What is an MBA?

What is an MBA?
A two-year postgraduate course, leading either to a degree or a diploma. It imparts management skills that are critical for success in any kind of business. Typically, a business school course comprises six trimesters of 10- 12 weeks each, or four semesters of about 16-18 weeks each.


Two years of ...?
Taking the IIMs as an example, let's see how a typical MBA program is structured.


FirstYear
Introduction to all the functional areas of management.This period exposes a student to all facets of a business organization without the specifics of any one area of operation.


Summer Project
After completing the first year of stay at an II M or any B-School, you get an opportunity to work on a live project with organizations for about 8-10 weeks and gain insight into the world of corporate management. It is also an opportunity to decide on your area of specialization in the second year.


Second Year
The second year curriculum would include about 6-8 compulsory courses and about 17¬20 electives of your choice. The courses in your area of choice ensure learning of concepts studied during the first year.


Areas o f Specialization
Depending upon your interest, you can specialize in Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management, Systems, Operations, Strategy, Advertising, International Business, has to be made while you are in the first year of your MBA course. At ISB, NITIE and other institutes, students have the option of specializing in more than one area.
Methods o f Instruction

1) Classroom lectures

2) Home assignments

3) Discussions on assigned readings

4) Case studies-Exposure to real-life situations

5) In Indian and abroad

6) Presentations

7) Group tasks and projects

8) Games- Business simulation

9) Real-life field projects


Carve a niche for yourself
An MBA form a good B-School opens a world of opportunities. Talk to people, take a minute and gauge all the options that lie in store for you.


Spcialisaitons in MBA
MBA offers the various specialization options such as Finance, Marketing Human Resources, Operations, Systems, International Business etc. 


Besides these, there are other specialized areas, like Foreign Trade / International Business, Advertising & Event Management and Rural Management etc.