students choices that can fit into their lifestyle."

The additional options for the MBA program could also accelerate a student's studies. By enrolling in both online and residential classes, students would be able to complete the MBA in a little more than a year.

"Many graduate students are concerned about an educational program taking a lot of time away from their family or career," Blanchard said. "The accelerated format provides students an opportunity to achieve their educational goals in a very short amount of time."

Students at the university can now take courses for MBA online or opt to take courses after 5 p.m. week says weekdays at the university's Waterloo Center, on Saturday mornings at its Quad Cities Center, or combine day and evening weekday courses at the Fayette campus, according to university officials.

Courses in the new program got under way on January 6. The school's courses are offered in eight-week terms. Registration for the next eight-week term of classes begins January 20.