5 Advanced Degree Options for Military Members and Veterans that Are Not MBAs

When preparing to enter the civilian workforce, many military members and veterans want an advanced degree that will help them translate their experiences into marketable business skills. While a Master in Business Administration (MBA) may be a natural fit for some, it does not align with the individual strengths or career goals of others. If you are a military member or veteran who excelled in the leadership and interpersonal aspects of service, you may be interested to know that there are a wide range of academic options that allow you to build on these skills. While these academic fields may appear as different names in different programs, here are five advanced degree options for military members and veterans who want to take their experiences and excel in the business of people.

1. Organizational Behavior. For the first time in history, there are five generations in the workforce. Military members are experts in working as a unit regardless of the situation or group dynamics. However, if a business wants to thrive, it needs people that can understand how to manage and motivate a diverse population all within the structure of an organization. By studying both the theories and practical skills of organizational behavior, you’ll gain unique insights that allow you to analyze and impact a business’ success.
2. Leadership. Officers and senior enlisted leaders often tout their leadership ability on their resumes. They may have led units from four to fifty, and they may have even received leadership training. Yet, those experiences may not translate into corporate actions. Pursuing advanced studies in modern leadership, including topics such as the neuroscience science of leadership, provides both the theory and application needed to evolve from leading a voluntary force to being a leader in a corporate setting.
3.  Coaching. Professional coaching is a career field that has grown exponentially over the last few decades. Through certified training programs and continuing education, it has become a recognized asset in both the personal and professional world. At its core, coaches can help people find new perspectives in their careers and increase business effectiveness. As a course of study, it can be a good fit if you’re looking for a new mission that involves making a purposeful and personal impact in the business world.
4. Strategic Human Resources. Human resources (HR) is a career field that is all about people. By studying the concepts and practices in HR, you can acquire the skills to enable business success through people, organizational capabilities, and culture. The ability to deliver a strategic leadership in HR to a business is significant. If your military skills already include an appreciation for applying strategy to advancing people, advanced studies in human resources could be the right niche for you.
5. Organizational Consulting. Ranging from global companies to boutique firms to independent entrepreneurs, understanding consulting has proved its value in enhancing bottom-line indicators in Fortune 500 Companies. It has been estimated that enterprises spend roughly $50B a year on consulting and consulting-related services, and as a general rule, consulting as a business experiences double-digit growth per year. The consulting job market is also more in The Organizational Behavior, Coaching & Consulting Program line with the new workforce that sees themselves less loyal to a particular company and more attached to the work specialties. This particularly works for military veterans who have made a career building certain specialties, and now are interested in selling those specialties, as opposed to integrating into a new work environment.

Bonus: If you’re a military member or veteran that already has an advanced degree but would still like to learn a new skill or deepen your current knowledge, consider professional certificates. Many are offered online and have the same quality of instruction and content as an academic degree. Professional certificates are also likely to be cheaper, but you may not be able to use military education benefits for them. Overall, look for the program that will give you the right mix of education, experience, and networking, that can turn your military skills into your career goals.

To find out more, visit the Jindal School of Management’s Organizational Behavior, Coaching and Consulting Program at The University of Texas at Dallas, or contact Caroline K. Herschbach, Program Manager