USM students work toward MBAs online

University of Southern Mississippi students working toward a Master of Business Administration (MBA) have a number of options — and not just in terms of job opportunities post-graduation.

Southern Miss students have been able to take classes at the University's campuses in Hattiesburg and in Long Beach for many years, and now the first students have begun working toward their MBA entirely through online offerings. When the spring 2015 semester began, two of the required MBA courses were offered online for the first time. This fall, courses in accounting and marketing will be offered.

"The faculty in the College of Business are providing a globally competitive MBA experience with delivery options that match performance expectations in careers," said Dr. Faye Gilbert, dean of the College of Business.

Gilbert says new students can expect to complete a MBA entirely online, in fewer than two years, taking two classes per semester.

"MBA students are responding positively to the addition of online courses and we expect that trend to increase," said Dr. Beth LaFleur, associate dean in the College of Business and MBA director. "The College of Business will be offering two new classes every semester in the online format."

In addition to online classes, students can choose hybrid delivery formats in Hattiesburg and on the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach. Hybrid courses include classroom instruction and online learning. This fall, Scianna Hall, a $33 million facility dedicated to the College of Business, will open on the Hattiesburg Campus. The facility will dramatically increase the square footage dedicated to the College of Business, as well as improve the technology with which business education is delivered to Southern Miss students, including a distance learning lecture hall and tiered, case-oriented classrooms equipped with digital displays and comprehensive multimedia stations.

The Southern Miss MBA program was included among the nation's Top 200 part-time business programs in rankings for 2015 by U.S. News & World Report. Southern Miss has also been recognized by Accounting Degree Review as having one of the 10 most affordable undergraduate accounting degree programs in the country, among accredited programs.

"Our students are connecting with each other in online teams, attending classes for in-person discussions, and earning nationally competitive scores on the exit exams of knowledge for business disciplines. It is a great time to be a Golden Eagle," Gilbert said.

For more information about the program, visit www.choose.usm.edu/mba.