How to Choose the Right MBA Specialization

With increasing awareness of processes, the business world is facing a growing trend and desire to do business better and more ethically every step of the way. Business leaders are looking for candidates who can create a significant impact and do so with skill and intentionality. Earning an MBA degree is the perfect way to facilitate this vision, on a personal and corporate scale.

Choosing an MBA pathway at random, however, can hinder your progress toward making change. The right concentration for your MBA equips you with the skills and knowledge you need to make a difference in your field and face the unique challenges in the modern business landscape. Here is our comprehensive advice for choosing the best MBA specialization for your career.

Why Choose an MBA Concentration?

An MBA specialization, or MBA concentration, is a curriculum track with designated requires students to take certain elective classes that are aligned with a specific focus area. focuses a student's studies and equips them with in-depth knowledge to allow them to succeed in their career path. Unlike the general MBA track, MBA specializations help students hone in on their passions in tandem with the core curriculum.

Choosing a specialization benefits students by building the knowledge base necessary to become effective business leaders in an area of their choosing. The right MBA concentration can boost your career prospects by giving you competitive skills and an impressive credential to include on your resume and LinkedIn profile. It also provides excellent opportunities for professional growth aligned with specific career goals.

Some MBA specializations prepare students for roles in specific functional areas of business, such as marketing, finance or human resources. Other specializations, such as organizational leadership or entrepreneurship, can help students build advanced skills that can be applied across a breadth of roles and industries. All specializations can help add focus to your MBA elective classes, so that you can make the most of your MBA and prepare to meet the needs of the changing business landscape.

Choose the Best MBA Concentration For Your Goals — Questions to Ask Yourself

The right MBA specialization can mean all the difference for developing competitive and effective business expertise. The first step toward choosing the best MBA specialization is to introspect on your career ambitions and core values. Take some time to be intentional in your consideration of how you want to make a difference in business, both for your personal goals and broader influence. Aligning your MBA specialization with your passion is essential for making a meaningful impact in the business landscape. Also take into account your core strengths and areas for improvement.

Here are some specific questions to consider:

If I want to change careers, what specialization will help me build the skills I need?

If I want to advance in my current field or function, what specialization will most help amplify my expertise and grow my network?

The best leaders often have multi-dimensional skill sets. Could I grow into a more capable leader by choosing a concentration in an area that I am less confident in?

Instead of a concentration, would I prefer to chart my own path and take a variety of elective courses covering cutting-edge business topics?

Exploring MBA Specializations that Make a Difference

Most MBA programs feature common MBA focus areas that contribute to positive social or environmental change. Here are a few types of MBA specializations and how they can equip you to make a difference in your field.

1. Business Analytics: Drive better business decisions by using data and cutting-edge analytical tools.

2. Entrepreneurship: Become an entrepreneurial expert and learn to launch and manage innovative business ventures.

3. Finance: Analyze risks effectively and boost your strategy skills to build a brighter economic future.

4. Organizational Leadership: Learn to lead an empowered team and reach success as a leader in business.

5. Marketing: Tell the stories that create change and master innovative strategies to boost meaningful engagement.

6. Supply Chain Management: Create innovation and reduce environmental impact by analyzing and optimizing the supply chain.

Dig into Your Elective Class Options

After you narrow down what specializations are most appealing to you, go browse the courses that are required. Some of the most exciting and engaging MBA courses can be found in your elective options. Course catalogs are available online at all universities and are full of helpful overviews of what you'll learn.

Interested in an Entrepreneurship Concentration? You could take classes such as Negotiations for Entrepreneurial Ventures, New Product Development or Global Entrepreneurship for Social Change.

Interested in a Marketing Concentration? You could take Brand Management, High Technology Marketing or Social Media Marketing.

Evaluating MBA Programs with Concentrations

When considering MBA focus tracks that align with doing business for good, prospective students should analyze the program’s goals and objectives. Programs that focus on ethical decision-making, community engagement and sustainable practices are more likely to offer strong, practical resources for developing your gifts as a leader. 

Find Your Future-Focused Concentration at USD

At USD’s Knauss School of Business, our MBA programs are structured around business for good. From our Business Analytics Concentration, equipping students with applied analytical skills for effective decision-making, to our ethically driven, people-focused Organizational Leadership Concentration, our concentrations are designed to build an intentional business mindset for every student. Reach your career goals and initiate global change with a Knauss MBA concentration in a relevant field.

 If you’re interested in learning more about USD’s future-focused full-time and part-time/flex MBA curriculums, check out our comprehensive MBA Curriculum Guides.

Full-Time MBA Guide | Part-Time/Flex MBA Guide

Find out if our Flex MBA Program is right with our MBA Fit Quiz.