Iowa State now offers an alternative route for acquiring a Masters of Business Administration degree by taking classes and earning credits on Saturdays.

The goal of the program is to make an MBA more accessible to those who cannot attend regular weekday and evening classes, according to a press release.

Ron Ackerman, director of graduate admissions, said the Saturday MBA program was made available to individuals living in central Iowa who have full-time jobs or who travel during the week.

ISU’s College of Business is currently hosting forums to help inform prospective students about the Saturday MBA program.

The first of four forums will be held Thursday in the Scheman Continuing Education Building.

The next three will be Feb. 12 in the Des Moines Marriott Hotel, Feb. 17 in the Marshalltown Best Western Regency and Feb. 23 in the West Des Moines University Park Holiday Inn.

Each forum will last from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.

Forum attendants will learn about the curriculum and scheduling of classes, as well as admission requirements.

Ackerman said he hopes to have a current student or professor in the program present at each forum to answer questions and to offer feedback.

Since the Saturday MBA program was created in 1992, about 300 students have graduated with an MBA degree.

A typical class size averages about 50 students, Ackerman said.

“The interest shown in the MBA program has been great,” Ackerman said. “The program was also well received by the business community in central Iowa.”

An undergraduate degree in any area is required to register for the program.

Forty-eight credit hours, each costing $221, are needed to complete the three-year program, the press release stated.

Prospective students should submit transcripts, letters of recommendation and a resume by early May to start the Saturday MBA program in July.

The program also requires answering essay questions and passing the standard Graduate Management Admissions Test, Ackerman said.

For more information, contact Ron Ackerman of the ISU College of Business at 1-800-433-3452.