MSM vs MBA vs other

[Kjnova]

Tomorrow is the last day of my session at UMPI. I get my grades next week and the BABA will be conferred within a few weeks after that.

I am trying to figure out which master's degree to pursue. I am unemployed right now, but have a pretty successful career with roles like program manager or agile coach for fortune 100 companies.

I know the general focus of the board is on maximum fast transfer credits, low cost, high speed, etc, but in my case, I would like a highly credible name for the master's university (eg US News & World Report top 100 national universities), since my undergrad university is not very well-known. Speed and cost also matter but are secondary to that.

Given that, I am looking at options like:

UIUC iMSM - $12,500 - I have applied here, my application is pending unofficial transcript - note, can stack into the MBA
UIUC iMBA - $25,000
Boston University MBA - $25,000
and,
Boston University Master of Data Science - $25,000 (I've been accepted to this)
Georgia Tech Master of Science in Cybersecurity/Policy concentration - $11,500, but I would have to wait until fall 2025 due to application deadlines

I am not that technical myself, but I often work in leadership roles with technical teams.

I have been planning to do UIUC MSM, if admitted, and later consider whether to also add the UIUC MBA, but I'm having second thoughts. Perhaps I should just pursue the MBA now? The questions in my mind are, what is the impact of my resume saying I am pursuing an MBA vs it saying that I am pursuing an MSM? And, would it be more valuable in 18 months to actually have an MSM, or to still be pursuing an MBA?

There is value in saying you are pursuing one of these degrees as well as value in having the degree and I want to be aware of that, since the one to three years I am pursuing the degree are also important in terms of jobs and advancement.

I know everybody looks at these factors differently and I don't think there is a wrong way to do it, but given how I am framing it, I'd love any advice about the degrees or schools I am listing, or other similar options. Thanks!

[LevelUP]

University of Texas at Austin has a data science master's for 10k
https://www.edx.org/masters/online-maste...%2Fmasters

Georgia Tech Online Master of Science in Analytics for 11k
https://pe.gatech.edu/degrees/analytics

I'm not sure how much technical ability you need for these programs.

[Kjnova]

Thanks - I looked at Texas a couple of weeks ago. I don't remember all the details, but I think they want to see at least a minor in CS and some math that I do not have to admit you. I'm about to graduate with a BABA/Management & Leadership with a minor in History, and my most advanced math is Mathematics of Finance, plus some accounting classes. No Discrete Math or Calculus. I also thought their curriculum looked more technical (ie harder for me) than BU's. I don't think Georgia Tech specifically requires as many tech credentials to accept you, but the curriculum also looks a bit out of my league. At Georgia Tech, the program I've found so far that might be a fit is MS Cybersecurity/Policy Concentration. That is the one I'd have to wait until next fall to start if admitted.

My interest in a program like that, Data Science or Cybersecurity, is bringing some more tech-related skill or credential to the table vs everything being management/leadership. But, I also don't want to bite off more than I can chew, and fail.

I'd love to go to either Georgia Tech or Texas if a program was a fit. All else being equal, I'd definitely pick GT and perhaps Texas over UIUC or BU, because I live in the Southeast and I think they may have more of a network and name recognition here (though all four are great national schools, so this may not be a big concern).

[smartdegree]

It's usually best to focus on your career goal and build from there. Want to be a people manager? An MBA might help. Want to be a data scientist? Consider an MS in Data Science. Want to be a cybersecurity consultant? An MS in Cybersecurity could be beneficial.

I would not recommend starting any master's degree until you've decided on the career path you wish to pursue. It’s also possible that your chosen career path might not require a master's degree (e.g. no one in your company's leadership has an MBA).

[Heartstrings]

I agree with @smartdegree. Focus on the career you're trying to pursue. I can definitely understand wanting to have a degree from a more recognizable place though. At the same time if you build your career and your network it really doesn't matter where your degree comes from. I think those big name schools matter when you're trying to compete for those specific positions in really well-known companies and your fresh out of college and new to the adult world of working. It seems, as you have stated, that you have some experience.

[Kjnova]

Thanks - but I'm not sure that the way to be a people manager is always to get a degree that tracks directly with management. It's certainly a common path. But as an example, the CEO of the company I recently departed (this is a 300,000+ employee company) has a UIUC master's and doctorate in electrical engineering. And, my most recent manager has a master's in CS. I think sometimes to lead a tech group, it may help to have some tech credibility. That said, I am really not sure, and I'd have better odds of success (that is, passing the classes) with something more focused on management/business, such as MSM or MBA.

Also on the idea that the school doesn't matter once you have a job network, the scale of a company like this is such that you will never know everybody or even everybody important, so while my personal network can help, it is just one factor. And extend to other companies and I'm even moreso using resume-based things to get positive attention from recruiters and hiring managers. There is a lot of competition for the types of stuff I've done or would pursue in the future.

[Heartstrings]

It kind of sounds like you answered your own question on what your plans are. Maybe you can go to your well-known school for the MSM and do something like the MBA at Hellenic American University. Every profession is different in my profession no one really cares which school you go to s long as you have the degree and the license. Best of luck to you.

[bjcheung77]

UIUC IMSM is good on its own, it's one of many or several that has AACSB and is not in Accounting... UIUC just wants to use that as a 'ladder' into their IMBA, but you really don't need to get the IMBA or ladder into that. IMSM already has 30 credits, it's a full or proper Masters in Management like any other out there. People just don't know and fall for their advertising as a ladder into the IMBA.

Basically, review your thread again, decide on what you're needing vs wanting, figure out what you're looking for in the next few years (career wise to see if you even need a Masters degree, maybe a cert, bachelors, or additional experience would do). Essentially, if you really are looking for a Masters instead of a Bachelors, here's a read I just posted a few minutes ago, it points to a few of my previous posts, including the UIUC IMSM vs IMBA

It's a good program, you can get it through the partnership option as I mentioned earlier. For $24K it's not too bad a deal... Having said that, I would go for their IMSM instead for half the price and it's a Masters that also has the AACSB programmatic or secondary accreditation. Many don't know that they're pretty much equal, but on their webpage, it tells you a logical progression from the IMSM to IMBA... Not many people need or want that progression, it's like having a WGU MSML, it's already got the ACBSP and good on its own.

[Kjnova]

I was accepted today to the UIUC MSM. I was accepted yesterday to the UMPI MAOL. Of course, there are stark and clear pros and cons between the two options. I also applied to the Georgia Tech MSc Cybersecurity Policy, but as I think about it, there are probably too many drawbacks or question marks for that path (mainly it's a 2-3 year program). I'm not withdrawing my application, but I doubt I will choose that option at this point, so it's most likely UIUC MSM or UMPI MAOL. I am going to take a little time to consider it. Thanks for all advice and input!

[Pats20]

I’m like BJ , a MSM or MAOL for most jobs makes an MBA unnecessary. The MSM has my curiosity.