[CAT] [MBA] Should I Do a Specialized MBA?

Note : This article is for MBA Aspirants only and not UPSC aspirants 🙂

Concentrations can help secure that first post-MBA job, but for a lifetime of success, general management skills are a must.

Embarking on an MBA is an opportunity to explore a whole range of business areas and skills, dipping a toe into new fields of expertise, and rounding-out your skill set.

For others, the decision comes down to more focused goals: gaining in-depth experience in a specific area. An increasing number of b-schools are offering MBA specializations that allow students to tailor their education with a specific career path in mind.

Having offered specializations in a few areas such as Applied Securities Analysis since the early nineties, the University of Wisconsin began to revamp their program in 2003 based around new centers of expertise, and now offers 12 in-depth specializations.

“Frankly, in the world of MBA programs, this was the only way they we were going to be able to compete,” said Kavajecz of focusing on specializations. “We’ve seen employers respond very favorably to our focused approach,” says Blair Sanford, director of Wisconsin MBA’s Career Management Center. “When companies choose our students, they know they are focused in that area.”

Students apply directly to one of Wisconsin’s specialized centers, and from day one, the core curriculum is taught with an emphasis on how each area of business impacts their chosen field.

Take the example of Kemllen Lee, who is taking Wisconsin’s supply chain MBA specialization.

“When I go to conferences – or for instance, in my job search – I was able to speak to different kinds of companies, and speak directly to something that had a financial impact on the company,” says Lee.

So, if you are looking beyond the top-tier b-schools and know where you want your career path to lead, a specialized program with a good foundation in general management could be the way mark yourself out from the competition.

As business professionals become more attuned to their own interests, they often want to delve deeper into a specific field to hone their competence. There are MBA programs that focus on certain industries such as healthcare and hi-tech. A tremendous benefit of the specialized MBA is often derived from the expertise of course instructors and even fellow classmates. Typically, instructors for specialized MBA courses, such as e-business, will have in-depth experience in the field and understand industry nuances. A specialized MBA helps professionals stay on the cutting edge of their chosen field, but it also provides essential management tools learned from a traditional MBA program. The specialized MBA is only for individuals firmly entrenched in their careers, as the degree is highly specific, therefore inadaptable to other fields.

As the world’s borders become increasingly open, demand for business professionals will grow accordingly.

Earning an MBA is always a good decision but earning the right MBA could make all the difference in the world. Explore the variety of different MBA degrees so that you find the program, which allows you to achieve all of your personal as well as professional goals.

Written by :

Bhavna Sharma is a final year computer science student at Rungta College of Engineering and Technology, Bhilai