Choosing the right MBA program involves weighing a number of factors. How affordable is it? Will an MBA from one school yield a better return on investment than an MBA from another school? What options does the program offer in terms of scheduling, self-paced learning and otherwise accommodating your needs as you balance your existing career and personal obligations with advancing your education?
As important as these practical matters are, however, they do not exist in a vacuum. An MBA program is only as strong — and useful — as its curriculum. When researching your options, you should certainly ask yourself whether or not each school offers degree emphases and, if so, which ones. Does the MBA program you’re considering actually teach the subjects and train you in the skills you’ll need to advance in your chosen industry?
Common MBA emphases include accounting, finance, and marketing. However, many business schools also allow MBA candidates to focus on management. Beyond the personal rewards that come from pursuing your interests and aptitudes, why choose an emphasis at all? And why consider an MBA focused on Management?
Employers Value Candidates With Unique Experience
U.S. News & World Report recently identified the top four career benefits of earning an MBA. Degree emphases ranked third. Why? “In today’s competitive job market, listing a concentration on your resume helps you stand out.”
How competitive is the job market for MBAs? According to The Economist, “nearly 200,000 students from American institutions have been awarded Master’s degrees in business every year since 2010.” As the traditional MBA is a generalist degree, adding an emphasis such as management can help you more effectively market yourself after graduation.
Employers Are Looking for Candidates With Leadership Potential
For a business to thrive in today’s fast-paced environment, it has to grow. That growth is often the result of a strategy. Sustaining that growth takes motivated individuals who will stick with the strategy even during circumstances that threaten its success.
Employers hire not only to fill a present need but also with future challenges in mind. Earning an MBA with an emphasis in management gives you the opportunity to study the “hard” and “soft” qualities of good business leadership, from exercising fiscal responsibility to crafting compelling communications.
You Can Hone Your Decision-Making Skills
Business professionals face many demands on their time. They make decisions and allocate resources. Managers evaluate operations and make adjustments. They may also have to discipline or dismiss underperforming employees. Even deciding how to prioritize a day at the office can be demanding.
The MBA in Management curriculum gives you the tools to take swift, decisive action. You’ll learn how to gather and analyze information to make decisions as well as how to manage the consequences of your decisions and those of your colleagues and supervisors.
You Can Prepare for the Culture of the Modern Workplace
The “ability to work in a team structure” ranks as the number one quality in prospective hires, according to a 2015 survey of employers that the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) conducted.
Equipped with an MBA with an emphasis in management, you can become an expert in organizational science. To excel in today’s “flat” matrix-based work environment, you’ll need to apply your knowledge of human behavior, business ethics and strategic management.
An MBA With an Emphasis in Management Can Be the Key to a More Fulfilling and Remunerative Position
PayScale’s College Salary Report for 2016-2017 indicates that, among MBA graduates, those with an emphasis in management earn more than almost every other concentration. The median starting salary for MBAs in management is $85,200 per year. By the time these individuals reach the midpoint of their careers, they are earning over $145,000.
PayScale also reports that 53 percent of management MBAs believe the work they do “makes the world a better place.” Managers may have more responsibilities and face more stress than non-managers. However, managers can influence how their businesses work, and they are not susceptible to the same vulnerabilities and insecurities as non-managers. Overall, MBA graduates with an emphasis in management report high rates of job satisfaction — and by a significant measure.
Learn more about the SOSU online MBA with an emphasis in management program.
Sources:
U.S. News & World Report: 4 Key Career Benefits From MBA Programs
Forbes: The 10 Skills Employers Most Want in 2015
PayScale: Highest Paying MBA Majors by Salary Potential