Posted on Oct 26, 2013
What are the top 3 post-graduate degrees for officers transitioning to the civilian sector?
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I'm considering and MBA but am wondering if there's some other valuable degrees that I might be overlooking that would be valuable paired with military officer experience.
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Transition
Transition
Posted 11 y ago
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Sir, I know that the MBA is the conventional wisdom of the day, but have you considered pursuing something in the organizational behavior world? My CO recently finished his MA in organizational dynamics and I just completed my MA in organizational leadership with a focus on organizational change and innovation. Leadership is the universally transferable skill. As our world becomes more fluid, the ability lead organizations in transition will be a valuable asset. That coupled with your successful military career might provide you some opportunities. Maybe a little unconventional, but might be worth consideration.
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LTJG (Join to see)
Thanks for the input. I hadn't considered some of the other "unconventional" options out there.
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I would first consider what it is you want to do? What is your under-grad degree in and do you wish to stay with that major?
Some Masters are very specific and are required to get hired for some jobs. When I was looking into applying for MBA programs I looked for the ones that offered multiple minors. Since I am a Health Services Officers I found great value in an MBA in Healthcare. I liked the idea that if I changed my mind about a career in Healthcare I still had the MBA. As a multi-facited degree with far reaching and board career fields it seemed the best investment.
Another degree that I have heard is considered a highly sought degree in the civilian sector is an MPA (Masters of Public Administration). This is another management degree that is well received when looking at large companies who are seeking future VPs and potential Presidents of multiple organizations and even government.
Lastly, if you like technology, a Master's in Information Technology is highly sought after. At the Maser's level you would qualify for a top tier management position. But again, you have to want to do that type of work.
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I would recommend taking a look at "U.S. News" to do some research based on cost, program size, location, and any other characteristics you may find important. You can also take a look at the best sub-catagories. For instance, while Harvard is #1 for MBA overall, UPenn is #1 for the Executive MBA and Finance MBA sub-categories. This was very helpful for me when researching engineering graduate degrees. So hopefully, it is also helpful for you.The website is: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schoolsGood Luck!
Find the best graduate program for you using the US News Best Graduate Schools rankings.
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