Sector-specific MBA degrees part of growing trend

Early in his career, pharmacist Dave Puri worked behind the counter issuing prescriptions to his customers.

But now the 27-year-old is itching to play a different role - reforming a health-care system under pressure from shrinking government resources, rising costs and an aging population.

He's part of a growing trend in which business students pursue specialty MBAs focused on a particular industry, such as health care, real estate and law, or themes such as international business, sustainability and entrepreneurship.

"I realized if I wanted to have a bigger impact on the health-care system, even in the pharmacy community, I would need to get away from front-line, one-on-one patient care practice to a senior leadership management role that would allow me to have an influence on how health-care resources are spent and new programs are developed," says Mr. Puri, who is set to graduate this spring.

As the traditional MBA market matures, business schools in and outside Canada are expanding their menu of specialty graduate programs to meet shifting demands by students and employers.

At Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and McGill University's Desautels Faculty of Management, students can take joint programs in business and law to earn two professional degrees in less time than if taken separately.

Some offer niche MBAs tied to their regional identity. The University of Alberta offers a specialization in natural resources, energy and the environment, while Dalhousie University's Faculty of Management offers a specialty in marine management...

Read full article: The Globe and Mail, March 13, 2012