MBA in Pharmaceutical Business Online Program System Requirement Information
System Requirements
To sucessfully participate in the program, your computer configuration must meet the following requirements:
Minimum Requirements Preferred Specifications
Operating system
- Windows 98-2000, ME, XP
- Macintosh System 7.5 or higher
- Preferred: Windows XP or Macintosh OS X
Processor
- Pentium III or eMac/iMac
- Preferred:Pentium IV
Memory
- 128Mb RAM
- Preferred: 256 Mb RAM
Hard Disk Space
- Sufficient to store program material
Monitor
- 15" color monitor (800 x 600 minimum 15" color monitor (1024 x 768 resolution) or text reader
Modem
- 56k modem Cable, DSL or T1 or higher network
CD-ROM
- 4x 20x
Sound Card
- Sound Blaster 32 sound card or equivalent
Printer
- Not required; a graphics-capable inkjet or last is recommended for draft documents and material backups
Browser
- Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher Mozilla Firefox 1.0
- Mozilla Firefox 1.0 Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
- Netscape Navigator 4.9 or higher
Plug-ins
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
Real Player or Quick Time
Additional Software
- McAfee Viruscan or Norton Antivirus
Word processing program Microsoft Office (student or professional version)
Presentation Program
Spreadsheet Program
You'll be required to access online courses through your own Internet Service provide (ISP) or through your workplace. The connection must support full access to the World Wide Web. If accessing the internet from work, you may discover that the workplace connection is through a firewall. If so, your network administrator may need to contact the USP help Desk to work out technical details to allow computer access to the course materials.
To ensure the best performance from your PC when accessing the course management system, do the following:
- AOL users: Minimize the AOL browser and use of the above-listed browsers to access the course site.
- If you are running ad-blocking software or Internet Security bundles, please modify the software to allow pop-ups from the course management system URL. Software that disables pop-up windows and other Javascript functions also disables course management tools.
Course Delivery Methods
Residential Colloquia
All Students in the Online MBA in Pharmaceutical Business at USP are required to attend three live one-week colloquia, each taken at specific milestones in the program.
Through face-to-face interactions with faculty and other students, your cohort will develop a sense of community and you will develop the knowledge and skills that are essential for success in the online graduate program. The colloquia are outomes-based and placed in a sequence that is designed to meet your developmetal needs.
Residency fees, session dates, and locations can be found on the MBA prgram website. Fees do not include airfare, ground transportation, lodging, or meals; students are responsible for their own travel arrangements and accomodations.
Students should consult their advisor for detailed information about specific requirements, including housing and cancellation policies.
Online Courses
Between the three 1-week residential colloquia, the online MBA students will participate in online courses. Each online course in five weeks in duration, a provides remote interactive access to cohort members and with the faculty through an easy to use course management system.
Course Preparation
Textbooks will be mailed to each program participant, and online access to the course syllabus, and other instructional materials will be provided prior to the start of each course. Because of the demanding nature of the Online MBA in Pharmaceutical Business Program, there will be a substantial body of knowledge and skills to be mastered in each course. Accordingly, each course syllabus will list a set of assigned readings and projects that are to be completed prior to each classroom or virtual course session. A reasonable estimate would be that these assignments will require approximately 10 to 15 hours per week of work. Some additional work, but at a reduced level, will also be required between courses in preparation for each new topic. Course assignments will provide you with the tools needed for the capstone project at the conclusion of the program, and aid in enhancing your skill set.
As with other USP graduate programs, those students who take their assignments most seriously will be the ones who will benefit most from the coursework, and in the process achieve the best academic performance. The most manageable way to reduce the burden of the readings and assignments is to break the activities down into small chunks, distributed over the life of the course, and logging into the online couse for short periods 3-4 times a week instead of trying to find large blocks of time to participate in the virtual classroom.
Review the Eligibility Requirements >
Review the Curriculum & Course Descriptions >
