by CourseAdvisor

A Master's degree in Business Administration, or MBA, is an important educational credential for people hoping to attain upper management positions. Typically, applicants to MBA programs have a bachelor's degree and significant work experience in a business setting.

There are always opportunities for MBA holders in our 21st-century "knowledge economy." Last year, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) projected that career opportunities for MBA holders would increase in 2007; employers reported to the GMAC's annual recruitment survey that they anticipated hiring approximately 18% more MBA graduates and other graduate business degree holders than they did in 2006. Employers also reported being interested in MBA graduates who studied high-demand management specializations.

The Business Leadership MBA

To pursue a business leadership role, you might apply to one of these programs:

• MBA in Operations Management
• MBA in Organizational Management
• MBA in Leadership
• MBA in Management

Or, if you already have an executive or management job, you might apply to an Executive MBA program, which allows you to complete your MBA while still working.

Hot MBA Specializations for the 21st Century

A growing number of MBA programs are offering highly specialized concentrations in hot fields of interest, such as:

• MBA in Entrepreneurship
• MBA in Knowledge Management
• MBA in Business Communication
• MBA in E-Commerce Management
• MBA in Cyber Security
• MBA in Health Care Management or Administration

With the explosion of the Internet, business is now global like never before. If you want to get into the fast-paced, multifaceted world of international business development, consider the MBA in Global Management or the MBA in International Business.

The MBA Works for "People" People and "Numbers" People

If you want to take advantage of your work experience in marketing and sales, related MBA programs include the MBA in Marketing and the MBA in Supply Chain Management.

Are you an accountant or an auditors? MBAs for those lovers of numbers are:

• MBA in Accounting
• MBA in Controllership
• MBA in Taxation

If you work in finance, these MBA programs can highlight your financial services specialty:

• MBA in Banking & Finance
• MBA in Mergers and Acquisitions
• MBA in Financial Management
• MBA in Risk Management

The Hi-Tech MBA

With the integration of technology into every aspect of business, many seasoned business executives and IT managers are seeking MBA degrees that blend the two disciplines, such as the MBA in Information Technology Management and the MBA in Information Systems Security.

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Public Policy MBA

To become eligible for the high-salaried human resources opportunities typically found only in large corporations, you may need a Human Resources Management MBA. Or, if you plan to work in public administration or for a nonprofit organization, there are MBA, Master of Public Administration (MPA), and other master's degrees that offer concentrations in the management of:

• Criminal Justice
• Health Services
• Homeland Security
• Human Services
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Public Health
• Public Policy
• Public Safety

MBA Admissions Checklist

How do you get admitted to an MBA program? For a start, universities and graduate business schools make MBA admissions decisions based on:

• Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores
• Work experience
• Undergraduate transcripts
• Essays
• References or letters of recommendations
• Personal interview

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Click here to find an MBA program that works for you

Browse MBA degree programs in our directory:

• Master's Degrees in Business & Management
• MBA Degree Programs

Or, read more about the value and versatility of the MBA degree.

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Sources:
1) Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-2007 Edition; Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.
2) Graduate Management Admission Council, 2007 GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey, May 2007