Logistics Coordinator Finds Flexible Path to Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Business

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Joshua Johnston pursues his bachelor's degree online from the Sam M. Walton College of Business, while he works full-time at a Tontitown transportation company.

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of spotlights on students who study or studied online at the University of Arkansas. The stories are running during National Distance Learning Week, Nov. 9-13.

Joshua Johnston of Fayetteville lives just a few miles north of the University of Arkansas campus, but taking on-campus courses to finish his business degree was a logistical impossibility.

Working full-time for Pam Transport in Tontitown, Johnston found a workable route: enrolling in the online B.S.B.A. in General Business degree program from the Sam M. Walton College of Business in January 2015.

"You have all the same tools that a traditional student has, but you have the luxury of being able to pursue a career while getting a degree at the same time," said Johnston, a logistics coordinator. "It allows me to gain experience and develops me as a business professional."

Johnston had nearly 90 credit hours under his belt from Crowder College and the University of Oklahoma, and he searched the Internet for an online program that would let him finish his bachelor's degree.

"The overall quality and price is what attracted me to the (Walton College) program," Johnston said. "I looked around for a couple of weeks. There are a ton of different programs. I felt it was important to get a business degree from a school that is known for that degree."

Walton College, accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, is ranked No. 27 among public institutions in the U.S. News & World Report 2016 "America's Best Colleges" ranking.

Johnston said he would recommend the program to other professionals who are motivated and self-disciplined.

"This is really about creating opportunities for yourself," Johnston said. "There's a lot of resources out there to get you from Point A to Point B with this program."

The bachelor's degree in general business is designed for working professionals, Johnston said. It also has a strong connection with regional industries.

"It's very well organized," Johnston said of the program. "There's great communication with the faculty. Professors at the university really take the extra step in giving you all the tools you need for success."

He said he takes about 12 credit hours per semester, while working full-time.

"The degree is so crucial in today's market, to put yourself in the best position for your future," Johnston said.