Skills Students Gain From MBA Programs
Higher Education Articles June 13, 2015Those with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree have a competitive edge in fields relating to business. These graduate programs assist students in sharpening or developing their marketing, leadership, business, and accounting skills.
Information on Skills Gained from MBA Programs
Students take two years to complete a full-time master’s degree program in business, though the majority of students pursuing an MBA are currently working professionals who study part-time. Various specialties are within the business industry, including technology, finance, and the global economy. Skills are obtainable by enrolled students in all these business-related areas.
Coursework
Graduate courses offered through these programs teach the basic facets of international and domestic corporate practices. Coursework in the first year of study allows the development of skills in areas such as:
•Management techniques and leadership abilities
•International business operations, including expanding and opening businesses overseas
•Workplace psychology, communication skills, and employee relations
•Information technology
•Advertising, business-to-business sales, and marketing
•Financial risk assessment, cost control, and accounting
•Decision-making skills and business strategy
•Stock market patterns, consumer behavior, and economics
Focus Areas
Over the first year, a solid foundation of business training is provided by MBA programs; this is succeeded by concentrated classes spanning another year. The focus area of an MBA varies by program and school. Standard concentrations are available at most schools, in addition to some unique areas of specialization, including:
•International business
•Human resource management
•General management
•Entrepreneurship
•Statistics and economics
•Finance and accounting
•Marketing
•Business operations and strategy
Special Opportunities
MBA programs are available remotely or in part-time formats. Both local and international internship opportunities abroad are often participated in by MBA students. Schools may sponsor these work-study options that could count toward the educational requirements of the degree.
Continuing Education Choices
Program graduates who use education to ensure career enhancement within a current job or progress along a career path see the degree as a terminal one. Business skills improved through an MBA program can lead to financial and personal rewards for motivated employees and entrepreneurs who want to begin or grow a business.
Students who want to enhance their knowledge in a specific business area may wish to pursue doctoral-level programs. Ph.D. program curricula are available at many schools aiming to enhance the skills that graduates may have gained in an MBA program. Doctoral studies could typically lead to careers in academia or research with a specialized focus on marketing, economics, management or accounting.
