NationStates Jolt Archive

Everywhere I look nowadays, TV, internet etc...everyone mentions this MBA degree. And an ever increasing number of universities starts offering MBA courses. I was wondering whats so special about this degree?

People think it is important and useful and prepared to fork out for one. Universities need the money and generally have the resources.

People think it is important and useful and prepared to fork out for one. Universities need the money and generally have the resources.
And it's not important and usefull?

Um, it means you get a Masters degree, which is one step beyond a Bachelors and one below a PhD....where is the not making sense? Better education in most cases equals better job and better salary.

And it's not important and usefull?
Never said that.

Just said that if there is a need, there will probably be a supply.

Um, it means you get a Masters degree, which is one step beyond a Bachelors and one below a PhD....where is the not making sense? Better education in most cases equals better job and better salary.
Well, it just seems to me as if a MBA is like the Holy Grail of degrees. Considering how many MBA courses have been popping up around here lately.

It's because of the increase in tertiary eduction. A BA was ample when very few people went to Universities. If you had a BA, you were provably able to demonstrate the ability to achieve an academic qualification that only a minority of people had achieved. With so many people having BA's, having a BA now is no more special than finishing high-school was a few decades ago. So to achieve the 'career advantages' that a BA once bestowed (in terms of competing against others) it is now necessary to have an MBA. If you consider the level of qualifications in the work place, you will see that many jobs once requring no degree now require a BA or other degree, and also many jobs that required a BA, now go to people with much higher qualifications. Basically BAs were considered good enough when they were rare and they marked the seperation between average and highly educated, as BA's have become more common, the mark has been moved to the rarer MBA - where once a BA promised a bright career, now an MBA or higher is necessary to achieve the same career advantage.

An MBA is quite simple; Masters in Business Administration. It's a useful degree as management skills are becoming more in demand. My dad teaches part of this, as well as the PhD program.

Another reason the MBA may be more in demand lately is because during the economic boom awhile back, it was technical degrees that were most in demand. Now companies may be finding they don't have enough people with strong business skills. Since (right or wrong) they treat the MBA as one indicator of that, there's now a large demand for people to get one.

I've been thinking about getting one myself and am curious. Do the people who have an MBA think it is worthwhile getting? Also do you think that an MBA from some of these online programs (aka U. of Phoenix), or lesser known universities is worth getting?

an MBA is a little different to most masters courses as entry requirements usually entail some form of workplace experience. You usually cant just enroll in one straight out of a bachelors course.

an MBA is a little different to most masters courses as entry requirements usually entail some form of workplace experience. You usually cant just enroll in one straight out of a bachelors course.

Not true. If you're talking about an Executive MBA (EMBA) program, yes, you have to have work experience.

But many respectable universities offer straight MBA programs that accept some students straight out of their bachelor's programs.

Not true. If you're talking about an Executive MBA (EMBA) program, yes, you have to have work experience.

But many respectable universities offer straight MBA programs that accept some students straight out of their bachelor's programs.

This is true...BUT, you might want to work for a couple years first. Most companies like you to have experience PLUS an MBA...

Also, you can get your employer to pay your way...well, sometimes...

That is true. But I don't want to bar the way for anybody who does want to go straight into their MBA, either. ;)

But what if I dislike business and instead just want to help build the things that make those who do rich?

But what if I dislike business and instead just want to help build the things that make those who do rich?

I think everyone would benefit from having at least a few finance/economics classes. You ought to know how the world (money) works before venturing out...

That is true. But I don't want to bar the way for anybody who does want to go straight into their MBA, either. ;)

Certainly...it is a good move for people from other backgrounds (such as engineers) to get a good foundation in business and management

I got my MBA right after my MS, it was a really good experience

I think everyone would benefit from having at least a few finance/economics classes. You ought to know how the world (money) works before venturing out...

But why not let people copy my ideas and then do better marketing on the inferior copies?

But why not let people copy my ideas and then do better marketing on the inferior copies?

um...what? I don't understand your question.

um...what? I don't understand your question.

I have an idea. Billy doesn't. He copies my idea and makes a crappy, perverse, twisted version of my idea. Yet he does cool marketing with it, making it flash cool colors, while mine is just a better product for much less. Still, Billy wins because he got his M.B.A. while I just made real contributions to society.

I have an idea. Billy doesn't. He copies my idea and makes a crappy, perverse, twisted version of my idea. Yet he does cool marketing with it, making it flash cool colors, while mine is just a better product for much less. Still, Billy wins because he got his M.B.A. while I just made real contributions to society.

Alright...well, if you have a cool idea, you should patent it. That will ensure you have exclusive rights for 20 years.

Alright...well, if you have a cool idea, you should patent it. That will ensure you have exclusive rights for 20 years.

But that's caving in to the whole business mentality!

It really is pitting scientists vs businessmen here. A Scientist's first impulse after finding something is to publish, publish, publish. The businessman's first impulse is to patent, patent, patent. That's what I'm talking about.

But that's caving in to the whole business mentality!

It really is pitting scientists vs businessmen here. A Scientist's first impulse after finding something is to publish, publish, publish. The businessman's first impulse is to patent, patent, patent. That's what I'm talking about.

This is true, BUT - a well documented diary of scientific discovery is as good as a patent. The US office of patents has more information about such things.

For example - a thesis by a PhD student will prove that they discovered something first and own the rights to it.

Not true. If you're talking about an Executive MBA (EMBA) program, yes, you have to have work experience.

But many respectable universities offer straight MBA programs that accept some students straight out of their bachelor's programs.
Ah. So there are different kinds of MBA's? Whats the what on that?

But what if I dislike business and instead just want to help build the things that make those who do rich?
Then get an engineering degree...

maybe things are different here in the uk, maybe my course is starnge, I dunno...
but I'm in the middle of my Engineering degree, will graduate with masters in 2 yrs
YET we get a fair bit of business, economic, and management lectures
yes the majority of the graduates go into engineering jobs, but management is the 2nd biggets sector for them to go into....

*shrugs* maybe I'm lucky and getting the best of both worlds?

*shrugs* maybe I'm lucky and getting the best of both worlds?
Maybe you are.

maybe things are different here in the uk, maybe my course is starnge, I dunno...
but I'm in the middle of my Engineering degree, will graduate with masters in 2 yrs
YET we get a fair bit of business, economic, and management lectures
yes the majority of the graduates go into engineering jobs, but management is the 2nd biggets sector for them to go into....

*shrugs* maybe I'm lucky and getting the best of both worlds?

Interesting. I just finished my BS in Mechanical Engineering in the US, and took only a simple econ course. I wanted to take more but was discouraged by my advisor. If I wanted that, he said to get an MBA afterwards, and finish my BS sooner. (To be honest, these wouldn't have counted towards my degree and would have added on time to graduation so I do think it was sound advice.)

What kind of Eng. are you working on? I know that Industrial takes a lot of business, but I don't think that others do. Might be interesting to see what you guys learn in UK compared to here.

But what if I dislike business and instead just want to help build the things that make those who do rich?

Do what I did .... get a degree in Mathematics ... Most Useless. Degree. Ever.

Do what I did .... get a degree in Mathematics ... Most Useless. Degree. Ever.
Realy? What can you do with a math degree? Besides becoming a math teacher.

Ah. So there are different kinds of MBA's? Whats the what on that?

I'm going to show you an example of one university that has both programs...it'll differ from institution to institution, though, as to who has what.

This writeup is for University of Alabama. It's a pretty good program (ranked #27 in the nation or something like that), and you can read about both types of program.

http://mba.cba.ua.edu/overview/overview_2_1.php?PHPSESSID=19fa34e9f5e2acce2804d03ec84d257a

Of course, you should check with wherever you're interested in going to see which kind of program they have and if it fits your needs.

Realy? What can you do with a math degree? Besides becoming a math teacher.

Exactly ... it's a completely useless degree. When I went to college, I spent my first two years as a music composition major, got an Associates in that, and then asked one of the friendly councilors what degree I could get that would be even more useless than a degree in music ... he said "Mathematics". So, that's what I did.

I'll never teach ... unless I can beat the hell out of the students.

I use my mathematics in coding (computer programming), but that's about it.

I'm going to show you an example of one university that has both programs...it'll differ from institution to institution, though, as to who has what.

This writeup is for University of Alabama. It's a pretty good program (ranked #27 in the nation or something like that), and you can read about both types of program.

http://mba.cba.ua.edu/overview/overview_2_1.php?PHPSESSID=19fa34e9f5e2acce2804d03ec84d257a

Of course, you should check with wherever you're interested in going to see which kind of program they have and if it fits your needs.
Ah thanks. So the Executive MBA is higher then the 2 years course right? Hmm I guess many of those degrees they offer around me here, and many of the online MBA degrees are executives then. Since most of the schools demand 3 to 5 years of relevant working experience as an entry requirement.

Exactly ... it's a completely useless degree. When I went to college, I spent my first two years as a music composition major, got an Associates in that, and then asked one of the friendly councilors what degree I could get that would be even more useless than a degree in music ... he said "Mathematics". So, that's what I did.

I'll never teach ... unless I can beat the hell out of the students.

I use my mathematics in coding (computer programming), but that's about it.
:D I always thought a math degree is something realy high and importand.

Ah thanks. So the Executive MBA is higher then the 2 years course right? Hmm I guess many of those degrees they offer around me here, and many of the online MBA degrees are executives then. Since most of the schools demand 3 to 5 years of relevant working experience as an entry requirement.

Not all schools do require that work experience. I don't know where in the U.S. you are (or if you're in the U.S.), but in the SEC I believe Auburn, Alabama, and the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) will let you in with no experience. You may not get preferential treatment, but you CAN get in.

EMBA classes may be offered at different times, and you may want to check to see if the course offerings are the same.

Program lengths at various schools vary from as little as 11 months (Ole Miss) to 24 months (Alabama), to in between (18 months--Auburn).

Exactly ... it's a completely useless degree. When I went to college, I spent my first two years as a music composition major, got an Associates in that, and then asked one of the friendly councilors what degree I could get that would be even more useless than a degree in music ... he said "Mathematics". So, that's what I did.

I'll never teach ... unless I can beat the hell out of the students.

I use my mathematics in coding (computer programming), but that's about it.
I've got you beat--Bachelor's in English with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. :D

I can teach--if I can find a job once I finish my fellowship time at Stanford--or I can keep my part-time job as a grunt at a brewery, or I can move back to Florida and work with my brother-in-law silk screening t-shirts.

I knew what I was getting with my degrees, so I'm not bitching. I'll keep going to school and collecting degrees because I love it, and I'll work in the real world to keep my writing from becoming academic and antiseptic, but in monetary terms, my degrees are pretty useless.

I don't know where in the U.S.
Nowhere. I'm in the Netherlands.

I've got you beat--Bachelor's in English with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. :D

I can teach--if I can find a job once I finish my fellowship time at Stanford--or I can keep my part-time job as a grunt at a brewery, or I can move back to Florida and work with my brother-in-law silk screening t-shirts.

I knew what I was getting with my degrees, so I'm not bitching. I'll keep going to school and collecting degrees because I love it, and I'll work in the real world to keep my writing from becoming academic and antiseptic, but in monetary terms, my degrees are pretty useless.

'Fraid he has you beat sir, yours would get you direct to the Public Service.

Exactly ... it's a completely useless degree. When I went to college, I spent my first two years as a music composition major, got an Associates in that, and then asked one of the friendly councilors what degree I could get that would be even more useless than a degree in music ... he said "Mathematics". So, that's what I did.

I'll never teach ... unless I can beat the hell out of the students.

I use my mathematics in coding (computer programming), but that's about it.

Are you kidding me? Math is the cornerstone of engineering and science. If you can't get a job, you must not be marketing yourself very well.

Are you kidding me? Math is the cornerstone of engineering and science. If you can't get a job, you must not be marketing yourself very well.
Thast what I thought.