The first time James Young was on Boise State University’s campus was May 10, 2025, the day he graduated from the Online Master of Business Administration with dual emphasis areas in management and construction management.
“I drove past Boise on my way to move to New York for a job, and then when I was a student on my way back to Tacoma, where I grew up, but I had never set foot on campus,” he said.
“I was the only one there with the dual emphasis and at graduation the ceremony, the only one in the graduate program having completed the construction management emphasis. There were a lot of others [construction management] there in the undergraduate program wearing the hardhats. I got one, too, but I carried on my arm to signify that I completed both.”
The road to a dual emphasis
Young, a contract specialist for the federal government, is the first Online MBA student to complete two emphasis areas.
“When I was in New York, I was in charge of a very expensive construction project,” he said. “I could not speak the lingo or the terms, which is how I ended up with the dual emphasis.”
“When I started my first class, I waited two weeks before I started utilizing that information at work. I was able to take that lingo and pass it on by week five of the course. By then, I understood what they were doing, why they were doing it and I could speak the same language as them.”
The flexibility of the online format worked out well for Young — especially while he was living in upstate New York with a two-hour time difference from Boise.
“I am up at 4 a.m. every day, which is 2 a.m. Mountain time, so I had all of this extra time,” he said. “I was able to get a lot of it done. Then, when I switched over to Pacific time, I was an hour behind, so I saw both sides of it.”
Scratching an itch
Young is from California but grew up in Washington. After earning an associate degree, he graduated from the University of Washington in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and global studies with minors in Asian studies and economics.
Before his current job, Young worked in an auto parts store, as a welder, for the Social Security Administration and for the United States Navy’s radiological program.
“I had always wanted to get a master’s degree,” he said. “I was having a difficult time finding jobs after I graduated with my undergrad. I lost out on quite a few job opportunities because I only had a bachelor’s degree and the other candidates had master’s degrees.”
Starting, stopping, staying the course
Boise State’s flexible scheduling played a big role in Young’s decision to enroll.
“The big thing for me was the terms,” he said. “You could do a 7-week term, then take a break. My schedule is very busy at the end of the fiscal year, from July to September, so I had to walk away to focus on work, then pick it back up.”
“When I got to August of 2022, I didn’t register for the next term,” he said. “My advisor, James Davis, said, ‘Tell me you’re not quitting.’ I told him I was taking a break for work. Every other school required some type of in-person commitment given the nature of my job, that just was not an option.”
Young especially enjoyed the managerial accounting course, although it was one of the tougher ones in the Online MBA curriculum.
“When I asked, people told me the three most difficult courses were corporate finance, managerial accounting and supply chain management,” he said. “My second and third courses were managerial accounting and corporate finance, and they were not lying, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Hello, Boise State
Even though his parents had to watch him graduate online because they were unable to travel, Young’s aunt was on hand to see him walk the graduation stage.
“A lot of my family and friends were quite excited for me,” he said. “There were times when I was so tired, but I kept pushing. They really supported me all the way.”
Still basking in the glow of graduation, Young looks forward to seeing how far having an MBA from Boise State will take his career.
“Maybe it will be my ticket to the C-Suite,” he said. “I am comfortable with where I am now. Having this degree will create opportunities for me. You check that box and add the experience, when it comes to pressure, I can handle that without a problem.”
“I got a lot out of my time as an online student. I was looking at possibly doing the Business Analytics emphasis, as well, but I already had two emphasis areas and thought that would be too much. The program was great.”
Young, who enjoys building computers and restoring cars in his free time, believes the key to success as an online student is taking advantage of the flexibility.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said. “I met only two people in my classes who did it in one year; they were both former military members. Pace yourself. Take a term off if you must. Just keep chugging at it, and you will be done.”
Learn more about the Online MBA
Earning an Online Master of Business Administration from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.