4 Questions to Ask About Online Dual MBA Degree Programs

For Brent Chyna of Chicago, who has worked full time in different laboratory positions for more than 20 years, online learning seemed like a sensible option to continue his education, allowing him to balance his job with school on a flexible schedule.

To gain more formal business training in a career rooted mostly in science, in 2008 he enrolled in an online degree program offered through University of Maryland University College. He chose to pursue a Master of Science in biotechnology that combined the fields of science, technology and business, just like he wanted.

As he started to wrap up the program, he decided to take a step he hadn't initially considered: earning an MBA on top of his Master of Science through the school's dual degree program, a feat he accomplished this past April.

"When the option presented itself to get the MBA, I thought: This is even better," the 45-year-old says, adding that doing so will allow him to move from a laboratory to a higher-level administrative position.

Learn how [earning a graduate dual degree helps save money and time.]

Dual MBA degrees, which allow students to pursue an MBA and an additional graduate-level degree from the same institution, are slowly gaining popularity in online education, experts say.

Students considering an online dual MBA program should assess whether doing so is the right choice for their career path and then determine which program is best suited to meet their needs. In the process of researching online or in conversations with school officials, they should find the answers to the following questions.

1. What are your career goals, and do you see yourself in a management position? Experts say those who pursue a dual MBA online degree should be looking to both enhance their knowledge in a particular field and grow their career, especially toward a management role.

"To do the extra four classes, or 12 credit hours, that are required for the dual degree is an indication to recruiters that, wow, this person is very sincere about having a deep knowledge base in this area for which they're going to add value as an executive," says Phil Powell, faculty chair of online graduate programs at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

Discover how [an online college degree can help adults switch careers.]

2. How is the program structured, and does it meet your needs? A dual degree program should be structured so that students sav e time and money when compared to pursuing each degree separately, experts say.

"How much less depends on the program and how intense the first degree is," says Anna Seferian, vice dean of the business and management department in the graduate school at UMUC. "Those looking for the degree have to keep that in mind."

Still, students should recognize that an online dual degree can take several years to complete. At Kelley, students have five years to complete the program. They can earn two graduate degrees in 63 credit hours, as opposed to the 81 it would take to earn them independently.

Students should ensure that the program's structure adheres to their learning preferences and goals, experts say. Powell, for example, recommends students consider whether a program will let them start by pursuing one degree, and then later transition to the dual degree option if they wish. Experts also say students should assess whether, for instance, a student must complete one degree before starting the second, and what the course sequence looks like in that case.

3. Do I meet the application requirements for a dual degree? There's often a different kind of application process for a dual degree program, experts say.

For instance, in Benedictine University's dual MBA online program , applications for each degree are reviewed separately by their respective departments, and both must choose to admit a student in order for him or her to enroll, says Michael Doggett, director of online admissions at the school . This means students must meet admission s exam and GPA requirements in two different disciplines.

4. Is there a residency or on-campus requirement? Programs vary in terms of requirements for residencies and in-person learning, experts say.

Consider [an online MBA program with a residency component.]

UMUC doesn't require an on-campus component, though some programs are offered in a hybrid, or blended, format. Meanwhile, students in Kelley's online dual MBA degree program must complete three weeks total of on-campus residencies, Powell says.

"The idea is to give you an experience that you could not otherwise have online," Powell says.

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Jordan Friedman is an online education editor at U.S. News. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at jfriedman@usnews.com.