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Management graduate degrees: the key to your future?
The first term on the MSc passed by incredibly quickly. During the ten weeks of that term we had to write essays, undertake our own research, work in groups and prepare presentations. But it was worthwhile " I secured a job with the American chemicals company Cytec on their Leadership Development Program."
Business areas as diverse as risk, human resources, finance and IT all require significant management skills and universities have been quick to develop masters programs catering for this increased demand by individuals and companies alike.
If the general management route is not for you, then specialization offers a myriad of opportunities. Business areas as diverse as risk, human resources, finance and IT all require significant management skills and universities have been quick to develop masters programs catering for this increased demand by individuals and companies alike. Debra J Cohen from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in the USA recommends specialization for those that already have a focus for their future career: �An MBA will give you a very broad business background and, in the case of human resources, will only allow you to take four maybe five HR courses. A Masters in HR, however, will offer most of your courses in that field or a related discipline. If you are positive you want HR then that's the way to go.
Shelia Russ, a student on the Human Resource Management masters program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, USA echoes this view: "I started in the MBA with a concentration in HR, then switched to the Masters in Human Resource Management. My reasoning for switching programs was simply because the masters offered more opportunity for me to take the classes I wanted. In making my decision to switch programs I spoke with several HR professionals all offering similar advice - if HR is really what you want to do, then the MS is your best option. Also, (and this is no reflection on any MBA program, and I only quote someone else) a lot of schools have MBA programs, a Masters is something that can set you apart in the industry."
Taking the MBA or Masters in Management route is one that will depend on your ambitions and your academic and professional backgrounds.
The decision to specialize or not is certainly a very personal one. Similarly, taking the MBA or Masters in Management route is one that will depend on your ambitions and your academic and professional backgrounds. However, one thing, is for certain: studying management offers both a varied grad school experience and one that is rich with employment opportunities after graduation. Pamaljit Kalra, originally from India and now an analyst with Deloitte Consulting, graduated from the Masters of Information Systems Management at Carnegie Mellon University in 2005. Her reason for pursuing a specialized management degree echo many students intent on developing particular skills relevant to the workplace: "I was looking for a program which helped me see technology in the broader perspective in the context of business to see it as what they call a "strategic enabler" of business strategy. I though the MISM program fitted the bill perfectly and I was able to choose courses that were more geared towards a consulting profession."
Graduating with a Masters in Management, in whatever form, opens up a world of career opportunities. While scandals in business and management way well emerge, having a firm academic grasp of the essential aspects of the discipline might see you steer your company along an altogether more successful and ethical path. Can you afford not to consider a Masters in Management?
