By Dr. Stacey Little | 06/30/2025
Why should you study for a master's in business administration (MBA)? Having a thorough knowledge of business is vital because today’s business world never stops moving. Markets shift, new technologies surface almost daily, and global connections reshape companies’ systems and operations.
In the middle of all this change, one thing stays constant. People who understand how business practices work – and who have the practical skills to match – tend to thrive.
For students considering the first steps in their academic journey, an MBA remains a practical yet flexible choice. It offers long-term value for professional development in an increasingly complex economy.
What Is Business Administration?
At its core, studying business administration refers to understanding the big-picture view of how companies run. It’s not just about sitting through lectures on theory and team management.
In MBA programs, students dive into various business functions such as:
- Marketing management
- Financial analysis or financial management
- Operations management
- International business
- Accounting
- Economics
MBA courses also enable learners to explore how technology drives innovation, shapes industries, and impacts how multinational corporations operate. This knowledge helps students to create strategies that move organizations forward.
Whether you want to climb the ladder in a large, well-known company, start your own business, or work in a different field (such as improving operations in healthcare administration), understanding how value is created and delivered in a business setting is a noteworthy advantage. That type of knowledge, typically gained from MBA programs, is useful for pursuing job opportunities ranging from multinational corporations, startups, and consultant work to hospitals and government agencies.
An MBA Enables Students to Pursue Different Career Paths
Many MBA programs aim to provide students with a well-rounded perspective and a deep knowledge of essential business skills that supports a wide range of career opportunities. Through a comprehensive understanding of organizational structure and strategic planning, students gain the flexibility to apply their training to various business environments:
- MBA graduates may choose to become management analysts, helping organizations optimize performance.
- Some MBA students may lead people and processes as operations managers or take on sales management roles.
- Others contribute to strategic hiring and workforce planning through personnel management and human resource management.
- An MBA degree can also apply to seeking roles in supply chain management, where professionals coordinate logistics and streamline operations across international borders.
- MBA graduates might seek project management roles, developing skills in budgeting, timelines, and team coordination.
- MBA graduates can also support major change initiatives in management consulting and help companies to address complex business challenges.
- Students in MBA programs might pursue a role in market research – an area where individuals gather, analyze, and present data to guide leaders' decision-making.
- MBA degree holders may pursue roles as financial analysts, interpreting numbers to fuel business growth and to help companies' senior management make more informed financial investments.
An MBA Enables Students to Acquire Key Skills That Are Transferable
Earning an MBA helps students develop their knowledge of business fundamentals. Through their courses, MBA students develop a set of practical, transferable skills that today’s industries demand. For instance:
- Critical thinking and leadership skills are built through group projects, exposure to case studies, and real-world business problems.
- Communication skills are sharpened through presentations, writing, and collaborative assignments.
- Teamwork and networking skills become second nature, especially when students work alongside peers with diverse perspectives
- The use of technology and understanding how it drives innovation and operational efficiencies – or digital literacy – is embedded into the coursework.
- Problem-solving skills are developed through analyses of actual business challenges in the courses that MBA programs provide.
All of these transferable business skills and valuable insights help students to become graduates who can thrive in multiple industries and adjust their career path as markets shift.
An MBA Enables Students to Be Flexible
The designers of MBA programs also keep pace with the ever-evolving business landscape and economy. Many MBA programs now include a comprehensive curriculum that offers training in soft skills, business data analytics, global communication, and even artificial intelligence (AI) tools. As a result, MBA grads have the potential to stand out in roles requiring data interpretation, strong business acumen, strategic agility, innovative solutions, and a global mindset.
MBA courses today often address current challenges and equip students with leadership skills so that they can become a valuable asset to an employer. This knowledge is essential for today’s companies that often conduct business across borders.
MBA Students and Developing a Professional Network
Pursuing job opportunities in today's competitive job market requires more than just business knowledge and an awareness of personal and professional goals. It also requires access to networking opportunities and a robust professional network. This type of network can include not only local friends, family members, and business leaders, but also other like-minded students and faculty members met through participation in student organizations and career fairs.
While earning an MBA, students should take the time to participate in professional conferences, Chamber of Commerce meetings, and other networking events in order to develop an expanded professional network. These events offer networking opportunities and access to peers and industry professionals, who can provide practical and useful advice for professional growth and career development.
In a well-developed network, MBA students can also benefit from greater exposure to people of diverse backgrounds, who can offer different perspectives on business problems. Knowing such a wide range of business professionals can also be useful for the personal development of MBA grads.
The MBA Degree at AMU
For adult learners who are interested in developing their knowledge of business administration, management, marketing, and business strategy, American Military University (AMU) offers an online Master of Business Administration. Courses in this online program include artificial intelligence in business, strategic management, and marketing management, as well as corporate finance and managerial economics.
Students who enroll in the MBA program also have the option of choosing one of 17 concentrations to suit their career goals, whether they intend to pursue opportunities with established companies or are aspiring entrepreneurs.
In addition, this online MBA program has received specialty accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP®) to ensure that this degree program meets high academic standards.
For more details about the MBA program, visit our business administration and management program page.
ACBSP is a registered trademark of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.