What is an MBA with dual specialization?

Dual specialization MBA overview

MBA degrees are always in high demand when it comes to pursuing higher education. They are the perfect entry point for career growth and advancement. An MBA degree helps unlock attractive job roles and pay packages for students and working professionals alike. It’s always been a traditional norm for students to pursue MBA courses with a single choice of subject to specialize in. This allows them to delve deeper into the field of study and open up better job prospects for themselves. 

However, an MBA with dual specialization is now gaining popularity. Here, students can specialize in not just one but two different areas of business administration. We have the MBA dual specialization explained thoroughly in this blog for your easy reference.

Definition of a dual-specialization MBA

What is a dual specialization MBA? It is a program where the degree enables students to pursue a specialization in two areas of business administration in parallel. This is done to allow students a far wider scope of study. Additionally, it enhances the knowledge base and skill-learning potential of the students. Several universities today offer MBA degree programs with dual specialization. Many of them are offered in online mode as well.

MBA dual specialization explained 

As part of their two-year degree program, students can choose from any two of a variety of subject choices to specialize in. A few examples include:

• Finance
• Marketing 
• Human Resource Management
• Information Systems
• Digital Marketing
• Analytics & Data Science

A conventional MBA program offers a postgraduate degree to students in any one subject of their choice. The course duration is generally 2 years. However, a dual-specialization MBA imparts a degree in two preferred specialization areas in the same time frame. 

Benefits of dual specialization MBA   

The MBA degree with dual specialization offers a host of advantages to the students enrolling in the program. Here are some of the top benefits of dual specialization MBA for students and graduates alike:

1. Improved career opportunities: Dual-specialization MBA helps equip students with the desired industry-specific skills that enable them to climb up the corporate ladder. With the right skills, graduates can unlock better-paying and more rewarding career avenues.

2. Higher salary packages: Graduates with dual-specialization MBA degrees are entitled to earn more pay compared to their peers. This is because, with knowledge of two subjects in parallel, these students appear more attractive to potential employers.

3. Flexible learning structure: The degree program is offered 100% online which allows complete comfort and convenience to study from home or any other location of your choice. This flexibility makes the program more appealing to students.

4. Key leadership skills: The course is designed to specifically help students assume top management and leadership positions in their respective industries. Students learn these essential skills, along with other critical traits such as strategic decision-making and problem-solving.

5. Access to a strong alumni network: The online MBA with dual specialization course enables students and graduates to connect with the program alumni. Most of these graduates are skilled professionals in their respective work arenas and able to share their valuable knowledge and experiences with the current student batch. 

6. Potential to earn dual specialization: This has to be one of the best advantages of the program. The course is so designed that students can specialize in not just one but two study areas in parallel. They are offered the choice of Marketing along with Human Resource Management, Finance, Operations & Supply Chain Management, and Systems. 

Popular dual specialization combinations            

While covering MBA with dual specialization details, it is important to note the various subject combinations offered here. This can help students get a better idea of what study areas the course entails. It also enables them to make an informed decision keeping their future career path in mind.

The dual-specialization MBA overview highlights that pursuing a degree in one common subject, namely, Marketing is mandatory for all students enrolled in the program. This means that all students are eligible to specialize in Marketing as a subject while being offered the choice to specialize in one more subject additionally (in parallel to Marketing). The popular dual specialization combinations are defined below:

• Marketing & Finance
• Finance & HR
• HR & Marketing
• Marketing & Systems
• Operations & Supply Chain Management

Students are free to opt for any one of the above subjects mentioned above for specialization in the second year or third semester of the two-year online dual-specialization MBA program. This specialization can be pursued alongside Marketing, also a compulsory subject for specialization, offered in the third semester of the degree. 

Students can make their choice of specialization based on their academic interests, background, and career aspirations.

Who should consider an MBA with dual specialization?

We learned that the benefits of dual specialization MBA apply far and wide. Let us now look at the specific category of students and professionals that the program appeals to:

1. Working professionals looking for career growth and advancement
2. Those who aspire to enhance their value at their respective workplaces
3. Those who wish to earn a competitive advantage in the job market with wider knowledge and skill sets
4. Professionals deciding on a career switch and looking for reskilling opportunities
5. Those who wish to become an entrepreneur with added valuable insights into the running of a business gained from the dual-specialization MBA program

Choosing the right dual specialization   

In the MBA dual specialization explained earlier in this blog, we discussed some of the most popular dual specialization combinations that students can opt for in the second year of the program. But how to decide on the right specialization area? Here’s what you should consider to make an informed decision:

• Career objectives: Keep a fair idea of where you see yourself 5 or 10 years down and choose an area of study as part of your dual-MBA specialization course keeping that career goal in mind. Your study discipline should ideally help you achieve that objective.

• Return on Investment: The area of specialization you choose should be able to give you better and more lucrative returns on your investment in the course. Look for a subject that opens avenues for rewarding career prospects with attractive salary packages.

• Academic and professional interests: They are an equally important consideration in the process of choosing the right dual specialization. Take into account your academic interests and professional strengths, and see how they best fit with your long-term career goals.
• Market and industry trends: When choosing a specialization for your MBA program, studying the latest trends in your respective industry and the job market can help. This would help you get a better picture of the kind of jobs in demand in your specific sector and the most desirable skills demanded by employers. This can then help you make an informed choice in opting for the second specialization.

Pursue an online MBA with dual specialization from SMU

After getting a complete dual specialization MBA overview, it is clear that the degree holds immense relevance and significance for students and working professionals alike. Sikkim Manipal University offers MBA with dual specialization in complete online mode on the Online Manipal platform.

The program is designed to upskill you for assuming top managerial and leadership positions in your job industry. Expert faculty from related domains impart the course to students and professionals from varied backgrounds, allowing them ample scope for networking and finding suitable opportunities for career growth and advancement upon graduation. 

The best part about pursuing this 24-month MBA degree is that it allows you to pursue your work commitments without interruption as you can choose your time of study online at your convenience. Sikkim Manipal University is accredited an A+ grade by NAAC and all its online degree programs are entitled by the UGC. It is also ranked the top private university in the North East.    

Conclusion 

Online MBA with dual specialization is a unique initiative to enable students to diversify their skill sets and boost their career prospects. The added advantage of learning in a flexible online study format allows students a perfect work-life balance, gaining the required expertise in two study areas in parallel.

By diversifying their knowledge in two domains, students can look forward to enhancing their knowledge base and making themselves appear highly desirable in the competitive job market.

Sikkim Manipal University’s online MBA with dual specialization allows students the choice between Marketing (mandatory) and four other specializations, which they can choose as per their academic interests or career aspirations. In addition, students are equipped with the much-desirable industry-specific skills in corporate leadership, effective management, critical thinking, strategic decision-making, and more. 

With these skills handy, graduates in dual-specialization MBA can prove themselves to be valuable assets to any organization. Sign up for the online MBA program with dual specialization from Sikkim Manipal University and take the first step to climb the corporate ladder of success from here on. The degree is recognized worldwide and accepted by governments and organizations globally, placing you on the international employment platform.