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Undergrads studying business often look at some of the concentrations available to them in business school like the concentration that lets them earn an MBA in Acquisitions.
Acquisitions is a field of study that looks at how two companies can pool their resources to make more money and how larger corporations buy smaller businesses to increase profits. This is a good field of study for those who want to work in Fortune 500 companies and those who want to help smaller businesses succeed in the face of major competition. You might look at what the concentration is, the classes available and some of the classes you will take.
Acquisitions Concentration
A concentration is similar to a major. When you choose a major in college, you know that you’ll take classes from within your major and general education courses too. Those attending business school must select a concentration as well. When you choose a concentration in acquisitions or mergers and acquisitions, you can expect to take at least four courses within that field. Most programs require that students take 30 credit hours of classes, which is 10 three-credit hour classes.
Types of Classes
Before enrolling, make sure that you look at the required core classes and courses within the acquisitions concentration. Core business classes often include accounting, management and leadership classes. If you do not have a business degree and little business experience, the school may ask that you take introductory courses over the summer or before starting your first year. Though colleges have the right to offer different classes, most acquisitions programs feature courses like government acquisitions, business strategies, corporate finance and merger strategies. The strategies courses that you take show you how to weigh the risks and rewards of acquiring different companies and how to make the best decisions for your employer.
Program Types
Before enrolling in an MBA program to study acquisitions, keep in mind that there are a few different types of programs. The most common is a traditional MBA program that requires you take at least three classes each semester as a full-time student. Many business schools now offer online MBA programs for those who cannot take traditional classes. Though some have a residency component that requires you live on the campus for a short period of time, others let you complete all requirements online. Executive acquisitions MBA programs are also available. These programs combine longer classes that meet at night and on weekends with online classes.
Salary Potential
The earnings potential for MBA holders is on the rise. According to a report cited by Forbes, MBA holders can now make as much as $45,000 more than graduates did in the past when leaving school. With an MBA in Acquisitions, you may start out making even more. Employers know that you have the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions and that you won’t need any additional training. Corporations located in major cities like Manhattan and San Francisco typically pay recent graduates more than those in smaller cities do.
Professionals working in mergers and acquisitions make decisions every day that significantly increase or decrease a company’s profits. With an MBA in Acquisitions, you’ll learn how to research new businesses, weigh the risks and rewards associated with acquiring those companies and report those findings back to your employer.
See also: State Listing of MBA Programs
