I am currently completing the iMBA program at Penn State (will graduate in August). This is certainly a robust program and we are earning our degrees. What I find interesting is the comment from Harvard Business School that an online program is not a consideration because of the discussion-based nature of their program.
Many of my PSU iMBA classes have had case-based discussion components. The discussions occur on online discussion boards that are typically active for a full week of the class, not in a single real-time hour in the classroom. The main advantage to this discussion board based way is that comments are persistent and class members can add intelligent responses with time to do some research, include links, etc. I have found these discussions quite valuable.
In addition, the PSU iMBA program uses the cohort model, where classmates stay together for the 2 year program, taking the same classes at the same time. This makes the discussions even richer as we get to know each other. Within the cohort, we are put on 4-5 person teams, which change once in the middle of the program, so we also have significant team interaction via email, skype, etc.
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Carrie Requist of CO 3:39PM March 15, 2011