Leading to a Master of Business Administration degree, a Professional MBA is a graduate program specifically designed for established business professionals who are seeking advanced training in a specialized business discipline to improve their opportunity for career advancement. As an increasingly popular degree option in today’s competitive global business marketplace, the PMBA is focused on facilitating intense leadership development and greater strategic vision for ambitious managers taking their career to the next level. In fact, the Washington Post reports that around 43% of graduates receive a promotion upon completion of the PMBA. If you are considering this executive degree, read on to learn everything that you should know before applying to Professional MBA programs.
Structure of Professional MBA Programs
Through convenient night and weekend courses, Professional MBA degrees are typically completed in one to three years. Most programs strive to integrate classroom studies with business seminars, applied research projects, and international business trips abroad. Unlike MBA programs where students must choose a specific area of specialization, the curriculum of the PMBA will focus on the managerial aspects of various business subjects with courses in managerial finance, operations management, business law, global capital markets, sustainability, professional ethics, managerial economics, and more. PMBA programs generally consist of a cohort group of high-level business leaders who have significant work experience in their field for at least five years.
Benefits of Pursuing a Professional MBA
Since PMBA programs strive to educate business professionals with extensive prior experiences in the business world, the major benefit of pursuing the degree is to acquire valuable networking opportunities. Along with building in-depth knowledge in management, students in Professional MBA programs are given the unique chance to join a supportive learning environment for establish new business contacts. Another of the most anticipated benefits of earning a PMBA is a greater salary potential. Despite the fact that average program costs are increasing, graduates quote an average annual salary increase of 23% after graduating with their degree. It is also important to note that many employers understand the enhanced leadership skills earned with a PMBA and are more willing to cover program costs.
How to Find the Right Professional MBA Program
According to Business Week, as executive-level graduate programs become even more popular, choosing among PMBA programs is becoming increasingly difficult. In order to guarantee that you are selecting a program that represents the highest academic standards of excellence, it is suggested that you narrow down your choices by looking at programs accredited by the AACSB International. While it may seem that enrolling in a highly ranked business school is the best choice, it is usually not that simple because every student has specific learning needs. When making the tough decision, it is important that you also take financial aid, faculty credentials, student-faculty ratio, class size, curriculum requirements, and experiential learning opportunities into consideration.
Related Resource: Executive MBA
While traditional MBA programs typically appeal to individuals looking to change careers, Professional MBA degrees attract business leaders who simply want to change offices into a more advanced leadership position. PMBA programs are the most beneficial for professionals who are seeking a more in-depth knowledge base, are experiencing change in their industry, and want to build better managerial skills. When you enroll in a Professional MBA program, you will benefit from an academically challenging curriculum in a close-knit cohort group of professionals with around a decade of business experience.