Whether you’re starting out in your career or looking for the stepping stone to that promotion, an mba can help you reach the next level of business success. And even for those who already have years of experience in the field, a graduate degree like this can help cultivate new ideas and strategies to take to the boardroom.
“The key to success in any business is being able to make decisions and take action,” says Mossavar-Rahmani, who notes that gaining a solid foundation in the principles of business can help professionals become better decision-makers. An MBA can also help you hone the soft skills necessary to work with others, such as empathy, time and project management and strategic thinking.
The coursework for an MBA varies by institution and specialty, but the full-time programs that many students choose to enroll in generally run for two academic years. During this time, you’ll typically take a combination of required courses, elective options and classes that can count toward a concentration or specialization. Many programs also encourage MBA students to complete an internship between years one and two.
Some schools offer the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of business through specialized MBA courses, such as business analytics or data analysis. SNHU, for instance, offers 17 different MBA concentrations that can give you a leg up in the job market.