There are a number of online business degrees in Arizona available. Information about some of them, including schools and programs, appears below. It is offered in the hope that it will help guide potential students to the best decisions regarding their futures.
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University (GCU) is a private, for-profit, interdenominational Christian university that has worked to help student find their purposes in Christ and the skills and knowledge needed to meet those purposes since 1949. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with is current accreditation extending through 2017, and its athletics programs compete as NCAA Division II sports. Approximately 8,500 students attend classes on campus, with some 40,000 enrolled online. Much is made of the Christian underpinnings of the curriculum and the university’s overall goals, with repeated explicit reference to Scripture typifying the institution.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
GCU offers an online BS in Business Administration meant to equip graduates to perform successfully entry-level management of small businesses and in entrepreneurial endeavors. It also positions graduates to pursue post-baccalaureate degrees at GCU and other institutions. The degree requires 120 credits of coursework, including 34-40 in general education classes such as a university success seminar, composition, Christian worldview, critical thinking, college algebra, environmental science and social sciences. Some 24 to 30 credits are to be electives, with the remaining 56 to be coursework in the major; major courses include basic marketing and economic principles, accounting, law and ethics, organizational behavior and management, statistics, finance, production and operations management, marketing management and a capstone in strategic management. Most courses are four credits each. Classes in the online curriculum start monthly to facilitate flexibility in scheduling. Tuition and fees are estimated to exceed $56,000, with supplies estimated to cost more than $2,800.
Bachelor of Science in Business Management
GCU offers an online BS in Business Management meant to equip graduates to enter successfully into local and global leadership roles. It also positions graduates to pursue post-baccalaureate degrees in business and leadership at GCU and other institutions. The degree requires 120 credits of coursework, including 34-40 in general education classes identical to those for the BS in Business Administration. Some 24 to 30 credits are to be electives, with the remaining 56 to be coursework in the major; major courses include basic managerial principles, introductory economics and marketing, financial accounting, law and ethics, business statistics, organizational behavior and management, servant leadership, human resources management, intrapreneurship and innovation, production and operations management, organizational development and a capstone in strategic management. Most courses are four credits each. Classes in the online curriculum start monthly to facilitate flexibility in scheduling. Tuition and fees are estimated to exceed $56,000, with supplies estimated to cost more than $2,800.
Master of Business Administration
GCU offers an online MBA meant to quip graduates to enact transformational leadership. The degree can be earned in as few as 18 months; students with appropriate prerequisites need only sit for 34 credits, while those without must take 46. Emphases in Accounting, Finance, Health Systems Management, Leadership, Marketing and Strategic Human Resource Management are available for eight credits each. Courses for the 46-credit version of the degree include an introduction to graduate study and classes in leadership and organization, practical and managerial accounting, practical and managerial finance, probability and statistics, economics, quantitative methods, marketing management, operations management and strategic management. The introduction to graduate studies is a two-credit class; the rest are four credits each. Classes in the online curriculum start monthly to facilitate flexibility in scheduling. Tuition and fees are estimated to approach $26,000, with more than $1,000 in addition for books and supplies.
Executive Master of Business Administration
GCU offers an online EMBA directed toward those in leadership positions; three four-day residencies are required, as well. The curriculum aims at a one-year student completion time with a rigid cohort. Instructional emphasis is on facilitating application and discussion thereof. The degree is a 39-credit program, with all classes bearing three credits. Offerings include Leading Self, Building Innovative Organizations, Building Efficient Organizations, Financial Intelligence and Decision Making, Financial Management, Leading Others, Leveraging Human Capital, Serving Communities, Managerial Economics, Customer Value and Service Excellence, Strategic Advantage Within the Global Economy [sic], Solutions-Based Relationship Management And Branding [sic] and Leading Organizations. Tuition and fees for the program are estimated to exceed $47,000, with more than $1,000 in addition for books and supplies. (This presumably does not include support for the required residencies, since on-campus room and board are not offered.)
Contact
Grand Canyon University
Ken Blanchard College of Business
PO Box 11097
Phoenix, AZ 85061
602-639-7205
kbcob@gcu.edu
Website
Mohave Community College
Mohave Community College (MCC) annually serves more than 13,000 students from northwestern Arizona and nearby parts of California, Nevada and Utah, working to equip those students with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully enter the workforce or go on with baccalaureate education. MCC has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with the more recent ten-year reaccreditation having taken place in September 2012. The institution also has transfer agreements with a number of traditional and online colleges and universities, making it easy to move on in education after completing two-year degrees there.
Associate of Applied Science in Business and Entrepreneurship
MCC offers an AAS in Business and Entrepreneurship meant to equip students with a broad understanding of business principles so that they can effectively own and operate small businesses or work in already-established firms. Emphasis is upon immediate entry into the workforce. The degree requires 64 credits of coursework divided among general education, accounting, business and entrepreneurship, business and computer information systems requirements. General education courses include introductory mathematics, communications, economics, composition or the equivalent and a course in Microsoft Office programs. Accounting requirements include an introduction to accounting and payroll. Business and entrepreneurship requirements, some 24 credits, include introductory principles, workplace behavior, management techniques, financial management, business ethics, entrepreneurship global management and either leadership or an internship. Business courses include marketing, retail and customer service, business law, economics and human resource management. The computer information systems requirement is a specialized course in Microsoft Excel.
Associate of Business in Business Administration
MCC offers an ABus in Business Administration meant to equip students to transfer to a four-year program at another school (particularly Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University or the University of Arizona); students must earn a minimum grade of C in a course for it to be eligible to transfer, and the receiving institution determines whether a given course can be accepted. Coursework requires 35 to 39 credits of general education coursework and 28 of business, making for a total degree plan of 63 to 67 credits. General education requirements include six credits of composition, at least three of mathematics, six in arts and humanities, six in social and behavioral sciences, at least eight in natural sciences and at least six electives (which must include an introduction to computers). Business requirements include an introduction to accounting, business law, business communication, micro- and macroeconomics, business statistics, financial and managerial accounting and finite mathematics.
Contact
MCC Extended Campus
1971 Jagerson Ave.
Kingman, AZ 86409
928-704-4179
nmcclure@mohave.edu
Website
Northcentral University
Northcentral University (NCU) is an entirely-online institution founded in 1996 that seeks to emulate the Oxford Learning Model by pairing students with individual faculty members in each course in a one-to-one learning model. In effect, each student is a classroom of one for the purpose of each course taken. NCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and awards bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees as well as several certificates. Courses range in cost from $1,250 to $2,958, depending on the level of the course (higher-level courses cost more) and the individual program.
Bachelor of Business Administration
NCU offers a BBA meant to provide students a solid grounding in business principles and practices. Specializations in the degree include accounting, applied computer science, criminal justice, homeland security, human resources management, management, marketing and project management. The degree requires 120 semester credit hours and a GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Those credit hours are divided among general education courses (39), major foundation courses (33), specialization coursework (18), open electives (27) and a capstone course (3). Typical completion time is 53 months, four years plus one traditional-length semester. Major foundation courses include a seminar in undergraduate study, business ethics, managerial accounting, business law, computer information systems, economics, marketing, small business management, finance, global business and statistical analysis. Specialization coursework will vary by specialization; of note is the remark that “Courses taken to satisfy the foundational requirements may not be counted toward a specialization.”
Master of Business Administration
NCU offers an MBA meant to provide students with advanced knowledge and skills in business principles and practices. Available specializations vary more than the BBA and include an accelerated program, applied computer science, computer and information security, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, financial management, general business, health care administration, homeland security, human resources management, international business, management, management of engineering and technology, management information systems, project management and public administration. The degree requires 30 semester credit hours, 15 foundational and 15 from specializations. Foundational courses include a seminar in business graduate study, effective managerial communications, business statistics, human resource management and business ethics. Courses within specializations vary by specialization, but all require a three credit hour “signature course” akin to an undergraduate capstone; the signature course—usually a largely self-directed, researched project delving into peer-reviewed literature—must be taken as the final course for the degree.
Contact
Northcentral University
10000 E. University Drive
Prescott Valley, Arizona 86314
888-327-2877×3439
SBTM@ncu.edu
Website
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public university offering degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Fall 2013 enrollment exceeded 26,000 students, with nearly 3,800 of them online; the school boasts more than 4,400 faculty and staff, with 900 of them full-time. NAU offers two online education options: a six-month subscription called Personalized Learning and a more typical online curriculum taught through Blackboard Learn. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission through the 2017-2018 academic year. Many of NAU’s programs have been lauded repeatedly by the US News & World Report college rankings.
Bachelor of Business Administration
NAU offers an online BBA in which five emphases are available: entrepreneurship and small business, global business, logistics and supply chain management, management and marketing. The degree requires 120 units of credit divided among common university requirements, BBA core requirements, emphasis requirements and electives. (Noted is that BBA courses may not meet common requirements.) Common university requirements must include four units of composition, three of mathematics, six of arts and humanities, six of cultural understanding courses, seven (including a lab) of sciences, six of sociopolitical studies, a junior-level writing course in the discipline and a senior capstone class; they must also include three units each that meet US and global diversity requirements. BBA core requirements include courses in principles of business and management, business communication, finance, supply chain management, management information systems, leadership and project management, human resources management and strategic management. Emphasis coursework varies by emphasis.
Contact
NAU Extended Campus
700 S. Osborne Drive
P.O. Box 4117
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011
800-426-8315
Extended.campuses@nau.edu
Website
Pima Community College
Pima Community College (PCC) is a two-year institution in the Tucson area. Founded in 1966, it offers associate’s degrees and certificates in various fields. It is currently accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, but was placed on probation in April 2013; PCC is taking the necessary steps to address the issues for which it was placed on probation. It also currently has one federal Title V grant to better enable it to serve Hispanic populations. More than 53,000 students were enrolled at PCC in its several campuses and online programs in the 2013 fiscal year.
Associate of Applied Science in Business
PCC offers an AAS in Business meant to equip students to enter the workforce immediately, whether self-employed or working for another, particularly in marketing, tourism, or management; students seeking to transfer to a four-year college should pursue the ABus PCC offers, although there are some transfer agreements between PCC and schools offering Bachelor of Applied Sciences degrees. The degree requires 60 to 63 credit hours, distributed across general education, major core, major support and concentration coursework in management, marketing or tourism. General education requirements include communications, analysis and critical thinking and humanities and social sciences classes. Major core courses are Introduction to Business, Mathematics of Business, Legal Environment of Business and Human Relations in Business and Industry. Support courses include classes in financial and managerial accounting, computer use, micro- or macroeconomics, business organization, marketing, writing or career communications and six hours of in-major electives. Concentration coursework varies.
Contact
Pima Community College
4905 E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85709-1010
520-206-4500
infocenter@pima.edu
Website
Rio Salado College
Rio Salado College (RSC) is a member of the Maricopa Community College District based in Tempe and with locations throughout the Phoenix area. To date, more than 250,000 students have benefited from RSC, which had more than 65,000 students enrolled in the 2012-2013 academic year. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. RSC has offered online coursework since 1996. Tuition for Maricopa residents is $81 per credit hour; non-resident students pay $215 per credit. Also, the RSC Tempe location is, in addition to being the site of student services, home to two radio stations.
Associate in Applied Science in General Business
RSC offers an AAS in General Business meant to equip students with a broad-based understanding of business so that they can succeed in the workforce; it is not intended for students seeking to transfer to a four-year school. The degree requires 61 to 63 credits, distributed among general education requirements, required courses and restricted electives; there is a program prerequisite of college-level reading, which may be demonstrated in a course or through examination. General education requirements include six credits of composition, an oral communication class, three to five credits of college algebra, three credits of humanities or fine arts, four credits of natural sciences and three of social sciences. Required courses for the major include basic accounting principles, computer information systems, human relations or management, introduction to business principles, business law and ethics, business communication and principles of marketing. Restricted electives include options in accounting, general business, international business, management, marketing, real estate, small business management and computer programs.
Contact
Rio Salado College
2323 W. 14th Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
480-517-8785
Academic.advisement@riosalado.edu
Website
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Thunderbird School of Global Management was founded in 1946 to address the increasing need for global interactions in the wake of World War II. Curricula at the institution focus on global issues therefore. Thunderbird also makes much of its Professional Oath of Honor, modeled after the Hippocratic Oath and established in 2006 as a foundation of instruction at the institution. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Its MBA program has been highly lauded by the US News & World Report, Bloomberg, and the Wall Street Journal, by which it has been called the top program in its field.
Global MBA
Thunderbird offers an online Global MBA that unites online coursework with international on-site seminars and intends to equip students with the knowledge, skills and personal connections that will allow them to succeed in global business ventures. The degree typically takes either 19 or 28 months to complete and requires 46.5 credit hours. The curriculum is divided broadly into courses in world business, international studies and cross-cultural/English business communications; specifics are difficult to access, with course catalogs and specific program descriptions only available by request (links to course catalogs on the Thunderbird website are broken). The two on-site seminars take a week each and have previously taken place in China, South Africa, Eastern Europe and South America. The program requires a $1,200 deposit and incurs a total cost of $69,800, which includes tuition, fees, housing for on-campus events, course materials, access to information resources, special events, career support and graduation activities.
Contact
1 Global Place
Glendale, AZ 85306-6000
602-978-7000
admissions@thunderbird.edu
Website
University of Phoenix – Main Campus
The University of Phoenix offers classes at more than 100 physical locations and online, awarding degrees at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. While the institution is currently accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, it is formally on Notice and must correct the problems identified or risk loss of its accreditation. The main campus in Tempe offers classes on site, including graduate classes. It also has the advantage of giving students immediate access to the central administrative offices, allowing for more direct resolution of any difficulties that may arise while students are in their courses of study.
Bachelor of Science in Business
The University of Phoenix offers an online BS in Business meant to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to successfully enter the workforce as employees of already-existing firms. The degree requires 120 credits, of which at least 54 must be in general education courses that cover communication arts, mathematics, science and technology, humanities, social sciences, liberal arts and interdisciplinary studies. Coursework in the major includes Business Communication, Introduction To Computer Applications And Systems [sic], Statistics For Decision Making [sic], Principles of Accounting I and II, Critical Thinking And Decision Making In Business [sic], Ethics And Legal Topics In Business[sic], Principles Of Microeconomics [sic], Principles Of Macroeconomics [sic], Organizational Behavior For Managers[sic], Finance For Business [sic], Marketing and Integrated Business Topics. Tuition is $395 per credit in lower-division coursework and $585 per credit in upper-division coursework, and there is a materials fee of $95 per course.
Master of Business Administration
The University of Phoenix also offers an MBA meant to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to be effective in management positions. The degree normally requires 36 credits, although students may supplement their degrees with concentrations for another 15 credits of coursework. Available concentrations include accounting, health care management, human resource management, project management, energy management, global management, marketing and technology management. Core course offerings include Management, Human Capital Management, Business Law, Organizational Leadership, Quantitative Reasoning For Business [sic], Economics, Accounting, Applied Business Research & Statistics, Operations Management, Corporate Finance, Marketing and the capstone Strategic Planning & Implementation. All classes save Management have Management as a prerequisite; the capstone has all of the other listed courses as prerequisites. Courses for each concentration will vary. Tuition is $740 per credit, and a $115 materials fee applies per course taken.
Contact
University of Phoenix—Main Campus
1625 West Fountainhead Parkway
Tempe, AZ, 85282-2371
602-557-2000
Website
Online programs can operate anywhere, but having a local connection helps ensure accountability. More personally, being able to point to a nearby place helps make more concrete the experience of learning. With luck, the information above will help in finding the best program among the online business degrees in Arizona.
