Home  >  Articles  >  Explore Core MBA Subjects & Electives for Your Career

Explore Core MBA Subjects & Electives for Your Career

Course

Prachi Bhatia

Updated on 13th August, 2024 , 13 min read

MBA Subjects

MBA Subjects: All-encompassing Overview 2024

The Master of Business Administration (MBA), is a graduate-level degree with widespread recognition. It helps students develop the abilities necessary for management and business careers. The benefits of an MBA are not restricted to the commercial sector. MBA opens doors to managerial roles in the public sector, government, and nonprofits. Check Also: PGDM Course

Experienced professionals seeking career advancement often pursue an MBA. It helps to enhance skills, increase pay, and expand professional networks.

The MBA syllabus gives students an overview of the many sections of the management industry.

  • Managerial Economics, Accounting for Management, Business Communication, Information Technology Management, Marketing Management, and other areas are among the many topics covered in MBA courses. 
  • The MBA syllabus strongly emphasizes teaching students managerial and entrepreneurial abilities. For all MBA specializations, the first year's coursework and syllabus are the same in India.
  • It covers every subject, including entrepreneurship, business law, and many more. However, the topics covered in the second year of the MBA program will depend on the student's chosen MBA concentration. 
  • In addition to the MBA curriculum, students have access to a variety of elective subjects that they can select based on their preferences and areas of interest. Different colleges will offer different MBA courses and specialties. 
  • The entire MBA curriculum is meant to instill entrepreneurship and leadership qualities in a candidate. Additionally, impart information on a variety of topics related to the business field.
  • The specialization they will study within the MBA course is a choice that the students must make. Students must be familiar with the curriculum of each MBA specialization to comprehend the one they will choose. 

All about MBA: 

Online MBA Courses

MBA Entrance Exams

MBA Admission 2024-25

MBA Specializations

MBA Salary

Government Jobs After MBA

MBA Subjects and Syllabus

Jobs after MBA

Distance MBA

MBA vs PGDM

TIER-1 MBA Colleges

Advantages of MBA

MBA Eligibility 

PhD After MBA

Students interested in finance and other financial topics should review the MBA Finance Syllabus. Students interested in becoming HR executives should review the MBA HR Syllabus. Students interested in marketing should, without a doubt, review the MBA Marketing Syllabus.

Students can study the MBA Digital Marketing course if they are simply interested in the digital form of marketing.

The MBA course includes both required and elective MBA topics. The MBA contents are broken up into 4 semesters, each of which focuses on a different topic. In the majority of the top MBA colleges in India, the MBA Syllabus 2023 for the first year is the same for all MBA specializations.

To determine which MBA syllabus is best, students must evaluate the curricula of the top MBA colleges in India. To compare, students must eagerly anticipate the MBA syllabus from IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Bangalore. The greatest management curriculum is offered by the MBA Syllabi at IIM Lucknow and IIM Indore.

Do Check: PGDM Course

MBA Subjects: List in India 2024

Here are the MBA subjects that are provided at different institutions and universities in India. The MBA curriculum includes the MBA subjects that are primarily required to work in managerial jobs.

More MBA Courses: 

MBA International Business

MBA Finance

MBA Hotel Management

MBA Banking and Finance

MBA Business Analytics

MBA Aviation Management

MBA Digital Marketing

MBA Biotechnology

MBA Data Science

MBA Agriculture

MBA General Management

MBA Event Management

MBA Marketing Management 

MBA Agriculture 

MBA Syllabus (In India): 2024

MBA-Syllabus

MBA Subjects: Semester Wise List

MBA subjects are divided into 4 semesters. Check the section below for more details.

MBA 1st Year Subjects 

MBA Subjects List: Semester 1 

This first semester gives you a fundamental knowledge of business administration and management. The MBA disciplines listed below are covered during the first semester:

  • Organizational Behavior

It focuses on the investigation of organizational activities and performances on an individual and group level. This field of study looks at how people behave at work and how that affects things like performance, job structure, motivation, communication, leadership, etc.

  • Quantitative Methods

The focus of quantitative methods is on precise measurements and statistical and mathematical analyses of data gathered by surveys, polls, or by modifying pre-existing records and data with computing tools.

  • Managerial Economics

It is a discipline that integrates managerial techniques with economics. One of the most well-liked MBA courses' principal goal is to use potent tools and approaches to bridge the gap between the "problem of logic" and the "problem of policy."

  • Marketing Management

The practical implementation of marketing orientation is the subject of an organizational management course. To track an organization's market resources and operations, marketing management instructs students in a variety of approaches and procedures.

MBA Subjects List: Semester 2

The integration of tools and methods at the management level is typically the focus of this semester. Additionally, there are several practical teaching programs included in this semester in addition to the basic MBA disciplines.

  • Management Accounting

The topic covers a variety of approaches and procedures for gathering, organizing, storing, and disclosing financial data from various organizational units. For budget allocation and funding, the acquired data is subsequently scrutinized and analyzed.

  • Management Science

Management science is the study of statistical techniques like simulation and linear programming to analyze and resolve organizational issues. It is a vast field of interdisciplinary study with significant connections to management, economics, and business that includes problem-solving and decision-making.

  • Financial Management

Financial management is concerned with organizing, planning, directing, carrying out, and regulating financial activities including raising money and using it. Capital Budgeting, Capital Structure, and Working Capital Management are some of the concepts covered in one of the most crucial MBA courses.

Also check: MBA Finance Jobs

MBA Subjects: Semester 3

The topics covered this semester are more focused on the business and marketing aspects of your selected area of specialization. You will also be able to select electives to further your education starting this term. Some of the important MBA subjects covered in the third semester are listed below:

  • Market Research

Market research is a planned initiative to learn more about the target market and its consumers. It is one of the most crucial elements of company plans. Product research, advertising testing, satisfaction and loyalty analyses, brand awareness research, pricing research, and many other topics are covered in this subject.

  • Strategic Analysis

Researching the commercial environment in which a company operates is a component of strategic analysis. For decision-making and the efficient operation of an organization, strategic planning is crucial.

  • Legal Environment of Business

This topic covers the government's perspective on business. Students who pursue an MBA learn about the field's historical growth, present trends, legislation, control over taxation, competition, market freedom, etc.

MBA Subjects: Semester 4

The electives and project study courses make up the majority of the four semesters of the various MBA programs. While you can select from a variety of MBA subjects in the former depending on your area of interest and preference, you must complete industrial training for the project study or dissertation.

Here are the specifics of the MBA subjects for the MBA syllabus 2024:

MBA Subjects

Topics

Decision Science 

Linear Programming, Descriptive Statistics, Transportation problems, Decision Theory

Management Process and Organizational Behavior 

Process of Management, Introduction to Management, Individual & Group Behavior and Process in Organization, Fundamentals of Organizational Behavior

Managerial Economics

Introduction, Theory of Cost and Market Structures, Demand Analysis and Theory of Production, Introduction to Macroeconomics

Information Technology Management

Computer Software, Functional and Enterprise Systems, Computer Hardware and Number System, Data Communication and Network

Accounting for Management

Cost Accounting, Nature of Accounting Information, Decision-Making Techniques, Performance Evaluation Techniques

People Also Read:

Income Tax Officer Salary

Merchant Navy Salary

Black Cat Commando Salary

ISRO Scientist Salary

MBA Subjects: Core Subjects 2024

  1. Accounting and Financial Management
  2. Business Economics
  3. Corporate Finance 
  4. Human Resource Management
  5. Leadership and Entrepreneurship
  6. Management of Change
  7. Management Theory and Practice
  8. Managing for Sustainability
  9. Marketing Management
  10. Research Methods
  11. Strategic Management

MBA Subjects: List of Electives

  1. System and Processes
  2. Advanced Studies in Industrial Relations
  3. Auditing
  4. Business and Corporation Law
  5. Business Economics
  6. Communication in Business
  7. Corporate Finance
  8. Current Developments in Accounting Though
  9. Customer Behavior
  10. Financial Accounting
  11. Financial Accounting 2
  12. Financial Markets and Instruments
  13. Financial Planning
  14. Global Marketing
  15. Human Resource Management
  16. ICT Project Management
  17. Integrated Marketing Communication
  18. International Human Resource Management
  19. Investments Analysis
  20. IT Infrastructure Management PG
  21. IT Management Issues
  22. IT Risk Management
  23. Leadership - A Critical Perspective
  24. Management Accounting for Cost and Control
  25. Management of Change
  26. Managing for Sustainability
  27. Organizational Behavior
  28. Research Method 
  29. Strategic Human Resource Management
  30. Taxation 1
  31. Training and Development Environment

MBA Subjects: Specializations Wise

Until this point, we were aware of the topics that practically all MBA specializations share. The following table details the MBA subjects for several fields:

MBA Finance Syllabus

MBA Finance is one of the topmost opted courses and is regarded highly among professionals. The MBA Finance syllabus is given in detail in the section below.

MBA Finance 1st Year Subjects List

MBA or Masters in Business Administration is one of the most pursued courses in India. There are a total of 8110 MBA colleges in the nation, with multiple specializations, with an MBA in Finance being a popular course in it. Check out the first-year Decision-Making syllabus for this program in the table, below.

Principles of Accounting

Micro Economics

Corporate Social Responsibility

Principles of Marketing Management 

Quantitative Methods and Statistics

Tools and Frameworks for Decision Making

Business Communication And Soft skills

Organizational Behaviour-1 

Financial Modeling

Managerial Economics

Marketing Research

Corporate Governance and Business Ethics

Business Intelligence

Supply Chain Management

Strategic Management

Corporate Finance-2

MBA Finance 2nd Year Subjects List

In the second year of the MBA in Finance, candidates will go through semesters III and IV. Both semesters will together comprise 10 subjects. Check them below.

Business Law

Macro Economics

Operations Management

Corporate Management

Optimization and Project Research

Marketing Management

Project Management

Internship Projects

Project Submissions

Organization Behaviour-2 

MBA Subjects: MBA IGNOU Syllabus 2024

 The MBA syllabus for IGNOU is provided in the section below-

Course code

Course Title

MBA IGNOU Syllabus: Semester -1 (7 Courses)

MMPC-001

Management Functions and Organizational Processes

MMPC-002

Human Resource Management

MMPC-003

Business Environment

MMPC-004

Accounting for Managers

MMPC-005

Quantitative Analysis for Managerial Applications

MMPC-006

Marketing Management

MMPC-007

Business Communication

  

Course code

Course Title

MBA IGNOU Syllabus: Semester-2 (7 Courses)

MMPC-008

Information Systems for Managers

MMPC-009

Management of Machines and Materials

MMPC-010

Managerial Economics

MMPC-011

Social Processes and Behavioral Issues

MMPC-012

Strategic Management

MMPC-013

Business Laws

MMPC-014

Financial Management

 

 

MBA IGNOU Syllabus: Semester-3 (7 Courses)

 

Core courses:

MMPC-015

Research Methodology for Management Decisions

MMPC-016

International Business Management

MMPP-001

Project Course   (Equivalent   to   2 Courses)

 

and

 

Four courses from any one of the

 

specialization

  

MBA IGNOU Syllabus: Semester-4 (7 Courses)

 

Core courses:

MMPC-017

Advanced Strategic Management

MMPC-018

Entrepreneurship

MMPC-019

Total Quality Management

MMPC-020

Business Ethics and CSR

 

and

 

Three courses from any one of the

 

specialization

MBA in Human Resources

The MBA in HRM Syllabus for 1st-year students is similar to other MBA programs program. They are exposed to basic concepts in the areas of Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Organization Design, Human Resources Management, Decision Sciences, and Operations Management through Core courses.

MBA HR Subjects List 

  • Fundamentals for Human Resource Management
  • Econometrics for HRM
  • Entrepreneurship and New Ventures
  • Finance and Financial Considerations in HR Management
  • General Management and Managerial Communication, Decision Making,
  • Employment Relations Laws
  • HRM Planning, Bargaining, and Negotiation Process
  • Employee Empowerment
  • HR Audit
  • Information Systems
  • Marketing
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Decision sciences
  • Strategic Management

MBA Subjects: MBA Information Technology Subjects

MBA IT Subjects: 1st Sem

MBA IT Subjects: 2nd Sem

Management Process and Organizational Behavior

Business Research

Database Management and Administration

Marketing Management

Quantitative Techniques for Decision-Making

Business and Legal Environment

Managerial Economics

Production and Operations Management

Management of Technology Innovation and Change

Business System Analysis and Design

Managerial Skills Development

Human Resource Management

Financial and Management Accounting

ERP - Basic Function Area Lab

MBA in Information Technology Second Year Syllabus

MBA IT Subjects List: Semester - III

MBA IT Subjects List: Semester – IV

ERP - Advance Business Application Programming

ERP - System Administration

Entrepreneurship Development

E - Customer Relationship Management

Information System Management

Software Quality Assurance

Software Project Management

Information Security

Corporate Social Responsibility, Ethics, and Human Values

E-Business

MBA Subjects: MBA Event Management Subjects

The MBA courses subjects may vary from college to college. We have provided below the syllabus of the MBA Event Management course offered at Singhania University.

MBA Event Management Subjects List: First Semester

MBA Event Management Subjects List: Second Semester

Principles & Practices of Event Management

Business Environment

Organizational Behavior

Events Production & Operations Management

Accounting for Management

Human Resource Management

Quantitative Techniques

Marketing Management

Managerial Economics

Financial Management

Corporate Communications

Workshop on Research Methodology

Computers Application for the Event Industry

Workshop on Information Technology

Viva-voce

Viva-Voce

MBA Event Management Subjects List: Third Semester

MBA Event Management Subjects List: Fourth Semester

Business Research

Strategic Management

Corporate Legal Environment and Licenses

Management of International Business

Event Concept & Designing

Event Safety and Security

Event Logistics

Special Events

Handling Of Media & PR & brand management

Organization Of Events, Values & Ethics Of Event Industry

Management Information Systems

Final Research Project

Presentations - Event Industry

Viva-Voce

Viva-Voce

 

MBA Subjects: MBA Marketing Subjects List

With the help of analytics, storytelling, communications, customer behavior, and management skills, MBA Marketing graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop a narrative around any given good or service. The expansion of digital marketing in India has given fresh life to MBA marketing.

MBA Marketing Subjects List: Semester I

  • Information Technology for Managers 
  • Fundamentals of Management 
  • Accounting for Marketing Managers 
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Statistical Methods for Business Decisions
  • Business Communication
  • Principles of Marketing Management 
  • Retail Marketing

MBA Marketing Subjects List: Semester II

  • Personality Development
  • Financial Management
  • Human Resource Management
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Marketing Research
  • Quantitative Techniques 
  • Environmental Science
  • E-Business Fundamentals
  • eCommerce Marketing

MBA Marketing Subjects List: Semester III

  • Sales and Distribution Management 
  • Advertising and Sales Promotion
  • Entrepreneurship and Managerial Economics 
  • International Marketing 
  • Internship Project 

MBA Marketing Subjects List: Semester IV

  • Business Marketing 
  • Strategic Brand Management 
  • Advanced IT Tools or Information Systems and Applications 
  • Service Marketing
  • Comprehensive Viva Voce 
  • Major Research Project or Case-Based
  • Industrial Analysis Project

MBA Subjects: MBA Fashion Designing Subjects List

The MBA in fashion designing program is cleverly developed to bring together diverse business modules of fashion design, production, marketing, and merchandising with management ideas connected to the global fashion industry. It is the perfect proctor for people who want to work in the fashion industry.

MBA in Fashion Designing 1st Year Syllabus

MBA Fashion Designing Subjects List: SEMESTER I

MBA Fashion Designing Subjects List: SEMESTER II 

Economics and Management Decisions

Human Resource Management

Quantitative Techniques

Indian Fashion Scenario

Business Communication and Negotiation Skills

Research Methodology and App Statistics

Organizational Behavior

Basic Concepts of Fashion Products and Manufacturing

Marketing Management

Global Fashion Scenario

IT for Managers

Financial Management

Management Information Systems

Apparel Production Planning and Control

MBA in Fashion Designing 2nd Year Syllabus

MBA Fashion Designing Subjects List: SEMESTER III

MBA Fashion Designing Subjects List: SEMESTER IV

e- Business and e-Commerce

Total Quality Management

International Business

Fashion Event Management

Principles of Fashion Marketing and Merchandising

Portfolio Presentation and CAD

International Trade Operation and Documentation

Apparel Export Management and Merchandising

New Product Development

Entrepreneurship Development

Competition and Strategies in Fashion

Elements of Textile

Operation Research

Consumer Behavior in the Fashion Industry

MBA Subjects: MBA Hotel Management Subjects List

The MBA in hotel management will provide in-depth training in subjects like financial accounting, tourism planning, food safety, human resource management, regulations emphasizing hotels and tourism, communication skills, and research methodologies, among others. You will also need to build on your interpersonal abilities, such as being a client-focused, amiable, and empathic professional.

MBA Courses Subjects List:

  • Food Production
  • Beverage Service
  • Travel Management
  • Hospitality Law
  • Food Safety and Nutrition
  • Human Resource Management
  • Managerial Communication 

MBA Subjects: Distance MBA Subjects List

Depending on the course specialty and other factors, each college that offers an MBA via remote learning offers a different set of subjects. The following are some of the typical subjects you will study:

  • Organizational Behavior: Much like the discipline of Industrial Psychology, organizational behavior refers to the actions or performance made by a person within an organization.
  • Business Communication: Internal (upward and downward), External, Horizontal/Lateral, and Business Communications are the four basic forms that the majority of business organizations use.
  • Human Resource Management: The management of human resources primarily focuses on key areas. It places an emphasis on educating and preparing new hires, and it assures remuneration and benefits for both the business and its employees. It also places a strong emphasis on hiring qualified personnel.
  • Strategic Management: The decision-making process for a firm is centered on strategy managers. They frequently interact across divisions to develop and carry out operational strategies while working with corporate executives and management teams. Strong analytical skills, a good business sense, and exceptional communication abilities are necessary for this position.
  • Business Law: Business law, often known as merchant law or commercial law, is the study of problems that occur while dealing with the general public, the government, and other businesses. These legal specialties demonstrate an understanding of real estate, tax law, employment law, and other areas of law.

MBA Subjects: MBA Entrance Exam Syllabus 2024

Given below are the general topics included in the Entrance Exam for an Executive MBA. Students are advised to thoroughly practice each section by going through the previous year's question papers and mock tests. 

Subjects

Topics

Quantitative Aptitude

 

Arithmetic, Geometry, Number Systems, Percentage, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Time-Speed-Distance.

Verbal Ability

Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Sentence Correction, Para-Jumbles, etc.

Logical Reasoning

 

Puzzles, Seating Arrangements, Syllogisms, Analogies, Coding-Decoding, Data Sufficiency, etc.

Data Interpretation

Data from charts, graphs, and tables.

General Awareness

 

General Knowledge, current affairs, and business-related.

Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)

Write Essays on given topics to demonstrate their analytical and writing skills.

MBA Entrance Exams 2024

Name of the Exam

Registration Date  

Exam Date 

CAT 

21st September, 2023

26th November, 2023

MAT

3rd December, 2023 (IBT)

5th December, 2023  (PBT)

6th December, 2023 (IBT)

28th November, 2023  (CBT)

11th December, 2023  (CBT)

14th December, 2023 (IBT)

3rd December, 20233rd December, 2023 (CBT)

6th December, 2023 (IBT)

9th December, 2023 (IBT)

9th December, 2023 (PBT)

16th December, 2023  (CBT)

17th December, 2023 (IBT)

SNAP

23rd November, 2023

10th December, 2023 

17th December, 2023 

22nd December, 2023 

IIFT

1st July, 2023 - 16th December, 2023

1st week of January, 2024

IBSAT

16th December, 2023

To be Announced 

CMAT

2nd Week of February 2024

April - May, 2024

MAH CET

3rd Week of February, 2024 - 3rd Week of March, 2024 

23rd March & 24th March, 2024

NMAT

10th October, 2023

October 10 - December 19, 2023

ATMA

4th Week of December 2023

4th Week of February 2024

XAT 

30th November, 2023

7th January, 2024

 

MBA Subjects: Recommended Books

Given below are the names of some recognized books along with their authors in the field of Management a candidate must read to gain further knowledge in the course: 

Book Name 

Author Name

Financial Accounting

Financial Accounting

Jerry J. Weygandt, Paul D. Kimmel, and Donald E. Kieso

Financial Accounting: Tools for Business Decision-Making

Paul D. Kimmel, Jerry J. Weygandt, and Donald E. Kieso

Marketing Management

Marketing Management

Philip Kotler and Kevin Lane Keller

Principles of Marketing

Philip Kotler and Gary Armstrong

Operations Management

Operations Management

Jay Heizer and Barry Render

Operations Management

William J. Stevenson

Human Resource Management

Human Resource Management

Gary Dessler

Human Resource Management

Robert L. Mathis and John H. Jackson

Managerial Economics

Managerial Economics

Paul Keat and Philip K. Young

Managerial Economics & Business Strategy

Michael R. Baye and Jeff Prince

Organizational Behavior

Organizational Behavior

Stephen P. Robbins and Timothy A. Judge

Organizational Behavior: Improving Performance and Commitment in the Workplace

Jason Colquitt, Jeffery LePine, and Michael Wesson

Strategic Management

Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases

Fred R. David

Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors

Michael E. Porter

Business Ethics

Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases

Manuel G. Velasquez

Ethical Issues in Business: A Philosophical Approach

Thomas Donaldson and Patricia H. Werhane

Managerial Communication

Business Communication: Building Critical Skills

Kitty O. Locker and Stephen Kyo Kaczmarek

Effective Business Communication

Herta A. Murphy and Herbert W. Hildebrandt

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the MBA subjects in MBA syllabus 2023?

Some of the top MBA subjects list in 2022 is provided below- • Financial Management. One of the basic subjects you need to learn when pursuing an MBA degree is financial management. • Human Resource Management. • Customer Relationship Management. • Marketing Research. • Operations Management.

What is MBA Marketing syllabus in IIM?

Core courses in MBA Marketing Syllabus IIM are- Course Name Advanced Marketing Management Research Methods: Surveys and Experiments Marketing Models Research perspectives in Consumer Behaviour Marketing Models and Estimation Statistics for Management Research

What are the common subjects covered in MBA courses?

MBA courses subjects typically cover a wide range including finance, marketing, operations management, strategic management, organizational behavior, economics, accounting, and entrepreneurship.

Can I specialize in a specific subject during my MBA program?

Yes, many MBA programs offer specializations that allow students to focus on a specific area of interest. Common specializations include finance, marketing, human resources, international business, and healthcare management.

How do MBA courses help develop leadership skills?

MBA courses are designed to develop leadership skills by providing a comprehensive understanding of management principles, strategic thinking, decision-making, and communication skills. Case studies, team projects, and experiential learning opportunities also contribute to leadership development.

Are MBA courses focused solely on business subjects?

While MBA courses primarily focus on business subjects, they also incorporate interdisciplinary knowledge. MBA programs often include courses in areas like ethics, corporate social responsibility, business law, innovation, and technology management to provide a well-rounded education.

Which subject is ideal for an MBA?

Among the most popular MBA specialisations include finance, marketing, international management, human resources, IT/systems, operations management, and entrepreneurship.

How many courses are there in a MBA Course?

It depends on the college you're getting your MBA from. The MBA syllabus includes 35 elective MBA disciplines in addition to the 11 core MBA subjects.

What courses are required for an MBA?

Students from any profession, such as engineering, MBBS, or BBA, can pursue an MBA after graduation, but they must first hold a bachelor's degree.

What is the fee for an MBA Course?

It goes from INR 15,00,000 to INR 30,00,000.

What is the MBA pay scale in India?

According to PayScale, the typical income ranges from INR 12,00,000 to INR 20,00,000.

Check Eligibility   Free 1:1 Counselling