We offer both synchronous and asynchronous programs, all designed with the individual in mind, and are led by top-notch faculty members who truly care about student comprehension, participation, interaction and ultimate success.
This asynchronous course delivery option requires no face-to-face or synchronous (via teleconference) sessions. Program courses utilize WorldClassRoom, the University’s official Learning Management System, powered by Canvas. WorldClassRoom is used to deliver course content and to manage course requirement assignments. While asynchronous courses do not require students and faculty to be online at the same time, it offers opportunities for interaction between students and faculty, and students and their peers through discussion boards, video postings, group work and peer review assignments.
Students in asynchronous programs can, if they desire, take courses delivered other ways. For example, some students move from asynchronous to synchronous delivery and back, depending on their schedules, preferences and the course topic.
This course delivery option incorporates synchronous course meetings, hosted using Zoom teleconferencing software. In each course, students are expected to attend single-class sessions of two to four hours each week via Zoom. Eight- and nine-week classes will meet from two to four hours each week, depending on the design of the program. Sixteen-week classes will meet from one to three hours each week. Face-to-face meetings at a Webster campus are not required. Synchronous components of Live Virtual courses emphasize “engaged learning,” in which faculty members maximize applied learning, faculty-student and student-student connections, and active/dynamic class exercises.
The remaining portion of the course content will be delivered using WorldClassRoom, the University’s official Learning Management System (LMS), powered by Canvas. Students use the LMS for assignment submissions and other course activities as indicated by the instructor, and may have “pre-work” to complete in WorldClassRoom prior to their weekly course meeting. Attendance at synchronous meetings is required, and participation impacts the student’s grade.
If a program is designated Live Virtual, that means that students can complete every core course in the program synchronously. Students in Live Virtual programs can, if they desire, take courses delivered other ways. For example, some students move from asynchronous to synchronous delivery and back, depending on their schedules, preferences, and the course topic.
100% Online (Asynchronous) |
Live Virtual (Synchronous) |
|---|---|
| Asynchronous online courses allow you to work from any location, at times that are convenient to you. | Live Virtual online courses allow you to work from any location, but do incorporate scheduled weekly class meetings. Depending on the format of the program, these meetings may be anywhere from two to four hours, one night per week. |
| A program or course offered in this modality requires no face-to-face or synchronous sessions. | Courses offered in this modality require scheduled meetings hosted via Zoom. |
| These courses utilize WorldClassRoom, which is the University’s official Learning Management System, powered by Canvas. WorldClassRoom will be utilized for delivery of course content and management of course requirements and assignments. | These courses utilize WorldClassRoom, which is the University’s official Learning Management System, powered by Canvas. Students will be expected to complete asynchronous preparation ahead of Live Virtual class meetings. |
| Students have the flexibility of managing their own schedule within the course parameters, typically with weekly learning modules and assignments. You don’t have to be online at a specific time. | Students in Live Virtual classes combine real-time class meetings, focused on active learning with independent pre-work completed in WorldClassRoom. |
| While asynchronous courses do not require students and faculty to be online at the same time, they offer opportunities for interaction between students and faculty, and students and their peers through discussion boards, video postings, group work, and peer review assignments. | Students will use WorldClassRoom to manage assignments, readings, and other course content, but most student-to-student and student-to-faculty interaction will take place in the real-time meetings. |
| Faculty may also offer real-time office hours, review sessions, or other opportunities for interaction via Zoom, but they are not required for the course. | Real-time course meetings are required in Live Virtual programs, and students should organize their schedules and workspace to accommodate them. |
| To participate in Asynchronous online classes, students must have a computer with internet access. Courses are also designed to be accessible via tablet or phone, via the Canvas app or browser. | To participate in Live Virtual classes, students must have a computer with internet access, a webcam, microphone, and speakers. This allows the student to be seen and heard while they participate in the session. |
| 100% Online (asynchronous) classes are great for students with busy or unpredictable schedules that make attending a scheduled course meeting difficult, or students who appreciate the flexibility of being able to set their own times for completing course responsibilities. | Live Virtual (synchronous) classes are for students who appreciate the real-time interaction of a scheduled class, but prefer the ability to do that without traveling from their home or office to a campus. |
Research has proven there is no difference in the academic success of students in distance-learning programs vs. students in face-to-face programs.
That means our students can expect the same rigorous curriculum that would be provided in person, and adheres to the highest academic standards. Don’t believe us? Check out our complete list of accreditations and licensures.
Students can enroll in the program — as well as many others — in a fully asynchronous format, or choose Live Virtual and be linked with students attending in classrooms!
MBA, ’21
Master of Business Administration (MBA)[Music begins and continues through the entire video.]
Text on screen: WEBSTER UNIVERSITY PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Text on screen: Steve Hinson, MBA Program Director
[Footage of Steve Hinson being interviewed.]
Steve Hinson: The whole curriculum is about value creation, even beginning from the very first course, which is titled Value Creation.
Text on screen: VALUE CREATION
Every course needs to point toward the same goal.
[Lengthy montage of photos with various students learning.]
The marketing class you take, that's all about creating value for customers. In finance, we're talking about how we create value for shareholders, how we measure value. In the capstone, we're looking at how we measure value more broadly, how is it affecting workers, the environment, and of course, how is it affecting the bottom line?
[Another montage, but with unique stock photos intertwined with pieces of Steve Hinson’s interview.]
For a classic MBA program, what you — what you typically find, the courses were very siloed. The finance class really has nothing to do with your marketing class or your work behavior class. And then it's really up to the student after they finish the MBA program to try to integrate this knowledge and figure out how all these pieces fit together.
Having this thematic approach to the program makes the program a lot more coherent.
Text on screen: One global MBA program, MULTIPLE MODALITIES
[Images depicting logging into Webster’s Connections or scrolling Webster’s website on various platforms such as on a laptop or a smart phone.]
We've actually developed all of the course content upfront, so every student is interacting with that online content, and Webster University, no matter what the modality.
[A third montage of students studying in different locations mixed with more sections of Steve Hinson’s interview shot.]
We offer the MBA program in three modalities now. We offer the traditional on ground.
Text on screen: 1. In Person
We offer classes by Zoom, what we call WebNet+. And then we offer fully online classes, which are completely asynchronous classes.
Text on screen: 3. Fully Online
[Another montage of students learning, studying or talking and professors teaching with Steve Hinson’s interview in between shots.]
Regardless of the modality you choose at Webster University, everyone shares the same course content. We've got this really robust platform. We designed it very carefully with the instructional designers. It's very accessible. Go online, you learn it, engage with it, and then come to class, let’s talk about it.
Text on screen: A diverse network of PRACTITIONER FACULTY
Really, what class is about, is the three Cs. We are coming for clarification, for context and for collaboration.
Text on screen: clarification, context, collaboration
Our faculty add context, helping students understand the applicability of the knowledge. The instructor is a subject matter expert. We'll make it make sense, but hopefully we can get passed that pretty quickly because the real value to you is that we provide the context:
How does this apply to my job? How does this apply to what I'm reading? How does this apply to companies I know and experiences as both consumer or as an employee? Really understand how this applies in the real world, so that how it applies for you.
Text on screen: An innovative approach to BUSINESS EDUCATION
[The photos and interview shot montage continues.]
What a business does is it takes existing resources and combines them to create something of greater value. We’re creating value for our customers, creating value for owners and we're creating value for all the other relevant stakeholders.
And everything always points toward that singular purpose. If you're interested in getting an MBA, you're trying to figure out how can I gain a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge very quickly so that I can speed up my career trajectory.
All the courses are really focused on how does business and the activities of business all coordinate with each other synergistically to create value for all of these relevant stakeholders so that no matter where you are in the organization, we want you to be able to see: Okay, how do I fit in? Why do I exist? What it is that I'm trying to accomplish? What are we trying to accomplish together?
[Music swells as the montage ends. The background changes to blue with several photos of Webster University buildings, and a layer of the ACBSP logo on top.]
Text on screen: Proudly accredited by ACBSP, Global Business Accreditation
Text on screen: LEARN MORE AT WEBSTER.EDU
[Outro]
Guided by our interdisciplinary vision of providing our students a highly personalized education, we’re here to prepare you for future professional success through a wide variety of coursework combined with real-world insight and knowledge.
June 26, 2024
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