The most populous city in Texas, Houston, is home to over 2 million people. The city has a diverse economy with numerous industries including energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, healthcare and more. Pursuing a business degree such as an MBA can be a suitable option since business graduates may possibly find employment opportunities in Houston, which is a prominent center of business and industry. A variety of MBA degree programs are available in the city that allows students, from all walks of life and having diverse educational and professionals goals, find a program that suits their professional goals and preferences.
MBA programs in Houston
Designed to provide a range of in-demand business skills, MBA programs in Houston can prepare you for the growing challenges of the business sector. You will explore a number of business and management areas and get an opportunity to acquire leadership and administration skills in addition to developing business acumen. Skills learned may later help graduates set up their own businesses or make valuable contribution as business leaders or administrators in almost all industries.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), finance and human resources managers may hold MBA degrees. Some management analysts may also hold this advanced degree. Graduates with these credentials may possibly climb to the top of the corporate ladder and become chief executive officers. The practical skills that the MBA students learn come from both classroom-based learning and completing an internship.
Students can choose from a range of MBA program options in Houston such as day and evening MBA programs, executive MBA programs, online MBA programs, full-time MBA programs, part-time MBA programs and more. The variety of options allows students to select a track of their choice and study without making major changes to their professional routine.
The traditional MBA programs are useful for non-working students while the part-time programs are particularly designed for working professionals who seek to further build on their knowledge for career advancement. Online programs are also available for professionals who cannot attend traditional programs due to busy work schedule as well as students who reside in remote locations. These students can study using the Internet.
Areas of specialization
MBA students in the city of Houston will study general core courses and also get a chance to select an area of specialty. General courses may include topics such as organizational behavior, financial management, marketing, global strategy and informatics. Some of the areas that students can choose to specialize in are:
- Marketing
- Finance
- Human resources
- Accounting
- Real estate
- Global business
- Entrepreneurship
In addition to the classroom-based learning, MBA students may also have to complete an internship in order to gain hands-on experience that can be useful in their professional lives.
Career management
MBA graduates generally work in the following industries:
- Management of companies and enterprises
- Health care
- Social assistance
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
In 2012, the state of Texas had approximately 9,790 marketing managers and 29,610 financial managers, according to O*NET OnLine. Jobs for these business professionals are likely to grow in the coming years (2012 – 2022). Management analysts also formed a considerable portion of the business professionals in Texas and held about 37,350 jobs in 2012. The state is expected to need another 1,350 management analysts between 2012 and 2022, as per the data published by O*NET OnLine.
Human resources managers work in offices. Some managers are required to travel in order to participate in meetings or to recruit employees. Finance managers work closely with top executives and with departments that are responsible for developing data, financial managers need. Most of these managers work full-time, and many work long hours, the BLS noted.
Management analysts generally divide their time between their office and the client's site. As these business professionals are mostly required to spend considerable time with clients, they often have to travel. Since many of them are self-employed, therefore they may determine where and how much they wish to work.
Pay
According to O*NET OnLine, in 2013, the median annual pay for some of the business professionals in the state of Texas was as follows:
- Management analysts: $81,800
- Human resources managers: $106,000
- Finance managers: $116,400
- Chief executives: $185,900
The exact income may vary depending on a number of factors such as the location of work, experience and job title. According to the BLS, jobseekers may face strong competition for management analyst positions as the high earning potential in this occupation makes it attractive to numerous jobseekers. Opportunities are likely to be most suitable for candidates with a graduate degree, specialized expertise, or expertise in a foreign language, the BLS noted. As with other managerial occupations, jobseekers applying for finance manager positions are also expected to face competition as the number of job openings is expected to be fewer than the number of applicants. Candidates with accounting and finance skills—mostly those with a master's degree—may have better prospects. Students with interest in pursuing human resources manager jobs should also try to obtain a master’s degree, if they wish to benefit from considerably better opportunities in the field. Candidates with a strong background in human resources programs, policies, and employment law may find better opportunities, as per the information by the BLS.