The success of MBA holding professionals as managers in the non-business sector can result in increased interest for hiring people holding MBAs. Additionally, it has led to specialized degree programs in areas like environmental management, health care administration, arts management, educational administration, public administration/ government, and non-profit management.
Educational Management and Administration
Educational administration programs can help the private and public school systems find individuals with management skills. Persons with MBAs who focus on education can find opportunities as departmental staff and management, while faculty and college deans often have doctoral degrees in addition to MBAs.
While environmental management is often covered in public administration/government management programs, there are other programs that specialize in a large spectrum of environmental topics, including marketing, finance, operations, and international environmental strategy. Civil engineering, environmental engineering, and public policy experience or background is common among students of environmental management. Positions with environmental consulting firms as well as large scale construction and manufacturing companies are often sought after by these students.
Many nontraditional career paths fall within the non-profit category. Colleges often offer a non-profit educational curriculum that may include one or more courses in a set of areas, instead of offering each area as a specialized curriculum. Many non-profit organizations now utilize professional management teams in the place of promoting individuals from within the organization. It can be critical for an MBA holder who wants a career with a non-profit to demonstrate to potential employers an affinity to the non-profit’s area of interest.
Arts management programs can help graduates prepare for work with museums, arts councils, musical or theatrical companies, and media outlets. Arts managers often run the business management side of the organization so that it can operate efficiently, be it a non-profit or a commercial institution. MBA students who are looking for a career in the field of arts management must show a strong interest for the art form of the organization or field. For example, if you are interested in obtaining a position as the manager of a museum, it may be wise to have a degree in art history, as well as your specialized degree.
Public administration and government management MBA programs often contain a mix of traditional management training and an instruction in issues related to public policy. Many students in this curriculum have prior experience participating in government or have experience working with some sort of lobbyist organization. Economics, Public Policy, and Political Science undergraduate degrees are often held by people in this field.
- Environmental Management
- Not-for-Profit
- Arts Management
- Public Policy/Government
