Wednesday 26 September 2012

How to Choose a Post Grad Business Degree

If you are considering an advanced business degree, there are a variety of options available. However, one degree is so prevalent that the conversation has to start off with the Master of Business Administration in all its many forms. It was the first advanced business degree when Harvard introduced it in 1908, and it is still the most prominent. Today, the Master of Business Administration with its many specialization options is taught in a number of different forms from traditional to night classes to online learning.
Until the last Two decades or so, the MBA was only taught as a traditional college program. It was comprised of two years of daytime classes. Having said that, as society has changed, the degree has changed with it, especial how it is offered by universities. The conventional two year version still exists, but now there are other options like accelerated programs, night classes, and online learning.

The program is made up of two parts. Core classes like advertising, economics, operations and finance, are taught in the first. The second has the student pursue a specialty in such subjects as international business, human resources, real estate or the like.

It can sometimes be tough to track the difference between a specialized MBA and other Master's level business degrees. For example, what's the difference between a MBA with a Healthcare Specialization and a Masters of Healthcare Administration? Two main factors differentiate them. One, the MHA focuses much more on healthcare policy compared to the broader business focus of the MBA. Two, the MBA is more flexible than the MHA. The MHA provides no added value outside of healthcare. A broad based business degree, like the MBA, can offer value in virtually any venture. That versatility is valuable in a changing workplace and economy.

That Harvard MBA can run you up to $200,000 today, however the average program runs $60,000. Beyond just money, there is also a vast amount of time and energy invested. Some no-name online schools offer the program for as little as $7,000. Other online schools get away with charging a premium. They have a firm grasp of the market value of the convenience of online classes.

Getting a MBA is rewarding, both in the sense of accomplishment as well as monetarily. For example, a professional with a MBA can make significantly more than a professional of the same experience who only has a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). For example, a BBA with 5-9 years of experience commands a median salary of $51,376 compared to a MBA with 5-9 years of experience who earns a median salary of $68,989.

Ultimately, there are a number of ways to go with an advanced business degree, both in the choice of degree and the speed and style of achieving it. Either way, it's a lot of money and time. However, in the final analysis, the MBA provides a broad scope of applications that the more sector specific degrees do not. Having more options is valuable by itself. So, unless a person can be absolutely certain that they will never get tired of a career, the MBA is probably the better path over a something like an MHA.

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