title: Availability and perceived value of masters of business administration degree programs in pharmaceutical marketing and management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine pharmacist-targeted master of business administration (MBA) degree programs and investigate pharmacists' perceptions regarding them.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specialized MBA programs in pharmaceutical marketing and management offered at US colleges and schools of pharmacy were identified in the literature and compared. Pharmacists' perceptions of MBA programs were evaluated through a survey of clinical preceptors affiliated with a school of pharmacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven US universities that offer an MBA program in pharmaceutical marketing and management were identified. Thirty-three percent of the 57 pharmacist preceptors who responded to the survey reported plans to pursue an MBA degree program. Respondents preferred MBA programs related to healthcare or pharmacy (66%) over general MBA programs (33%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An MBA in pharmaceutical marketing and management could provide pharmacists with advanced knowledge of the operational and strategic business aspects of pharmacy practice and give pharmacy graduates an advantage in an increasingly competitive job market.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Charleston, Charleston, WV 25304, USA. fadialkhateeb@ucwv.edu
authors.forename: Fadi M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Alkhateeb
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Clauson
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Latif
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce; D003479:Curriculum; D004345:Drug Industry; D004493:Education; D006801:Humans; D040541:Marketing; D010595:Pharmacists; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy