Names of a Masters MBA-Leadership VS MBA

[ashkir]

I've noticed a recent trend in a lot more universities now offering a "Master's in Organizational Leadership" but others are offering a "Masters in Business Administration - Leadership". The courses are often very similar. Both of them typically focus on an organization's leadership skills in a business environment. A lot of MBAs now days have specializations, including Leadership, Human Resources, Accounting, Project Management, IT, etc. 

If you had a choice, would you prefer this degree to be called the Masters in Organizational Leadership or a Masters in Business Administration - Leadership?

[eLearner]

I don't know, but if all things are equal between candidates, an MBA is going to beat an MAOL just on familiarity alone.

[bjcheung77]

The MBA will usually trump the MA with a similar concentration regardless of specialty.
Here is what WGU says about their offerings which are similar to what was mentioned above, an MBA vs MSML.
The MBA & MSML share courses, these can be considered core ones, the electives are the differences.
Newer Link: https://www.wgu.edu/blog/is-the-mba-or-t...e1903.html
Older Link: https://www.wgu.edu/blog/mba-vs-ms-manag...p1712.html

[dfrecore]

An MBA is a known quantity - and a useful one.  I'd choose it over an MAOL if I needed it for a promotion at work.

I consider the MAOL a check-the-box degree, just like a BALS.  It's not even an MBA-lite, because generally there aren't many MBA requirements (Econ, Finance, Accounting, etc.).  If a company is looking for an MBA for something, they are not going to accept your MAOL in place of it - you won't be in the same league with MBA's.

That said, I think an MBA sounds awful <blech>, and if I HAD to get a masters degree, it would certainly be an MAOL. Those actually look interesting to me.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Looking at WGU's MSL vs. MBA, there are only 3 courses in common.

The things in the MBA that are missing from the MSL:
Ops Management
Global Econ
Marketing
Accounting
Finance
Data-Driven Decision Making

Literally all of the "hard" classes are not in the MSL.  You would probably flounder in a conference room surrounded by the CEO, CFO, and UL Management, all of whom have MBA's.  I'm guessing only someone in HR would dream of having an MSL in this type of situation.

[jsd]

Completely agree with everything dfrecore said -- with the exception that there are actually 4 courses, not 3 courses that overlap at WGU, which I list below. But that's besides the point.

The MBA just has a more marketable "brand," and Org. Leadership isn't a substitute for it. They're two different skillsets. But MBAs are what the business world are accustomed to, and it's what they will generally be looking for.

But, like dfrecore, i find OL much more interesting of a prospect that an MBA program on a personal interest level. If it was just the knowledge I wanted and not a particular career outcome, I'd rather go with an OL. But if I wanted a leg up in the business world, 9 times out of 10 the MBA would be the better bet.

WGU's MBA/MSML overlapping courses:
-Managing Organizations and Leading People 
-Managing Human Capital 
-Management Communication
-Ethical Leadership

[eLearner]

An MBA is a known quantity - and a useful one.  I'd choose it over an MAOL if I needed it for a promotion at work.

I consider the MAOL a check-the-box degree, just like a BALS.  It's not even an MBA-lite, because generally there aren't many MBA requirements (Econ, Finance, Accounting, etc.).  If a company is looking for an MBA for something, they are not going to accept your MAOL in place of it - you won't be in the same league with MBA's.

That said, I think an MBA sounds awful <blech>, and if I HAD to get a masters degree, it would certainly be an MAOL. Those actually look interesting to me.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Looking at WGU's MSL vs. MBA, there are only 3 courses in common.

The things in the MBA that are missing from the MSL:
Ops Management
Global Econ
Marketing
Accounting
Finance
Data-Driven Decision Making

Literally all of the "hard" classes are not in the MSL.  You would probably flounder in a conference room surrounded by the CEO, CFO, and UL Management, all of whom have MBA's.  I'm guessing only someone in HR would dream of having an MSL in this type of situation.

EDIT: How in the world did I confuse this with WGU's MSML? You see, this is what 3 hours of sleep will cause, LOL! I had to delete a lot, smh.

An HR person should consider a degree in HRM since it's a direct match to their chosen position.

Less than 1/3rd of CEOs even have MBAs (Forbes). So don't get too caught up in the MBA myth for CEOs. It will no doubt help, it can't hurt, but it's highly unlikely most people in that room will have an MBA... it is definitely likely they will have a Master's in something.

[collegechick]

An MBA is a known quantity - and a useful one.  I'd choose it over an MAOL if I needed it for a promotion at work.

I consider the MAOL a check-the-box degree, just like a BALS.  It's not even an MBA-lite, because generally there aren't many MBA requirements (Econ, Finance, Accounting, etc.).  If a company is looking for an MBA for something, they are not going to accept your MAOL in place of it - you won't be in the same league with MBA's.

That said, I think an MBA sounds awful <blech>, and if I HAD to get a masters degree, it would certainly be an MAOL. Those actually look interesting to me.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Looking at WGU's MSL vs. MBA, there are only 3 courses in common.

The things in the MBA that are missing from the MSL:
Ops Management
Global Econ
Marketing
Accounting
Finance
Data-Driven Decision Making

Literally all of the "hard" classes are not in the MSL.  You would probably flounder in a conference room surrounded by the CEO, CFO, and UL Management, all of whom have MBA's.  I'm guessing only someone in HR would dream of having an MSL in this type of situation.

This is so funny and exactly how I feel.  I'm seriously contemplating WGU's MS in Management/Leadership just to have a Master's degree.  I worry that it might be too painful, dry, and boring.  Plus I don't really want a management position.  However, if I find a work at your pace Masters in PR/Advertising, hands down that would be my pick.  Gah, I just want to escape the executive assistant rut!