South’s MBA Program Goes Online
Posted on June 26, 2025 by Amanda Akey
Earning a master of business administration has long been a stepping stone to career advancement. Yet, for years, it remained out of reach for many professionals unable to find a program that fit their busy lives.
A decade ago, the space for fully online MBAs was dominated by nonaccredited, for-profit schools that advertised on billboards and TV.
Though respected business schools did offer online coursework, none had leaped into a fully online program. Skepticism abounded: Could an online MBA really carry the same weight as a traditional, in-person program? But the need was always there.
Enter the pandemic, and top-ranked business schools like Harvard entered the arena. The perception of online MBA programs shifted from questionable to competitive.
Now, USA’s Mitchell College of Business is helping to shape that evolution, says Dr. Jessica Franks, director of graduate programs. “Our goal is to remove barriers and create opportunities,” Franks says. “Moving the MBA program online allows us to reach more students while maintaining the same level of rigor, engagement and career impact that defines our program.”
The program will reach students who struggle to balance full-time work, raising kids, caring for aging parents or serving in the military.
Creating an engaging and interactive student experience was key to online course development. USA’s Innovation in Learning Center led workshops to equip faculty with best practices for online instruction — emphasizing both content quality and maximum student engagement — and developed a standardized course shell, to be used across all the MBA courses, to create a cohesive, user-friendly learning environment.
“Beyond the virtual classroom, we are committed to providing both online and in-person networking and professional development opportunities,” Franks says, “ensuring that our students remain connected and supported throughout their MBA journey."