Alaska: Online MBA Programs from AK Business Schools

Sponsored


Coming in at #40 on Chief Executive’s 2019 list of Best and Worst States for Business, #50 on the Forbes 2018 list of Best States for Business, and #33 on U.S. News and World Report’s Best States for Business Environment, Alaska is not looked upon as one of the best states in which to do business.

Despite a low tax burden, Alaska struggles with recession, a shrinking economy because of drop in oil prices, a shrinking workforce because of net migration out of the state, almost no venture capital inflow, a cost of business that 14.4 percent higher than the national average, and the worst unemployment outlook in the nation. Despite these struggles, Alaska does have the advantage of being the third-busiest cargo hub in the world.

The oil and gas industry is responsible for 80 to 90 percent of the state’s revenues, with other key industries in the state including aerospace, commercial fishing, drones, tourism, and air transportation. There are no Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Alaska, but major business influences in the state include Alaska Communications Systems, Carrs/Safeway, Meyer’s, Walmart, Providence Health & Services, General Communication, and ASRC Energy Services.

In response to the struggles present in the state, the Division of Economic Development (DED) is employing strategies like reducing energy costs for business, increasing resources and tools available to rural businesses, and developing the workforce in alignment with economic development strategies.

For business professionals who like a strong challenge, choosing to earn an online MBA from a university in Alaska can be a first step in connecting to the unique environment and business networks in the state. Busy professionals who can’t relocate for work, professionals with too much responsibility to stop working, or those who are looking to facilitate a career shift may find that choosing the “when” and “where” of their learning makes an online MBA program the perfect choice to mediate career growth. Because online MBA programs are taught by qualified, experienced professors who also teach on-campus courses, the quality of education is equal to programs that require in-person participation.

Please keep reading to learn more about online MBA programs in Alaska, the distinguished professors who fuel the learning, and the option to add in-person experiences to online flexibility.

Featured Online MBA Programs in Alaska

The online MBA program offered by the School of Management at the University of Alaska Fairbanks develops in students the skills and knowledge required for organizational leadership. Prospective students can choose between a general MBA or a STEM MBA.

Coursework in the 30-credit programs includes organizational theory for managers, marketing management, quantitative methods for managers, and financial markets and strategy. The STEM MBA is for students with a STEM bachelor’s degree and allows students to complete their elective credits in the STEM field of their choice (fisheries, ocean science, engineering, mathematics, statistics, biology, etc.). Because the coursework for the STEM MBA is completed outside of the School of Management, it is possible that courses will need to be completed on campus.

The electives offered for the general MBA are 100 percent online. Applicants with AACSB-accredited undergraduate business degrees and a GPA higher than 3.25 are not required to submit GMAT scores. All other applicants with GPAs higher than 2.75 must pass the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Exam with a minimum score of 25. Applicants with GPAs lower than 2.75 must submit GRE or GMAT scores. Applicants with graduate degrees may qualify for an entrance exam waiver.

Students without a business background may need to complete up to seven prerequisite online modules ($100 each) in statistics, accounting, economics, management, marketing, and corporate finance.

Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Expected Time To Completion: Two to three years
Estimated Tuition: $513 per credit-hour

Hybrid MBA Programs in Alaska

For some prospective MBA students, the opportunity to build strong build business networks is just as important as the knowledge and skills that one earns from successful completion of the curriculum. For busy professionals who are looking to add in-person interaction to their online MBA and live close to a university campus, a hybrid program may be the right choice.

Universities offer hybrid programming either through the option to opt-in to some MBA courses on campus, or by offering short-term on-campus intensives, residencies, orientations, or capstones. Due to the hands-on nature of the discipline, STEM coursework may not be available online. The STEM MBA offered through the University of Alaska Fairbanks gives students the opportunity to study on campus and have a hybrid learning experience. This does not seem to be an option for the general MBA track, as there is no on-campus MBA counterpart to the online program.

Professors to Know in Online MBA Programs in Alaska

  • Jungho Baek, PhD

    Dr. Jungho Baek is the economics program director and professor of economics in the School of Management at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His research interests include international trade and policy, energy economics, econometric modeling, transportation economics, and the economics of the environment.

    Dr. Baek is a published scholar, with refereed works appearing in more than 80 scholarly journals, including Energy & Environment, the Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, the Journal of Economic Policy Reform, and the Journal of Reviews on Global Economics.

    His expertise and skills are in demand around the world, as he has served as visiting faculty in the International Energy Policy Program (IEPP) at Seoul National University; as visiting faculty in economics in the School of Advanced Studies at the University of Tyumen; as a visiting research fellow at the Green Development Research Institute (GDRI) at the University of Jinan in China; and as a visiting research fellow at Sejong Institute in Korea. Dr. Baek earned his PhD in resource economics from Michigan State University.

  • Doug Reynolds, PhD

    Dr. Doug Reynolds is a professor of oil and energy economics in the School of Management at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His research interests include petroleum and energy economics in regard to production, utilities, alternatives, pipelines, and world markets in ancient civilizations.

    Dr. Reynolds is a published academic scholar with works appearing in referred journals such as theJournal of Business & Economics Research, the Journal of Energy and Development, Energy Sources, and Energy Policy.

    In addition to published papers, Dr. Reynolds is the author of three books: “Energy Civilization: The Zenith of Man,” “Scarcity and Growth Considering Oil and Energy: An Alternative Neo-Classical View,” and “Cold War Energy: The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union.”

    Professionally, Dr. Reynolds has served as an economic consultant for the Alaska Department of Revenue, the Alaska State Legislature, and the North Slope Borough. He also has collaborated with the Norweigan Petroleum Directorate. Dr. Reynolds earned his PhD in economics from the University of New Mexico.

Becca Brewer
Becca Brewer
Writer

Becca Brewer is building a better future on a thriving earth by healing herself into wholeness, divesting from separation, and walking the path of the loving heart. Previously to her journey as an adventurer for a just, meaningful, and regenerative world, Becca was a formally trained sexuality educator with a master of education.