How Do I Get an MBA in Materials Management?

You can obtain a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) in materials management by applying to an accredited graduate business school, being accepted into a general course of study and completing the required courses for the MBA degree with a series of elective courses under the materials management specialization. To qualify for admission into an MBA program, most schools require you to have a bachelor's degree, some relevant work experience and a score in a certain range on a standardized graduate business school admissions test. Completing the course of study for a student in a traditional day program will typically take two years, although there are nontraditional study options that will allow you to complete the degree in more or less time.

The MBA in materials management is the particular designation of the supply chain and logistics management specialization in India. Graduate business schools in other parts of the world, particularly in the US, tend to call a materials management specialization by a different name, such as operations and supply chain management or logistics management. Whatever the title of the specialization, the coursework includes classes in purchasing management, inventory and quality control. Students will also take classes in logistics, project management and packaging and distribution.

Graduate business schools in India have the same standards for MBA program admissions as business schools in other parts of the world. To get an MBA in materials management, you will typically need a bachelor's degree with a grade point average that shows your aptitude for graduate-level work. The bachelor's degree can be in any major. There is no requirement that an MBA candidate complete undergraduate coursework in business or a related field.

Most business schools in India require prospective graduate students to take a standardized admissions test called the Common Management Admissions Test (CMAT). Many Indian business schools will also accept the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) that is given in the US. In either case, your score on the test will determine which schools will be most welcoming of your admissions application.

Although it is not always a definite rule, most admissions offices will expect an MBA candidate to have some relevant work experience. Experience substantiates the reason why you are pursuing graduate studies. Some people are successful applying to an MBA program immediately after completing a bachelor's degree, but relevant work experience can help distinguish your application.

Once you have your application credentials in order, you can apply to schools that offer an MBA in materials management specifically or a specialization that is substantially similar, but with a different title. To complete an MBA in materials management, you will ordinarily have to take a number of required courses in general business administration and management, including accounting and marketing. After you have completed your required course, you can focus on materials management by choosing your electives from the school's list of courses under that specialization.