Frequently Asked Questions

Program Information

What type of student does well in a distance education environment?
What are the technical and software requirements for participating in the Global MBA Online?
How do faculty and students interact in the virtual (online) classroom?
How are exams administered?
Are campus visits required?
Is the Global MBA Online a full-time program?
What degree will be awarded after completing the program?
Is the Global MBA Online Program accredited?

What type of student does well in a distance education environment?

This is a very important question because "distance learning" is not for everyone. A student who does well in the online environment:

takes command of their own learning.
is self-disciplined, self-guided and flexible.
has the necessary computer skills.
is comfortable with online text-based and email communications.
does not require the face-to-face interaction of a traditional classroom.

What are the technical and software requirements for participating in the Global MBA Online?

In addition to a confident level of computer and Internet literacy, certain minimum technical requirements must be met to enable a successful online learning experience.

The system requirements include:

A Pentium processor PC or equivalent Mac system; Windows 98/Me/2000/XP or Mac OS 9.x or OS X 10.x.
Internet access with 56.6 kbps modem (minimum). A high-bandwidth connection is recommended.
128 MB system Ram; 500 MB free disk space or sufficient storage
Sound card
CD-ROM capabilities

The software requirements include:

Web browser: Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, AOL, Mozilla or Safari. For WebCT supported browsers and versions, please see validated browser list. Please also see browser configuration information below
Microsoft Office 2000 is the minimum standard (the latest version of MS Office and some other MS Software is available at a nominal cost from UTD Microsoft program -- see Online Services page).
Virus detection/protection software such as McAfee (available free at UTD).
“Plug-ins” including (free version available for downloading):
- RealPlayer
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Java – Sun Microsystems
- Macromedia Flash Player
- A zip file expansion tool such as WinZip or Stuffit Expander

Web browser configuration:

For WebCT courses, you need a full-featured browser that WebCT supports. Please see the recommended browsers listed above. Your browser should be JavaScript enabled with cookies enabled. It is also important that you set the cache settings to verify web documents “Every Time”. You should also disable any pop-up blocking for the WebCT site. The methods for configuring these settings vary among browsers and versions, you may find more information at WebCT's Brower Tune-up page. You can also check your browser's documentation for details.

How do faculty and students interact in the virtual (online) classroom?

Web page format presentations with streaming audio lectures.
Downloadable course files.
Online text-based conferences which create "threaded discussions" of key topics.
Email exchanges.
Real Time text-based chatting for class discussion and instructor office hours.
Electronic submission of written assignments.
Online exams and quizzes.
Occasional web conferences.

How are exams administered?

The academic integrity of online courses is an important concern. Exams may be administered in several different ways: embedded in courses, uploaded by email, or proctored. For courses requiring one proctored exam, the online student is responsible for making arrangements with a testing service convenient to them, or must come to UTD on the exam date set by the course instructor. Specific information is available on the Proctored Exam Information page and also in each course syllabus.

Are campus visits required?

Campus visits are not required. Instruction is completely online, as are other services such as registration and book ordering. However, for a course which requires a proctored exam, a student may choose to take that exam on campus on the day designated by the instructor, or arrange for UTD's Testing Center to administer the exam during the exam period.

Is the Global MBA Online a full-time program?

The online delivery of the MBA curriculum is an extension of UTD's part- time MBA program. Students are not organized in distinct classes (cohort groups) but select course loads consistent with their own part-time pace. Taking two courses per semester would result in program completion in just over 3 years.

What degree will be awarded after completing the Global MBA Online program?

Master of Business Administration (MBA), the same as the campus-bound part-time, full-time and executive MBA programs. The word "online" will not appear in the transcript or on the diploma.

Is the Global MBA Online program accredited?

UTD is accredited by the highest regional organization, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The School of Management is accredited by The International Association for Management Education (AACSB). AACSB accreditation applies to all programs in a business school.