Northern Kentucky University (NKU) has a uniquely versatile Master of Business Administration (MBA) online program that allows you to pursue your interests and ambitions while gaining business acumen and leadership skills. The program’s traditional business classes provide a solid foundation in core disciplines like finance, management, marketing and leadership strategies, offering a broad understanding of organizational operations.
Cultivating so-called soft leadership skills — such as effective communication, adaptability and emotional intelligence — enables you to lead with empathy and resilience. Specialized stacks within the MBA program allow you to focus on industry-specific demands and tailor your education to meet evolving market needs. The synergy of these components empowers you to lead with confidence in your chosen profession.
What Makes NKU’s Online MBA So Versatile?
NKU enables students to select MBA coursework based on their interests and ambitions. Choose the General MBA to gain relevant knowledge across a wide range of business disciplines, or opt for the customizable MBA through the stack combinations by mixing and matching courses across subjects. NKU’s advisors will work with you to choose the best MBA option for your career goals. Throughout any of NKU’s MBA programs, you will learn from real-world practitioners who bring their wealth of experience to prepare you for today’s business challenges and opportunities.
In the MBA stack combination option, you will work with your advisor to select from options such as data analytics, cybersecurity, legal studies, project management, healthcare administration and more to create a program geared to your chosen career path. The dual-study stack combinations are designed to prepare you for fast-growing fields and include the following stacks:
Data Analytics and Finance: Prepare for a data-driven role in the financial industry with courses including Business Intelligence Development, Corporate Finance and Introduction to Business Analytics. In these courses, you will learn skills such as forecasting, statistical modeling, financial management and data visualization.
Health Care Commercialization and Marketing: Healthcare is a high-demand industry; when students understand health innovation alongside marketing, they gain a special combination of skills for leadership positions in growing demand. Courses in this stack include Health Care Marketing, Developing New Products and Services in Health Care and Marketing Strategy.
Human Resource Management and Legal Studies: Deepen your understanding of how legislation and legal issues impact the workforce as you learn skills such as training and development, governance, cybersecurity, emerging technologies and instructional design. Courses include Digital Commerce & the Law, Emerging Technologies and the Law and Training and Developing.
Leadership and Global Supply Chain Management: Get ready to lead the optimization of the global supply chain, bringing your own unique set of in-demand skills, including strategic sourcing, negotiation, lean manufacturing and project management. Courses include Leading in a Dynamic World, Supply Chain Management and Distribution and Logistics.
Marketing and Innovation Through Competitive Intelligence: Put your ideas into action with a marketing strategy that drives results. With courses including Ideation to Innovation, Competitive Intelligence and Marketing Strategy, you will learn skills necessary to create an innovative marketing strategy, make data-driven marketing decisions and design an executive-level pitch deck.
Essential Skills for Business Professionals
Regardless of industry, every manager and executive needs a modern set of core business leadership skills. In addition to business acumen in traditional areas of MBA study covered by this program’s Essentials Courses, you will explore and develop today’s most important soft leadership skills, which have become increasingly important in today’s diverse and globalized working environments.
These are some of the most essential skills NKU experienced faculty provides training in throughout the curriculum:
- Strategic thinking: Envision long-term goals and devise comprehensive plans to achieve them, making it an essential skill for navigating complex, ever-changing business landscapes.
- Critical thinking: Assess information objectively, analyze it for accuracy and relevance and make informed decisions, helping to foster a culture of sound judgment and innovation within your team and organization.
- Problem-solving: Excel at identifying challenges, exploring creative solutions and implementing effective strategies, ensuring you can confidently tackle even the most intricate business dilemmas.
- Time management: Time is your most valuable resource. Maximize productivity, prioritize tasks and meet deadlines, facilitating efficient project execution and overall organizational success.
- Communication: Clearly and persuasively articulate your ideas, promote buy-in and collaboration and build strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Adaptability: Embrace new technologies, strategies and market dynamics swiftly, allowing you to stay agile and thrive in evolving environments.
- Emotional intelligence: Understand and manage your own emotions and empathetically recognize and respond to the feelings of others, leading to enhanced collaboration and organizational harmony.
Your Skill Set, Your Future
As a graduate of NKU’s versatile online MBA program, you will be ready to seize a world of opportunities. Your well-rounded business acumen, honed through traditional classes and specialized tracks, will complement the invaluable soft skills cultivated during your studies.
In today’s diverse working environments, where these skills are in high demand, you will stand out as a versatile leader and problem-solver. Your unique skill set will not only make you an asset to any organization but also empower you to drive innovation and success in your chosen field. Unlock your potential with NKU’s MBA program, where your capabilities will empower you to face new challenges.
Learn more about Northern Kentucky University’s online Master of Business Administration program.
