DO ONLINE MBA DEGREES REQUIRE A THESIS?

Students researching degrees in higher education have many more options available to them now than ever before. Online degrees have become increasingly popular, due to the ability to connect from home and the economic benefits they provide. There are so many options that it can become confusing. When it comes to online MBA programs, the choices can be overwhelming. There is an extensive variety of programs, and specializations, each with their own academic requirements. So one important question to ask is, “Do online MBA degrees require a thesis?”

Your Options

Some online MBA programs do have a Master Thesis component. It depends on the school, the program, and the specialization. There are some schools with MBA programs that do not have a Master Thesis requirement, such as Indiana University. Instead of a Master Thesis, IU’s online MBA program requires “an integrative team capstone project that provides an opportunity to actively synthesize what you have learned in the program”. Oregon State University’s online MBA program also does not require a Master Thesis;instead an oral examination is the final requirement. University of Texas, San Antoniooffers the options of completing a Master Thesis or not. If you go the thesis route, you take 6 fewer courses. So it depends on whether you’d rather take electives or write a thesis.

Capstone Project

These days, online MBA programs require a Capstone project instead of a traditional Master Thesis. For online MBA students, the emphasis is on how you can show what you’ve learned by using it to solve a real-life problem. Sometimes this is a team project, and other times it’s an individual project, depending on the school. Using an actual business problem and using the skills you’ve learned in your MBA program is a great way to show how you’ve internalized the knowledge imparted to you throughout the program. After all, that is the purpose of earning an MBA, isn’t it?

Master Degrees

There are some Master’s Degree programs that do require a thesis or dissertation, such as Master of Science, or a Master of Education, again depending on the school. More and more online MBA programs, however, are either offering a “thesis option” or requiring a final project instead. Dissertations or thesis papers are more commonly seen as PhD or DBA requirements.

Benefits of a Thesis

There are some benefits to writing a Master Thesis. One being that no matter how many papers you write during your undergraduate studies, or even throughout your graduate studies, nothing will compare with a thesis. It takes in depth research and discipline to write a thesis, and if you can accomplish that, no other writing assignment should intimidate you. Also, how often do you have a group of professionals pouring over your work and seeing everything you’ve learned and accomplished in your everyday work life? This is an opportunity to capture and display your vast knowledge of your chosen subject and then get valuable feedback from experienced professionals.