One special thing about pursuing an MBA is that you can choose a concentration — a focus area that helps guide your classes and gives you expert knowledge in a specific field. But whether to pick a concentration or go the general MBA route depends on your career goals and interests. There are solid reasons for either path.
Let’s breakdown the pros and cons of each.
USF’s MBA program offers seven concentrations — Blue Economy; Compliance, Risk Management and Anti-Money Laundering; Cybersecurity; Data Analytics; Finance; Healthcare Analytics, and Personal Financial Planning. All concentrations, except for Finance, are currently available online only. In addition, the Personal Financial Planning concentration requires an additional three credit hours of coursework.
Whether you complete a concentration or a general MBA, the elective requirements of the program stay the same. All students must take at least 15 credit hours of elective classes, including one global elective. For concentrations, 12-15 of your electives' credit hours are set by the program, plus the global elective.
The concentration path
Some concentrations, especially the more technical ones, can help prepare you for professional certifications that are valuable in many careers.
- The compliance concentration can help you prepare for the ACAMS certification.
- The cybersecurity concentration can help with CompTIA certifications.
- The personal financial planning concentration helps you get ready to become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
Concentrations also make your study plan easier to follow, with clear steps to graduation. Plus, you get to meet other students and professors who work in the same field, which can help you learn more and grow your professional network. Concentrations are great for students who already know what they want to do and are ready to go all in.
The general path
If you choose the general MBA, you can mix and match electives from different areas — from the concentrations or from other courses. This lets you build a more balanced schedule with both technical and durable skills.
The general path is great if you want to be a well-rounded professional, or if you're still figuring out which direction to take. It also lets you meet students and professors from many different backgrounds and grow your network in many directions.
Choosing the best path for you
In the end, the choice depends on your career goals.
If you're already working in one of the concentration areas and want to move up or become a specialist, a concentration might be your best option.
If you're changing careers or just starting out and want to keep your options open, the general MBA could be a better fit.
To explore more, check out our or speak to a recruiter who can help you decide what’s best for you.