Business degrees to save the world

There’s no denying that a business degree can equip students with the skills and attributes most valued by businesses throughout the world. Many of the better ones even lead graduates to take on more than half of the top 10 jobs in the world. 

The best business degrees, however, offer something more: the know-how to make a difference. This refers to the knowledge and experience to succeed in no small task, i.e. saving the world. Business graduates have made the news for helping children gain better access to healthcare, food and shelter; and pioneer the first electric car to achieve a range of 200 miles; to name just two examples that have made the world a better place. 

There’s no one path to achieve such feats — but a closer look in some of the most prolific business schools today reveal similar features: an enviable network of industry practitioners and researchers, a rigorous curriculum, a focus on technology, and a diverse campus community. 

If this is the future you envision, head to these four US business schools below:

University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Located in the Buffalo-Niagara region of New York, the University at Buffalo (UB) is ranked as the top public university in the state, and is consistently recognised as one of the world’s most exceptional and affordable universities. This dynamic institution is a top choice for students every year thanks to its diversity of programmes and international reputation.

The UB School of Management offers a wide range of concentrations, including business analytics, consulting, e-commerce, finance, general management, health care administration, international business, marketing, management information systems, production/operations management, and supply chain management/logistics.

What sets the school apart is its vision and STEM-designated graduate business programmes. The UB School of Management’s vision is “a world of transformational leaders and organisations who change society for the better.” Students realize this vision of how business can — and should — be a force for good through programmes filled with real-world experience delivering real impact , and where theory combines with experiential learning to produce career-ready graduates and the leaders of tomorrow.

Leverage the opportunity for extended Optional Practical Training to work in the U.S. and choose from the STEM-designated Full-Time MBA, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Master of Science in Finance or Master of Science in Management Information Systems to further your knowledge and gain skills to prepare you to enter the workforce.

The best part? These programmes deliver a powerful combination of top-ranked business education at a competitive, public institution price, leading to a strong return on your educational investment. If you’re ready to leave your mark on the world and contribute to society, learn more about UB School of Management’s programmes here.

At UT Dallas, postgraduate business programmes are always improving. Source: UT Dallas

UT Dallas: Naveen Jindal School of Management

Maximise your future potential with the Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas Dallas (UT Dallas). This business school is on a mission to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing, technology-driven, global society. Postgraduate programmes are always improving, as are its suite of management education courses.

To enrol in the UT Dallas MBA is to expand your business network by making valuable connections and relationships. The MBA programme also hosts a two-week boot camp for the incoming cohort called LEAD Camp (Leadership, Enhancement, Academic, Professional Development). It prepares students for the future of work with a wide range of seminars, workshops, lectures and activities.

Plan to manage or lead a high tech firm or research institution? UT Dallas’s combined degree of MS/MBA engineering and management lets you earn an Master of Science Electrical Engineering (MSEE) degree in combination with an MBA or MS degree in management. This programme is administered by the faculty members in the Department of Electrical Engineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and the School of Management.

Source: University of California Irvine#

University of California Irvine

The University of California Irvine (UCI) stands out for many reasons — its academic excellence, a diverse student body, a world-class faculty, and a strong alumni network. Though the university boasts many excellent qualities, what truly sets UCI apart from the rest is its Paul Merage School of Business. The school consistently ranks among the top 10% of accredited business schools nationwide. 

Here, programmes are designed to introduce students to the industry. All seven faculties combine academics with practical experience to equip students with the necessary skills to form the next generation of business leaders. Programmes and innovative curriculum expand opportunities to excel as a leader in a digitally driven-world.

Situated in the heart of Orange County’s “Tech Coast” the school is surrounded by a network of world-class businesses supporting its goal to produce career-ready graduates. Amazon, Google, Western Digital, Disney and Capital Group are some of the many companies that are located near the university. 

Master’s graduate Zarina Bahadur used her Merage education to start 123 Baby Box, a monthly subscription service for babies with products tailored to the baby’s age and developmental stage. It won the US$25,000 grand prize at the 2020 New Venture Competition and recently received $1.2 million of funding from XRC Ventures, Sunstone Fund, Salt Lake City Angels, and Crescent Fund.

“Only 1.9% of venture capital goes to women, and even less goes to women of color, which is crazy,” Bahadur said, pointing out that she is from the Middle East. “So I’m very proud of this accomplishment.” For more information, visit UCI’s website and get a feel of the campus through the virtual campus tour.

Minnesota State University Moorhead’s School of Business, Analytics and Communication aims to produce graduates with the necessary skills to thrive in the industry. Source: Minnesota State University Moorhead

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Combine a clever use of technology, a faculty where half are from abroad, experiential learning, and interaction with industry and you get a stellar qualification from Minnesota State University Moorhead’s College of Business, Analytics and Communication. This AACSB-accredited institution — part of only 5% of business schools worldwide to hold this prestige — has one mission: to provide students with the opportunity to discover their passions, the rigour to develop intellectually and the versatility to shape a changing world.

Whether you’re preparing to change the world or change careers, a degree here are a smart investment. Take, for example, the Four Plus One Master of Business Administration (MBA) Programme and Four Plus One Accounting and Finance Programme. Both extension programmes provide a direct pathway from a business bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree. Then, to a variety of fulfilling careers at some of the top companies in the region and beyond. 

MSUM MBA graduates are now leading a variety of businesses and companies such as General Mills, Ottertail Power, Border States, Target, Best Buy, US Bancorp, Xcel Energy, Hormel Foods, Microsoft, Sanford Health, Noridian Healthcare Solutions and Wal-Mart, as well as a variety of nonprofit and educational institutions.

Part of this success can be traced to the college’s unique selection of learning opportunities outside of the classroom. This includes its international award-winning Collegiate DECA team, Beta Gamma Sigma international honour society and Dragon Business Crawl (visiting area businesses and interacting with leaders, managers and owners), among others. Accounting students can take part in the Bloomberg Terminal Certification, Dragon Investment Fund, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Research Challenge, or even go on a business trip to China, and so forth. To learn more about this university with excellence and heart, click here.

*Some of the institutions featured on this article are commercial partners of Study International