Education

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a graduate degree focusing on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accounting, applied statistics, human resources, business communication, business ethics, business law, strategic management, business strategy, finance, managerial economics, management, entrepreneurship, marketing, supply-chain management, and operations management in a manner most relevant to management analysis and strategy. It originated in the United States in the early 20th century when the country industrialized and companies sought scientific management.

MBA Course Structure

MBA program is structured around core courses — an essentially standard curriculum— and elective courses that allows for a subject specialty or concentration in the second year. Thus, in the program's first year (or part), students acquire both a working knowledge of management functions and the analytical skills required for these, while in the second year (part), students pursue elective courses, which may count towards a specialization. Topics in business ethics are included at the generalist level. After the first year, many full-time students seek internships. The degree culminates with coursework in business strategy, the program capstone. A dissertation or major project is usually a degree requirement after the completion of coursework. MBA program ends with a comprehensive exit examination.MBA program is structured around core courses — an essentially standard curriculum— and elective courses that allows for a subject specialty or concentration in the second year. Thus, in the program's first year (or part), students acquire both a working knowledge of management functions and the analytical skills required for these, while in the second year (part), students pursue elective courses, which may count towards a specialization. Topics in business ethics are included at the generalist level. After the first year, many full-time students seek internships. The degree culminates with coursework in business strategy, the program capstone. A dissertation or major project is usually a degree requirement after the completion of coursework. MBA program ends with a comprehensive exit examination.

The Program is designed such that students gain exposure to theory and practice alike. Courses include lectures, case studies, and team projects. Theory is covered in the classroom setting by academic faculty, and is reinforced through the case method, placing the student in the role of the decision maker. Similar to real world business situations, cases include both constraints and incomplete information. Practical learning (field immersion) often comprises consulting projects with real clients, and is generally undertaken in teams (or "syndicates"). The practical elements (as well as the case studies) often involve external practitioners—sometimes business executives—supporting the teaching from academic faculty.

The analytic skills required for management are usually covered initially. The accounting courses may treat financial and management accounting separately or in one hybrid course. Financial accounting deals mainly in the interpretation (and preparation) of financial statements while management accounting deals mainly in the analysis of internal results. The economics course covers managerial economics, a technical course that mainly focuses on product pricing as influenced by microeconomic theory, and aggregate-or macroeconomics, which deals with topics like the banking system, the money supply, and inflation. Operations Research and statistics are sometimes interlapping concepts, combined as as "Managerial Decision-Making" or "Quantitative Decision-Making"; organizational behaviour and human resource management may similarly cover related topics.

Program also includes (coursework-based) training in the skills needed at senior levels of management: soft skills, such as (general) leadership and negotiation; hard skills, such as spreadsheets and project management; thinking skills such as innovation and creativity. Training in areas such as multiculturalism and corporate social responsibility is similarly included. Company visits (including overseas travel), and guest lectures or seminars with CEOs and management personalities may also be included. These, with the core subjects, provide the graduate with breadth, while the specialty courses provide depth.

Structure
Core
	Analytical	Accounting, economics for management, organizational behavior, quantitative analysis (operations research and business statistics).
	Functional	Financial management, human resource management, marketing management, operations management.
	Ethics	Business ethics, corporate social responsibility, corporate governance.

Career

An MBA prepares individuals for many types of careers. According to a survey by the Graduate Management Admissions Council, 64% of year 2012 MBA graduates used their MBA to change careers. Some of the more common jobs an MBA prepares one for include:

• Business analyst or strategist
• Business development analyst, associate, or manager
• Market research analyst
• Managing Director (of a department)
• Investment banker
• Entrepreneur/founder
• Financial analyst, associate, or manager
• Management consultant
• Marketing associate, analyst, or manager
• Portfolio manager
• Healthcare administrator, analyst, or manager
• Project analyst or strategist
• Product analyst, associate, or manager
• Program analyst, associate, or manager
• Operations analyst, associate, or manager