An MBA (Master of Business Administration) is often a necessary degree to advance into the management side of a business. Students from a wide range of educational and work backgrounds pursue MBA degrees. The MBA degree was designed to apply a scientific approach to the management of business organizations. The focus of an MBA program can be on human resources, operations, finance, marketing or accounting, to name a few. Along with a focus, students are required to take a broad range of classes in order to develop an understanding of all aspects of business operations. Today there are a number of approaches available for earning an MBA degree. The amount of time required to get an MBA depends on the program in which the student enrolls. The traditional program is for two years, but there are also concentrated programs that can be accomplished in less than a year and part-time programs that might take as many as four years.

The Traditional Two Year MBA Program

Under the traditional plan, the classes are held on campus and are organized into semesters or quarters. The programs generally start in the fall and have a summer break between the end of the first school year and the start of the second. This break lasts for three to four months. During this time, students frequently seek internship positions in order to develop work experience in the area of study that they are pursuing.

The Accelerated MBA Program

An accelerated MBA plan is usually designed to be completed within an 11 or 12 month period. The class load is heavier each semester or quarter than under the traditional two year plan. In order to complete the academic requirements, one or two summer sessions are usually needed. There is generally no time for an internship or attaining on the job experience while enrolled in an accelerated plan. Many students choosing an accelerated program already have worked in their chosen occupation following their graduation with a bachelor’s degree.

The Executive and Part-time MBA Programs

Many schools are now offering executive and part-time MBA programs that are designed for individuals who want to earn an MBA but do not want to quit their current job. Classes can be held in the evenings, on weekends or over the internet. The typical student in one of these plans has already attained executive or management level or has 10 or more years of relevant work experience. Some programs require a week or two of attendance on campus during the summer for intense classroom work. Some executive and part-time programs can be completed in two years, but many are designed for a three or four year span.

An MBA degree is internationally recognized, and there are many programs offered throughout the country and all over the world. Whichever type of MBA program works best for a student, following the successful completion, they will have learned about the technical aspects of managing the people and operations of a business. Wikipedia provides a concise summary of different MBA programs.