Sometimes taking care of your family means taking care of yourself. Your decision to earn a degree is as much for you as it is for them. This is why you want to choose a career that will not only support the people you love, but also allow you to enjoy going to work every day.
You’ve worked various jobs all your life, but you’re ready to launch a career. You’re committed to take the steps needed to establish yourself in the business field, where the options are vast. It’s no wonder you’re considering earning a degree in Business Management to help you achieve this goal.
But what can you do with a Business Management degree? Both an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in this concentration can provide students the versatile training needed to build a solid foundation that can be put to use in several different jobs. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect as a Business Management major.
What is a Business Management degree? Courses to expect
Before exploring the many Business Management degree jobs out there, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with the educational elements that help equip students for such positions. The curriculum in a Business Management program covers the fundamental business acumen needed to succeed in this dynamic industry.
Regardless of the degree level, Business Management majors can expect to learn more about business principles, organizational effectiveness, data analytics, relationship management and more. Let’s take a closer look at the types of courses you can expect at the associate’s or bachelor’s degree level.
Common Business Management associate’s degree courses:
- Principles of Finance
- Business Analysis and Intelligence
- Human Resource Management
- Functional and Project Management
- Customer Service
Common Business Management bachelor’s degree courses:
- Accounting for Business Managers
- Business Law and Ethical Behavior
- Financial Decision Making and Risk Management
- Dynamic Team Development
- Organizational Behavior Analysis
Business Management jobs to consider
The courses listed above help equip Business Management majors with a versatile skillset that can be applied to a variety of positions in the field. There are plenty of viable options for both associate’s and bachelor’s degree holders. Let’s explore some common Business Management careers.
What can you do with an associate's degree in Business Management?
Earning an associate’s degree in Business Management has the potential to have a positive effect on your job prospects and earning potential. In 2017, Associate’s degree holders earned an average of $6,864 more annually than those with only a high school diploma, according to theBureau of Labor Statistics(BLS).1
That’s great to know, but what opportunities are out there for associate’s degree holders? To help give you a better idea of what’s available, we analyzed more than 155,000 job postings from the last year that called for a Business Management Associate’s degree.2The data helped us identify five common jobs seeking professionals with this credential.
1. Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks
Workers in these realms focus on monitoring and maintaining a company’s financial records. Duties typically include coding documents according to procedure, recording and summarizing numerical data on behalf of the company and reconciling any financial discrepancies found all while complying with federal, state and company policies.
2. Administrative assistant
Administrative assistants typically answer phone calls, schedule meetings, update database information, prepare invoices and manage incoming and outgoing mail. These employees must be organized and detail-oriented, as they are responsible for a variety of clerical tasks that keep businesses running smoothly.
3. Sales associate
These workers can be found in a wide range of industries—if there’s a product or service, businesses need someone to help sell it. They offer expertise on merchandise, answer customer questions and process transactions. Many of these positions have the potential to earn commission, which can give you a nice boost to your earning potential if you find the right situation and pay structure.
4. Customer service associate
It’s right there in the title—customer service associates are all about serving the customer. Whether it’s listening to a customer’s questions or concerns, placing orders, providing information about products and services or recording details of customer contact information, these business professionals make sure customers and clients are seen to. Patience and understanding go far in this position, because customer service associates are often listening to customer complaints and working to solve them.
5. Personal banker
A personal banker handles a client’s entire relationship with a retail bank. From loans and personal accounts to trust funds and investments, these bankers have a wide range of knowledge about the products and services a bank offers. They can provide great customer service by answering clients’ questions and helping them make the right decision for their finances. They are the central point of contact for clients.
What can you do with a bachelor's degree in Business Management?
The career opportunities are significantly higher for those with a bachelor’s degree. While a bachelor’s degree is traditionally a four-year investment, there are options available toearn your Bachelor’s at an accelerated pace.3
Since job opportunity and salaries tend to be higher with a bachelor’s degree, this option is a great choice if you can invest the time in the education upfront. Our job analysis of the same time frame found more than 1.3 million job postings that called for a Business Management bachelor’s degree.4 Learn more about the five most common jobs for professionals with this credential.
1. Marketing manager
Marketing managers estimate the demand for products and services that an organization, and its competitors, offer. They identify potential markets for the organization’s products and oversee a team that develops strategies to maximize profits.
2. Sales manager
Sales managers are the professionals responsible for setting the strategy behind sales initiatives and goals. They resolve customer complaints, prepare budgets, monitor customer preferences to determine the focus of sales efforts and analyze sales statistics.
Most sales managers direct the distribution of goods and services by assigning sales territories, setting sales goals and establishing training programs for the organization’s sales representatives. This may also involve recruiting and hiring new sales staff and evaluating their performances.
3. Business analyst
Business analysts spend their work days gathering data concerning problems or procedures within a company. They then analyze the collected information to conclude possible solutions or alterations. New procedures are designed based on interviews conducted with employees, on-site observation and close study of company documents.
4. Financial analyst
Financial analysts conduct qualitative analyses concerning a company’s finances and investments. They compose charts, graphs and spreadsheets; forecasting business, industry and economic conditions through analysis of financial information. They also determine the prices at which a company should offer its product to the public market and prepare investment plans that capitalize on their financial analysis.
5. Account manager
Account managers act as organization’s personal representative to a client. They foster client relationships, work with sales and marketing teams to find new clients, prepare presentations and sales pitches and communicate client agendas to the rest of the company.
Depending on their employers, these professionals may work with individual customers or clients who represent entire businesses. Monitoring budgets and explaining cost factors to clients are also part of this role.
Where will a Business Management degree take you?
So what can you do with a Business Management degree? As you can see, there are plenty of answers to that question. It all depends on your personal interests and what degree level you can commit to. You can learn more about the educational path ahead by visiting our Business Management program page. Alternatively, you can request more informationto hear more from a Rasmussen University Admissions Advisor who'll be able to help answer any questions you may have.
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed January 2020]. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
2Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 155,856 job postings preferring candidates with an Associate’s degree in Business Management Jan. 01, 2019 – Dec. 31, 2019).
3Time to complete is dependent on accepted transfer credits and courses completed each quarter.
4Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 1,371,906 job postings preferring candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management Jan. 01, 2019 – Dec. 31, 2019).
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2015. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2020.
FAQs
What skills do you gain from a business management degree? ›
Skills you can develop
understand key business functions such as marketing, human resources, information management, accounting and finance and operations in their wider organisational and social context. put together reasoned arguments and question assumptions. draw together, analyse and critically evaluate ...
What Are the Different Types of Managers? The four most common types of managers are top-level managers, middle managers, first-line managers, and team leaders. These roles vary not only in their day-to-day responsibilities, but also in their broader function in the organization and the types of employees they manage.
Is management of business a good degree? ›The good news is that for many people, a business management degree can be worth the investment in terms of potentially expanded job opportunities, greater earnings potential and career advancement possibilities. Earning a business management degree can also offer wonderful personal satisfaction and a sense of pride.
What is the job of business management? ›Primary duties: A business manager is responsible for supervising and managing the business of a company, including assets, operations and employees.
Why should I study business management? ›For the aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders, a business management degree is consistently a popular choice. It provides the academic knowledge and skills to pursue global career opportunities and helps you develop a broad understanding of businesses and specific areas such as finance and human resources.
What field is business management? ›Business management majors study topics such as general business principles, financial analysis, data analytics, organizational effectiveness, and strategic planning. The field offers jobs in finance, banking, and business administration, including positions at the executive and C-suite levels.
What are the 3 top management? ›What are the three levels of managers? The three levels of management in most organizations are top-level management, mainly responsible for overseeing all operations, middle-level management, responsible for executing plans and policies, and low-level management, responsible for direct task execution and deliverables.
What are the five major areas of business management? ›At the most fundamental level, management is a discipline that consists of a set of five general functions: planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling. These five functions are part of a body of practices and theories on how to be a successful manager.
What is the highest-paying job with a business degree? ›- Chief executives.
- Financial quantitative analysts. ...
- Treasurers and controllers. ...
- Information technology project managers. ...
- Regulatory affairs managers. ...
- Investment fund managers. ...
- Actuaries. ...
- Marketing managers. ...
A business degree can increase job prospects, create advancement opportunities, and increase your salary and lifetime income. It's a worthwhile investment in your career—now and into the future. You just have to find the right business degree program for you.
What business job makes the most money? ›
- Corporate controller. ...
- Portfolio manager. ...
- Tax manager. ...
- Finance manager. ...
- Financial controller. Most common major: Accounting. ...
- Financial advisor. Most common major: Finance. ...
- Financial/securities/investment analyst. Most common major: Finance. ...
- CPA. Most common major: Accounting.
Not only will you enjoy high employment levels as a degree holder, but you'll likely earn more money in your job and career. Employers are willing to pay qualified employees better wages, so with the time and money you've invested into an associate degree, it may pay off when you can earn a higher salary.
Which management degree is best? ›The most highly recognized degree available in the field of business and management is the Master's of Business Administration, with top business schools offering on-campus MBAs and online MBAs. There are MBA degree options for many fields of business and business expertise, as well as highly affordable MBA options.
Are business management degrees in demand? ›Demand for MBA graduates up in 2021
Among corporate recruiters, 90 percent anticipate the need for employees with a master's degree in business to increase or remain steady between 2021 and 2026.
Business Management Career Outlook
A business management degree is a recognized credential for many job positions. This includes being a non-profit manager, business analyst, banker, marketing analyst, and management consultant. In fact, there are 14 concentrations and 21 related majors (College Factual, 2021).
- Learn How to Lead a Team. In a normal work environment, strategies are provided by managers for tackling several tasks per day. ...
- Learn How to Budget Finances. ...
- Learn How to Produce a Marketing Strategy.
- Adjusting to New Surroundings. ...
- Connecting With New People. ...
- Scheduling. ...
- Learning to Work in a Team. ...
- Balancing Academics With Other Parts of Their Lives. ...
- Expenses. ...
- Closing Remarks.
In general, a business degree is not hard. However, your course load may be heavy, which I'll discuss further in a moment. And some courses will be harder for some than others. But the depth of study in each area is not as great as it would be for a specialized Business Major.
What are the 3 types of business management? ›There are three broad categories of management styles: Autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire. Within these categories, there are specific subtypes of management styles, each with its own pros and cons.
How much do business management majors make? ›Job Title | Range | Average |
---|---|---|
Job Title:Business Analyst, IT | Range:R194k - R547k | Average:R365,520 |
Operations Manager | Range:R118k - R864k | Average:R402,201 |
Financial Manager | Range:R251k - R827k | Average:R459,598 |
Marketing Manager | Range:R102k - R609k | Average:R290,589 |
What are the 7 types of managers? ›
- Democratic.
- Visionary.
- Autocratic.
- Coaching.
- Laissez-Faire.
- Pacesetting.
- Servant.
- Financial management. ...
- Marketing management. ...
- Sales management. ...
- Human resource management. ...
- Strategic management. ...
- Production management. ...
- Program and project management. ...
- Knowledge management.
- Commanding Management. ...
- Visionary Management. ...
- Affiliative Management. ...
- Democratic Management. ...
- Pacesetting Management. ...
- Coaching Management.
You must choose a business degree program that is accredited. It is very important to check out the school's accreditation, national and regional recognition, and rankings. Accreditation is important as an accredited program makes a program credible and improves job prospects.
Can you make 6 figures with a business degree? ›Companies within every industry need business administrators. Specializing in one of the fields below can land you a job in everything from technology to healthcare. Obviously, years of experience and an MBA will make achieving six figures that much easier.
What is the best business degree to get in 2022? ›- Finance.
- Accounting.
- Business administration/management.
- Logistics/supply chain.
- Management information systems.
- Marketing.
- Engineering. ...
- Business. ...
- Nursing. ...
- Hospitality. ...
- Education. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Architecture. ...
- Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Beyond the potential financial gains, people who complete a business degree program may find a somewhat unique level of flexibility in its applications. Business is present in nearly every modern industry, meaning degree holders have the option to apply their business degree to just about any area of industry.
Is a business management degree worth it 2022? ›If you want to become an entrepreneur, a business management degree is definitely worth it. You will learn everything you need to start your company and run it successfully.
Do business majors learn anything? ›Students in a business major learn fundamental business knowledge in accounting, international business, finance, marketing, project management, economics and more. Students can tailor their coursework to specific types of business courses or generalize.
Is business management a BS or BA? ›
For starters, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSBM) degree focuses on business management. Coursework may include business communication, basics of accounting, and management theory. On the other hand, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) can have different specializations.
Why are business degrees so popular? ›1. The Demand for Business Graduates is High. One of the biggest reasons business is so popular is, to be frank, because business majors are getting hired. Employers everywhere need employees with the skills developed in business programs.
What is the easiest 2 year degree to get? ›- Easiest Online Associate Degrees.
- Associate in Early Childhood Education.
- Associate in Liberal Arts or General Education.
- Associate in Accounting.
- Associate in Healthcare Management.
- Associate in Marketing.
- Associate in Business Administration.
- Associate in Fashion Merchandising.
- Air Traffic Controller. Salary: $124,540. ...
- Computer Programmer. Salary: $82,240. ...
- Radiation Therapist. Salary: $80,570. ...
- Nuclear Technician. Salary: $80,370. ...
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist. Salary: $75,660. ...
- Dental Hygienist. Salary: $74,070. ...
- Registered Nurse. Salary: $70,000. ...
- Web Developer.
Chief Executive
Chief executives work in a variety of public- and private-sector industries. Although they typically earn the highest salary of all management positions, they also work extremely long hours and are essentially responsible for the success of their companies.
MBA Programme develops the skills needed in the current market and the PGDM course is more helpful for the students to develop practical marketing skills as per industrial perspectives.
Does management degree pay well? ›Management positions boast the highest average salary of all major occupation groups, at $105,660 per year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these positions are expected to grow five percent by 2029, generating just over half a million new jobs.
What are the 3 main managerial skills? ›Managerial skills fall into three basic categories: technical, human relations, and conceptual skills. The degree to which each type of skill is used depends upon the level of the manager's position as seen in (Figure).
What skills do you have in management? ›- Interpersonal skills.
- Communication and motivation.
- Organisation and delegation.
- Forward planning and strategic thinking.
- Problem solving and decision-making.
- Commercial awareness.
- Mentoring.
- How do I develop my management skills?
They were initially identified as five functions by Henri Fayol in the early 1900s. Over the years, Fayol's functions were combined and reduced to the following four main functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
What is the top reason managers fail in their role? ›
Research conducted by CEB shows that 60 percent of new managers fail within the first 24 months of their new position. And according to Steve Smith, the author of Managing for Success: Practical Advice for Managers, the main reason why most new managers fail is because they were never properly trained to manage.
What are the disadvantages of being a manager? ›- You have to fire people. ...
- You have to hire people. ...
- You get the blame. ...
- The workday doesn't end when you leave work. ...
- You have to deal with bureaucracy. ...
- Employees deserve your attention. ...
- Someone can always come for your job. ...
- Don't nickel-and-dime every decision.
Production management's responsibilities are summarized by the “five M's”: men, machines, methods, materials, and money.
What are the 3 types of management? ›There are three broad categories of management styles: Autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire. Within these categories, there are specific subtypes of management styles, each with its own pros and cons.