Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Specialized MBA Programs

The students who are planning to do MBA this year have two options. The majority of B schools in India offer general MBA programs, which is a holistic management science. Another option you have is that of specialized MBA.

The Spread of Specialized MBA Programs
B school trends may come and go, but one that seems to have legs is the creation of specialized MBA programs. MBA is not just about the general management but about getting specific knowledge on an area in which your interest lies. If you are clear with your objective on which field you want to pursue MBA in, instead of pursuing general MBA, you can directly go for the specialized MBA program.

Many top private B schools offer specialized MBA programs apart from their flagship program of PGDM. If you want to stand out of the league and direct your career to a particular direction, you must take the other route to walk, away from the usual.

The trend toward specialization has crept into most fields over the past few decades, but few have embraced the shift more enthusiastically than graduate schools of business. The percentage of business school students enrolled in specialized programs has risen to a great extent as each year, more and more students are enrolling for specialized MBA.

Instead of exposing them to theory or the big picture of their discipline, specialized programs tend to zero in on practical and commercial applications. Niche MBA programs tend to attract students who know exactly to which industry they are heading, as well as older students with business experience who may want to change fields.

Is a specialized program always a good choice for an MBA student?
Not necessarily. While established programs have placement records on par with those of their general MBAs, many newer programs have not yet established the kind of recruiting relationships that guarantee students high-paying jobs at graduation. And graduates always run the risk of getting hamstrung by their specialties later in their careers, when an industry downturn forces them to look outside their specialties for opportunities.

Chart your own path:
Some students who have gone through the specialized programs say they are best for those with a firm idea of their future goals, and who are keen to chart their own path. For students who aren't comfortable breaking away from the pack or seeking out professional contacts in unconventional ways, a specialized MBA might not be the best choice. This is especially true for less known schools, where big companies often don't recruit. Students in these programs agree that making industry connections can require a lot of initiative from the student. In some cases, specialty programs are not as well-received by the targeted employers as students would hope.

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