What is a master’s in management vs. MBA?
Those considering a master’s in management (MM) vs. a Master of Business Administration (MBA) should know that professional and personal development are inherent to career development, no matter the industry. However, it may be beneficial for aspiring leaders to continue their education and pursue a graduate business degree. Let’s break down the primary differences between each program’s structure, curriculum, professional experience requirements, and career options.
Considering a master’s in management vs. MBA?
Some business professionals seek one of two options for expanding their education, a Master’s in Management vs. MBA. Both MM and MBA programs upskill individuals in the world of business leadership, but they serve different purposes and audiences.
A Master of Management degree typically targets individuals who are interested in developing their organizational management skills, focusing on business planning, innovation, communication, and team building. Skills taught may include the functions of management, change management, customer relationship management, agile project management, logistics and supply chain management, and more.
On the other hand, an MBA 
is geared toward individuals who are seeking a wide overview of business administrative skills.
While both degrees can teach helpful skills for a business career, choosing between them depends on an individual’s current professional standing and long-term career goals. Let’s dive deeper and explore the differences between a Master of Management and an MBA, including when they might make sense.
What is the difference between a master’s in management vs. an MBA?
When considering a master’s in management vs. MBA, it should be noted that although they are both graduate degrees, they cater to different audiences and career goals.
Which is harder when pursuing a master's in management vs. MBA?
All graduate degrees are challenging in unique ways. Determining whether an MBA or MM program is harder depends on an individual’s aptitude, background, goals and work experience.
Which master's degree is most in demand?
Demand for master’s degrees varies based on industry trends and job market needs. While there currently isn’t information regarding which master’s degree employers most seek out, job seekers can check job listings to see which degree is most often required for the roles they ultimately want to fill.
A side-by-side comparison of a Master of Management and an MBA
What is a Master of Management?
A Master of Management degree often includes a curriculum focused on business operations, regulations, analytics, research, laws and ethics. Students who pursue an online Master of Management degree typically learn specific skill sets that are relevant to managerial roles such as:
- Management
- Strategic planning
- Leadership
- Operations
What is a master's in management called?
A Master of Management (MM) may go by different names depending on the institution offering the program. Common variations include:
- Master of Science in Management (MSM)
- Master of Arts in Management (MAM)
- Master in International Management (MIM)
Despite the different titles, these programs share a common focus of providing foundational management and business skills to early-career professionals.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to earning a master’s in management
Earning a Master of Management degree presents advantages and disadvantages too, depending on someone’s situation and goals. As mentioned, it could be a great fit for early-career professionals who want to gain management skills.
What are the drawbacks to a Master of Management degree? A Master of Management degree doesn’t offer the overall general focus that MBAs might.
Some may feel this could limit their opportunity to develop expertise in specific areas of interest. Also, Master of Management graduates are well equipped for management positions, but they may need additional qualifications or experience to move into higher leadership positions.
What are some management careers to consider?
Once coursework is complete, what can students do with a Master of Management?
A Master of Management program can prepare students for multiple business management careers. That’s a good thing for professionals, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment in management occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033. About 1.2 million openings are projected each year, on average.
BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.
For those who’ve earned master’s in management degrees, here are some examples of job possibilities:
Business managers
Business managers typically help guide and oversee a team toward meeting their department goals. Business managers also work toward implementing strategies to improve overall team efficiency. To take on these managerial tasks, having general leadership skills is helpful.
General and operations managers
General and operations managers take an overarching view of their organizations’ success and are often responsible for tasks like making policies, staff schedules and work assignments for their teams. These managers may work across various industries, including retail, food and beverage.
Store managers
Store managers may have many of the same responsibilities as business managers, but they’re actually specific, first-line supervisors for retail workers. They often make personnel decisions and perform some accounting, payroll and budgeting work.
Store managers’ education requirements can vary. Some stores prefer candidates with bachelor’s degrees, although certain employers may want their managers to have completed a graduate program. Depending on the retailer, moving up the ranks on experience alone may also be possible.
What is a Master of Business Administration?
Again, when considering a master’s in management vs. MBA, take into account that online MBA programs offer students the opportunity to develop management skills as well. However, they also focus heavily on data analysis and business analytics. In addition, there’s a strong emphasis on planning and evaluation to help improve organizations.
An MBA program may be a good option for professionals who want to develop skills across a variety of business areas. For working adults, pursuing an MBA can be a feasible goal, provided they adopt strong time management skills and find a program that accommodates their schedules.
Individuals who have several years of work experience, meanwhile, may consider a competency-based (CB) MBA program instead. Professionals who work well independently and have strong self-discipline are ideal for this program’s accelerated features. It allows students to work with faculty to demonstrate proficiency in skills they already have so that they can focus on learning new, career-relevant skills. This approach can ultimately save them time: Some students can earn an MBA-CB in as little as one year.
That said, what can someone do with an MBA? As it turns out, students can prepare for many of the same careers noted for MBAs, with a Master of Management degree. Common pathways for MBA grads include general and operations manager roles, store manager positions and administrative director roles.
Administrative directors oversee a company’s daily operations and coordinate records management, training protocols and other administrative practices.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to earning an MBA?
What are the pros and cons of earning an MBA? Here are a few things to consider.
An MBA offers a structured path to learn relevant skills in the field and that can be highlighted on a resumé. Those who want to understand comprehensive business disciplines may find that resumé enhancement is a compelling reason to apply for an MBA program.
That said, there can be some perceived drawbacks. Pursuing an MBA can represent significant time and financial commitments. The academic rigor can create pressure too.
Students need to ensure they are prepared to significantly hone their time management and study skills to remain focused on their end goals and complete their degrees.
Choosing between a a master’s in management vs. MBA
Those hard-pressed to decide which degree makes the most sense between a master’s in management vs. MBA can consider their previous coursework, career experiences and personal goals.
Recent graduates or early-career professionals with limited work experience might find a Master of Management better suited to provide the foundational business knowledge or management skills needed to kick-start a career.
Meanwhile, those who have several years of professional experience and want to pursue higher leadership positions in their career, or explore new industries, might consider the MBA. Its comprehensive curriculum and networking opportunities often cater to midcareer professionals who are eager to further their skill set overall with more leadership opportunities in mind.
Take a look at master’s in management vs MBA programs
When you’re looking at online master’s in management vs. MBA programs, University of Phoenix offers both paths. The traditional, online MBA program at UOPX can take approximately 16 months for students to complete if they take one course at a time all the way through. Consider the following options:
- Master of Business Administration online
- Master of Business Administration (Competency Based-CB)
- Master's in Management online
Contact University of Phoenix for more information.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at University of Phoenix where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology, Kathryn Uhles has served University of Phoenix in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining University of Phoenix, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in Phoenix.
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