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The job market for graduates of all kinds is increasingly competitive, and that explains why many business students are looking to specialize an MBA in Finance and give themselves an even more unique profile as they apply for management jobs or new financial industry roles. Though this desire is pretty common, it’s worth noting that specializing an MBA in Finance is actually a tall order. The finance part of the MBA degree is itself considered a specialization of this management-heavy program. Against all odds, however, students can find ways to make their MBA, and their concentration, fit into one of the many financial industry niches that exist in the sprawling corporate sector. All it takes is careful consideration of all of the available options at a particular business school.
For Specialization, Students Need to Consider Their Elective Coursework
Finance is considered a concentration within the Master of Business Administration program at most schools, which means students will need to fill between nine and 12 elective credits with classes that cover advanced topics in the finance industry. Many schools offer far more than three or four finance classes and the selections available to today’s typical graduate business student will help them pick a specific niche where their talents will most be put to use.
For those who think that finance itself is not enough of a degree specialty, it’s worth looking into the elective course options in this area at business schools under consideration. Some of these schools might have very few course available in finance, but others might have a wide range of classes that cover topics like advanced financial management, executive leadership of business finance departments, financial advising, consumer finance and the economy, and several other topics. The best and biggest business schools will offer several courses in each of these areas, giving students the skills they need to become precise, highly specialized executives, financial advisors, finance managers, or consumer spending analysts.
Look into Dual Degree Programs with an M.S. in Finance
Students who don’t have a wealth of finance courses available as electives in an MBA program can still pursue specialization. Many of today’s business schools offer dual-degree master’s programs that allow students to graduate with both a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Finance. While specialization may not be very easy, or even possible, in the MBA program, those who pursue the secondary M.S. degree will only add about a year to their studies.
Students who choose this option get the benefit of being able to pick a finance-heavy concentration that covers each of the areas listed above, and perhaps some additional avenues in finance like investment management, financial consulting, and others. As an added benefit, students will have two advanced degrees with which to market their skills to employers. This makes them both more attractive as a job candidate and more durable as an employee, even during economic rough patches.
Related Resource: Become a Stockbroker
Specializing a Finance MBA Requires a Unique Thought Process
Students who wish to specialize their Master of Business Administration with a finance concentration might find the process to be a bit challenging at first. According to the US News and World Report, the good news is that schools are offering an increasing number of elective courses and dual degree programs that make it just a bit easier to specialize an MBA in Finance and enjoy brighter career prospects as a result.
