When Should One Pick An MBA Concentration?
A student may know right from the start what they want to concentrate on during their MBA program. If that's not the case, one is not alone. In fact, most MBA programs require students to complete a set of core courses before choosing a concentration. Others allow them to take a few courses within a specialization before declaring a concentration. And there are many options. Southern New Hampshire University, for instance, offers a general MBA as well as 20 concentrations.
A Tale Of One MBA Alumna
Kira Morehouse ‘13MBA was a digital marketing specialist at Enterprise Bank when she earned her MBA. She completed a concentration in business and corporate strategy because she wanted to join her marketing background with financial strategy. She said her degree and concentration helped her secure a new role.
“In a corporate environment like a bank, it’s helpful and reassuring to the people interviewing you and people you have to report to—board members and directors of the organization—that you have the right background,” Morehouse said.
Morehouse earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and worked for several years at marketing agencies before entering her MBA program. She had developed television, digital and radio marketing campaigns but didn’t have formal education in mathematics or business analytics.
“The confidence I gained when I actually discovered I could do calculus and understand managerial accounting and economics with proper instruction made me feel very capable,” she said.
If young people are thinking about earning an MBA, remember that it is a degree that can prepare you for a wide range of industries. But a concentration provides a focus in a specific area that can give you an edge as you advance your career.
Joseph Cote is Outreach Manager at Southern New Hampshire University.