It's easier than ever to get a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree these days. Programs abound in many Tennessee schools, and the ways a person can pursue an MBA include various combinations of on-campus, distance and online courses, offered day, night and on the weekends, as well. But what factor does an economic downturn play in enrollment numbers in MBA programs? And, perhaps most importantly, if the economy remains shaky, does the job market become saturated with highly qualified, unemployable individuals?

Students usually pursue an MBA in two ways: in the traditional manner as a full-time student, or as an employed professional working toward the degree as part of an executive MBA program, involving night or weekend courses, distance learning or online courses. Many schools require students to have at least some work experience (typically three to five years) before entering an MBA program, but this requirement has been loosened to accommodate the recent influx of MBA-seeking applicants.

"In this current economy," says Amy Cathey, executive director of the full-time MBA program at UT-Knoxville, "it is attractive for many students to just continue with their MBA course of study after graduation with their bachelors' degrees -- rather than pursuing jobs -- so we're seeing less work experience."

Martha Pointer, associate dean of the College of Business and Technology at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, agrees. "Enrollment applications for our programs are up in both areas. With the full-time programs, we're seeing more students moving straight into the MBA program after graduation. And more people who are already employed -- who fear being laid off or outsourced -- are applying to the program."

Layoffs, outsourcing and pink slips have increased exponentially in the last few months across the board, from huge, international conglomerates to small-town businesses, and even those employees who have never before worried about their job security are taking proactive steps to ensure that they continue to be a viable commodity on the job market.

"Almost all of our MBA students are already employed," says Paul Stumb, dean of the Edward A. Labry School of Business & Technology at Cumberland University in Lebanon. "We don't have MBA graduates looking for employment. Usually, their employers are funding part or all of their tuition for them."

That doesn't mean that all the employed individuals returning to school are doing so with the blessing -- or subsidizing -- of their employers. "Executive MBA programs usually work in reverse of the regular trends," says Carolyn Cuddy, director of the Center for Executive Education at UT-Knoxville. "So, we're not surprised that we've not seen a downturn in enrollment numbers -- in 2009 numbers have increased -- but we have seen a definite increase in the numbers of students paying more or all of their own tuition costs as opposed to their companies."

Bob Wood, associate dean of the College of Business at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, reports record enrollment for the spring 2009 term, which is unusual, he says, but not surprising in light of the current economic state. "We offer our degree at 100% distance, which is convenient for people who need to retool their careers," he says.

Do the record-breaking numbers of applications for admission into graduate programs mean that the quality of potential MBA candidates is lessened? Not so, according to representatives in graduate programs across the state. "Historically, a recession sees potential students flocking to enroll in graduate schools," says Raoul Russell, director of graduate programs at Tennessee State University's College of Business in Nashville. "I've been in academia through two recessions, and I've seen this trend before. MBA programs are normally considered a 'mid-career' move, after six, eight or more years of work experience, and we're seeing more applications than ever -- and they are better applications."

UT-Knoxville's Cathey agrees. "The profile of our next class of MBA students will look different. Those coming in directly after their undergraduate programs will have less work experience, but other indicators of academic quality will be higher. In an unstable economy, students feel that another 18 months won't hurt their prospects, and they hope that the job market will be more attractive for them afterward. And we're seeing exceptional talent coming into the programs with those people who have been downsized out of their positions -- or worry that they might be. They've been on the fence, and now they think it is a good time to pursue an MBA degree."

Will there be a glut of MBA graduates on the job market in the next few years, highly qualified but unable to find promising positions? "I wouldn't say there will be a glut of executive MBAs on the job market," says UT's Cuddy, "but there has been an increase in enrollments, so of course, competition will be stiffer."

Cathey agrees, and points out that as the economy changes, so does the placement process. The school is placing more MBA graduates with government entities and counter-cyclical companies, those businesses that flourish when the economy is down.

Cathey says, "We tell them, 'This is not the time to be picky. It might take you longer to find the job you want, but in the interim, you'll gain valuable experience in area you might not have otherwise imagined.'"

In difficult economic times, it is hard for people to decide if circumstances warrant investing in higher education -- and it is difficult for struggling companies to justify investing in continuing education for employees that they may have to let go. But across the board, indicators suggest that during an economic downturn, MBA programs benefit with increased enrollment numbers and a higher level of incoming talent and academic pedigrees.

College graduates see doors closing and -- wisely -- put their efforts toward bettering their future prospects. MBA programs benefit -- and future employers will benefit, as well.