What Do the Best MBA Programs Teach?
The number of Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs available can leave your head spinning – and that’s understandable. With so many options, how can you know which is the best for you and your future?
If you’re hoping your degree will help you advance your business career, you’ll want to search for a graduate school that combines theory and practical experience, offering you the business acumen and know-how needed to stand out among your colleagues and other job candidates.
The best MBA programs will cover the intersection of all business functions and offer specialized concentrations that allow you to dive deeper into an aspect of business that interests you most.
What Do They Actually Teach in MBA Programs?
In the past, MBA programs have taken a silo approach to teaching business – requiring courses that focused on each central area of business, such as:
- Accounting
- Business Operations
- Human Resources
- Marketing
Now, some institutions are taking a synthesized approach in which courses cover each business function but focus on how they work together and contribute to the greater picture. SNHU’s MBA was redesigned in 2021 with this in mind. “(The MBA) uses ‘interleaving’ where students mix, or interleave, two or three topics to improve learning and help make it stick,” Hobson said. “Students revisit (the) information in courses and throughout the program, yet in different contexts or scenarios.”
Some of the classes you might encounter in an MBA program focus on leadership, strategy, innovation, measurement and optimization. For example, one of the core classes at SNHU is “Leading Organizational Change,” which explores how to lead a workforce that meets business goals and navigate and communicate strategic changes. Another class, “Organizational Strategy in a Global Environment,” examines how strategies are developed and implemented with every business function in mind.
You may also have an opportunity to select a concentration of interest and use your business electives to study a particular subject at greater length. For instance, at SNHU, you can choose from more than 15 types of MBA concentrations, including:
Choosing a program with various specialty options offers you greater control over your education, allowing you to pursue an MBA that interests you and will benefit your career most. If you don’t know what you want to specialize in yet, that’s fine. Some programs don’t require you to decide right away; you can first take some core business classes.
Putting Business Theory to Practice
“SBL begins with a scenario example that allows learners to practice content, aligned to course outcomes, in a real-world scenario of a likely business problem,” Rogers said. Each scenario should give you any tools you might need, use industry terms and have multiple solutions that can be achieved.
A scenario-based learning example SNHU uses in its Building Business Leaders MBA class details a company’s new strategic focus and asks you to explore how it’ll impact marketing and sales and how you can measure the impact. In addition, you may receive documents such as the strategic plan, company’s commitment and vision, and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analyses.
Some skills you could develop through scenario-based assignments such as this one include:
- Technical knowledge: Excel, PowerBI and Tableau
- Management abilities: Business analytics, project management and informed decision-making
- Leadership traits: Emotional intelligence, strategic planning and coaching
You may also have an opportunity to earn certificates or badges that represent proficiency in these industry-related skills. At SNHU, there are credentials embedded in each MBA course, Hobson said.
If you enroll in an MBA program that focuses on experiential learning, you may learn to use data to make decisions, develop and improve organizational strategies and processes, increase your global and cultural awareness and create plans that adhere to standards through practice.
Which MBA is Best in 2022?
One must is accreditation. If you want to receive an MBA that’s industry-respected, make sure you attend a program from an accredited college or university. SNHU, for example, is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), and its MBA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business School and Programs (ACBSP). Accredited schools have been assessed by groups consisting of industry leaders or higher education professionals, for example, and deemed to have met certain standards.
After that, choosing a program comes down to you and what you want from the classes and beyond graduation. You’ll want to look inward at your goals, interests and responsibilities and find an MBA that fits your life.
In your hunt for the best MBA program this year, some questions you may ask yourself are:
- Do I want to attend classes on a college campus or online? If you prefer to learn in person, you could search for an MBA with courses that meet in a classroom. Or, if you’re balancing other responsibilities – such as a full-time job or family – learning from your laptop could be a more practical option.
- Will scheduled class times work for me, or would I benefit from an asynchronous schedule? If you don’t want to commit to attending classes at a set time each week, an asynchronous education could offer the flexibility you need. Asynchronous courses can be completed whenever it makes sense to you.
- How fast do I want to get my MBA? Like many other graduate degrees, traditional MBA programs can take two years. If you’re trying to reach your professional goals sooner, some MBAs may only take one year, such as the online program at SNHU.
Your answers to these questions will help you narrow your MBA search and identify the top programs that fit your lifestyle.
Which Online MBA is the Best?
I
Although virtual, some online MBA programs create hands-on experiences, such as scenario-based learning, allowing you to grow as a business professional through practice. Even better, many online instructors are still immersed in the field and can bring their observations to the classroom and through feedback and individualized conversations.
Since the online environment tends to appeal to the busy working student, your class discussions are likely to feature businesspeople with various experiences and backgrounds that you can learn from and network with as well.
Networking is valuable to learning, career growth and mentorship. Between your interactions with peers and communication with faculty, you’ll have a chance to meet people from all over the country and in varying industries. Alumni networks aren’t just reserved for brick-and-mortar campuses either; between its campus and online graduate, SNHU has a global community of 170,000 alumni with various in-person and virtual opportunities to connect.
If your return to school is career-motivated, you may also wish to find a university prepared to help you grow professionally. Some MBAs offer career support that begins on day one of college and lasts throughout your career. You could get help writing your resume, searching for job openings, developing your elevator pitch, practicing for an interview and more with resources available 24/7 or individualized support by appointment with a career advisor.
When searching for an online MBA program, don’t be afraid to speak with an admission counselor. They can tell you how online classes work and answer specific questions you might have about the MBA program, learning outcomes and resources available to students. The best MBA programs should be helpful from the start before you even enroll.
Is an MBA Really Worth It?
If you hope to impact an organization and are willing to put in the time and attention needed to earn an advanced degree, pursuing an MBA may just be worth it. The journey may be challenging at times, but the best programs will have resources to ensure you have the support and tools you need to succeed.
Did you know you don’t even need to take a standardized test to get into some MBA programs? SNHU, for example, recognizes that graduate exams such as the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) create barriers to higher education. Plus, you can get started on your degree sooner if you don’t need to sit for an exam.
Learn how you can get your MBA without any GMAT requirements.
Rebecca LeBoeuf ’18 is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University. Connect with her on LinkedIn.