The non-business of MBAs

Matthew Ulmer explains why an MBA is not just for the future Company Directors and Business Managers of the global job-market

In today's business-savvy world, with global transactions happening in more languages than ever before (English, Spanish, Mandarin), and through more modes of communication than ever before (direct conversation, telephone, e-mail), a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) is perhaps more important than it has ever been.

But too often, too many people think of MBAs just for those who want to go directly into business, such as students with lofty goals of becoming CFOs or starting their own company.  In this business-savvy, globalized world, this is no longer the case.

An MBA can help just about any student, whether he or she wants to be a financial adviser, a nurse, a museum curator or any other number of interesting positions.

Because business plays such an important role in the current job force, because every company, whether for profit or nonprofit, needs not only to bring in money but have the proper management of money to remain in operation, basic business understanding is essential for any employee hoping to succeed.  Those who function in companies need to be able to manage gross incomes versus expenses, employee allocation budgets and so on, even if they are not in charge of the actual management of these elements.  That's because all good employees need to know how they positively and negatively affect the company in terms of profit and cost.

Today, a college degree is practically essential for securing a decent job.  Soon, an MBA may be mandatory as well.

And for this reason, schools offer a greater variety of MBAs than ever before.   

A prime example of this is The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA.  Students considering Wharton Business School at The University of Pennsylvania may think it odd to get an MBA from a school for social policy and management, but The Heller School offers a degree for students who, according to their website, "want to bring leadership skills to a variety of social issues."  This is more than just how to handle finances; this teaches how to lead a successful organization.

And more than just teaching the social aspect of business, The Heller School allows students to completely customize their concentrations based in their desired field of employment.  As an example offered on the Heller website: "Leah Abrams is interested in Workplace Justice and Compliance. When she graduates, she plans to work with managers and organizations on building a just workplace that better meets the needs of employees as it complies with governmental regulations. Her courses include Principles of Law and Development, Theory and Analysis in Social Policy, Legislation Drafting, Economics of Aging and Disability and Managed Care, and Child-Related Policies in the U.S., in addition to core courses in Leadership and Human Resource Management."

Another example: "Nell Whitman is interested in Operations Management and Information Systems. When she graduates, she will help organizations with a social mission solve problems such as organizing insurance billing, accounting and client charts into an integrated electronic system. Her courses include Management of Technology, Information Systems Strategy, Linear Regression and Social Entrepreneurship, in addition to core courses in Operations Management and Managerial Accounting."

These students are not earning what most people would consider a typical MBA.  They have tailored their curriculum to something more appropriate for exactly what they want to do upon graduation.  While all fields do this in some way, the business degree allows this to occur at a greater extent.    

English, for example, has always had specific specializations, such as 18th Century British Literature or Renaissance Poetry.  But the structures of these classes, despite the changing topics, remain relatively similar: students dissect works of literary art.

Different MBA programs, however, alter the entire foundation of the courses.  Those looking to learn sports team management may have a completely different experience from those studying cruise ship management or casino and hotel management, even within the same school.  They will conduct different research, review different case studies and learn different methods and tactics.  The actual structure of the program will change based on the specialization. 

Additionally, this doesn't just occur in different degree types, but in different geographic areas.  Therefore, students looking to take specialized MBA programs should keep location in mind when choosing a program.  Yes, some business schools are world-renowned, but when it comes to MBAs today, that isn't always the most important thing. 

For those looking to study in the United States, consider the following: people looking to work in a casino may want to take classes in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they can get real-world experience in exactly what they want to study.  Others interested in cruise ship management should consider a program in Miami, Florida.  Students with the goal of running a farm may find their ideal school in Nebraska.  With an undergraduate education, the location of the school is typically important only to the student who wants either to remain close to home or go far from home, or who wants a warm climate, or a proximity to skiing, or to be close to a significant other or whatever the case may be.  The location of an MBA program, on the other hand, can influence the effectiveness of that program, and can potentially better prepare the student for a life in the desired industry.

This is because the purpose and direction of the MBA has changed.  No longer allocated to the select group of students who want a career in a specific aspect of business, the MBA is appropriate for just about any employee of any company.  The breadth and range of the degree has expanded, and the success you can achieve with it has as well.  Nowadays, any students who want to perform for a company that is focused on making money should seriously consider earning an MBA.  There is guaranteed to be a specialization for whichever field you plan to enter.   

Matthew Ulmer is a writer at GradSchools.com