According to CIO, two of the top job requests on its employment Web site desire candidates with a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) combined with credentials in either computer science or information technology. And the demand for hybrid professionals certainly doesn’t end there. The traditional route to big business, finance, and banking usually ran through MBA programs. Today, MBAs are beginning to rethink their career paths.

MBA graduates have long been accustomed to leaving graduate school for traditional roles in finance–such as banking or financial planning. In light of today’s ever-changing economic and financial landscape, many MBAs are not following tradition. Because business principles apply across industries, many MBAs are eschewing customary career tracks for new challenges in technology, consulting, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit organizationsMBA課程.

MBA programs typically expose graduates to all aspects of business, so graduates can master the “soft skills” that are critical for success across industries, such as client orientation, presentation skills, and communication talents. This diverse training in leadership and resource management is generally needed in all industries, not just finance–which has become paramount in light of the economic slowdown.

For example, information technology workers in particular are considering grad school in order to earn the management acumen that can translate into better career opportunities. In today’s economy, specializing in one more than one particular niche may be the best educational path to take.