MBA / MA / MFA

[angieadamsdesign]

Not sure if this is the right board or not, but throwing it out there anyway.

I'm looking for a dual degree program, specifically an MBA/MA or MBA/MFA that focuses on advertising and I haven't found much. UT-Austin has one that looks perfect, an MBA/MA in Communications and Advertising. All of the others I've found are cultural MA's, one drama MFA, and one theater management. I applied to UT last year (just the McCombs portion, not both schools) so will be a re-applicant this year. Has anyone heard of programs similar to UT? I just don't want to put all of my eggs in one basket, I'd like to have a second and third choice at least as I gear up for this application season.

I have a fine art and graphic design background, and my goal is to obtain an MBA concentrating in marketing, while also building a portfolio of creative work to market myself in the advertising field. Another question... some have told me to forget a dual degree program and pick either a b-school or an art school and focus my efforts. Thoughts on mixing these two degrees?

Thank you.

[MBAApply]

If you're going into advertising, are you looking to eventually become a creative director? If you're looking to have a job where you are focused mostly on creative design and production, then I don't see how an MBA can really help you (especially in a field such as advertising which doesn't really value MBAs to the same degree as other industries -- unless you are going to be their resident accounting/finance guy, or the account director who is responsible for sales - and even then the MBA isn't exactly going to be a huge plus).

Without knowing exactly what path you're hoping to take in advertising, it's hard for me to give you much feedback.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com