Launching an Accelerated Online MBA Program: Assuring Quality with Scale, Based on Principles of Effective Course Design

Abstract

This paper describes the challenges and advancements encountered by graduate faculty at a Midwestern public university as it transitioned to offering an accelerated MBA program with online, hybrid, and traditional courses, while experiencing 520% (from 100 to 620 students) growth over 24 months. Faculty consulted a ten-principle framework of course design to develop new courses for MBA concentrations and adjust teaching methods, assignment structures, student interactions, and teaching assistant integration to deliver a cutting-edge program in a competitive market. Case studies in deploying experiential learning in a fast-paced, large online classroom environment are discussed for three MBA courses.