For many years, a Master of Business Administration was viewed as the best degree for anyone seeking to advance in the corporate world. An MBA represented a way to differentiate oneself from other candidates for the best jobs. Now an MBA is more common, yet its importance has only increased. Rather than being a luxury, it has become a requirement for many jobs.
When deciding to obtain a master’s degree, there are many factors to be considered, including delivery method, university reputation and price; however, there are many benefits to obtaining an MBA in the region where you are employed. Consider the following:
- Networking opportunities. Most MBA programs are filled with high-achievers and young professionals who are upwardly mobile. Interacting with a diverse range of young professionals helps to establish a strong network of peers in your local area. These professionals may end up being your next boss, your next great employee, or your resource in a specific field that is not native to you.
- Regional engagement. MBA programs provide opportunities to engage with the local business community outside of the classroom. Our professional MBA program is different because there is an opportunity to learn by engaging in applied learning activities. Companies like Live Oak Bank and CastleBranch have served as “clients” for our students in projects designed to challenge them with messy real-world problems.
- Faculty. In the classroom, faculty bring real-world experience to textbook knowledge. This translates to specific examples of how concepts are used in the business world. This is then highlighted by colleagues in the classroom sharing practical experiences from their workplaces. Want to know more? Ask the faculty. They are plugged into the local business community, specific to their discipline, and can provide further contacts and information. Faculty can be your best resource to dive deeper into a subject.
- There’s no place like home. Most MBA graduates either receive a promotion or change careers after completing their degree. Being part of a local MBA program allows you to remain connected and give back to your alma mater. This is one way you can remain involved in the local business community and serve as a resource to upcoming business professionals.
So before enrolling in an online MBA program, consider where you plan to work and live. There is more to be gained from an MBA education than textbook knowledge.
For 2014-2015, Dr. Robert T. Burrus, Jr. will serve as interim Dean of the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Before taking on the role of interim Dean, Burrus was the department chair for economics and finance and a professor of economics. He has been on Cameron’s faculty since 1998. The Cameron School of Business has 90 full-time faculty members and 29 administrative and staff members. The school hosts approximately 2,000 undergraduate students and 170 graduate students. International students come to study at Cameron from all over the world. The Cameron School of Business is AACSB accredited; offers capstone experiences; houses a Financial Trading Markets Room; provides for overseas learning opportunities; and is a founding member of the Trans-Atlantic Business School Alliance. To learn more about the Cameron School of Business, please visit http://csb.uncw.edu/. Questions and comments can be sent to [email protected].
