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If you’re interested in business school, you might be wondering, “What does an MBA teach you?” Specifically, what do you actually learn? Also, how is it relevant to your career?
The Master of Business Administration (or MBA) develops the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in business. In this guide, we’ll talk about what you learn in business school. Specifically, we’ll cover the core curriculum, leadership development, problem-solving skills, and networking opportunities. Finally, we’ll tackle some frequently asked questions.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- Core Business Knowledge
- Leadership & Management Skills
- Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation
- Networking & Industry Exposure
- Soft Skills & Personal Development
- Is an MBA Right for You?
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What’s Next?
Core Business Knowledge
A key objective of an MBA is to learn core business knowledge. In other words, the typical MBA curriculum includes common management information. The MBA core subjects include:
- Finance and Accounting: Learn about financial statements, investment strategies, corporate finance, and fundamental accounting concepts.
- Marketing Management: Explore the functions of marketing, including branding, consumer behavior, digital and product marketing, and brand management.
- Organizational Behavior: Develop insights into leadership, team management and dynamics, and professional culture.
- Operations Management: Understand how to optimize supply chains, drive efficiency, and manage logistics.
- Business Strategy: Gain knowledge of corporate strategy and competitive advantages.
- Economics for Business: Learn the fundamentals of macroeconomics and microeconomics.
- Data Analysis & Business Analytics: Analyze information across various sources and learn how to incorporate data into decision making.
Each MBA program structure varies. However, most programs cover these topics. As a result, students understand how core business functions are interrelated. Additionally, students become more effectively prepared to tackle complex business challenges.
KEY FACT:
Students with deep expertise (e.g., CFA or CPA) may qualify for a waiver to skip core coursework in that function.
Leadership & Management Skills
What do they teach you in an MBA about leadership? Notably, the MBA curriculum won’t just develop your technical skills. Specifically, coursework and programming will also develop your leadership skills. After all, these skills are essential for managing projects, teams, and companies.
Generally, the MBA curriculum develops key leadership and management skills, including:
- making decisions with limited information
- managing conflict and navigating negotiations
- developing emotional intelligence and
- thinking strategically and creating a long-term vision
TTP PRO TIP:
Reflect on your leadership capabilities and identify how you can improve them at your target MBA programs.
Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills
An MBA will teach you how to analyze business challenges and develop solutions. Specifically, MBA courses such as business analytics, data analysis, and supply chain management help you sharpen these skills.
Generally, MBA programs develop the following competencies:
- critical thinking and problem solving
- risk management
- decision-making frameworks
- strategic foresight and forecasting
- ethical oversight
Consequently, MBA students can expand their analytical and problem-solving skills to tackle future challenges.
KEY FACT:
MBA programs can help students sharpen their analytical and problem-solving skills.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Business school is an increasingly popular choice for entrepreneurs. Therefore, many top MBA programs offer coursework in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Students pursuing an MBA in entrepreneurship can develop their ability to:
- develop business plans
- raise capital to fund their ideas
- assess their competitive advantages
- innovate and scale their companies
While coursework is important to learn new skills, practical experience is critical. Therefore, entrepreneurs should take advantage of incubator programs, pitch competitions, consulting opportunities, and more.
KEY FACT:
Due to rising interest, many top MBA programs offer coursework in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Networking & Industry Exposure
Many candidates pursue an MBA degree for networking and career benefits. However, networking isn’t just about building connections with hiring managers.
MBA students can build diverse networks among:
- fellow students from a range of industries and backgrounds
- alums across a range of companies, regions, and countries
- professors with extensive research and/or professional experience
- companies that partner with and recruit from the program
Students pursuing an MBA in finance, an MBA in marketing, or an MBA in healthcare management will benefit from these multi-faceted relationships.
KEY FACT:
Many MBA programs offer guidance on improving students’ networking abilities.
Soft Skills & Personal Development
In addition to academics, leadership, and networking, an MBA helps students bolster their soft skills. Notably, soft skills are essential to career advancement.
The soft skills MBA students develop and refine include:
- communication skills and presentation capabilities
- time management and project prioritization
- flexibility and adaptability in dynamic situations
- emotional, cultural, and social intelligence
- a global perspective
Strong soft skills will pay dividends in a student’s post-MBA career and beyond!
KEY FACT:
MBA programs help students improve soft skills that are essential to career advancement.
Is an MBA Right for You?
Hopefully, you’ve gained a stronger understanding of what an MBA does for you. As discussed, the lessons learned during MBA experiences extend beyond academics. Specifically, an MBA provides increased job opportunities, stronger earning potential, and the opportunity to pivot careers. Finally, the MBA provides access to a new network of students, alums, and recruiters.
We recommend that all candidates do their diligence when applying for MBA programs. After all, it’s a significant investment that should align with your goals.
Key Takeaways
So, what do they teach you in MBA? An MBA helps students gain foundational business skills, develop soft skills, and become stronger leaders. Additionally, the experience helps entrepreneurs, career changers, and those accelerating their current careers.
If you’re considering an MBA, research your options. Additionally, compare the MBA syllabus across your target programs and align each program with your career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the MBA subjects?
What do you learn in an MBA education? It depends on the program and your focus area. However, most MBA programs offer courses in accounting, economics, finance, marketing, operations, strategy, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, some programs offer specialities.
How many MBA subjects are there?
The number of subjects depends on each MBA program. Review the course catalogs for your target MBA programs.
What are the benefits of getting an MBA?
What does an MBA do for you? As explained in this article, there are many benefits of getting an MBA. Specifically, you can learn fundamental business concepts, develop leadership and management skills, and grow your problem-solving skills. Additionally, you can partake in networking opportunities and cultivate your soft skills.
What skills does an MBA give you?
This article discusses the range of skills developed through an MBA. Specifically, you can develop hard skills, such as financial modeling, along with soft skills, such as negotiations.
How does an MBA prepare you for leadership roles?
An MBA helps you prepare for leadership roles by developing hard and soft skills. This article explains some of these skill areas in detail. Ultimately, these skills and experiences prepare students to tackle new challenges in their professional careers.
What’s Next?
If you’re interested in pursuing an MBA but are unsure whether it’s right for you, we can help! Target Test Prep’s experienced MBA admissions consultants will advise on your goals.
