Please tell me about masters and p.h.d degrees?

Question

I am getting my bachelor's degree in Business Administration. I was wondering if you can go straight into the masters program the following fall quarter after getting the Bachelor's degree. My school told me I had to have 1 full year of full time work. Is that true about all schools? Also, do they have P.h.D'S for business? If so, do you have to do master's, then go into the p.h.d program? Do you also have to work a year or more before going into the p.h.d. program?? Please let me know!

so then if you don't need a masters to get into the p.h. program, what is the difference?

Answer 1

Some schools require work experience to get into the MBA and some do not. You might also consider an MA or MS in a business subject instead of the MBA. The MBA is a generalist degree covering a lot of the material you already learned in your bachelor's. An MA in Economics or Finance or Management or HR, etc... would likely not require work experience for entry.

Some PhD programs require a master's first and some will let you in with the bachelor's. The PhD will require a certain number of courses beyond the bachelor's. If you have a related master's already then those courses count - if you don't have the master's then you cover the same courses as a master's student and then work on your doctoral courses. Not unlike the way you don't have to have an associates to get a bachelor's but you still have the same courses to do either way.

There is also a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree at some schools that is less concerned with theoretical research and more concerned with practical application. It's just as hard as the PhD, only a different focus. The DBA is more likely to require work experience than the PhD but getting some work experience isn't a bad idea.

You can also get your PhD in any of the specialty areas instead of 'business administration'. Areas like finance, accounting, management, HR, etc...

Some people move from the bachelor's in business administration to a Master of Public Administration (MPA) which deals with government and non-profit organizations instead of profit oriented businesses. It's also sometimes possible to enter a Master of Health Administration (MHA) with a bachelor's in business admin. to study the business operations of health care environments.

Answer 2

Business area Ph.D's are a little different than other subjects as it's a competitive area of study with relatively few schools offering quality doctorate level business education out there. With that in mind, not having a masters degree and/or work experience will seriously lower your chances of acceptance as you will be facing competition from those that have both. Not saying it's impossible, but unless you have something like a 3.95 combined GPA, near 800-score GMAT, then you dont' really have a chance without getting a master's first to even out the playing field. Note your master's need not be an MBA, it can be any related area, such as econ or such.

Answer 3

For the business field, it is advisable to get work experience before undergoing graduate studies, especially if you plan to enter the work force versus academia. Some of the business projects in graduate school require that you have workplace experience.

Not all schools require work experience, but it may be harder for you to contribute to class discussions if you don't have work experience.

Yes, they offer doctorates for business (e.g. international business). The procedure differs from school to school, so read the catalogues of the universities you are thinking of attending to plan accordingly. Some places you will move right from the master's to the PhD.

Answer 4

- there are universities with phd programs who do not need a masters degree to get admission.
- a 1 year full time work is helpful if you are aiming for one of the best universities. its a plus point. But most of the universities accept with or without work experience.
- yes they have phd for business.

Answer 5

actually, i have seen an american girl work on her Phd straight from her 1st degree. what happens is the same uni offers both.
masters has to be complementary to the phd so that it is beneficial for the university as well as to you too. e.g. growing chinese mushroom in east african (lol), or studying a herb that can cure malaria, etc.. so basically what happens is you study for 6 years and get honored with a masters in science and phd. few uni do this though, but the best is to do both in one school. but keep on searching, mostly in the USA/australia..