A Master of Business Administration degree is a major asset in the business world for those who complete it, no matter what industry they work in or even where they’re located. Earning an MBA indicates students have both a stronger understanding of how to manage people, assets, and operations in the modern economy and have the degree to prove it, both of which can be especially valuable when choosing the next step in a professional path. However, there are many choices for students looking to gain an MBA degree. Why pursue an MBA at the University of Alabama at Birmingham?
MBA career paths and opportunities
As a graduate-level degree focused on the leadership and management aspects of the business world, the MBA can help students secure a variety of high-level positions in many different industries. What might be less recognized is the versatility of this degree, as well as the ability of learners to focus on a specific concentration through the MBA online degree offered by UAB. Students can follow a general track or focus on Finance, Marketing, Management Information Systems, or Health Services to learn about issues, strategies, and tactics specific to those industries. A strong general business foundation is complemented with more targeted learning, putting graduates in a uniquely powerful position as they look to put their degree to work in the business world.
The MBA doesn’t just qualify graduates for work in a specific role or a field of operations — it is desirable throughout the modern economy and presents many options to learners. For that reason, it’s sometimes difficult to adequately quantify the MBA career paths available to graduates. However, in terms of salary and earnings expectations, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) offered some relevant related to the average salary of an MBA graduate.
The BLS found the median salary for a manager across all industries and occupations is $102,590. This is important as a quick measure of the earning potential that qualified graduates can experience. The relative value of the median salary also can’t be ignored. Among all major profession groups in the U.S., the BLS found managers earn the most money. While there’s no guarantee that an individual graduate can immediately secure a high-paying position after graduation and receive such a salary, the broader trend of the value of management skills — and a degree specifically focused on cultivating such knowledge — is apparent.
Careers to pursue with an MBA
Nearly any management position is theoretically open to an MBA holder, although factors such as prior education and work experience make certain positions more attractive and more likely than others. An MBA graduate with experience in finance, for example, is both more likely to seek and secure a role in that field than in marketing or health services, although plenty of exceptions exist. This is why choosing a track as part of UAB’s online MBA program can be so beneficial to students: They enhance their abilities in a specific field in which they already have an interest, if not experience.
With many different opportunities related to holding an MBA, it’s not surprising that students have a similarly wide variety of objectives and motivations. Some may have only been in the business world for a few years but have a long-term plan that results in a C-suite position at a major company. Others may be comfortably established in their industry of choice and secure in their role, but need the distinction of the MBA degree to take the next step forward and move into senior management. Still others might have a specific desire for a career in positions ranging from a marketing manager role in a major U.S. city to working abroad as a compensation and benefits manager for a multinational corporation. As long as that professional goal involves management expertise and skill, the MBA is an excellent asset.
Modern professionals and UAB’s MBA online degree: A great fit
UAB’s MBA online degree offers students the chance to complete their education no matter where they’re located or what other personal and professional responsibilities they need to manage in their lives. The asynchronous and online nature of the learning environment means students can work toward their degrees no matter when or where they have the time to do so. To learn more, get in touch with an advisor today.
Recommended Readings:
A Look at the Concentrations of the UAB Online MBA
The Differences Between an Online and On-Campus MBA
Sources:
UAB Collat School of Business: Course Descriptions MBA
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Management Occupations: Occupational Outlook Handbook