According to the website for the online Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs from Northwest Missouri State University (Northwest), “The business programs at Northwest Missouri State University are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).” But what is ACBSP accreditation? Why does it matter for your online education?
ACBSP Accredits Business Programs
Accreditation is a rigorous process in which established professionals review programs or institutions to ensure they meet the accrediting body’s research-based standards for quality.
ACBSP has been accrediting business education programs since 1988. It accredits business programs at the associate, baccalaureate, certificate, graduate and doctoral levels. In addition, ACBSP offers specialized, dedicated accreditation for accounting programs. ACBSP accredits programs rather than institutions. U.S. colleges and universities must be regionally accredited to be eligible for ACBSP accreditation.
ACBSP accreditation focuses on three primary areas:
- Targeting teaching excellence
- Defining outcomes for student learning
- Driving continuous improvement
ACBSP uses student-centered teaching and learning to define, measure and analyze the quality of business programs. These benchmarks ensure programs provide students with opportunities to gain skills that match their investment in education. Schools with ACBSP-accredited programs use continuous improvement to guarantee their business programs provide students with the skills and knowledge employers seek.
ACBSP is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), “the only national organization focused exclusively on higher education accreditation and quality assurance.” Official recognition from CHEA ensures an accrediting organization’s “effectiveness in advancing academic quality and serving higher education, students and the public.”
Creating Excellence in Business Programs for Students
Accreditation is a recognized mark of a program’s quality and commitment to excellence. All other things being equal, a degree from an accredited course of study will be more impressive to potential employers than an unaccredited one.
Most institutes of higher education require that transfer credits, prerequisite studies and previously earned degrees are completed at institutions with institutional and/or programmatic accreditation. In addition, certain types of federal student financial aid are only available to students attending accredited institutions and programs.
Accreditation requires institutions to maintain top-notch courses, faculty and programs that serve the educational needs and goals of students. Ongoing accreditation schedules mean that courses and programs will be relevant and current.
Not only will education of the highest standard be provided, but so will superior equipment, software and learning resources directed toward student needs.
Accreditation reaffirms a program’s dedication to providing key student services like advising. It also enables a university to establish chapters of honorary societies focused on business, such as Delta Mu Delta or Kappa Beta Delta. Students who join these societies can then cite memberships on resumes and scholarship applications.
Accredited Online MBA Programs at Northwest
At Northwest, business students can choose from nine online MBA programs:
- MBA General
- MBA in Management
- MBA in Human Resource Management
- MBA in Marketing
- MBA in Finance
- MBA in Healthcare Management
- MBA in Accounting
- MBA in Business Analytics
- MBA in Geographic Information Systems
Each of the nine concentrations requires 30 credit hours and can be completed in as few as 12 to 18 months. A single course is usually three credit hours. Northwest’s affordable MBA tuition is the same for Missouri residents and out-of-state students.
Best of all, Northwest’s online MBA programs boost your management skills and prepare you to advance into leadership positions. The programs do not require classroom attendance at specific times, so you don’t have to schedule your job around school — you can continue to work as you learn. You can also continue to advance your real-world business knowledge where you work.
Learn more about Northwest Missouri State University’s online MBA programs.
