Whether individuals want to further their business education or acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to advance their careers, they may want to consider pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree, or an MBA.
Inside MBA programs
Every business school provides its own take on the MBA, but there are certain elements that remain the same, no matter what type of advanced degree students are pursuing. For example, MBA students are typically required to take core business courses in subjects such as accounting, entrepreneurship, finance and marketing.
In addition, the typical full-time MBA program usually runs for two years, but students can sometimes finish it in less time. No matter when individuals graduate, they stand to do so with a new or updated skill set. Over the course of their studies, it is not uncommon for MBA students to develop the types of managerial skills necessary to advance within an organization or launch and run their own companies.
Featured Business Schools
Excelsior College MBA
George Washington University School of Business
Hofstra University MBA
Pace University Lubin School of Business
Sacred Heart University John F. Welch College of Business
View all Business Schools in the U.S. and Canada.
Types of MBA programs
Aside from leadership skills and greater knowledge of the business sector, the types of benefits MBA students reap depends on the program in which they enroll. Business schools across the U.S. offer a range of different options.
If individuals wish to earn an MBA, they should know the traditional full-time MBA program is not all they have to choose from. Those who want to continue working may feel more comfortable taking evening classes offered by a part-time MBA program, while students in need of a more flexible schedule may gravitate toward online MBA programs.
Business school officials understand that different students have their own unique needs, so many of them offer programs that deliver MBA instruction through formats specific to certain lifestyles. The Executive MBA, or EMBA, for instance, caters to the learning needs of working professionals with significant business experience. Meanwhile, Accelerated MBA programs provide an option for students interested in earning their degree as quickly as possible.
MBA students can also tailor their studies to a specific field, depending on the concentrations available at their business school. Accounting, entrepreneurship, global business, health care and real estate are among the different areas in which MBA students can focus their studies.
Requirements for entry into MBA programs
In addition to a bachelor’s degree, MBA admissions officers typically look for applicants who acquired several years of work experience after completing their undergraduate studies.
Typically, business schools also want to see scores from either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GMAT has traditionally been associated with the MBA admissions process, but many programs now accept the GRE in its place.
Find the right MBA programs
If individuals believe that pursuing an MBA only makes sense for their career paths, it may be time for them to start researching potential business schools. GraduateGuide.com features a search engine that can help prospective students identify business schools that match their specific preferences.
