Said It Here

Should I get an MBA or a specialized masters degree?

Deciding between a broad MBA and a specialized program like an MS in HRM comes down to speed and career focus. General MBAs often take longer and require a major time commitment, while alternative masters programs offer a faster route to getting a credential on your resume.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

  1. 1
    Looking into specialized practical executive programs instead of traditional degrees
  2. 2
    Comparing program completion times
  3. 3
    Weighing specialized HR degrees against general business degrees

In their words

Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.

r/humanresources2 people · September 2026

“I want to further my education but I don't know if I really want to complete an MBA. I have been looking into other practical programs and this pops up in my inmail.”source ↗

IllTangerine8235 · r/humanresources · 1 upvotes

“Currently about 3 years into HR career. So right now do you think it’s better to just get a MS in HRM online (completion time about 1.5 to 2 years) or go for the part-time MBA at a regional school (completion time about 3 years)?”source ↗

“I’m wondering if I should go for the quickest degree first just to have a Masters quicker.”source ↗

Adorable-Hearing1826 · r/humanresources

Where this came up

People with this problem also raised