History

Since 1991, the School of Business at Andrews University has offered graduate programs in several off-campus, extension sites. The programs offered have included the Master's of Business Administration (MBA), the Master's of Science in Software Engineering (MS), and the Master's of Science in Administration in Health Care Administration (MSA). These programs have been located in five different sites: Florida (USA), Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Trinidad.

These off-campus programs started in 1991 with the offering of an MBA in Hong Kong. The next year, the School of Business added the MS in Singapore and the MBA in Taiwan. In 1993, the MBA was offered in Trinidad. In 1996, the MS was opened in Taiwan and the MSA in Florida. In March 1998, the MBA program began in Singapore. Because of changing market conditions, the MBA and MS programs were suspended in Taiwan in August 1997. Although the MBA was reopened in Taiwan in June 1999 it again concluded in August 2002 when Intake 6 graduated from the program. The MBA in Hong Kong was concluded in December 1997, the MBA in Singapore was concluded in 2001, and the MSA in Health Care Management in Florida was concluded in February 1998.

In July 1999, the MS in Software Engineering program moved from the School of Business to the College of Technology. It is now housed in the Department of Engineering, Computer Science, and Engineering Technology. Currently, the School of Business is offering the MBA program in Trinidad, beginning a 9th intake in August 2002. We also started offering our MBA program in Portland Oregon in 2005.

Staffing

Over 90% of the staffing for these extension programs is provided by current Andrews University faculty. Faculty are all academically or professionally trained with more than 90% holding a doctoral degree. Contract instructors generally are chosen from former faculty who have moved to other locations or assignments. Admission Off-campus students must meet the standard School of Business admission requirements including completion of a recognized four-year bachelor's degree and having an adequate undergraduate GPA. The same prerequisites are required for both off- and on-campus programs. See MBA Admission Requirements section on the Extension Home Page for fuller details. Curriculum The curriculum in the off-campus programs is identical to that offered on-campus. The MBA program requires the completion of 33 semester credits of graduate work. Full details are found in the MBA Program Overview section on the Extension Home Page. Delivery Methods Each program is taught over a two-year period with courses offered four to six times a year. A new intake for the MBA usually begins in August of each year and concludes approximately two years later.

Each course includes a two-week intensive lecture period in which instructors provide 18-20 hours of lecture per week -- usually 6 hours on Sunday and 3 1/2 hours each weekday, Monday - Thursday. Students are also given pre-assignments (readings and case study preparation 2-4 weeks prior to the lecture sessions). Most faculty also have post-lecture assignments such as research papers, projects, and examinations which are due 4-6 weeks after the lecture sessions. Typically, a full course lasts 8-10 weeks although the lecture period only takes 12-14 days.

One major feature of the extension program is the residency requirement for all extension students. Each student must come to the Andrews University campus for two courses. The MBA students come to the Andrews University campus at the end of their program for a three week period in which they take two final courses culminating (provided all requirements have been fulfilled) with graduation

Accreditation Andrews University, including the School of Business, is fully accredited by the North Central Association of College and Schools. The NCA is the standard accreditation for all recognized schools in the region. Site Agents A local agent represents Andrews University in each location. The agent can provide detailed information and all necessary application materials as well as information about the cost of the program. Contact numbers and the local address for each agent may be found in the Site Agent section on the Extensions Home Page.