Exploring MBA Subjects: What You’ll Learn in Business School

Should I pursue an MBA degree? Is it the right time? Are the MBA subjects beneficial for me? Every working professional or fresh graduate must have struggled with these thoughts at a certain point while considering an MBA for career enhancement. An MBA degree is surely a huge investment so the decision should not be taken lightly. First of all, see how an MBA course will benefit you. To do this, you need to identify your goals and thoroughly review the MBA syllabus of your desired business school.

The two-year MBA programme has too much to offer. Let’s see which subjects you are likely to learn and what skills you will gain at the end of the day.

Overview of the MBA Programme

MBA stands for Master of Business Administration which is a two-year post-graduate degree. This degree is a blend of theoretical and practical training for business management. MBA subjects have a general focus and a specific focus on a particular domain such as marketing, international business, human resources, and finance based on your choice. While the core MBA syllabus includes accounting, finance, marketing and business law, management is at its heart. Irrespective of your academic or professional background, an MBA degree is beneficial for diverse fields. That is why, an MBA graduate has high employability among other candidates.

The MBA syllabus will vary according to the specialisation and the business school you choose. As there are many types of MBA programmes available, you can easily get coursework that suits your schedule, interests, and other restrictions.

Now let’s see which subjects are typically covered in the MBA programme.

A Peak into the General MBA Subjects you will study?

MBA subjects can be general or specialised depending on the electives you choose. Here is the list of core subjects commonly covered in the MBA syllabus.

1. Accounting:

This subject will focus on financial principles, managing change, pricing strategy, retailing, and a few business topics. The following modules are taught in the accounting domain:

• Financial Accounting

• Managerial Accounting

• Tax planning

• Auditing

• Acquisitions and mergers

• Financial reporting

2. Economics:

This part of the MBA will cover concepts like production, distribution and consumption. It will teach you how organisations allocate resources to different segments. The areas it will cover are as follows:

• Operations Management

• Business Analytics

• Managerial Economics

• Business Statistics

• Business Environment

• Corporate Finance

• International Business

3. Marketing:

This MBA subject will teach you about sales, consumer trends, market strategies, product management, market research and analysis, etc. Those students who choose to specialise in this field, get to learn about it in detail. Otherwise, the general overview is provided in the course. The marketing subject can cover the following topics:

• Statistical Analysis and Operations Research

• Advertising Management

• Consumer Behaviour

• Retail Management

• Industrial Marketing

• Cost and Management Accounting

4. Finance:

Finance is a challenging subject which includes more maths and statistics. However, it only gets complicated if you choose to specialise in this area, otherwise you only have to study the fundamental topics of finance. It generally covers the following topics:

• Micro and Macroeconomics

• Risk Management

• Behavioral Finance

• Corporate Finance

• Banking

5. Human Resource Management:

In this subject, you will learn to manage people in the organisation. As every company has different values and beliefs, working processes and culture, the HR Management subject will prepare you for this. The topics generally covered in this subject are:

• Employment Planning

• Recruiting and Hiring Employees

• Training and Compensation

• Strategic Planning

• Labor Relations and Industrial Relations

6. Operations Management:

The purpose of operations management is to convert materials into goods and services with efficiency. That is what running a business is all about. Thus, it is among the core MBA subjects you will have to learn. In this subject, you will learn:

• Inventory Management

• Quality Assurance

• Supply Chain

• Production and Process Design

• Statistical Analysis

• Decision-Making

7. Business Communication:

Communication is a very crucial aspect of business administration. Effective communication leads to the strengthening of trust among customers and stakeholders. You will learn and develop the following skills:

• Presentations Skills

• Negotiations

• Collaboration Skills

• Conflict Resolution

• Communication Management

• Business Writing

• Public Speaking

General MBA Syllabus

The MBA curriculum is generally divided into four semesters for two years. It includes both core subjects, general electives, and specialisation electives. Here is a typical breakdown of the MBA subjects semester-wise:

Learn About Syllabus of Popular MBA Specialisations

Top MBA Specialisations 2024

You have a multitude of options in the MBA syllabus to tailor the course to your requirements. This gives professionals a chance to hone their skills and become experts in their field. Here are the most popularly chosen MBA specialisations:

• MBA in Finance Management

• MBA in Marketing Management

• MBA in Healthcare Management

• MBA in Human Resource Management

• MBA in Business Analytics

• MBA in Data Science

• MBA in IT Management

• MBA in Project Management

• MBA in Operations Management

• MBA in Supply Chain Management

What are the MBA Teaching Methods?

MBA is a practice-based course which needs innovative and interactive teaching methods to groom the participants as per industry demands. The following teaching methods are used in an MBA course:

• Case study method

• Presentations

• Situation handling

• Field projects and assignments

• Simulations

• Hands-on experience

• Videos

• Class debates

• Personalised system of instruction

• Brainstorming sessions

What do you Learn at a Business School?

When you are in a business school, it is a whole new world. From rigorous classroom lectures and curriculum, there are trainings, industrial projects and other aspects. In this comprehensive academic, you will learn the following skills from various MBA subjects:

• Creating financial statements

• Building technical skills

• Emotional intelligence

• Financial literacy

• Entrepreneurial skills

• Empathy and global perspective

• Problem-solving ability

Apart from this, you enhance your niche skills and build your expertise in the field.

Key Elements of MBA Syllabus

Along with the curriculum, MBA students get to engage with industry professionals through networking events and renowned faculty. Apart from the academic facilities, the curriculum usually includes:

• One-on-one mentorship

• Personality development for college placements

• Interview preparation

• Skill enhancement activities

• Organising networking events

• Conducting workshops, seminars, industrial visits, guest lectures

• Providing summer exchange programmes

Wrapping Up

The MBA syllabus you will study depends on the college you choose and the specialisation you have selected. From theoretical lessons to projects and workshops, an MBA degree is a journey to the career advancement you have been looking for.

FAQs

Q1. Which is the toughest subject in an MBA?

Many students find quantitative courses of the MBA syllabus the toughest. However, students with mathematical or technical backgrounds may find it easier.

Q2. Which MBA is highest in Demand?

As per the current market trends, MBA in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, MBA in Business Analytics and MBA in Entrepreneurship are witnessing high demand.

Q3. Is an MBA tougher than a CA?

No, MBA subjects are not tough as compared to CA.

Q4. Can an MBA earn in Crores?

It is not only your MBA degree which gets you high salary packages, it depends on your skills, experience and other factors as well. With 2 to 3 years of experience, professionals can earn an average salary of INR 12 to 18 LPA after an MBA. Eventually, this can increase to several crores as your experience increases.

Q5. What are the subjects for an MBA?

MBA has few core subjects and elective courses. Typically, you will learn marketing management, economics, financial accounting, operations management, HR management and subjects based on core business areas.