There is an exciting and refreshing change afoot in the world of graduate business education. Innovations in business education are allowing schools to expand the degree options that lead to the MBA. The rationale is that the MBA builds on what students learn from other majors so that there are a wider range of talents and aptitudes among MBA graduates, which ultimately benefit employers.
So it stands to reason that an MBA student body composed of scholars with undergraduate business degrees, as well as degrees in engineering, humanities, math and foreign languages provide a more enriching experience for students. A diverse cohort will yield graduates with more diverse perspectives and broader capabilities.
Diverse Preparation Among MBA Applicants Has Been Growing
Welcoming students with diverse preparation and different undergraduate backgrounds also aligns with a growing trend among applicants to business schools. Increasingly, working professionals in a range of fields are taking an interest in making a career shift into business leadership. They understand the value an MBA provides — especially in conjunction with their own unique experiences.
According to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s Prospective Students Survey 2018, 26% of prospective graduate management education (GME) students plan to switch industries and 34% expect to switch functions. Among working professionals, ages 25-30, 33% plan to switch industries, and for ages 31-39, 32% plan to switch industries. In 2017, the same report showed that more than half of all MBA applicants had non-business undergraduate degrees.
Fitchburg State University Welcomes Students from a Broad Variety of Undergraduate Majors
Traditionally, business schools required candidates to have completed courses in the following subjects before enrolling in an MBA program:
- Statistics
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Management information systems
- Management
Students who are granted conditional admittance to many MBA programs are often required to take these as “leveling” courses before the MBA program begins. Though times are changing, this is still common practice. Fitchburg State University welcomes students with a bachelor’s degree from regionally accredited institutions, along with a professional resume for its MBA online programs. No pre-qualifying leveling courses are necessary, and the MBA program can be completed in as few as 12 months.
Fitchburg State is also one of the nation’s best values at just $13,080 in tuition for the entire program. In addition, no GMAT is required for the Fitchburg State online MBA program options — accounting, healthcare management, human resources management, management and marketing. This eliminates the need for working professionals in other fields to take valuable time preparing for a test that already favors those with business degrees (who also save time by avoiding this step).
Online Grads Speak to the Value of Fitchburg State’s Admissions Policy
Sean Giovacchini and Timothy Varner, both Fitchburg State grads with undergraduate majors other than business, took the opportunity to earn their MBA online.
Giovacchini graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of California, Davis, in 2014. As a Fitchburg State online student, he enjoyed the chance to tie information from the MBA in Management curriculum to his real-world experience. Earning an MBA completed Giovacchini’s transition from aspiring surgeon to business leader.
His advice to those considering a similar path: “I didn’t come into this with any business knowledge other than working in business. I never had a college business class before. Just be confident in your studying ability. Rip the Band-Aid off. Go for it.”
Varner, a Fitchburg State MBA in Human Resources Management online graduate, also came from a non-business background. His undergraduate degree was in Spanish, but a winding career path led to the decision to solidify his future with an MBA. He managed to balance his education with both professional and family obligations (as a husband and father), and landed a new job when he was nearing completion of the MBA program.
If you are considering a Fitchburg State MBA, Varner says, “You can have a life by taking the courses one at a time. I’m married, have a full-time job and kids, and I took two classes at a time and still had enough time to get it done.”
Learn more about Fitchburg State’s online MBA programs.
Sources:
GMAC Prospective Students Survey 2018
GMAC Prospective Students Survey 2017
MBAInsight: The Best College Majors for MBAs (That Aren’t Business)
Learn.org: What Are the Requirements for Enrolling in a MBA Program?
