Difference between MBA and Mgmt Sc

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British undergraduate programs are similar to Canadian in that they are very specialised throughout. In fact, British BSc(Hons)/BA(Hons) programs are three years in length and usually are acceptable to gain entrance into a research-based PhD, such is their specialisation.

In fact, many have equated British Higher National Diploma (2 year) programs to American four-year degrees and only put the American Associate Degree at British high-school (A-Level) level. Let the controversy begin...

 

The typical MBA program is about 56 credits, while the typical MSB or MSM program is 30 credits. That alone indicates the relative amount of work involved in attaining the two types of degrees. The MBA is more of a practitioner's degree, while the MS is an academic degree.

Also, there are usually options for concentrations in an MBA--for example, in marketing, finance, organizational studies, policy and strategy, technology, etc. Sometimes a person with an MBA will later also do an MS program, often in Accounting or Finance, in order to pick up additional analytic tools beyond those garnered from the MBA studies. To a lesser extent, an advanced certificate in management focused on a specialized area can be useful in that same way.

Career wise, generalists who climb the corporate ladder are more likely to have MBAs, as they understand the broad scope of business, its external environment, and the interrelationships among all functions. People with MS degrees tend more to contribute their specialized expertise and thereby progress within a particular function.

Insofar as teaching on adjunct faculty, both MBAs and grads with MS degrees in some facet of business are welcome at most business schools.

David April,
BA, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
MBA, Boston College
ACM, Boston College
DBA, California Pacific University

 

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Not the experience shared by some of the students at some online programs here in this forum.

Some students even mentioned that is possible to achieve an MBA from americal intercontinental in one year part time while working full time.

Some NCU students reported an average of two years part time to get an MBA that is the equivalent of one year full time.

Virtual online schools seems to have record times for the completion of an MBA. It is possible to get an MBA and a PhD all together in a record time of 3 years part time at some of the online schools.


I agree that these schools are at the bottom of the scale but some online degrees at some RA accredited schools can always be accomplished in record times.

 

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Not really, an MBA or MSc in administration qualifies you for admission into a PhD program in Canada. An MSc is more prestigious but then you have universities in Canada like Laval University that offers MBAs by research.

The MSc is more academic and more specialized. The MBA seems to be a generalist degree but also more known in industry.

At the end of the day, both are master's degrees and both recognized but they serve different markets.

 

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Sorry, I have to respectfully disagree. An MBA will not get you into a Canadian PhD program unless you have an undergraduate honours degree in business/management and there is evidence of independent research. Regardless of what the official entry requirements are, admission to a Canadian PhD is so competitive that only the top students are admitted.

Someone that holds a BA in Geography and an MBA will likely not be admitted to a Canadian PhD in Business Administration. If admitted, the applicant will have to take the equivalent of several years of courses before moving into the research stage.

 

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Not at all the Universities. At least McGill. Concordia and HEC do not require a M.Sc for admission and an MBA is enough.

 

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I'm sure an MBA would be acceptable if the undergraduate honours degree was in a cognate discipline. I very much doubt that these fine schools wouls admit an applicant with a non-business honours degree.

A generalist MBA without a business undergradute is not enough preparation to conduct a PhD in Business Administation.

 

I cannot think of one AACSB accredited school where you can attain an MBA in one year, especially with the lack of pre-reqs that would be necessary if you did not have a BS in the Business field, especially in a DL or online format. Also, there are many master's programs you can get into with some pre-reqs done, which would turn a 30 SH degree into a 45 SH degree, or something like that, and the same holds true of the MBA, 36 SH (fairly typical) plus an additional 4 or 5 classes for pre-reqs if you have an non-business degree, and you are looking at 48 SH to complete. I do agree that an MBA is more general, but I do not agree that the work is at the undergrad level, my experience has been the work was grad level work. As for classes I took as part of my concentration, I found those courses much more micro focused as opposed to macro focused. Both are masters degrees, though I do agree that an MBA is more practitioner focused, and an MS more academic focused.

William Parker
BS Accounting, Upper Iowa University
MBA, Morehead State University--in progress

 

Are we all talking about the same "PhD" program ? I'm prepared to accept that Waterloo doesn't allow common MBAs into a PhD program hosted by the Faculty of School of Engineering. But it seems odd that a School of Business would not accept its own MBA for PhD/DBA studies.

 

An MBA is fine for admission to a PhD in Business Administration IF the undergraduate honours degree is also in business or management science.

I doubt that any Canadian school would admit someone with a BA in Art History and and MBA into a PhD in Business Administration degree. It is very unlikely. Especially if someone holds one of the accelerated 11 month MBA's being offered these days!

Someone with a BBA/BCom and an MBA is a good candidate for admisstion to a PhD in Business Administration.

 

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No controversy from my point-of-view. I teach those undergraduate students here in the U.S., I'm surprised the Brits give the U.S. associates that much credit. We do a good job of producing fine creative minds in the U.S., we do a good job of expecting and demanding solid work once people are out in the private enterprise system. We do a lousy job of preparing students for that eventuality in our high schools and through the first part of undergrad.

No controversy here.

 

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I disagree with this, I have seen many Master's in math, engineering and science not even an MBA enrolled in PhDs in business at canadian universities. Here you have three PhDs from different canadian universities, none of the asking for an MBA but a mater's degree for admission.

http://www.mcgill.ca/management-phd/admission/requirements/

http://graduatestudies.concordia.ca/gradcalendars/2006-07/partV/b-bussadministration06.html

http://business.queensu.ca/phd/faqs.htm

From the Queens site

"Am I eligible to apply for the PhD Program?
If you have a Master's degree or one academic year of full-time study at the graduate level completed with high standing, you are eligible to study for admission to the PhD Program. "

Not even a business degree is required for admission into a PhD in business program at Queens. I personally know many master's in Math holders pursuing PhDs in business at canadian universities.