Worcester Business Journal

12 Worcester Business Journal • April 27, 2015 www.wbjournal.com She believes a student needs to find the right fit, before deciding which program to pursue. Questions to consider once decid- ing to pursue an MBA include: • What kind of program would best suit your needs? • Should it be a general MBA pro- gram or one targeted at a specific industry or discipline? Many colleges offer specialty MBA programs in which students can focus on such areas as human resource management, marketing, accounting or health care management. Nonetheless, getting that degree is "a lot of work," Wellinghoff said, no matter when you pursue it. Therefore, it's crucial you get your degree at an appropriate time in your life. FOCUS Education: MBAs & workforce development Unlike other graduate school pro- grams, Metzger said, business school classes are typically taught by people with deep on-the-job experience in specific aspects of running a compa- ny, such as marketing, finance or entrepreneurship. A growing number of programs also hone in on particu- lar fields such as health care or non- profit management. Suzanne Parsons, director of human resources and training for Whitinsville-based Unibank, said real-world experience is important not just for instructors but for the students too. Parsons got her own Master of Business Administration on a part-time basis while she was working. She found a lot of the pro- gram's value came from bringing her questions from the workplace into the classroom, and learning from fel- Sizing up the MBA Central Mass. employers: Part-time programs a good option for workers who want to move up When's the right time to pursue one? When you realize you need it – and that's different for everyone BY LIVIA GERSHON Special to the Worcester Business Journal W hich is better for ambitious young workers? To stay on the job and focus on growing their careers? Or to supplement their edu- cation by enrolling in an MBA program? A number of Central Massachusetts business leaders say that, particularly with the growth of MBAs focused on particular aspects of the business world, the right choice is both. Part- time programs are particularly valuable for mid-career workers looking to move up, they say. "I'm really a big fan of what I'll call the versatility of the MBA degree," said Bart Metzger, chief human resources officer at Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health Care. "Probably the single thing that distinguishes it is (that) the faculty tends to be based in the real world." MBA programs in Central Mass. WPI • Innovation Anna Maria • Health informatics • Sport management Framingham State • Health care management Assumption • Sport business and leadership Clark • Social change • Sustainability • Community development and planning • Environmental science and policy • Finance • Accounting Fitchburg State • Human resources management • Accounting Nichols None BY BRITTANY LOPRIORE Special to the Worcester Business Journal E xperience can be your best teacher. It can also tell you when it might be a good time to pursue an MBA. "When you realize you need your MBA, that's a good time to get it," said Sandra Wellinghoff of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), who directs its Blended Learning program, a combination of in-classroom and online educa- tion. Today, students are waiting as much as 20 years to receive their master of business administration degree. In fact, most wait until they have some work experience before aiming for an advanced degree. "It's best to wait two years to get your MBA. Get your expe- rience in the workforce first and figure out: Why do you want to get your MBA?" Wellinghoff said. >> Continued on Page 15 >> Continued on Page 13 School Specialties Six of seven colleges in the region that offer MBA programs also offer specialty MBAs

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