Free Online Lectures and Courses for Business

An undergraduate business program educates students on the fundamentals they need in order to become business leaders and successful careerists, regardless of the specific career grads find themselves in. The curriculum, which often includes online business courses, focuses on the essential critical thinking skills, decision-making techniques, and innovative problem-solving needed to prepare students for a diverse, and sometimes amorphous, marketplace. Business degrees can prepare undergrads for entry-level positions in a staggering amount of fields, and can also spur career growth for professionals already working in business. Typical programs are quite broad, offering a range of specialized concentrations.

The business degree is the most popular degree conferred on undergraduates in the U.S., according to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics. This is arguably due to the versatility of the skill set its students acquire. Those able to evaluate data, extrapolate information, and correctly interpret the results are sought by employers in just about any industry. Business school grads are also well-versed in internal policy development and implementation, resource and staff management, professional development practices, and an awareness of the socio-ethical impacts of modern business.

Employers seek business school graduates for entry-level jobs because of the breadth the degree provides. In order to narrow the extremely wide spectrum of business knowledge, most undergraduate programs require students to specialize. Coursework targeted to areas of interest such as marketing, finance, information systems or economics helps hone the skill set of an aspiring business professional.

A typical four-year business program concentrates on current theory, trends, technology and ethical practices. Typical business degree students spend their freshman and sophomore years studying general education requirements, along with introductory classes in statistics, accounting and economics.

Core courses, which are mostly taken during junior and senior year, depend on which area of specialization a student chooses. Regardless of concentration, all business majors can expect core coursework in the following:

  • Transformation in Technology
  • Information Systems and Applications
  • Organizational and Leadership Theory
  • Marketing Principles
  • Business Law and Ethics
  • Human Resource Management
  • Cultural Diversity and Management
  • Sustainable Business and Manufacturing
  • Labor Relations
  • Consumer Psychology
  • Financial Analysis and Forecasting
  • Advanced Corporate Finance

After an undergraduate program, many successful business professionals go on to earn the ubiquitous Master of Business Administration (MBA). MBA programs, considered the gold standard for advancement in corporate industry, dig deeply into accounting, public policy, operations management, supply chain logistics, entrepreneurship, customer services operations, international business, sales and marketing, statistical analysis, and strategic management.

Most MBA programs require three or more years of industry experience for admission; however, five-year dual degree programs that grant both a bachelor's and a master's do exist.

An abundance of specializations certainly exist for business majors. These options vary among individual programs, both online and in traditional campus environments. The most common concentrations within a business degree include:

Finance: Regulatory changes in the financial services market have created a complex business environment, and compliance is mandatory. Classes in corporate taxation, portfolio analysis, financial and estate planning, and retirement planning can prepare a graduate for work in the financial planning arena.

Management: Specializing in management prepares graduates for eventual supervisory positions. Students in a management concentration focus their attention on small business management, organizational design, leadership, and human resources.

Marketing: The relationship between customer, product, and manufacturer is explored by students who specialize in marketing. Coursework in sales techniques, market demographics, consumer behavior, and global marketing prepares these graduates for employment in corporate marketing and business.

Healthcare Management: This rapidly growing area of U.S. industry will continue to be in need of trained management professionals. Business majors who specialize in healthcare management are eligible for positions in any healthcare facility, supervising employees, or managing operations and administration.

International Business: As global business continues to bloom, so does the need for international business grads. Fluency in more than one language and course experiences focused on diversity, cultural, and ethnic influences in business, international finance and ethical practices all help prepare students for their careers in business.

Operations Management: Business majors in this concentration focus on best practices for overseeing the daily management of a business. Courses in management technique, logistics, business ethics, business law, and human resources are all required for this concentration.

Other concentrations offered may include project management, public relations, accounting, information systems, entrepreneurship and economics. Earning an undergraduate business degree with the right specialization can make use of your special talents and interests, preparing your for a successful career at the same time. If you are bright, driven, and competitive, business may very well be the best place for you.

Because there are so many online and traditional business programs available, take the time to research several; peruse course offerings and consider the specialty concentrations available. If you're already interested in a particular industry or role within a corporation, determine which schools provide you with the education to succeed. Maintain a high GPA in undergraduate school and perform well in the workplace, and you may very well be admitted to a selective MBA program.

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Business Journals & Trade Magazines

  • Journals

  • Trade Magazines

    • Accounting and Business

      ACCA is a magazine for professionals in the accounting and business industry with research, insights, news, and more.

    • Business Management Magazine

      An e-Magazine that examines business management topics like business intelligence, outsourcing, marketing and communications and human resources.

    • Business Week

      Business Week is one of the leading magazines in the business and financial world, providing news and insights from professionals.

    • CEO World

      Written with senior executives and C-level officers in mind, CEO World provides up-to-the-minute business news and analysis.

    • Entrepreneur

      Entrepreneur is a globally-recognized magazine providing insightful information on several key aspects of business.

    • Fast Company

      Fast Company provides insightful information on global news, office etiquette, and more in this online magazine.

    • Forbes

      Forbes is a leading, reliable source for business, financial, economic, and political news.

    • Fortune

      Publisher of the Fortune 500, readers will find business and economic news with analysis of global business drivers

    • Inc

      Inc. shares news and reports on business entrepreneurship, finance, leadership, marketing, technology, and much more.

    • The Economist

      This online publication includes all articles from print editions and online-exclusive, multimedia content that includes audio/video programs.

    • Wired

      Wired's business section keeps readers up-to-date on current events in the industry with news and reports.

Business Grants & Scholarships

  • Scholarships

    • AICPA Accountemps Student Scholarship

      Deadline: April 1

      Award Amount: $2,500

      The American Institute of CPAs awards this scholarship to students who demonstrate potential leadership as CPAs in the accounting industry.

    • CEO of Tomorrow Scholarship

      Deadline: July 31

      Award Amount: $2,500

      A scholarship for the business leaders of tomorrow awarded to students interested in business leadership and entrepreneurship.

    • HSF/General Motors Scholarship Program

      Deadline: varies

      Award Amount: $2,500

      This scholarship is awarded to Latino high-school seniors or undergraduates pusuing engineering or business degrees.

    • Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship

      Deadline: July 1

      Award Amount: $7,000

      Zonta International honors women pursuing a degree in business at the undergraduate or graduate level with this international scholarship.

    • MillerCoors National Scholarship

      Deadline: June

      Award Amount: $3,000

      A scholarship for junior and senior business, accounting, communications, economics, marketing, or public relations majors of Hispanic descent.

    • Morgan Stanley MBA Fellowship Program

      Deadline: varies

      Award Amount: $5,000

      This competitive scholarship is awarded to Women, Black, Hispanic, Native American and LGBT MBA students.

    • National Association for the Self Employed Succeed Scholarships

      Deadline: August 31

      Award Amount: $4,000

      Members can access up to $4,000 for any type of education, including university or college courses, training courses, or even business seminars.

    • National Association of Black Accountants Scholarship Program

      Deadline: January 31

      Award Amount: $1,000 - $10,000

      The National Association of Black Accountants offers scholarships supporting ethnic minorities pursuing accounting or business degree programs.

    • National Society for Accountants Scholarship Foundation

      Deadline: March

      Award Amount: $500 - $2,000

      The National Society for Accountants (NSA) seeks to promote the industry of accounting by supplying this scholarship to undergraduate accounting students.

    • NBMBAA Scholarship Programs

      Deadline: June 30

      Award Amount: $1,000 - $20,000

      The National Black MBA Association offers various scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in business.

    • Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program

      Deadline: February

      Award Amount: $1,000 - $10,000

      This internationally-awarded scholarship is available to students majoring in accounting, business, finance and criminal justice.

    • Surety and Fidelity Industry Intern Scholarship Program for Minority Students

      Deadline: April 30

      Award Amount: $2,500

      This scholarship program provides up to $2,500 to minority students pursuing a degree in accountancy or related field.

    • TELACU Scholarship Program

      Deadline: March

      Award Amount: $1,000

      TELACU provides undergraduate and graduate school scholarships to students in California, Illinois, Texas and New York, for accounting studies.

    • Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship

      Deadline:

      Award Amount: $40,000

      Targeted for aspiring PhDs at the dissertation level in major areas of the social sciences, including anthropology,  psychology, and sociology.

    • UBS/PaineWebber Scholarship

      Deadline: March

      Award Amount: $8,000

      A scholarship for minority students attending UNCF Member Colleges and Universities majoring in a business discipline such as economics.

Business Internships

  • Adobe Business Internship

    Deadline: varies

    Adobe's business internships will help you develop real world skills in finance, marketing, customer relationship management, and more.

  • American Red Cross Paid Summer Internships

    Deadline: March

    While available positions vary from year to year based on need, the American Red Cross often seeks students with an accounting/auditing background to work at their Washington, D.C. headquarters.

  • Associated Press Business Associates Internship

    Deadline:

    The AP offers a 12 week paid Business Associates internship program to graduate students interested in working on projects and initiatives with one of the organization's business management teams.

  • AT&T General Business Internship

    Deadline: varies

    Help AT&T develop, market, support, or even invent their next amazing product or service with a variety of available business internships.

  • Bank of America Corporate Audit Intern Program

    Deadline: December 16th

    The Bank of America corporate audit departent seeks applicants who have a desire to adapt and learn the multiple businesses within Bank of America.

  • Garick 360° Accounting Internship Program

    Deadline: varies

    This program is designed for accounting majors considering a career in corporate accounting. It is extended to all students who have an interest in learning the interworking of a business.

  • General Motors Global Purchasing and Supply Chain Internship

    Deadline: varies

    Students seeking degrees in business management can join the General Motors Global Purchasing and Supply Chain internship program, either through co-op or intern openings.

  • Goldman Sachs Internal Audit Internship Program

    Deadline: varies

    The Internal Audit division of Goldman Sachs offers internships ranging from one week to ten weeks, each introducing how the division is structured and how it fits within the organization.

  • Macy's Store Management Internship

    Deadline: varies

    This store management internship teaches students about the business side of customer service, store operations, associate development, human resources, visual merchandising, and security.

  • National Parks Business Plan Internship

    Deadline: January 13

    Top graduate students in business and related fields can serve as consultants to the National Park System in this internship program.

  • Procter and Gamble Customer Business Development Intern

    Deadline: varies

    Become a Customer Business Development intern with Procter and Gamble to get a 2-4 month snapshop of life and work with the company.

  • Transamerica Internship Program

    Deadline: varies

    The Transamerica Internship Program employs 100-120 college interns every year, including approximately 30 in their accounting department.

  • U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Summer Honors Business Program

    Deadline: February

    This opportunity is for MBA students and other graduate students in such areas as accounting, economics, and finance, to the regulation of the securities markets and the work of the Commission.

  • U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Summer Honors College Program

    Deadline: February

    This 10-week long internship introduces undergraduate students studying accounting, economics, finance, and related fields, to the regulation of the securities markets and the work of the Commission.

Business Student & Professional Organizations

  • Student Organizations

    • Alpha Kappa Psi

      Comprised of students, educators and professionals, this organization strives to educate “its members to appreciate and demand higher ideals in business.”

    • Beta Gamma Sigma

      Spots within this honor society are offered to students studying at AACSB accredited business schools who have shown excellence in academics and service.

    • Business Professionals of America

      Business Professionals of America strives to create organizations for business students and educators to create a "highly competent and skilled workforce".

    • Delta Pi Epsilon

      A graduate honorary society, Delta Pi Epsilon creates networking and educational opportunities for members to ensure "the advancement of the profession".

    • Delta Sigma Pi

      Open to men and women studying business, this fraternity is dedicated to professional development, academic success, networking and community service.

    • Enactus

      Guided by academic and business advisers, and using entrepreneurship, student members "create and implement community empowerment projects" worldwide.

    • Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda

      Phi Beta Lambda is the collegiate division for FBLA, and they prepare students to be leaders loyal to their community.

    • National Black MBA Association

      Supporting minority students through scholarships, the NBMBAA strives for "the professional advancement of African American business professionals."

  • Professional Organizations

    • American Business Women's Association

      Seeking to unite businesswomen of diverse occupations, ABWA helps women grow personally and professionally through networking and education opportunities.

    • Council of Urban Professionals

      CUP molds diverse business leaders and empowers them to exert influence, achieve individual goals and create collective impact through a range of programs.

    • MBA Women International

      MBAWI is dedicated to empowering female business professionals, assisting them into leadership positions and enhancing workforce diversity worldwide.

    • National Association for the Self Employed

      The NASE provides day-to-day support, including direct access to experts, benefits, and consolidated buying power that traditionally had been available only to large corporations.

    • National Association of Women Business Owners

      Focusing on propelling women business owners into leadership roles within entrepreneurship, NAWBO represents “women entrepreneurs across all industries".

    • National Cooperative Business Association

      Acting as the voice for cooperative business, NCBA strives to represent cooperatives in all industries and protect and advance cooperative business.

    • National Federation of Independent Business

      Founded in 1943, the National Federation of Independent Business is America’s leading small-business advocacy association.

    • The National Business Association

      The NBA is a nonprofit association designed and managed to assist the Self-Employed and Small Business Community in achieving professional goals.