Along the path to achieving a master’s in business administration, many reach a point where they find themselves concerned as to the undergraduate degrees that are best to have when pursuing an MBA. Which prior educational accomplishments truly work the best when striving to obtain an MBA? Here’s the scoop on this common query.
The Core Focus
To start, let’s take a step back to really consider what the MBA is truly all about. As an MBA grad, one can expect to possess some forward and modern inclinations in a broad range of business-related areas. These include:
- Networking
- Communications
- Cooperative tactics and method
- Management of people
- Management of non-human resources
- Financial aptitude
- Ethics and business law
- Self-growth and intrinsic gains in insight and experience
With this all said, understanding which prior educational accomplishments fit best into this core set of professed skills isn’t too difficult. As such, the following are some of the most relevant, and therefore, best undergraduate degrees to have when pursuing an MBA, according to Forbes.
Business Administration, Business Management
The absolute most direct transition to an MBA program is going to go through the Bachelor’s in Business Administration or Business Management. These two very similar degree programs are the direct prerequisite compliments to the MBA. As a result of their direct applicability, these two undergrad degrees will set the holder in line with little to no backpedaling to gain previously required courses.
Human Resources
Human resource degree holders also present with plenty of applicable coursework under their belts. These graduates have learned all about managing the personnel of a workforce from all sides and are thus certainly armed with many of the prerequisite courses along the MBA path. In many cases, appropriately picked minor coursework here can also help toward the MBA.
Communications
Communications is a subject found all throughout the educational path to the MBA. After all, it is communication that ultimately must prevail, despite all other tools and resources, if a business is to survive or even prosper. Although there will be some make-up work to do with this subtle change of major pursuits, the setback is certainly not a steep one.
Economics
Economics is another great undergrad degree to have when it comes to the later pursuit of an MBA. The path to the MBA is one that shares plenty of crossings into the world of economics, macro, micro, and otherwise. As a result, crossing over to the an MBA program isn’t too tough for this undergrad degree-holder and will present few setbacks in achieving prerequisites.
Interdisciplinary Studies
Finally, the holder of many interdisciplinary studies degrees also find themselves in great shape when it comes to pursuing the MBA. Mainly, those who geared these degrees to matters of business will benefit as such. Examples of dual studies most beneficial to the MBA here include organizational leadership, HR, workplace diversity, business ethics, and other, similar disciplines.
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Certainly, any degree is a better starting point than having none at all when deciding to take up this academic path. However, these particular undergrad accomplishments will make life even easier for those wishing for a smooth and quick transition to the MBA line of coursework. To get an even clearer picture of the particular undergraduate degrees that are best to have when pursuing an MBA, you are strongly recommended to consult with an academic advisor from your school one-on-one.