Today’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs offer many choices and wide-ranging areas of focus. An MBA in Management is one option. What sets this specialized degree apart?
This versatile degree can prepare graduates for leadership positions in a range of industries. Financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, telecommunications, nonprofits and government are just a few. Additionally, management occupations are often high paying, based on data reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median annual wage for management occupations was well over twice the median wage for all occupations in 2022.
La Salle University offers an online MBA – Management Specialization program that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical, real-world applications to give students the tools they need to succeed in management roles. The online format of this program accommodates the schedules of working professionals. Students can complete coursework in as few as 14 to 16 months.
What Is the Difference Between a General MBA and an MBA in Management?
A general MBA and an MBA with a specialization in management share common coursework that develops expertise in business fundamentals. At La Salle, for example, both programs cover managerial accounting, business analytics, finance and marketing management.
Key differences in La Salle’s management MBA include the specialization courses that students choose from. Each student completes three courses out of the following options:
- Human Resource Management
- Leadership Theory and Practice
- Managing Cultural Diversity in the Workplace
- Health Systems Management
- Organizational Development and the Consulting Process
Further — as with the general MBA program — students complete Executive Perspectives courses that prepare professionals for upper management and leadership roles. These courses cover topics like leadership skill development, information technology and the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills needed for socially responsible decision-making.
What Is the Job Outlook for MBA in Management Grads?
An MBA with a management focus may give graduates a competitive advantage in the job market. The degree program specifically prepares students for jobs in management, and as noted above, these jobs tend to pay well. BLS reports the median wage for all management occupations was $107,360 in 2022. BLS also points to a strong job outlook for careers in management. BLS projects that employment in management occupations will grow faster than the average growth of all occupations between 2022 and 2032.
Moreover, compensation for MBA grads stands out when compared to other educational tracks. The 2023 Corporate Recruiters Survey from GMAC found that new MBA graduates in the U.S. can expect a median annual salary roughly $50,000 higher than what recruiters plan to offer bachelors grads. In fact, the 2023 median starting salary for MBA grads is $40,000 to $50,000 higher than median starting salaries for other business master’s degrees like the Master of Accounting or Master of Data Analytics.
A look at several management career options follows, with data on 2022 earnings from BLS.
- Compensation and benefits managers: These management professionals work in all industries, overseeing employee pay and benefits programs such as health insurance. The median annual wage for this occupation is $131,280.
- Medical and health services managers: Healthcare administrators work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, nursing facilities and home healthcare organizations. Although the median annual wage for this occupation is $104,830, managers working in hospitals earn more ($125,280).
- Natural sciences managers: Those with a science background and an advanced degree such as a management MBA can go on to manage activities related to research and development. The median annual wage in this occupation is $144,440. Those working in state government positions earn $89,150, compared to $170,220 for those working in manufacturing.
Launch an Executive Career With an MBA in Management
Interested in executive-level positions? An MBA in Management may make the difference. La Salle’s coursework, for example, helps students hone the leadership, analytical, technological, decision-making and management skills required to lead a modern organization. At $189,520 — as reported by BLS — the 2022 annual median wage for these chief executive positions is considerably higher than that for management occupations in general.
Earning an online MBA – Management Specialization degree from La Salle University can help professionals advance their careers across a range of industries. With enhanced managerial and leadership skills, graduates of this specialized MBA program can take advantage of a growing job market and overall higher-than-average salaries.
Learn more about La Salle University’s online MBA – Management Specialization program.