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A master of business administration, MBA, has long been considered the most desirable degree for business executives who would like to advance their careers. If you'd like to follow in the footsteps of CEOs, successful business owners and entrepreneurs who have used their MBAs to succeed in the business world, then it's time to start working toward your MBA in general management. Many mid-level managers have found that promotional opportunities are within reach when they obtain an MBA, and that often times employers are willing to foot the bill to make it happen.
Required Coursework to Obtain a General Management MBA
General MBA courses typically include classes in accounting, business law, economics, finance, international business, management, marketing and statistics. These classes usually comprise half the credits that MBA students will take. Once the core classes are completed, students move into their areas of concentration, also known as specializations. For the general management concentration, courses may include:
All on-campus classes are interactive and require a significant amount of team work. While exams are presented on an individual basis, almost all classes will require a written paper and/or team presentation at the end of the term. Teamwork plays a pivotal role in MBA programs as collaboration is highly representative of the business world.
General Management MBA Programs: Choose Between On-Campus and Online
Online MBA programs are ideal for those students who lack close proximity to a physical campus, who prefer learning from the comfort of their own home or who cannot commit to a relatively rigid on-campus schedule. Hundreds of schools around the country--public, private and for-profit--offer online MBA degrees in general management. Students can expect to complete an online MBA in two to four years. Six credits, or two classes, is considered to be full-time. Students interact with their fellow pupils and professors on a continual basis via online formats.
On-campus MBAs are a good fit for students who live close to a campus, who enjoy in-person interaction and who want to build solid relationships with their classmates. Many students find that their fellow MBAs become a central part of their business network upon graduation. On-campus programs typically include 48 credits, or 16 classes, and can be completed in two to four years. Executive MBAs, or EMBAs, are degrees that are geared toward the working professional and can be completed in roughly 18 to 22 months.
Applicants for an MBA program must submit school transcripts, letters of recommendation and written application statements. They also must obtain a specific score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test, or GMAT, for the majority of on-campus programs. Many universities also require a significant amount of previous work experience.
Career Options and Salary for Graduates with an MBA in General Management
While employment or a promotion following graduation are never guaranteed, having an MBA opens up new doors to senior-level positions to those graduates who already have a solid amount of relevant work experience. Graduates can work in a variety of businesses and sectors, but tend to work in mid- to senior-level positions. An MBA is usually required for many positions. One is the position of management analyst, for which the mean earned wages were $84,650, according to 2009 Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS predicts a 24 percent growth in employment for management analysts in the decade between 2008 and 2018. Many MBA graduates dream of the ultimate post-MBA job, which requires many years' experience and hard work, but is certainly within reach: the chief executive position. The mean earned wages for chief executives were $167,280, according to 2009 BLS statistics. These positions pay very well, but are also highly demanding and challenging.
Are you ready to start your journey to senior management in a new industry or sector or do you want to take the first step to put yourself in the position to advance within your company? Now is the time to find your favorite on-campus or online MBA in general management program and start making your dreams your top business priority.
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