Many students choose to enroll in an MBA program because they aspire to become entrepreneurs to learn how to start and grow a business. In contrast, others might want to specialize in different aspects of the business world to broaden employment opportunities.
The skills and expertise learned from a master’s program in business administration prepare career-focused students with a detailed understanding of business concepts. Graduates are also qualified to take on leadership positions, resulting in higher wages and more employment opportunities.
Below we will discuss how long is an MBA program, how many credits are needed to complete the program, how the curriculum is designed, and what specializations this degree offers.
How Long is an MBA Program?
The length of an MBA program varies on the institution and type of program. MBA programs can be traditional, accelerated, part-time, and dual degree programs.
Accelerated MBA programs generally require a duration of between 12 and 18 months to complete, while part-time MBA programs usually require between 30 months and five years. Longer completion times are standard among students employed full-time, as well as among those who select joint and dual degrees or multiple concentrations.
The traditional MBA is a full-time program where students take a well-rounded core of graduate-level courses. Classes are held on campus, and the program takes two years to complete. Some MBA programs allow students to narrow the focus of their business education by choosing an area of specialization.
Taking a full-time course load ensures that you can complete your degree quicker and enjoy the advantages available. You can also take full advantage of the resources, internships, and networking opportunities the university offers.
How many credits are needed for an MBA?
At Bay Atlantic University, students can earn an MBA degree by completing the program course requirements of 36 credit hours (12 courses of 3 credit hours). No matter the concentration, there are 24 core credits, and 12 credits are concentration elective courses. In order to earn the MBA degree, students must meet all credit requirements.
The MBA Curriculum
The program is intended to prepare students with comprehensive knowledge of business principles. Students are offered a broad business education as they learn the critical content areas of management, marketing, finance, accounting, economics, and law.
Here at Bay Atlantic University, core courses in MBA programs are meant to provide you with practical business knowledge and skills required to excel in today’s business world. These courses include Managerial Accounting, Research Methods, Financial Management, Leadership & Organization, among many others.
As per elective courses, students need to choose courses themselves in order to complete the required credit hours. The options for elective classes differ depending on the specialization of the MBA program. For instance, an MBA in Economics & Finance will have electives on Money & Banking and U.S. Economic & Trade Policy, while a degree in Entrepreneurship includes courses on Strategic Management and Marketing Analytics.
MBA Concentrations
Specialized business master’s degrees concentrate on a single field, where the program consists of courses in a specific subject on top of a core MBA curriculum. Bay Atlantic University offers MBAs with a concentration on Entrepreneurship, Global Affairs, and Economics & Finance.
All concentrations have the same learning goals for students, such as demonstrating leadership skills, understanding the ethical issues that businesses face, being aware of how cultural differences impact businesses, gaining the skills necessary to identify and develop business strategies, etc.
However, where these specializations differ is on the elective course options, what student the concentration is aimed at, and the selected specialization’s career outlook. For example, students who are up to date with the dynamics of today’s global political issues are ideal for the MBA with a concentration on Global Affairs.
Career Outlook with an MBA
Through an MBA program, students learn the tools needed to contribute productively to today’s international, political, and economic fields. By gaining transferable research, leadership, and management skills, students become prepared for leadership roles in areas such as government, private sector, nonprofit management, international business, consulting, diplomacy, etc.
The length of an MBA degree varies from institution to institution, as there are a wide variety of program formats and delivery options available. Still, in the long run, rushing through an MBA degree at the cost of grades or real-world job experience will not do any favors in the long run.
Before narrowing in on a specialization, students need to choose their field based on their skills and career goals. For students to succeed in the MBA program, they should be self-disciplined, self-directed, and comfortable scheduling their coursework. Still, no matter the discipline, it will require considerable hard work, which will transform students from competent professionals to inspired business leaders.
