B-school trends come and go, but one that seems to have legs is the creation of specialized MBA programs, particularly by second-tier schools. The schools find them useful for attracting students and cementing their brand identities at a time when competition among schools for the best students is intense. In recent years, they’ve becoming increasingly common (BusinessWeek.com, 7/19/07) even at high-profile schools. Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management, and the Wharton School now offer specialized MBAs, majors, or dual degree programs in areas like real estate, sports management, biosciences, electronic commerce, and health care.

But is a specialized program always a good choice for an MBA student?

Not necessarily. While established programs have placement records on par with those of their general MBAs, many newer programs have not yet established the kind of recruiting relationships that guarantee students high-paying jobs at graduation. And graduates always run the risk of getting hamstrung by their specialties later in their careers, when an industry downturn forces them to look outside their specialties for opportunities.
Chart Your Own Path

Some who have gone through the specialized programs say they are best for those with a firm idea of their future goals, and who are keen to chart their own path. “I knew what I wanted to do,” said Carrie Stern Rathod, who received her MBA from Wisconsin’s Brand ‐ Product Management Center in 2005 and now works for Procter & Gamble (PG), which recruits regularly from the program. “There’s a range of people for whom this program is ideal. If you have an entrepreneurial bent but are not sure you’re ready to take the leap yet, the program might be right.” But, she added, “I think it would be tough if you wanted to go into consulting or something like that.”

For students who aren’t comfortable breaking away from the pack or seeking out professional contacts in unconventional ways, a specialized MBA might not be the best choice. This is especially true at less well-known schools, where big companies often don’t recruit. Students in these programs agree that making industry connections can require a lot of initiative from the student. “If you have a very specific company in mind, you might need to be a trailblazer in making relationships with those companies,” says Rathod.

More : businessweek.com

BOSTON, March 14 / PRNewswire / - Twelve leaders of the business schools around the world come to Boston for the first annual international strategy Technology Business Case Competition, March 30 At 1 April 2006. Hosted by Boston University School of Management, The Motorola Foundation and Novell are sponsoring this event with a total premium of $ 45000 directly on students of the winning team. Students have 24 hours to the establishment of a case that addresses problems in the general theme of “mobility transparent.”

The eight USA and four non-American business schools are competing at the Boston University School of Management, Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, London Business School; Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin; Queens School of Business (Canada), Seoul National University (Korea); Graduate School of Business at Stanford University; Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona, Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Each school sends four students. The winning schools receive trophies, and the first place team members are awarded $ 25000, the second team in the split-$ 15000; third place team members share $ 5000 Twelve industry leaders , Hear and pass judgement on the 12 conferences for the determination of the first four places. And the leaders of Motorola, Novell, the last four teams and determine the winners. Motorola CEO Edward J. Zander, (Boston University School of Management Class of 1975, doctorate honoris causa in 2005) is the price.

“This unique international competition focuses on the critical role of technology in the economy at all levels. It is essential for future leaders is to be in technology for the deployment and exploitation as well as strategic advantage, “said Louis E. Lataif, Dean, Boston University School of Management. The contest offers students exposure to highly placed technology and telecommunications leaders. ”

“The competition was organized by the Boston University School of Management MBA students for students of the world’s leading business schools, that the importance of technology in the economy of decision-making,” said Rob Eckhart, MS-2006 MBA, Director, in the case of competition Organizing Committee. “We look forward to your visit and against competitors highly motivated students from the prestigious school will accept our invitations.

About the Boston University School of Management

Was founded the College of Business Administration in 1913, Boston University School of Management as a guide for owners and networks of time, emphasizing the fusion of art, science and technology the company. The school prepares holistic approach is the next generation of leaders for one world, that values such as managing a system of interdependence of functions, decisions, people and technologies. It is the world leader in one of MS-MBA programme, a double rigorous conclusion and the next generation of fixing an MBA management training with traditional know-how in the field of technology ‘ information, the conversion of all holdings. The school also offers a full range of Undergraduate and Graduate Management curricula and Executive Education.