This Online US MBA Takes You To International Locations—Here’s How

Studying for an Online MBA degree doesn’t mean forsaking global networking opportunities. In fact, far from it. 

Since you can study for an MBA online from anywhere across the globe, the program attracts a mix of people from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.

This is why many Online MBA programs for international students infuse all business courses and electives with a global business outlook.

Find out how one top Online MBA program in the US is helping students forge global connections from home and while studying abroad. 

What you’ll learn during an Online MBA in the US

Just like full-time MBA programs, no two Online MBA programs are the same. This means that there’s a variety of different programs out there to suit candidates’ interests, whether you want to concentrate in a certain area or gain access to specific career opportunities.

The Online MBA at Arizona State University’s (ASU) W. P. Carey School of Business is a top Online MBA program aimed at busy professionals looking to advance their skill set while continuing in their career.

Core courses include Ethical Issues for Managers and Financial Performance Reporting. Meanwhile, students can enhance their global vision through electives such as Global Marketing Strategy and Global Business Environment. 

Kate Eaton is the assistant dean for W. P. Carey MBA programs. She says that the ASU Online MBA is built on the practical rather than the theoretical.

“We give our students case studies and projects to practice applying what they are learning and making decisions based on their new knowledge,” she says.

For example, MBA candidates learn statistics using the same tools as businesses use in the real world. 

“We focus on understanding the output, how it can be applied, and what types of decisions can be made from it,” she says. 

As well as the core business fundamentals, ASU Online MBA students can choose from concentrations including artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and business analytics.

Studying abroad for your Online MBA: where you’ll learn

If you want to understand the global business environment on a deeper level, there’s only so much you can learn via your laptop screen.

The Online MBA at ASU offers three, week-long trips per year for students to apply their business skills abroad. Trips have previously taken students to Prague, Singapore, Barcelona, and Japan.

“Students learn about the impact of history and culture on decision-making, and gain real tools for cross-cultural understanding, collaboration, and relationship-building,” says Kate.

“Online MBA students return with a heightened sense of passion, creativity, connection, and purpose—the most common feedback we get from students is that they wish they had done the trip even sooner!” she adds.

The cost of travelling for these MBA study abroad trips can add up, which is why ASU offers financial needs-based scholarships to eligible students on the Online MBA program. 

Who you’ll learn with in an Online MBA

Learning from a global cohort is another great way to enhance your understanding of cultural differences or how to conduct business in certain countries.

The Online MBA in Arizona attracts a diverse mix of students. There are around 35% minority students in the most recent class profile, with almost 40% women MBA students.

Arizona State University Online MBA students are invited to study on campus at any time that they like. There are also several online networking opportunities available for busy individuals, or those who can’t travel to ASU’s campus in Tempe, Arizona. 

“We host concentration networking events twice a year for every concentration, where students can learn about the different concentrations, hear from applicable club presidents and students, and get a chance to connect with like-minded peers in smaller breakout rooms,” says Kate.

Who you’ll learn from in your Online MBA

It’s not just important to get to know your MBA peers, but you can also reap the rewards of connecting with faculty.

While you might be concerned about the ease of getting to know your professors during an Online MBA, selecting an immersive program will ensure that you don’t miss out.

“Faculty are highly engaged and present in the courses, and they make themselves available to get to know students one-on-one, via email, phone, or video calls,” says Kate.

She adds that this approach stays true to the W. P. Carey motto: ‘Business is Personal’. 

Among ASU’s most esteemed faculty members are National Academy of Sciences members and Nobel laureates.

Where a top Online MBA program in the US could take you

There are no limits to where an MBA could take you, and this is no different for Online MBA degree programs.

Like many business schools, grads from the ASU Online MBA receive a diploma that doesn’t state the format of study—it’s simply listed as an MBA from Arizona State University.

ASU has a strong reputation due to its ranking as the most innovative school in the US for nine consecutive years. 

In terms of careers, ASU Online MBA grads go on to work in business consultancy, HR management, financial advisory, investment banking, and more.

The Career Services Center has received $15 million in investment, helping to enhance its career development opportunities, which include interviewing, negotiation, and networking workshops.

“We emphasize a ‘Business is Personal’ approach to working with everyone—no matter which program they're in—to find success in meeting their career goals,” concludes Kate.