Should You Pursue an M.B.A.? Benefits and Advantages
An M.B.A. is a popular choice for those considering a career change or advancing an existing one. In fact, more than 250,000 people are pursuing an M.B.A. worldwide. However, pursuing an M.B.A. is not a decision to be made lightly. There are several factors to consider such as: going full-time vs part-time, financial impacts, and your career trajectory. And while there are certainly career benefits, an M.B.A. is not a magic wand that will instantly put you in the C-Suite. There are several benefits and advantages to pursuing an M.B.A. that include applying skills recruiters love and marketing knowledge and perspectives that make you a desirable employee.
Global Perspective
Now more than ever, business is truly a global enterprise. When you pursue an M.B.A., you gain a greater understanding of global markets and how business disciplines interact. At St. John’s University, this global-centric focus is at the forefront of our curriculum. Graduate students can enroll in Global Destinations Courses (GDCs) that provide the opportunity to immerse in another culture while still earn the degree.
“I had an amazing trip and I really enjoyed every second of it! It was a great group of 9 students and both Professor Bergbrant and our Dean did a great job making the trip very exciting and I learned a lot. I will definitely recommend this class and trip to all my friends. This class and trip is more than just an in-class finance class. With the trip to London you are able to learn about how the financial market works in a different place in the world and you are able to be professional and attend business meetings with high-profile people. The trip was also a cultural trip that taught you about the history of London and the history of the financial district in London. You are also able to learn about different people and get closer with the other students and the teacher you are traveling with. It is a once in a lifetime experience and I would recommend the trip to everyone! - Sofie H. London Finance GDC Spring 2018
Global perspectives are not only electives a student can choose to take, but also are embedded within the core curriculum such as, “Global Financial and Managerial Reporting” and “Managing for Global Success”, in which the global perspective is a focus. If the global perspective interests you, there are concentrations designed to focus more on the global views of business including: International Business Administration and Entrepreneurship.
Elevate Your Career Path
As mentioned earlier, an M.B.A. is not a magic wand that will instantly accelerate you from entry level to C-suite. An M.B.A., however, will provide you with skills – both soft and technical –that will make you more employable and more desirable to recruiters. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), an M.B.A. is one of the most in-demand degrees and recipients earn $10,000 more in starting salaries than their undergraduate counterparts. When you earn an M.B.A., you are more likely to be viewed by recruiters or by those looking to promote from within as having enhanced skills. Employers will have confidence that you’ll immediately contribute to business initiatives resulting in positive and impactful outcomes.
Broaden Your Skillset
When you pursue an M.B.A., you’ll be exposed to industry operations and will gain a better understanding of the intricacies of industries. The core curriculum broadly covers business areas that include:
- ACC 602: Global Financial and Managerial Reporting
- DS 602: Business Analytics
- ECO 606: Industrial Economics
- FIN 607: Financial Management
- LAW 600: Law, Ethics and the Principled Path in Business
- MGT 601: Managing for Global Success
- MKT 600: Decisions in Marketing Management
- RMI 601: Risk Management
In addition to the core, the concentration focuses on a specific area, improves your worth as an employee and provides a holistic perspective of business. A capstone course culminates the M.B.A. program that synthesizes the application of the business disciplines from policy and strategic perspectives.
Pursuing an M.B.A. from St. John’s University
Pursuing an M.B.A. at St. John’s University will make you a more well-rounded, desirable, and hirable candidate for business. St. John’s offers multiple M.B.A. program modalities for students including full-time, part-time, online, and onsite. Numerous concentrations and the core curriculum allow for innovative approaches to in-class learning while expanding the development of real-world skills.
