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FAQs—MBA Online
About the iMBA
iMBA: Admissions
iMBA: How It Works
About the iMBA
How does the quality of the iMBA compare with that of a resident MBA?
The online MBA is comparable to quality resident MBA programs. Faculty and administrators of 4 resident MBA programs at Penn State collaborated to develop the online MBA. The iMBA is, therefore, an attempt to consolidate the strengths of each of the other MBA programs.
- The curriculum is streamlined to focus on the most integral aspects of manager development—those factors found to be fundamental to the success of high-performance organizations.
- The curriculum integrates content across functional areas—linking management, marketing, finance, accounting, and operations—through common content and immersion activities in the residency experiences.
- The curriculum is lockstep: all students are exposed to the same content and develop business expertise as part of a cohort. The students learn more as they are exposed to the same content in the same order.
- The curriculum can be applied immediately. Alex Walden, product manager for NeoSan Pharmaceuticals, said: "What I learn in class I consistently apply to work. Because the iMBA allows me to continue working while I take courses, I bring my experiences at work to class, then analyze these experiences and apply my new knowledge to work. If I were in a full-time resident program, I would be too far from the work environment to continually integrate valuable course content into my career."
- The curriculum includes residency experiences. Randy Ferguson, air exercise and attack officer in the U.S. Navy, said: "Being able to come in, walk around a company, talk to company executives, and put the pieces together in a practical application of course theories is fantastic!"
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What do employers think of the online iMBA?
Most employers see no difference between a resident MBA and the Penn State online MBA, and often encourage online education. Approximately 70 percent of our students receive financial support from their employers. Also, our current students represent employers from 37 states and 5 countries.
Kevin Maddox, regional marketing manager for Alcon, found that "taking the iMBA is definitely an educational advantage, as it parallels the growing e-commerce components of business. We are all communicating electronically and globally. We are facing the challenges of not seeing each other face-to-face but have adapted quickly. We now interact effectively to maintain high standards for our work."
Sample of companies currently represented in the iMBA program:
| ABB Inc. |
CSX Transportation |
Marriott International |
| Accenture |
Cummins, Inc. |
Marshall Miller & Associates |
| Acu-Rite, Inc. |
Dataware, Inc. |
Massachusetts General Hospital |
| AEGON Financial Partners |
Discover Financial Services |
Medco Health |
| Airgas |
Dow Corning Corporation |
Merck & Co., Inc. |
| Alcoa |
DuPont |
MetLife Insurance |
| Alcon |
Eaton Corporation |
Monster Worldwide |
| Allegheny Ludlum |
Edward Jones Investments |
Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. |
| American Bridge Company |
Electronic Data Systems |
National City Bank |
| Apple Computer, Inc. |
Elk Corporation |
National Gypsum Company |
| ArcSight |
EMC Corporation |
National Starch & Chemical |
| AT&T |
Engelhard |
NEC Corporation |
| Atlantic Richfield Company |
Ethicon Endo-Surgery |
Northrop Grumman |
| Aventis Pasteur |
ExxonMobil |
NUEAR Electronics |
| B&G Foods, Inc. |
Fairchild Semiconductor |
Oracle Corporation |
| Bacardi Canada |
Ferro Japan KK |
Pfizer, Inc. |
| BAE Systems Inc. |
First Bank of Puerto Rico |
Philip Morris, USA |
| Bank One Card Services |
Fisher-Price |
PPG Industries, Inc. |
| Barnes & Noble Booksellers |
Ford Motor Company |
Procter & Gamble |
| BASF Corporation |
General Dynamics |
Prudential |
| Bausch & Lomb |
General Electric |
Raytheon |
| Bayer Pharmaceutical Corp. |
Genworth Financial |
Rockwell Collins |
| Baylor College of Medicine |
Girling Health Care, Inc. |
Safeway Inc. |
| BB&T Investment Services |
Givaudan Fragrances Corporation |
Sanmina-SCI Corporation |
| BE&K Delaware |
Greystripe Inc. |
Schering-Plough Corporation |
| Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. |
Harley-Davidson Motor Company |
Siemens Energy & Automation |
| Bertek Pharmaceuticals Inc. |
Heinz |
Sony |
| BMG Direct |
Hershey Foods Corporation |
Sprint |
| Boeing |
Hertz Corporation |
Staples |
| Bradley Fixtures Corporation |
Hewlett Packard Development Company |
State Street |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb |
Honeywell International Inc. |
Sun Bancorp Inc. |
| Cadbury Adams |
Human Soft Inc. |
Sunoco, Inc. |
| Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant |
IBM |
Symantec Corp |
| Cannon Instrument Company |
Intel Corporation |
T. Rowe Price |
| Caterpillar, Inc. |
International Data Group |
Tyco Electronics |
| Cattron-Theimeg Inc. |
Ivy Asset Management Corp. |
U.S. Air Force |
| Cendant Corporation |
John Deere |
U.S. Army |
| Chanel Inc. |
Johnson & Johnson |
U.S. Navy |
| Citigroup |
Joy Mining Machinery |
U.S. Steel |
| CMS Companies |
JPMorgan Chase |
Unilever |
| CNX Gas Company, LLC |
KCF Technologies |
United Technologies Corp. |
| Coast Guard |
Kennametal Inc. |
U.S. Census Bureau |
| Computer Aid, Inc. |
Knowledge Systems & Research, Inc. |
Verizon Communications |
| Computer Enterprise, Inc. |
Kohler |
Veterans Health Administration |
| Computer Sciences Corporation |
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
Volkswagen of America |
| ConAgra Foods |
Lockheed Martin |
Wachovia Corp. |
| ConocoPhillips |
Lorin Industries |
Walt Disney World Resort |
| Convergys Corporation |
M&T Bank |
Weyerhaeuser |
| Corning Incorporated |
Make-A-Wish Foundation |
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Can I really learn as much online as in a traditional classroom?
Students in an online MBA program may learn as much or even more than students in a resident MBA program. You may want to read the article "Measuring MBA Student Learning: Does Distance Make a Difference?" The article notes that "online MBA students reported significantly higher scores than on-campus students on the learning outcomes related to technology, quantitative, and theory skills, and higher scores on technology skills, than the executive MBA group."
Kristy Yi, mechanical engineer for FCI USA, Inc., convinced her skeptical manager and co-workers of the effectiveness of online education by practicing with her engineering colleagues what she had learned in her iMBA courses. She said, "They are impressed by what I have discovered in the iMBA. Some want to begin the iMBA, too."
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What aspects of the iMBA format may be superior to resident instruction?
Teamwork and student interaction are often better in online programs than in resident instruction.
Teams work well in online programs for a number of reasons. Impression biases are eliminated. Students know each other only by name and e-mail address and therefore judge each other on their contribution to course work, not on appearance, mannerisms, or voice. More objective evaluations enhance team collegiality. Students also realize that their colleagues are their support network. Teammates change their share of the workload to help each other deal with changing personal and professional schedules. Often these collaborative, time-sharing efforts are the only reasonable way to complete assignments. Also, in sharing knowledge from their different personal training and work experiences, the students provide a context for cross-functional analyses. The teams' face-to-face meeting in the 1st residency experience, 9 months into the program, is a wonder to see!
Did you ever enter a classroom fully prepared for the day's material and have a faculty member ask you a question that you were unable or unwilling to immediately answer? Yet you knew you could provide a good answer if you had more time. Online courses give you that time. You can think about the question, see how others have responded, and formulate your own well-thought-out reply. Anxiety is reduced. Learning is enhanced.
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Will the iMBA diploma differ from the resident MBA diploma?
When you complete the iMBA, your diploma will state that The Pennsylvania State University grants you the degree of master of business administration in recognition of the completion of advanced study in business administration. Additionally, your transcript will be a Penn State transcript. Neither the diploma nor the transcript will differentiate the mode (online or otherwise) in which the courses or degree was completed.
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iMBA: Admissions
I come from a nonbusiness background. Is the iMBA right for me?
The curriculum is well suited for people with either business or nonbusiness undergraduate degrees. The 1st-year courses provide exposure to the fundamentals of business and an integration of functional areas within that foundation. In many ways these 1st-year courses develop and extend the fundamental concepts covered in an undergraduate business program. Subsequent courses provide additional depth within the functional areas and continue to focus on integration across functional areas.
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How will my application portfolio be evaluated?
The Admissions Committee considers the entire portfolio and seeks applicants that can succeed in a high-quality MBA program. GMAT scores are critical for accreditation, represent the one standardized admission criterion, and are an important element of the application portfolio. However, trade-offs between admission requirements are made (i.e., exceptional work experience and a good undergraduate GPA might offset a lower GMAT score, or a good GMAT score might offset limited work experience).
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Why do I need to take the GMAT, and when can I take it?
Applicants for the iMBA program come from diverse educational and employment backgrounds, and the GMAT provides a means for assessing each applicant against a common standard. Requiring the GMAT is just one way to ensure that iMBA cohorts are composed of well-qualified students, capable of succeeding in the iMBA program. The GMAT requirement is waived only if the applicant holds an MD, JD, or Ph.D.
The GMAT should be taken as soon as possible but no later than 6 weeks prior to the application deadline. If you are applying for a Fall start, the GMAT should be taken by April 15; if you are applying for a Spring start, the GMAT should be taken by October 15. If you take the exam early, you may retake the exam to improve your score. When you take the GMAT, or if you have already taken the GMAT, report your scores using the Penn State World Campus iMBA code (ZZ8-JW-99).
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How can I prepare for the GMAT? Is there a book to help me prepare for the GMAT?
Preparation has been shown to improve the mental approach to the GMAT exam as well as increase knowledge about exam procedures and content. We encourage you to try sample questions and attempt to simulate the exam through a practice test.
Is there a book to help me prepare to take the GMAT?
Numerous books are available to help test-takers prepare for the GMAT. Test-preparation books, while requiring a small initial investment, can be a valuable resource because they can help a test-taker determine whether he or she needs further preparation. Many GMAT preparation books contain full or partial sample exams (sometimes on CD-ROM) along with tips and techniques for succeeding on each type of question. There are also entire books devoted to each of the main test sections—verbal, quantitative, and essay—if you find that you need preparation primarily in one area. GMAT preparation books are available at most bricks-and-mortar and online bookstores (such as Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com).
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Are there any online resources to help me prepare for the GMAT?
We have compiled a list of online resources that provide more detailed information about the GMAT, as well as some tips for preparing to take the exam:
- Graduate Management Admission Council: Official GMAT site with practice questions and PowerPrep software.
- BusinessWeek Online: Click on "B-Schools," then "GMAT Prep," for a thorough introduction to the GMAT, with mini-tests to assess GMAT skills.
- Princeton Review: Provides a free online course demonstration, which includes a full-length practice exam.
- Test Prep Review: Uses self-assessment modules directed at specific verbal and quantitative skills.
- Admissions Consultants: Gives tips for GMAT preparation and reviews of GMAT study guides.
- Kaplan: Specializes in preparation for professional exams.
- Crack-GMAT: Offers online test tutorials and full-length practice exams for a fee, as well as some free resources.
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How can I get a transcript?
For your application to the iMBA program, we will need 2 official transcripts from each institution attended. (Applicants with a foreign degree need to send in official transcripts in the language of instruction—with English translation). There are 2 ways to obtain your transcripts: 1. Most colleges and universities have convenient online transcript request forms. Please visit the Web site of the institution you have attended and request 2 official transcripts or contact the registrar's office at each institution. 2. If you cannot order transcripts online or cannot find the transcript request procedures of your institution(s), then print and complete Penn State's convenient request form and send it to the institution(s) where you've taken courses for credit.
Your educational institution(s) will either send the transcripts directly to Penn State (preferred) or send you a sealed envelope that you will then send (having never opened the envelope) to:
iMBA Program Office
The Pennsylvania State University
5340 Fryling Road, Suite 205
Erie PA 16510
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What type of experience do I need?
Two or more years of professional experience is recommended. "Professional experience" refers to postbaccalaureate degree work that involves management of projects, people, materials, or finances. Please contact the program director if you have concerns about your work experience.
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What are the prerequisites?
The iMBA program recommends previous course work in accounting, economics, math, and statistics, or knowledge of these subjects gained through work experience in these subjects: math, economics, statistics, and accounting. Meeting these criteria adds to the strength of your application portfolio. Many nonbusiness undergraduates do not have accounting experience, so an accounting orientation is provided prior to the beginning of the program. If you have not had courses in the areas mentioned above, you may still apply and have your application portfolio reviewed and even accepted. You may, however, have to work somewhat harder in courses emphasizing content from recommended courses that you have not taken.
You may complete prerequisite courses at Penn State or at other regionally accredited institutions.
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What are the technical requirements?
Applicants should possess a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and should have reliable access to a computer, the Internet, and a fax machine in order to successfully complete the Penn State online MBA. The iMBA courses are designed for PCs. If you choose to use a Macintosh computer, you may find that certain applications do not work and some pages may not display correctly. A laptop with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and wireless Internet connectivity is preferred during the residency experiences.
For specific technical requirements for the iMBA program, please see our admissions requirements page.
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Do you accept transfer credits?
The iMBA program accepts up to 9 credits of graduate course work done at another accredited institution. Because the iMBA curriculum is fixed and follows a specific sequence, the content of transfer courses must directly match the content of iMBA courses. Previous graduate work must have been completed within the 5 years prior to your being admitted as an iMBA degree candidate, must be of at least B quality, and must be listed on the graduate transcript of a regionally accredited institution.
Pass/fail grades are not transferable to an advanced degree program unless the former institution substantiates that a "pass" is equivalent to a grade of B (3.0) or better. Quarter credits must be converted to term credits.
Approval to apply any transferred credits toward the iMBA must be granted by the iMBA director and the Penn State Graduate School. To request transfer of credit, submit an official graduate transcript and the course syllabus (or a complete description of each course) to the iMBA office.
Transfer credits will reduce the cost of the program and the course load in some terms but will not speed student progress through the program. The lockstep construction of the iMBA curriculum requires 24 months to complete.
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iMBA: How It Works
What is meant by a student cohort?
Students enter the iMBA program as a cohort, meaning that they take the same courses at the same time, until the program has been completed. A common schedule with the same colleagues generates better discussion and more cohesiveness among peers, and allows for better integration of course content within and across terms.
Steve Notarnicola, senior project manager for Capitol One, said, "The student cohort and student teams are an important element of the iMBA. You actively interact with people that are all in the same boat: working a lot, dealing with families, and facing the rigors of the iMBA together. You make many friends in this group. These are folks that I can network with for a lifetime. I would not have created these good relationships if I were an isolated individual completing a course online."
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How does a typical iMBA course operate?
Each course has a syllabus that contains an overview of the course and a list of all the assignments and their due dates. Each course also has an instructor to guide the learning process.
Typically, a course is divided into lessons, with one lesson being assigned per week. During that week you will read the online material and possibly complete team and individual assignments. Individual assignments may include participating in a discussion through the course message board, reading assigned pages from a text or electronic reserve articles, answering questions and submitting them through the course drop box, and taking an online quiz. Team assignments may include the completion of a team project, writing a team paper, and discussing a case.
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How are assignments handled?
There are many different types of assignments in the iMBA program. For example, you might lead a discussion on the message board, critique the discussion on a message board, develop a spreadsheet and send it via e-mail, submit a case summary to a drop box, attach a document to an e-mail note, or complete an electronically graded quiz. Or perhaps you'll submit your paper or presentations in the form of Web pages. There are many options!
You will receive specific instructions on how each assignment is to be submitted. Your instructor will be available for any questions you have.
After an assignment has been received, it will be graded, and the feedback will be shared with you. Your instructor may provide feedback via surface mail, e-mail, instant messaging, or an online grade book.
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May I work at my own pace?
For the most part you will work through the course content at a time and place that are convenient for you. However, most courses do have one lesson assigned per week. You will be responsible for meeting due dates for activities assigned in any lesson. Sometimes an activity requires that you schedule times for team-based work during the week.
Derwood Brady, plant manager for Trus Joist, said, "The online courses allow me to think at my own pace and not necessarily at the pace a resident professor wants to go when constrained by a 45-minute class meeting. If there is a subject I know, I go through it quickly. If there is something new or difficult, I can deliberate about it, review it, and then move on at my own pace. For me, this is very effective!"
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How can I interact with the other students?
Students in the iMBA program use a variety of communication methods, including telephone (one-on-one and conference calls), e-mail, online discussion forums (message boards, listservs, instant messaging, etc.), real-time conferencing software (Elluminate Live), and 2 face-to-face residency experiences. As the program develops, specific interaction strategies are selected by the students to best meet their needs.
An iMBA student team stated: "We typically use the team bulletin board in our courses to post a spreadsheet or document for an assignment. Each of us has access to these postings. We then use e-mail or instant messaging to communicate as we complete our assignments. For example, someone might say, 'Hey, I'll be on messenger tonight if you have any questions' and 'Keep instant messenger' up on the bottom of the computer screen. Someone else may type, 'Hey, I need help on the fourth part or in the summary.' Another might respond, 'OK, I'll work on that when I am done with this. I'll post it to the board, take a look at it. I'd like to have input by Tuesday at 5:00 Eastern time, and then I will make a final proofread and submit it before the deadline.' Then we usually send out another e-mail to everyone—'Here's our final submission; it was in on time'—so that no one worries that we missed a deadline."
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Will I be able to communicate with my instructor and get timely feedback? What do students say?
Jason Eger, senior consultant for Core Technology Partners, said: "I think we receive more attention from faculty in the iMBA than in resident courses. Instructors have an opportunity, as we do, to log on twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, all the time. They have their busy professional and personal schedules, but many of them will answer questions each day and at odd hours (1:00 or 2:00 a.m.) to make sure we are caught up on the course work. Our classroom is always open."
Kevin Maddox, regional marketing manager for Alcon said: "We do not have to wait until the next time class meets to get answers to our questions. Class is always in session. Your questions may be answered in twenty-four hours, sometimes within three or four hours, and occasionally, instantaneously."
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How do I get started?
Select "Apply Now" in the left-side menu to begin your iMBA application. Instructions for the application are included on this site. Both the iMBA program specialist and iMBA director are available if you have any questions or concerns as you proceed though the admissions process. Contact the iMBA office.
Your complete application portfolio will be reviewed within two weeks of completion date.
If you receive an offer to join the iMBA program, you will receive a welcome package that will provide more details about how the iMBA operates. You will also be given access to an optional accounting tutorial and an online orientation program prior to starting your first courses. By the time you officially start, you will be comfortable with the online course environment and the administrative procedures associated with the iMBA.
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What support services are available to an iMBA student?
Without setting foot on campus, you will have access to more support than a typical resident student:
- We work with you to complete your application portfolio.
- We order your books and course materials and have them delivered to you.
- We complete your registration for all courses.
- The Penn State Angel course environment provides a suite of customized software tools that enable you to stay in touch by using virtual meetings, team chat rooms, threaded discussion groups, and collaborative team conferencing software.
- We offer technical support: The Penn State World Campus HelpDesk is accessible by phone, e-mail, or real-time chat from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends.
- As a Penn State student you can search the online catalog and review databases as if you were sitting at a terminal in any Penn State library.
- We offer expert advising and support through our program advisers. The iMBA program prides itself on its personal touch. Contact us anytime with your questions or concerns.
- Penn State Career Services offers services for those seeking employment in new firms. However, most students in the iMBA program are sponsored, at least in part, by their employers so the iMBA emphasis in on career evolution within your current firm, rather than placement in new firms.
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