If you’re considering a degree in business, you’re in great company. According to the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), more students are awarded a business degree annually than any other field of study.
Why is that, you might wonder? It’s possibly due to the reality that a business degree sets you up for success in almost any career path you might choose. Whether your passions lie with conservation, healthcare, entrepreneurship, or even assisting at-risk youth, you can find a role requiring business acumen.
Business Major Overview
You could earn several different degrees under the umbrella term “business degree.” You might consider focusing your degree on marketing, management, or business administration. What do all of these have in common? Striving to steer an organization toward success.
What you’ll do in your specific role will depend largely on which track you choose. If you’re still trying to figure out what career is right for you, consider business administration. One of the most versatile degrees, you’ll leave your studies understanding all the day-to-day regulatory tasks needed to keep a business afloat.
Business majors are often required to take large amounts of data and analyze it to ensure well-informed decisions. They’ll lead teams and interact on a professional level with other organizations.
Skills You’ll Gain in Business Courses
Working through business courses will help you switch your mindset from a consumer to a producer. Whether you’re producing goods or services, students who earn business degrees will generally have the following skills:
- Communication: It’s vital to have the ability to convey your message professionally. You’ll learn to adjust your tone and content to various settings and contexts, honing active listening skills.
- Leadership: There are many nuances to leadership that you’ll be able to practice within the context of your degree. Empathy and passion, for instance. Leading through example and learning how to have hard conversations are just a few others.
- Technology: Although the programs you work with will vary based on the specific track you follow, you’ll generally be well-versed in team productivity software. Most programs will ensure that you are comfortable handling tasks throughout the Microsoft Suite and working through a variety of database software.
- Organization: One of the essential skills you can learn as a leader is effectively managing your schedule and your projects. Through time management and diligent attention to detail, you’ll discover the value of delegating, as well as following up on projects to ensure timely completion regardless of their scope.
You’ll notice that all of these skills are not specific to any one field and are highly transferable if you decide to follow a different career path in the future. That’s one of the reasons that so many students choose to major in business.
Common Industries for Business Majors
Business majors generally have several specialized tracks they can choose from, making them even more marketable within their fields. Those gaining a degree in business administration—one of the most popular degrees—can consider a future in several areas. For example:
- Healthcare Management
- Marketing
- Retail Leadership
- Finance
- Public Business Administration
- Local or Federal Administration
- Entrepreneurship
- School Administration
- Human Resources
- Nonprofit Management
Common Job Titles for Business Majors
Business majors are found in nearly every organization. You might find yourself pursuing one of these popular career options to get your degree.
Business Operations Manager
Do you have excellent data analysis skills? A terrific head for numbers? Do you enjoy researching and creatively solving problems? If so, you might excel as a business operations manager. Essentially a team leader, however, your team is an entire department or company. This position requires excellent communication and organizational skills.
Project Manager
If you enjoy the challenge of analyzing and organizing tasks but thrive on short-term goals, you might be an excellent fit for a project manager role. A project manager is often dedicated to shorter-term projects, moving on to new challenges as those are completed. They’ll have many of the same skills that an operations manager would have, but they’ll generally have a more specific focus than an organization’s entirety.
Digital Analyst
Companies are inundated with data nowadays. There is an ever-increasing need to assimilate that data into actionable plans. A digital analyst tends to have a more scientific approach to guiding the company. They will mine data to communicate with various departments regarding everything from staff turnover to marketing campaigns.
Financial Manager
If you love numbers, this is an option outside of gaining an accounting degree. A finance manager handles everything from budgeting to reporting. They’ll set goals to keep the company on track to be profitable and report where the company is struggling. Often, they’ll communicate and balance a variety of department needs, such as human resources, marketing, and operations.
Does a Business Major Appeal to You?
This is far from an exhaustive list of careers to which you can apply for a business degree. One of the aspects that many students find most appealing about the major is earning a two-year associate’s degree in business on their way to a four-year degree.
They often utilize the opportunity to find an entry-level role, building their skills while balancing their studies for their remaining two years of education. Business degrees also appeal to military spouses and those whose career goals include being digital nomads for the simple portability that they offer. If you are looking for the most flexible degree that you can earn, you might find that a business major is precisely what you’re seeking.
More Career Paths:
- Job Opportunities for Healthcare Administration and Management Majors
- Great Jobs for Communications Majors
- Great Careers for All Myers-Briggs Personality Types
- Jobs You Can Get With a Real Estate Agent License
- Great Jobs and Career Fields for English Majors
- Great Jobs and Career Fields for Psychology Majors
Don't forget to share this article with friends!
