Do Undergraduates and MBAs Differ Online?: Initial Conclusions From the Literature

Abstract

To date, online learning research in business and management education generally assumes that degree program level does not affect effective online learning practice. However, the few studies that have examined both undergraduate and graduate business students have found differences in the learning outcomes of those groups. Because research samples tend to be exclusively either graduate or undergraduate students, researchers and practitioners of online business education are left to speculate regarding potential differences between these student populations. This article reviews the online business and management education literature and proposes differences between undergraduate and graduate business students and courses based on student and instructor characteristics, course design characteristics, technological characteristics, and preferences for and performance in courses delivered at least partially online, relative to classroom-based courses. Some of the primary conclusions from the review are that consideration of learning styles, student demographics, and perceptions of the course management system are more important in undergraduate online courses, and that ensuring effective participant interaction is a larger issue for instructors and course design in graduate online courses. The article concludes with preliminary recommendations for researchers, instructors, instructional designers, and degree program directors for developing and designing courses that are suited appropriately to these student populations.