MBA Programs Get Focused
As MBA students seek an edge in an increasingly competitive job market, more and more b-school programs are veering away from traditional general management degrees and offering concentrations like aviation, football, or even undertaking. A Nov. 27 article in Bloomberg Businessweek chronicles the shift in business school programs, noting that many MBA programs are seeking to distinguish themselves just as much as the students seeking degrees.
The article cites a survey by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which shows that the number of general business MBA programs offered worldwide has declined slightly over the past five years, while specialized MBA programs have seen an 11 percent increase.
In the article, Jan Williams, board chairman of the AACSB, said that niche programs are gaining in popularity because they can put MBA students on a fast track to success in a specific career field. B-schools benefit as well, by offering programs that students can't find elsewhere. Whether it's Sonoma State University's Wine MBA or the gaming management program offered by the University of Nevada at Reno, regional universities are finding their areas of expertise and offering MBA students the chance to become experts, as well.
