With each passing year, more academic and business experts claim that an MBA specialization can help business school graduates stand out with recruiters. “Deans at several top b-schools say employers are beginning to expect a specialization listed on an MBA candidate’s resume,” according to a recent article in U.S. News & World Report. Specializations provide competitive advantages in skill set development, career planning and networking that can open more doors for graduates.
La Salle University offers five specialized online MBA programs in high-demand fields in addition to a General Master of Business Administration online. To help you determine the ideal educational path for your career goals, here are the focused MBA online programs we offer, along with typical positions in those specialization.
Management Specialization: Learn about human resource and organizational management, including strategy and planning. Study the role of research in behavioral economics, psychology, marketing and other disciplines in solving today’s business problems. Graduates will be able to fast-track their careers with essential knowledge about human resources, corporate decision-making, leadership and more.
Training in management prepares graduates for a wide range of career options, many of which have six-figure average salaries. There are management positions in compensation and benefits, administrative services, information systems, supply chain, education, purchasing, sales and many other areas. Management analysts are in high demand, earning $82,450 per year, with 14 percent job growth expected from 2016-2026.
Business Systems & Analytics Specialization: Prepare for leadership roles in today’s dynamic and evolving business analytics environment. Study fields such as business systems analysis, database design, business intelligence and data warehousing and mining.
This specialization prepares graduates for a broad range of career options including data analyst, economist, data engineer, BI engineer, business analyst, customer insight analyst and statistician. Salaries for many of these positions start in the six figures.
Marketing Specialization: Gain a foundation for growth and career advancement in marketing. Prepare for leadership roles by gaining a deeper understanding of strategic marketing intelligence, current analytical tools and techniques, social and new media marking, and the latest methods to understand the market and brand influences on consumer behavior.
Management jobs in advertising, promotions and marketing are expected to grow 10 percent from 2016-2026 — faster than average. The median annual pay is $129,380 per year. High-demand jobs in this field include marketing manager, marketing analyst, PR manager, PR specialist, sales manager and market research analyst.
Finance Specialization: Equip yourself with the skills and knowledge necessary for a range of roles in financial analysis and management. Develop a working and practical understanding of global markets, portfolio management and risk management. Coursework covers financial instruments and markets, including balance sheet structures, regulations and trends across the evolving spectrum of business.
Financial management jobs are expected to grow 19 percent from 2016-2026. Services provided by financial managers, such as planning, directing, structuring and coordinating financial and non-financial investments are likely to stay in demand as the economy grows. Jobs to consider include financial manager, auditor, budget analyst, financial analyst, insurance sales manager, underwriter, loan officer and personal financial advisor.
Accounting Specialization: Advance your professional credentials and fulfill some of the educational requirements for CPA licensure. Prepare for a variety of accounting, financial and general management roles in such areas as auditing, financial reporting, research, and public or corporate accounting.
The field of accounting is expected to grow 10 percent from 2016-2026 — faster than average. The median annual pay for an accountant is $68,150 per year. Other jobs that may interest prospective students for this specialization include budget analyst, cost estimator, financial analyst, management consultant, financial manager and tax revenue agent.
If you are a working professional and you want to advance further down your present or chosen career path, a specialized MBA can provide the specific skill sets employers demand.
Learn more about La Salle University’s online MBA programs.
Sources:
U.S. News & World Report: Enhance Earnings With an MBA Specialization
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Accountants and Auditors
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Management Occupations
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Financial Managers