It is true that online universities are not exactly traditional in the sense that they only came about in recent years. The very channel that makes this type of learning possible is a new invention in itself. The beginnings of this education are rooted in a far older learning format, nevertheless, one more than mere decades back in history.
Although the technology is somewhat recent, the concept of learning in an informal environment, without the need for the educator and student to be in the same room, is centuries old. For instance, one can look at the development of a lesson plan by a man back then who was teaching shorthand to people through mailed letters. Each lesson was received and carred to pupils through the regular post.
The University of London claims to be the first to incorporate the precursors of online programs into their portfolio in 1858, when they referred to it as the External Programme, which is now known as the University of London International Program. And as for the Americans, they started with the University of Chicago getting on board the distance learning wagon. Distance learning was then introduced to Australian shores.
Between the years 1964 and 1968, the medium was shifted from correspondence to radio and television. Soon, more universities got on the bandwagon for this kind of education. Not long after, Jones International University was established and claimed to be the first regionally accredited online university in 1996.
The very first of the major universities to create a masters school for business in particular was Dartmouth, though. At the time, it actually had a different name. By 1908, Harvard University formally created the first MBA program with 80 students and 15 educators.
At first, there were some concerns that the programs did not provide truly advanced studies that were useful outside of the academe. There were many who argued too that the masters in business was of little usage to practicing businessmen. It was thus that there were several dark years for the MBA program as a whole.
This was why people in the academe started to mandate the study of even basic subjects in the graduate program. Concentrations became possible soon after. The skill sets of the degree-holders suddenly became formidable.
However, it was then criticized to be too theoretical and less realistic. There were allegations of graduates being so theoretically-inclined that they had trouble with the less-than-predictable real world. The colleges were also looked down upon by real businessmen for hiring lecturers absent experience in their topics.
The MBA suddenly became a liability for people on the job market. However, it was evident that changes in the program were necessary. Universities then started to revamp the program to address concerns like soft skills, and globalization that is now reflected in most online degrees.
Online MBA programs are continuously adapting to the changing needs of the corporate world. For example,
online universities and their conventional counterparts are already moving towards fresh perspectives in business administration. Thus, you should apply only to colleges that keep up with the times.
