Wondering how you can climb the corporate ladder? A return to class is worth exploring.
You may have thought that you would close your books forever after earning a bachelor’s degree, but with growing competition for jobs and an unstable business climate, enrolling in a graduate program can help you stand out from the crowd. employers among the mass of candidates.
“In today’s increasingly competitive job market, it is no longer enough to have a bachelor’s degree. With a Master of Science (MS), you can acquire the expertise to remain competitive in your field. This can ease the transition to higher positions or facilitate a career change, which in turn can increase your earning potential and job satisfaction, “said Dan Spacer, associate director of master’s degrees at Columbia Business School.
Columbia Business School offers MS and MBA degrees to give students the education they need to advance their careers. We asked Spacer to share the unique factors of the Columbia Business School Diploma to help students make an informed decision about the graduate program that might be right for them.
MS vs MBA
Before enrolling in a graduate program, it is important to research the content of the program and courses to make sure that they match your career goals. Working on a diploma takes a lot of time and financial commitments. Make sure you get the best return on investment by understanding the differences in each of the titles offered.
A master’s degree offers a specialized and targeted field of study, while an MBA program offers more breadth in the curriculum. With a master’s degree, you become a specialist teacher or an expert in the field of study you choose, while with an MBA, you become an expert on the “big picture” of an organization. When deciding between the two programs, it is important to consider what your career goals are and what you want to achieve with your degree after graduation. “
Spacer noted that the master’s programs offered by Columbia Business School offer students the opportunity to enroll in industry-specific programs, including finance, marketing and accounting, and basic analysis. These programs are designed to allow students to specialize in the business world, a special feature of the program.
Why enroll in an EM program?
“I was looking for a master’s degree in marketing that would give me a technical foundation and a solid practical vision of the business,” said Sofia Cattaneo, a doctoral student who obtained a master’s degree in marketing from Columbia Business School.
As an international student, Cattaneo has discovered that the additional benefits of the MS program include a faster graduation time, smaller classes, and a particularly attractive optional extension of practical training (OPT).
“When deciding to acquire an MS via an MBA, several factors played a role. First, the program lasts only one year compared to the traditional two-year MBA. This meant that he could acquire most of the MBA student’s skills in half the time. At the same time, thanks to the doctoral component of the baccalaureate, I would stand out from an MBA student. Whereas about 200,000 students in the United States complete an MBA each year. In the United States, it is important to find effective ways to stand out in such a large and undifferentiated group, “he added.
Cattaneo also noted how the EM program would prepare them to “enter a labor market that is increasingly turning to understand and analyzing data”. He explained how the decision to choose a diploma with a targeted approach improved his understanding of the technical skills required to gain a competitive advantage.
“The Master of Science in Marketing prepares me for my career in different ways. From a technical point of view, I acquired vast skills in programming and data analysis through courses rich in programs such as machine learning and marketing models as well as market research and digital marketing. With regard to general skills, teamwork is constantly stimulated by the necessary group projects.