Whether you are looking to improve communication skills or create additional marketable job skills, earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is a great way to advance your career. Even if you’re not seeking a change of position, the knowledge and opportunities gained by additional education can allow you to do your job even better and put you in line for a higher salary.

Plus, if you are a working professional, online MBA programs offer the flexibility you need and the option to specialize your studies to suit your unique interests and goals. For instance, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) offers seven online MBA program options, ranging from a general, customizable MBA to MBA concentrations in high-demand areas like healthcare administration, international business and business analytics. Regardless of your MBA concentration, your studies will help you develop the communication skills you need to succeed in any industry.

Modern Business Relies on Strong Communication Skills

There are numerous reasons why it is extremely important to have excellent communication skills in the business world. For example:

  • The increasingly global market created an environment where effective cross-cultural communication is critical to gaining and retaining international clients and high-performing employee teams.
  • A greater reliance on social media as an advertising and informational resource radically changed the way most companies do business, including how they engage and communicate with consumers.
  • The repercussions of early online and social media strategies created a wealth of cautionary tales that help new companies avoid common mistakes.
  • Strong communication is a critical component of the leadership skill set that successful businesspeople must develop to build, motivate and inspire an aligned, cohesive workforce and culture.

Social Media Is Still an Evolving Business Tool

The role of social media in a business’s brand management strategy evolves constantly. By studying social media and other types of professional communication as part of an MBA program, you can discover new and effective ways to help businesses become a regular presence in their clients’ lives.

Some of this can be taught or read as case studies. However, the critical thinking skills gained by earning an MBA degree can help you move from follower to leader. The innovations that you discover as you complete an MBA could help you shape or enhance a company’s social media marketing strategies.

Advanced Degrees Open Doors for Promotions

One great way to show a business your commitment level is to spend your off time increasing your skills as an employee. The initiative you demonstrate when furthering your education translates into a reputation as a motivated and valuable employee.

This will pay off come promotion time with raises and opportunities for advancement. In other cases, your ability to take a company global in the social media and online marketplace as a communications expert may bring you your choice of new job opportunities no matter where you live.

Online Degrees Are Flexible and Affordable

Do you think you don’t have time to earn an online degree? This is a common misconception. Yet an online MBA program can be an affordable option for full-time workers and individuals with families who may not have time to commute to and from class. Plus, the opportunity cost savings alone — a prime example being the income you can still make while earning your degree online — can add substantially to the potential return on investment of an MBA program. This is an important consideration when deciding on what program design works for you.

Not only did the internet change business marketing, but it also changed the way you can earn an advanced degree. Getting your MBA online from TAMU-CC can go a long way toward improving communication skills that enhance your career prospects and job performance.

Learn more about TAMU-CC’s online MBA programs.