A business administration education broadly touches on several areas of the business and liberal arts curriculum. The ideal prospective student seeks a strong foundation in business and a desire to succeed in the corporate world. After receiving a business administration degree, students may contribute their skills to a number of fields, including marketing, management, sales, human resources, and finance.
Why a Bachelor’s Degree?
Most major corporations require full-time applicants to have a minimum of a bachelor’s, with business administration being an ideal focus. It is especially useful for students who would like a career in business but want to maximize their hiring potential by presenting themselves as multifaceted employees. It also offers room for growth and lateral movement within a company.
Inside a Business Administration Bachelor’s Degree Program
A bachelor’s in business administration typically takes four years to complete. Online tracks occasionally trim it down to two years if the student is able to take on a full course load at an advanced pace. Some programs ask that students choose a concentration after a certain amount of courses that have been completed. Some of the popular concentrations might be marketing, finance, or management.
The online bachelor of business administration degree curriculum is split into roughly one semester of core courses followed by more advanced courses pertaining to specific business topics. Examples of courses that business administration students might take include organizational behavior, leadership skills, marketing management, personal finance, or business ethics. Online students are subject to the same coursework, assessments, and opportunities, but they complete their work remotely through online learning platforms like Blackboard. Their lectures may take the form of pre-recorded videos or podcasts.
What’s Next for Business Administration Bachelor’s Degree Holders?
Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in business administration are qualified for a number of entry-level positions in the business sector, with potential for advancement commensurate with experience. Graduates may find positions in advertising, accounting services, management, real estate, sales, human resources, and marketing, to name a few. They may also embark on entrepreneurial pursuits. According to the <a href=”http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes111011.htm” target=”_blank”>U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, top executives made an average annual salary of $101,250, as of May 2014.
Bachelor’s in business lend themselves toward further education. Degree-holders may easily transition into a graduate program in a related field, particularly if they want to take advanced classes in a more concentrated area of business after a bit of experience in the industry. Business administration is also a popular precursor for law school.