It’s one of the most popular majors on today’s college campuses, but many people still have one key question: What is business administration? The name of this popular major doesn’t necessarily give away what students will learn in the classroom or what they’ll be doing once they turn their many semester credit hours into a rewarding, real-world occupation. Simply put, the business administration degree offered by today’s leading business schools is the ticket to a management position in today’s fast-paced business world. The skills taught as part of this major give students the resources they need to create goals, manage departments, and guide a business toward both financial and organizational success over the long-term.
A Well-Rounded Look into the Business World
As with virtually all undergraduate degrees, the goal of a business administration program is to give students a broad understanding of the industry and prepare them for successful work either as an entry-level manager or as a graduate student in an MBA program or something similar. According to The Princeton Review, the key coursework for those studying business administration or management includes:
– Accounting
– Economics
– Finance
– Management
– Communication
These components are emphasized through a series of courses, including two levels of accounting and courses in macroeconomics, microeconomics, personal finance, public speaking, organizational communication, strategic management, and resource planning. In addition to significant business-related coursework, students will also choose a minor or concentration that gives them an added skill set in the workplace after graduation. When combined with a well-rounded set of general education requirements, those who pursue this major will have one of the most useful, versatile, and profitable degrees currently offered on college campuses.
Real World Experience
After four years of studying the various concepts associated with business management, graduates will begin their search for an entry-level position that puts these skills to work. Since business itself is so broad and management skills can be used in so many places, there’s no one occupation that showcases how graduates translate their skills to real-world use. Instead, consider some of the most popular post-graduation plans pursued by today’s business graduates:
– Retail management
– Mid-level department management
– Accounting
– Marketing
– Business analysis
– Strategic reorganization
– Management consulting
As students advance through these roles, they’re often offered promotions to more senior positions, which might include managing a larger geographic territory or a larger number of departments within a given organization. In some cases, students might even rise to the level of a senior vice president or corporate executive.
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Graduate-Level Coursework is Also Available
Business administration isn’t just an undergraduate-level academic pursuit. In fact, education in this field continues at the graduate level with the Master’s of Business Administration. The MBA focuses even more in-depth on the best practices for workforce management, finance, accounting, the healthcare industry, and many other, more specific areas. Those who intend to teach business to future generations or corporate leaders can even opt for the Doctor’s of Business Administration, or DBA. As part of this high-level program, students will combine coursework with research in the production of an academic thesis. Upon graduation, they’ll be skilled businesspeople and highly qualified college professors as well.