As a career-driven business professional, you have your sights set on the future. With years of experience under your belt, you are ready to upskill with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and take on a leadership role.
However, pursuing an MBA as a full-time professional can be daunting. You likely wonder if you can balance school and your personal life, if your organization will support your journey or if an MBA is even useful in your field.
At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Haslam College of Business, our Professional MBA program (ProMBA) is designed to develop relevant leadership and business skills that propel your career forward. With the support of your faculty and ProMBA community, we believe you are ready to overcome any challenges or doubts about advancing your career with an MBA. Explore answers to our most frequently asked questions below so you can apply with the confidence to say, “I am ProMBA ready.”
Can I Work Full Time and Earn an MBA Degree in 16 Months?
Yes, the ProMBA is designed specifically for full-time working professionals. We recognize that a key concern for many people interested in pursuing an MBA is how to balance education with a career. Our 16-month MBA for working professionals gives you the opportunity to develop critical business competencies that you can apply in real time at your organization.
The ProMBA’s mix of on-campus and virtual learning allows you to focus on your individual growth and collaborate with your classmates on interactive projects. This ensures that when you are ready to commit your time to the degree program, your experience will be engaging and rewarding.
Is Returning to School Difficult After Being in the Workforce for a While?
Going back to college after time away can be hard, but we’re here to support your return to the classroom. The Professional MBA program provides ongoing support from an advisor and a leadership coach to ensure you are ready to be a student again. Both mentors serve as a thread connecting your ProMBA journey with your real-world experience in the workforce, offering guidance through major projects and preparing you to apply core lesson concepts to your organization.
Along with the support of ProMBA faculty and staff, students going back to college find support in one another as they readjust to the demands of a graduate program. ProMBA candidates have an average of 11 years of professional experience with a minimum of five years experience required to apply, meaning that you will have the support and understanding of your classmates no matter where you are in your career. The diverse ProMBA student community also provides valuable cross-industry insights that prepare you to transition seamlessly into a variety of fields upon graduation.
Kenley Hansen, a ProMBA candidate, found the community connections to be just as valuable as the coursework. “One of the things I didn’t expect is the personal relationships that you develop and the conversations we have about our shared experiences are just as important as the curriculum itself,” he said.
I Have a Family. Can I Still Pursue an MBA?
Absolutely. As a busy professional, earning an MBA likely isn’t your only responsibility. The ProMBA program is designed to accommodate your lifestyle and help you maintain school-life balance.
Our blended format is designed for you to attend two live, online evening classes each month and spend two to three Saturdays per month on campus engaging with your classmates and expert faculty members. The combination of in-person and virtual interaction ensures you are ready to fully engage with the ProMBA community without sacrificing too much of your personal time.
Will My Job Be Okay With Me Returning to School?
While every organization is different, you should feel confident that pursuing an MBA while fully employed will not only advance your individual professional goals, but will give you the hands-on opportunity to enhance your workplace during the 16-month program. We see your career as an asset rather than a roadblock, which is why our applied learning approach incorporates your workplace as a significant component of your coursework.
Throughout the 16-month ProMBA program, you will complete an Organization Action Project (OAP), which requires you to identify and address an issue of major importance at your company or organization. This thesis-level project allows you to develop a strategic view of your workplace and apply classroom concepts that will help execute meaningful and immediate change at your organization.
As a result of taking on more responsibility and becoming more purpose-driven leaders, 70% of ProMBA candidates report that they have been promoted at their organizations during the 16-month program.
Is the ProMBA Right for My Career?
No matter your area of interest and expertise, earning a ProMBA can heighten your job mobility and set you apart from other candidates. The demand for MBA-educated job seekers is reaching new levels with 95% of corporate recruiters planning to hire new MBA graduates in 2022, according to a Graduate Management Admission Council survey. As you contemplate which degree is right for your goals, consider that earning an MBA can increase your job mobility and prepare you to seamlessly transition from one industry to another whether your passion lies in education, technology, healthcare, agriculture or elsewhere.
I Already Have a Master’s. Why Should I Get Another One?
If you’re considering having two master’s degrees and question the utility of an MBA, consider that a ProMBA can strengthen existing skills and better prepare you for leadership roles through its curriculum and personalized mentorship.
The Leadership Development Program is a two-part program that will expose you to key business concepts and prepare you for managerial roles. It will also pair you with a leadership coach who will guide your short- and long-term professional, personal and stretch goals, which will continue to serve you long after you graduate from the ProMBA program. Additionally, through case-based methods, simulations and hands-on projects, you will become a more holistic, effective business leader and be prepared to apply strategic solutions to business challenges across industries.
Beyond technical business practices, we teach core executive competencies that you will be able to apply to any organization. Communication, impact, responsibility, operational strategies, team building and crisis management drive our curriculum and equip you with cross-industry skills that ensure you are ready to advance your career to the next level.
I’m in the Technical Field. Is an MBA Right for Me?
Absolutely. If you have a technical background, the ProMBA gives you the tools to execute business decisions related to your field at a higher level. While not a technical MBA itself, the ProMBA combines your specialized knowledge with interdisciplinary business practices to help prepare you to evaluate technical challenges through a business lens. Robert Watkins, a current ProMBA student, started the program with eight years of engineering experience under his belt. He believes the program is preparing him to communicate effectively at a managerial level while employing his technical knowledge of engineering to make strategic, informed decisions that are in line with his company’s business values. Like Watkins, no matter your technical skills, you are ready to optimize your knowledge and make a greater impact.
I Am Ready to Earn My ProMBA. How Can I Start?
Regardless of where your career has taken you, earning your MBA can enhance your strategic business knowledge, expand your network and prepare you with the critical business competencies to meaningfully advance your career. With the interdisciplinary nature of our program, you can feel confident that the ProMBA program will help set you up for greater success without having to sacrifice your personal life or career.
You are ProMBA ready. Explore the program, review the admissions requirements and apply today.