How to Choose Your MBA Specialization at New Mexico Highlands University

Choosing to earn your Master of Business Administration (MBA) is an excellent way to differentiate yourself from the competition for higher-level positions and secure in-demand, stable roles in a variety of fields.

If you’re thinking of earning a master’s degree, you can rest assured that statistics support your choice.

• Those with a master’s degree had an overall unemployment rate of just 1.9% compared to a 2.2% unemployment rate for those who held a bachelor’s degree.
• Overall employment for business and financial occupations is growing, with about 911,400 new job openings projected each year between 2022 and 2032.

There are many MBA programs to consider, each with their own unique focus areas or elective options. New Mexico Highlands University’s online MBA program helps you meet your career goals by offering optional specializations in entrepreneurship or healthcare administration. You can also choose to pursue a general MBA.

Benefits of a General MBA vs. Specialized MBA

There are pros and cons to both general and specialized MBAs. Depending on your goals, experience and interests, either option might be right for you.

General MBA Benefits

A general MBA is a smart path if you’re looking for flexibility in your opportunities or are already established in your career and want an advanced credential to move into leadership positions. A general MBA doesn’t mean that you won’t have the opportunity to specialize. You can pick the electives that work best for you and your industry, even if you decide a Highlands University MBA concentration isn’t for you.

If you pick our general MBA, you choose three elective courses from the following list:

• Financial Statement Analysis
• Investments
• Managerial Approach to Internet Marketing Strategies
• Entrepreneurship
• International Business
• Human Resources Management

A general MBA can help you move into leadership roles in an array of industries or specialties, like finance, accounting, management and human resources.

NMHU Online MBA Specializations Benefits

Specialized MBAs allow you to focus on a subject area, sharpening your skills in one segment of business knowledge. That’s not to say you won’t be a well-rounded professional — All MBA students take courses in marketing, management, financial accounting and law and ethics in business, so we ensure you graduate from New Mexico Highlands with the knowledge you need to have a successful career.

A specialized MBA might be great choice if your industry of interest has a strong career outlook and you’re relatively sure that you want to stay in the same specialty long term. Concentrations allow you to show employers that you have extensive knowledge in an industry or subject area. They also highlight your commitment to your career path and allow you to focus your energy on classes that will be most worthwhile to your day-to-day work.

Choose an MBA concentration if you:

• Have clear and specific career goals in a certain industry
• Hope to deepen and obtain a credential to highlight an existing skillset
• Want to switch careers to an industry in which you don’t have a lot of experience

At NMHU, we offer two concentrations with promising career outlooks.

MBA Healthcare Administration

Our online MBA with a healthcare administration concentration allows you to apply what you learn in the MBA core courses to the healthcare sector.

Concentration courses include:

• Healthcare Policy
• Case Studies in Healthcare Administration
• Leadership for Innovation in Healthcare

Medical and health services management jobs are projected to grow 28% from 2022 to 2032, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is much faster than the average growth for all occupations. The skills you gain in this concentration will qualify you for healthcare administration work in clinics, hospitals, outpatient treatment centers, physician’s offices and more.

MBA Entrepreneurship

Our MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship uses an intensive problem-solving approach, featuring case studies and simulations focused on managerial responsibilities and multicultural issues.

Concentration courses include:

• Entrepreneurial Forum
• Entrepreneurship
• Managerial Approach to Internet Marketing Strategies

Those with a concentration in entrepreneurship will graduate with an understanding of planning, innovation and big picture thinking, ready to take on executive-level leadership roles or start their own endeavor.

Tips for Choosing an MBA Concentration

MBAs are versatile degrees, so there’s no right or wrong choice. That said, you can take steps to make certain the MBA you earn is the best choice for you. When selecting which type of degree to pursue, here are some ways narrow your choices:

Explore Potential Career Opportunities within the Field

Different specializations will lead to different career options, sometimes with diverse hours, salaries and growth opportunities. For example, New Mexico Highland’s entrepreneurship concentration prepares students for roles like chief executive officer or chief operating officer, while our healthcare administration specialization leads to careers like hospital administrator or health services manager. Learn more about MBA careers.

Review the Courses Offered in Each Concentration or as Electives

A quick way to get a feel for what you’ll learn in a program is to review courses and course descriptions. In New Mexico Highland’s general MBA students can choose from a list of electives to tailor their degrees. In our concentrations, three unique classes that allow you to take a deep dive into the subject matter make up your required concentration credits. Explore MBA courses.

Consider What You Don’t Want to Do

Knowing what you don’t want to do can be just as vital as knowing what you do want to do. Be sure that the specialization you pursue sets to do work you find interesting and motivating. Earning your MBA is a huge investment. Understand the outcomes of the concentration you choose to ensure that you will not be stuck in a job that doesn’t make you happy.

Speak to Mentors in the Industry You Hope to Join

The best way to understand an industry is to talk to those in the jobs you wish to hold. Network with other professionals and find mentors who can help you pick the educational path that leads you where you want to go. There’s an incredible, diverse network at New Mexico Highlands that is ready and willing to help you reach your goals.

Look for Accredited Programs

Accrediting bodies put their stamp of approval on degree programs that meet the requirements of the industry. Check to see if the online program you’re investigating is accredited for the added peace of mind that your degree will be valuable in the job market. The New Mexico Highlands online MBA program is accredited by the Association Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Begin Your Journey to an MBA Degree

The online MBA program at New Mexico Highlands offers you ways to grow your education and connect with other students and instructors. On campus or online, our school boasts a family atmosphere, grown through engagement and support. Our online programs feature the same comprehensive curricula that our on-campus students enjoy with the added versatility of an online environment.

You’ll graduate with marketable skills in leadership, analytical and quantitative thinking, teamwork and communication. Throughout the program, you’ll benefit from expert insights through one-on-one faculty advising and a student-focused approach. When you begin your MBA, you’ll be paired with a faculty advisor who will offer one-on-one support as you move through the program.

We offer competitive tuition rates and no GRE or GMAT is required. Start the online application process today.

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