MBA programs provide students with a framework to build their business acumen on. Most programs provide core classwork that must be completed by all students no matter their background or future career goals. These courses can include overviews of finance, operations management, accounting, marketing, and economics.
Once the required coursework is completed, students have the ability to choose courses that align with their interests. Choosing a specific concentration allows you to find direction in your MBA journey, and the career that follows, by giving you the skillset and experiences you need most to succeed.
What Should I Consider When Choosing an MBA Concentration?
An MBA is designed to give your career a boost, and finding a concentration that fits your personal and professional career goals can increase your employment opportunities and salary. While the core MBA curriculum will provide you with a strong business foundation, Scheller MBA concentrations reflect both areas of student interest and interest to future employment partners.
Choosing an MBA concentration should ultimately come down to the following considerations:
- Career goals and target industry: are you aiming for specialized roles or leadership positions? Some paths may require a dedicated concentration in the job description
- Your strengths and areas for growth: your target MBA concentration can help you build on existing skills or fill knowledge gaps
- Market trends and ROI: some of the most lucrative fields, like Finance, Data Analytics, Strategy Consulting, and Technology and Information Systems Management, tend to have strong hiring demand and high starting salaries
MBA concentrations are structured around four electives (12 credit hours) that also count toward the required 33 hours of electives in the MBA program.
Selecting one or more of these concentrations can point you to the typical functions into which employers hire MBA graduates. For example, a concentration in Supply Chain and Operations Management would prepare you for opportunities in the supply chain function. A concentration in Strategy and Innovation or Business Analytics might make you more attractive to a strategy or data consulting firm.
