| Employees who work for larger corporations | | | | alternatives to the MBA that combine business |
| (high-tech, biotech, financial, health systems , etc.) | | | | skills, technical skills and leadership skills. These |
| realize that getting ahead means gaining an | | | | Master level degree are not the MBA but may |
| advanced degree. For some, this means working | | | | work better for your long-term career goals. |
| towards an advanced technical degree in their | | | | Some Master-level alternatives to the MBA are:o |
| area of expertise or the same major as their | | | | MS Engineering Managemento MS Information |
| undergraduate degree (engineering, health care, | | | | Systems Managemento MS Project Managemento |
| computer science, science, technology). Other | | | | MS Applied Technologyo MS Technical |
| employees realize that their company rewards | | | | Managemento MS Management of Science and |
| both technical and business skills and this means | | | | Technology |
| pursuing the MBA. | | | | Another alternative might be a certificate |
| Before rushing off and signing up for the MBA, | | | | program in Business Administration, Business |
| consider your career goals. Although you can gain | | | | Management or Project Management. These |
| many different jobs with the MBA, it is | | | | certificates do not require a lengthy admission |
| traditionally pursued with the goal of becoming a | | | | process nor require an admission test such as the |
| manager. But, do you want to be a manager of | | | | Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). |
| people and their problems? Do you want to deal | | | | The Continuing Education department or Extended |
| with budgets? Do you want to try to balance the | | | | Education department of your local state |
| needs of upper management with your | | | | university often offers these certificate programs. |
| departmental needs? Do you want to hire and | | | | If you do choose to pursue the MBA, look at |
| fire, give raises or discipline sub-par performance? | | | | both the General MBA and the MBA programs |
| Do you want to set goals and deal with employee | | | | with areas of concentration. Sometimes you can |
| action plans? | | | | gain some technical classes as part of a |
| Perhaps what you really enjoy is the technical side | | | | concentration or elective areas. An example is the |
| of business, but know you need some business | | | | MBA with an Information Systems concentration. |
| classes to move to another level. Here are some | | | | |