Online MBA in Professional Studies

A MBA in Professional Studies is designed for those who wish to develop a comprehensive set of business management skills. Potential students who seek an online MBA degree in professional studies can expect to be a challenged from several perspectives that will help shape a strong business foundation. A good online MBA in professional studies can lead to positions in middle and upper management, along with many consulting and entrepreneurial options.

Online MBA’s in Professional Studies Requirements

The general profile of a MBA online student in professional studies usually includes working with and helping people grow by utilizing effective management techniques. Students studying to obtain an accredited online MBA in professional studies from top programs may have acquired these skills in the workplace or through volunteering activities.

MBA professional studies candidates almost always have some career experience the business field, accompanied by a bachelor’s degree in fields such as:

• Business Administration
• Communications
• Human Resources
• Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Psychology
• Public Administration

Students learning through top online master degree programs in professional studies have potentially worked as business studies consultants, team builders/leaders, perhaps even as social workers.

An online MBA in professional studies is almost always a prerequisite for online PhD professional studies study, as well as, the pursuit of doctoral degrees in other related fields.

Online Professional Studies MBAs Degree Education

Students can expect a good online MBA professional studies program to take anywhere from 18-30 months for completion. The lower end pertains to full-time students, while online MBA in professional studies candidates with full-time jobs can expect to take longer to complete their degrees. Some of the more popular MBA in professional studies degree options are:

• MBA in Professional Studies (MBA in Professional Studies)
• MA in Professional Studies (MA in Professional Studies)
• MS in Professional Studies (MS in Professional Studies)

Information on Professional Studies Courses

Top online MBA programs in professional studies classes look to instill the student with practical skills, not merely theoretical ones. The courses required to obtain a professional studies MBA degree online put candidates in reality-based situations and encourage them to figure out different possible methods of resolution. Online MBA professional studies classes start out by giving students the broad based analytical tools to thrive in the field and then move quickly towards rapid retention via more in-depth experiential learning.

Courses one can expect to find in an online MBA professional studies program are:

• Professional Studies
  Gives students a head start in acquiring and honing numerous core skills essential for success in the MBA program and the business world. The emphasis will be on the studies of professional skills and perspectives, such as business writing, coaching and counseling, conflict resolution, effective business protocol, interviewing, intercultural awareness and sensitivity, negotiating agreement and public speaking.
• Human Resource Issues
  An in-depth analysis of the major functions of a manager dealing with human resource issues. Issues to be covered include, but are not specifically limited to, staffing, employee training and studies, compensation and benefits, legal issues, union vs. non-union issues, safety and health issues, cross cultural and expatriate issues.
• Decision Support Systems
  This course is designed to provide the student with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to understand and utilize computerized decision support methodology in support of business requirements.

Specializations and Concentrations

MBA in professional studies degrees can offer a wide variety of academic and career oriented focuses, such as:

• Administrative Procedure
• Career Counseling and Advancement
• Corporate Studies
• Entrepreneurial Ventures
• Marketing Expansion and Studies
• Strategic Leadership

Careers in Professional Studies

Graduates of online MBA programs in professional studies can work in many different fields. Here are a few popular career choices for graduates of an accredited online MBA in professional studies program:

• Industrial Psychologist
  Industrial psychologists apply psychological principles and research methods to the workplace in the interest of improving the quality of work life. They also are involved in research on management and marketing problems. They screen, train, and counsel applicants for jobs, as well as perform organizational studies and analysis. The middle 50 percent of Industrial Psychologists earned between $54,100 and $115,720. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,690, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $149,120.
• Compensation Specialist
  Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists administer compensation programs for employers and may specialize in specific areas such as pensions or position classifications. Compensation benefits specialists median earnings are $53,860. The middle 50 percent earn between $42,050 and $67,730. The lowest 10 percent earn less than $34,080, and the highest 10 percent earn more than $84,310.
• Training and Studies Specialist
  Training and studies managers and specialists create, procure, and conduct training and studies programs for employees. Managers typically supervise specialists and make budget-impacting decisions in exchange for a reduced training portfolio. Median annual wages of training and studies specialists were $51,450 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $38,550 and $67,450. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,470, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $85,160.

Often times, a MBA in professional studies is the extra appeal employers seek in a competitive job market. Graduates are more likely to find a variety of employment opportunities and career advancement with an advanced degree such as a professional studies MBA.