University Of Southern Nevada
MBA PROGRAM
Why an MBA
~ by Wendell Jones, MBA Professor
My MBA education prepared me for the challenges of command and leadership positions in the military, including two tours of combat duty. Later in my post-military career in business, I was able to effectively apply my MBA knowledge managing complex organizations in the aerospace, securities and computer industries. The business education served me well in middle management and later proved invaluable as a vice president with Compaq and a senior vice president with NASDAQ.
While the most valuable reason for an MBA is the managerial knowledge and leadership skills gained, an important tangible benefit is compensation. The MBA is in high demand and that is affecting salaries worldwide. Consider the following quotations from a recent article in USA Today.
Salaries and signing bonuses of fresh graduates took a double-digit jump in 2005 to a record average $106,000 and signaled an end to the "perfect storm" of sour news this decade that included the dot-com bust, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a subsequent recession…
The health care industry craves MBAs to help manage spiraling costs, and schools offer an MBA for those looking for careers ranging from hospital administration to biotech.
Even the outsourcing of jobs to places such as India is driving demand for MBAs. The Labor Department estimates the outsourcing industry will need 2,000 senior executives this year.
There is also heavy demand for MBAs by the U.S. government and not-for-profit organizations. Salaries are not as high, but added demand is likely driving them up elsewhere. The trend is global, according to a survey out Tuesday by QS World MBA Tour. Average salary and bonus for new MBAs was up 10% in 2005 to $114,000, also breaking the record set in 2001.
More than 100,000 MBA degrees are awarded each year in the USA alone. There are 1,500 schools worldwide offering MBAs and that number seems destined to increase significantly as China and other emerging countries offer the degree.
With so many possible MBA programs, I chose USN as the place for me to teach. Why? I am convinced that the USN MBA is special and unique in a number of important ways. The MBA faculty is top-notch and not just lifetime academics. Most have extensive business backgrounds as executives and entrepreneurs. Our MBA is accelerated and can be completed sooner than most other programs. This means the value of the education can be put to use much sooner. Our MBA program is part of a fast growing, entrepreneurial university with a healthcare focus. Accordingly, we have the support of the university in achieving our vision. Our vision and commitment is to become the leading MBA program for healthcare professionals in the state and region.