Completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree can be an exciting step towards achieving your career goals. MBA programs generally emphasize business management skills, with knowledge that can be subsequently applied to a wide range of roles and industries.
While some MBAs cater to specific career paths – for example, with an emphasis on finance, accounting, marketing, global trade, or education – it is also possible to enroll in a program that offers a more general and flexible course of study. The AACSB-accredited MBA – General online program from Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale is a good example of this approach.
The benefits of a customizable MBA are many. To start, you receive the foundational knowledge needed to graduate and enter the business world. In addition, you gain more specific skills in the areas you are directly interested in, while having a chance to network and collaborate with mid-career professionals as well as your peers.
Finding like-minded students with similar goals is a powerful added benefit for completing an MBA instead of jumping straight into a business role. Enrolling in an MBA can also be a valuable step for those already working and seeking to advance their knowledge and skills, with an emphasis on critical thinking, communication and leadership skills.
The Long-term Benefits of the Personalized MBA Model
There are many benefits to enrolling in an MBA. Indeed points out that MBAs help students gain a global perspective. For those interested in pursuing a job outside of their home country, or one which involves travel, this can be an invaluable tool, also from a networking perspective as students “meet business professionals from other countries and connect with their culture, experiences, skills, and diverse viewpoints.”
An MBA also gives you a chance to fortify transferable skills and career credibility, putting you a step ahead of job candidates lacking similar certification. As Indeed explains, “It can also prove that you can reduce risks by making the best decision for an organization … You’re confident that you possess the abilities employers want and can market yourself accordingly.”
MBA programs like those at SIU Carbondale also work to improve students’ communication skills through practical projects, offer improved financial understanding vital to many different roles and organizations, and help to build a professional portfolio that shows employers you are ready for the job and have the experience necessary to jump into a team and contribute effectively.
Why Customization Matters in Today’s MBA Landscape
A recent article on LinkedIn asks, “What are the most effective ways to align your curriculum with current industry trends?” For both educators and students, having the power to customize a curriculum to suit current and future industry needs is invaluable, as demonstrated by the experts who contributed to this piece.
When working towards your own MBA within a flexible program, you can keep in mind advice from Prof. Sasmita Samanta, who explains, “Industry participation in content delivery enriches the experiences and helps to minimize the gap. Capstone projects or internships create experiential learning opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Muhammad Usman agrees, “Market analysis and job postings offer a snapshot of the technical skills employers are actively seeking … Collecting this data enables educational institutions to tailor curricula to match the evolving needs of the industry, thereby bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application.”
After identifying in-demand competencies, you can update your learning objectives to align with them, using guidance from educators to understand how to then master those skills to the necessary level. To achieve these goals, it can help to “use a variety of formats and modalities, such as case studies, simulations, projects, portfolios, podcasts, videos, and online platforms,” all of which are supported in a flexible MBA program.
Shape Your MBA to Meet Your Career Goals
Ultimately, with a program like the one at SIU Carbondale, it is up to you to shape your MBA to meet career goals. Luckily, the curriculum itself and staff are there to support this process. With core courses that cover necessary foundational skills in finance, marketing, management and business policies, you’ll develop a useful base to build on.
Between practical coursework and elective work in concentrations of your choosing, you will also come away with vital transferable skills, which Indeed Career Guide notes “are highly valued by employers in nearly every field.” Whatever your sought-after career, a highly tailored MBA experience can be a game-changer for achieving your professional goals, increasing opportunities and expanding your mind.
Learn more about Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s online MBA program.
