Have a quick look around you. Every single item that is in your home, unless you have made it yourself, is based on an entire industry. Each industry, meanwhile, has a whole business behind it. This is a hugely complex affair, and this means there is no such thing as a singular business degree that enables you to manage all of that. There are many different types and levels of business degrees to choose from, as well as many different specializations. This can be a bit overwhelming, particularly if you aren’t completely sure about what it is that you are interested in. Speaking to a career or admission counselor is a good idea to help you come to a decision. That said, the following information may also be of benefit to you when it comes to choosing your business degree.
Levels of Business Degrees
The first thing you have to consider is the level at which you wish to study. The options available, and most basic of admission criteria, are:
- The certificate, which takes around one year to complete and only requires a high school or GED
- The associate’s degree, which takes around two years to complete and also only requires a high school or GED
- The bachelor’s degree, which takes around four years to complete and usually requires a number of prerequisite courses
- The MBA or master’s degree, which takes around two years to complete and requires you to have completed an undergraduate degree
- The doctorate degree, which can take many years to complete and requires you to hold a graduate degree
The higher the level of your degree, the higher the position you will be able to take up in the workplace. Let’s take a look at the 15 most common types of business degrees, most of which are available at all five of the above levels.
Accounting
An accounting degree is perfect for those with a great eye for detail and who love numbers. During your degree, you will learn about the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), managing financial documents, taxation law, the impact of financial documents on business operations, and so on. This field can lead to a range of interesting careers, and you can go into different accounting directions. This includes tax, audit, or other accounting related positions. Furthermore, you could work in organizations spanning all types of industries.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Accounting
- Taxation
- Financial analysis
Common job titles for those with a degree in accounting include:
- Accountant
- Payroll Manager
- Auditor
Advertising
The business of advertising is made for people who are creative and can develop advertisements that stand out in the huge array of ads that already exist, ensuring a product or service sticks in the customer’s mind. By completing this type of business degree, you will learn how to make sure messages stand out by increasing your understanding of what an audience is looking for, and how they can be reached. The advertising business degree is the perfect degree for those with a creative mind, but who don’t want to be starving artists.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Market research
- Brand management
- Consumer behavior
Common job titles for those with a degree in advertising include:
- Account Executive
- Media planner
- Copywriter
Business Management
Business management is often what people think about when they hear someone has a “degree in business“. Basically, this program gives you the foundations you need to understand all aspects of running a business, including organizational leadership, operations, sales, and accounting. You will also gain an understanding of how to lead and manage people, which is important for those who want to take on senior management positions.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Accounting
- Organizational leadership
- Marketing
Common job titles for those with a degree in business include:
- Sales manager
- Project manager
- Account manager
Economics
Studying economics is all about economic theory and principles, using data analysis and math. This degree can help you to become an expert in forecasting and analyzing economic trends. This can then be used to improve overall business performance and operations.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Macroeconomics
- Business Statistics
- Microeconomics
Common job titles for those with a degree in economics include:
- Budget analyst
- Economist
- Contract specialist
Entrepreneurship
If you want to start you own business, build it, and manage it, then you may want to consider a degree in entrepreneurship. This will equip you with a range of important skills that will make it far more likely for you to succeed. This is suitable for aspiring business owners, but you will be equipped with skills that can be applied to a wealth of different business settings as well.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Accounting
- Business strategy
- Performance management
Common job titles for those with a degree in entrepreneurship include:
- Business owner
- Management analyst
- Business manager
Finance
A degree in finance gives you the skills and knowledge you need to manage finances in a range of settings. You will learn about economics, financial analysis, portfolio management, and statistics. This enables you to enter a wealth of interesting careers in traditional finance sectors, but also in investment or accounting areas.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Financial modeling
- Business law
- Portfolio management
Common job titles for those with a degree in finance include:
- Risk manager
- Financial analyst
- Portfolio analyst
Health Care Management
A degree in health care management is in very high demand. This teaches you to understand the business side of running a health care facility, ensuring that it operates within budget without compromising on quality of care. You will learn about leadership, business management, and strategies that enable you to address the particular intricacies and challenges in the changing health care industry. You will be equipped with strong management skills that are applicable directly to the business of health care. This is almost always a graduate degree.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Policy management
- Health care law
- Health care operations
Common job titles for those with a degree in health care management include:
- Health services manager
- Medical director
- Patient care associate
Hospitality Management
A degree in hospitality management is perfect for those who want to look after the comfort and happiness of others. This is the business of venues and establishments such as hotels, resorts, event venues, and so on. The management needs in these establishments are truly unique and require an equally unique approach to their management. This is why you will focus not just on management, but also on communication with this degree, ensuring that you can properly manage the different operations while at the same time increasing the happiness of guests.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Tourism
- Human resources
- Business administration
Common job titles for those with a degree in hospitality management include:
- Guest services manager
- General manager
- Hotel manager
Human Resources
Human resources deals with the human side of business, and is therefore all about people. This will allow you to help employees to understand their workplace benefits, help teams attract the highest talent so the business can grow, address disputes and conflict, and more. You must have excellent interpersonal skills to work in human resources. It will also show you how to manage the labor practices within a business, as well as teaching you about training, resources planning, and organizational development.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Business management
- Employment law
- Organizational behavior
Common job titles for those with a degree in human resources include:
- HR generalist
- Benefits specialist
- Recruiter
International Business
International business has a strong focus on the increasingly global world of business and enterprise. There are more and more multinational companies, and these all look for people who can deal with the unique issues and challenges in each of the countries in which they work.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- International marketing
- Business ethics
- Global commerce
Common job titles for those with a degree in international business include:
- Management analyst
- Business development specialist
- Supply chain analyst
Marketing
If you are interested in helping a business attract new customers and retain existing ones, then marketing may be right for you. The focus here is on things such as marketing strategies, communication, and market research. When you become employed in a marketing department, you can look at things such as consumer research and product promotion, thereby achieving the various strategic business goals, usually improving customer retention, raising brand awareness and recognition, and increasing sales.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Consumer behavior
- Communications
- Digital marketing
Common job titles for those with a degree in marketing include:
- Marketing manager
- Marketing specialist
- Marketing coordinator
Project Management
With a degree in program management, you can improve your organization and planning skills. This degree equips you with all the necessary skills to manage a range of different projects, regardless of size. You will ensure that someone is accountable for each of the elements of that project so that it is completed on time and within, or even below, budget. You will also be shown what to do if things do not go the way they were projected.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Organizational management
- Project management
- Leadership
Common job titles for those with a degree in project management include:
- Project manager
- Project coordinator
- Budget analyst
Public Relations
Public relations professionals work together with the target audience of the organization that they work for. This means that they are excellent business strategists, but also excellent communicators at all different levels. A major in public relations focuses on managing relationships with the media, community event planning, and strategic communication.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Communications
- Public speaking
- Advertising
Common job titles for those with a degree in public relations include:
- Public relations manager
- Communications specialist
- Event coordinator
Statistics
A degree in statistics is incredibly relevant in today’s day and age, since increasing numbers of data are being collected. Data is only useful, however, if someone can collect it, organize it, and explain it to those who don’t understand it. A statistician is that person who collects, organizes, analyzes, and interprets a variety of pieces of data. This information helps businesses make better decisions in terms of planning for patterns and trends and how to act on those.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Algebra
- Statistics
- Calculus
Common job titles for those with a degree in statistics include:
- Statistician
- Business analyst
- Data analyst
Supply Chain Management
The last type of business degree is supply chain management. Consider ordering a product online, which arrives at your door just days later. That is known as logistics and it requires people with expert knowledge in supply chain management to handle the intricate details of this the right way. Since this is now a global issue, it is becoming increasingly complex and increasingly vital to the efficient running of operations.
Common courses you will take during your degree program include:
- Inventory management
- International business
- Supply chain risk
Common job titles for those with a degree in business include:
- Logistician
- Operations Manager
- Logistics Analyst
Choosing the Degree Type that Is Right for You
The above gives you a brief overview of the different types of business degrees that are out there, what you will learn, and what you will be able to do after you have completed it. You need to look inside yourself and consider which part of business interests you the most. Once you have done that, you will need to consider at which level you want to study as well. Don’t make a decision based on a whim, but choose a few areas that interest you and look further into the details of this option to see whether or not it is right for you.
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