Overview
The MBA syllabus covers core business subjects in the first year and specialisation electives, strategy and a project in the second year. This page walks through a published online MBA curriculum semester by semester, explains how courses are assessed and answers common questions about difficulty and maths.
Subject names change from one university to another, so the clearest way to understand the MBA syllabus is to study one published curriculum in detail. The example used here is the Online SRM MBA from SRM University Sikkim, a two-year programme with 80 credits across four semesters.
How the MBA Curriculum Is Structured
The Online SRM MBA curriculum places only core subjects in the first two semesters. Semesters three and four combine a smaller set of core papers with specialisation electives, and the fourth semester includes a project.
| Year | Focus | Published Subjects |
|---|---|---|
|
Year 1
|
Foundations
|
Economics, accounting, marketing, operations, communication, law, analytics, HR, finance, statistics
|
|
Year 2
|
Strategy and depth
|
Research methodology, strategy, entrepreneurship and design thinking, electives, project
|
MBA Subjects List by Semester
The MBA subjects list below is taken directly from the Online SRM MBA programme page and shows the MBA degree syllabus from basics to specialisation.
Semester 1 Subjects
- ➤ Managerial Economics
- ➤ Financial Accounting
- ➤ Marketing Management
- ➤ Production and Operations Management
- ➤ Communication Skills for Managers
Semester 2 Subjects
- ➤ Legal Aspects of Business
- ➤ Business Analytics
- ➤ Human Resource Management
- ➤ Financial Management
- ➤ Business Statistics and Quantitative Methods
Semester 3 Subjects
- ➤ Research Methodology in Business
- ➤ Strategic Management
- ➤ Specialization electives
Semester 4 Subjects
- ➤ Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking
- ➤ Project
- ➤ Specialization electives
MBA Core Subjects in Year One
The ten MBA core subjects in year one cover the main functions of a business. Managerial Economics, Financial Accounting and Financial Management deal with money and markets. Marketing Management and Production and Operations Management cover customers and delivery. Human Resource Management and Legal Aspects of Business cover people and compliance. Business Analytics and Business Statistics and Quantitative Methods bring in data, while Communication Skills for Managers covers how managers present and persuade.
Specialisation Electives in Year Two
In semesters three and four, the MBA course subjects depend on your specialisation. Here are the published electives for three of its seven options.
- ➤ Finance and Fintech covers Security Analysis and Portfolio Management, Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Fintech.
- ➤ Marketing and Digital Technologies covers Sales, Distribution and Brand Management, Digital Business Models, Digital Marketing and E-Commerce, Integrated Marketing Communication and Customer Relationship Management.
- ➤ Business Analytics and AI covers Analytics for E-commerce and Retail Operations, Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning, Data Visualisation and Storytelling and Generative Artificial Intelligence.
If you are leaning towards finance, the core subjects in the online MBA in Finance are worth reading next.
MBA Study Materials and Assessment
At Online SRM, MBA study materials are delivered through interactive video lectures, live faculty sessions and AAI-powered learning tools, with 24/7 access. The expected study time is 15 to 20 hours a week.
Each course has two types of assessment: continuous assessment during the semester and a term-end examination. The term-end examination is remotely proctored, so you take it from your own Windows computer with a camera and a stable internet connection. This combination of continuous and final assessment applies across the MBA syllabus and subjects.
Is the MBA Syllabus Difficult?
The MBA syllabus asks you to switch between very different areas, from accounting and statistics to marketing and law, within the same year. Keeping pace with the weekly study plan matters more than any single subject. Learners from non-commerce backgrounds can expect accounting and finance papers to need more attention in the first year.
Start Your MBA With Online SRM
The Online SRM MBA follows this semester-wise structure with seven specialisations, live sessions and a schedule of 15 to 20 hours a week. View the full programme and apply online.
Key Takeaways
- ➤ The MBA syllabus runs across four semesters in a two-year programme22
- ➤ In the Online SRM MBA, year one has ten core subjects, five in each semester
- ➤ Year two adds research methodology, strategy, entrepreneurship and specialisation electives
- ➤ The fourth semester includes a project
- ➤ Courses are assessed through continuous assessment and a remote proctored term-end exam.
Conclusion
The MBA syllabus takes you from business fundamentals to focused expertise in two years. Once you understand the first year core and the second year electives, picking a specialisation becomes much easier. The Online SRM MBA publishes its full semester structure, so you know what you will study before you apply.
FAQs
Is MBA difficult to pass?
The volume of subjects and assessments is the main challenge. At Online SRM, every course combines continuous assessment with a term-end exam, so steady weekly study across the semester helps you prepare for both.
Is an MBA full of maths?
No. Financial Accounting, Financial Management, Business Analytics and Business Statistics and Quantitative Methods use numbers, but most subjects in the published syllabus, such as marketing, HR, law and strategy, are concept-led.
How many subjects are in a first-year MBA?
It varies by university. In the Online SRM MBA, the first year has ten core subjects, five in each semester.
Is MBA equal to CA?
They are different qualifications. CA is a professional accounting qualification awarded by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, while an MBA is a postgraduate degree in management.
What are the core subjects in an MBA?
In the Online SRM MBA, core subjects include Managerial Economics, Financial Accounting, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, Financial Management, Research Methodology in Business and Strategic Management.
When do MBA students choose a specialisation?
In the Online SRM MBA, specialisation electives start in the third semester and continue in the fourth.
