Acquisition (MBA) Master's Degree Programs

Earning an MBA in acquisition is a great way to find your way into management and executive positions. This article looks at the typical courses included in a master's program, along with admissions requirements.

<h3 id="section---WhatIsAnMBADegreeInAcquisition">What Is an MBA Degree in Acquisition?</h3> <p>An MBA degree program is a 2-year course of study that leads to a terminal degree in business. After graduating, you could be eligible for senior-level management or executive jobs. You can find this degree program on a traditional college campus or in a distance-learning format; online degree programs may require you to visit your school's campus during your tenure. Additionally, some schools offer accelerated courses of study, which are intensive programs that will allow you to graduate in about a year. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Online Availability</b></td><td> Fully available</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Skills Earned</b></td><td>Decision-making, pricing, negotiation</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Course Topics</b></td><td>HR management, accounting, business law, market analysis</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Prerequisites</b></td><td>Bachelor's degree, GMAT scores</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)*</b></td><td>$106,180 <i>(Top Executives)</i></td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-2029)*</b></td><td>4% growth <i>(Top Executives)</i></td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatSkillsWillILearn">What Skills Will I Learn?</h3> <p>An MBA degree program is designed to give you professional-level training in applied business principles. A concentration in acquisitions provides you with an understanding of how one company takes over or buys another. For example, you could learn how to look for acquisition opportunities, correctly price a business for purchase or negotiate a price. You could also learn how to make effective management decisions, communicate effectively in a business-to-business environment, use technology to maximize profits or tackle broader organizational issues. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatClassesCanITake">What Classes Can I Take?</h3> <p>Coursework in MBA degree programs with a concentration in acquisition usually involves advanced courses in fundamental areas of management, such as human resources management, accounting, corporate finance and marketing. A concentration in acquisitions could see you learning about negotiation, business law and market analysis. The following are examples of classes you might find in the curriculum: </p> <ul><li>Human capital management </li><li>Economic reasoning </li><li>Applied problem solving </li><li>Financial strategy </li><li>Strategic management </li><li>Applied data analysis for acquisition </li></ul><h3 id="section---HowDoIGetIn">How Do I Get In?</h3> <p>The minimum requirement for admission into MBA degree programs with a concentration in acquisition is a bachelor's degree, and some programs prefer an applicant with a degree in a related field, such as business administration, finance, economics or marketing. Other application requirements could include Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores, letters of recommendation and a resume. Some schools point to qualitative considerations for admission as well, such as leadership, community engagement and intellectual curiosity.</p>