It's Your Education, Make an Informed Choice.

Individuals who want to pursue a career in acquisition and contract management or who are already in the field but want to move up into a management level position may benefit from earning an Acquisition MBA. This Master’s of Business Administration specialization is focused on educating students about common principles and processes currently being employed by experts in the purchasing/acquisition/contract management fields. Students who have earned this type of graduate degree seek careers as purchasing managers and other similar job roles like supply chain managers, procurement managers, and merchandising managers.

A purchasing manager performs many tasks that are of extreme importance to the companies where they are employed. As explained by the Department of Labor, these tasks include developing purchasing and contract management policies, resolving issues with vendors, and negotiating with suppliers and service providers on contract terms. All of these activities impact a company’s bottom line by cutting down costs and ensuring efficient spending. To help students develop related applicable skills, colleges include courses on supply chain management, contract law and negotiation principles. Many Acquisition MBAs give students the option of taking project and program management courses. Also, students who would like to focus on managing government contracts will find that there are many colleges that offer courses specifically on this topic.

Example Courses

• Pricing and Financial Management
• Cost Analysis and Negotiation Techniques
• Commercial Transactions in a Technological Environment: Law, Management, and Technology

Potential Industries

• Procurements
• Contract Management
• Acquisitions

Colleges Offering Degree

• Bellevue University
• University of Maryland University College
• American Graduate University