| The MBA or Masters of Business Administration is | | | | talented and driven in various ways. For the sake of |
| one of the most popular graduate degrees pursued | | | | the rest of this article however I will concentrate on |
| today. From ambitious, career minded students | | | | the more tangible, academic courses and subject |
| looking to land their first job to working professionals | | | | areas that are part of any quality MBA program. |
| motivated to further their career, tens of thousands | | | | The Coursework |
| of applicants flood the leading MBA Schools every | | | | The MBA degree by its nature is a generalized |
| year with hopes of getting into the best program. | | | | degree. It is designed to provide the student with |
| But while the prestige of attaining an MBA and the | | | | the core proficiencies in subject areas deemed |
| increase in salary and career advancement are often | | | | essential to working in the complex world of business |
| lauded, one of the most important aspects | | | | today. All MBA programs have 'core courses' which |
| necessary to understand before deciding to pursue | | | | are required of all students that provide this |
| the degree quite often doesn't get the attention that | | | | foundation. After and sometimes during the process |
| it deserves. That aspect quite simply is...just what | | | | of completing core coursework there are then |
| exactly does an MBA teach you? | | | | electives in various areas of particular interest to the |
| Academics vs. Experiential The topic of what an MBA | | | | student that help to specialize the degree for the |
| teaches you can really be broken up into two areas. | | | | area of business the student wants to pursue. |
| First are the actual academic courses and subject | | | | As an example of the Core Coursework I'll list those |
| matter that one studies in an MBA program. There | | | | required from a top Ivy League school, The Columbia |
| are many different specializations within MBA | | | | Business School at Columbia University in New York |
| programs and thus numerous electives that can of | | | | City. While schools vary slightly in the exact course |
| course change depending on the student. There is | | | | name and emphasis and some have slight variations, |
| however a broad core course load that is relatively | | | | for the most part any MBA program will have some |
| similar among different MBA Schools and program | | | | version of the following for its core curriculum. |
| types, even among both traditional in-person full-time | | | | 1. Finance |
| programs and the newer online or distance learning | | | | 2. Accounting |
| MBAs. | | | | 3. Marketing |
| The second area that really is a factor in going | | | | 4. Statistics |
| through the MBA process has to do with the more | | | | 5. Operations |
| flexible but no less important aspects which fall into | | | | 6. Economics |
| the experiential. These are such things as learning to | | | | 7. Strategy |
| work under pressure, working in groups, career | | | | 8. Leadership Development |
| networking and connection making and how to | | | | 9. Global Economics |
| complete often complex and long projects on-time | | | | 10. Decision Models |
| and within certain criteria. | | | | 11. Management |
| Of course depending on the program attended there | | | | As can be seen, the core coursework gives a wide |
| is also the social aspect of being immersed in an | | | | base of knowledge that can then be built upon with |
| invigorating and intellectually stimulating environment | | | | specialized electives in the area the student wants to |
| often with students from all over the world that are | | | | focus on. |