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Interested in a Career in Business? Here’s What to Know About Getting a Business Degree
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A World of Opportunity

A degree in business prepares students to work in a wide variety of industries and settings. Graduates holding business degrees accept jobs in for-profit businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. In general, business management degrees and business administration degrees provide the skills needed to help an organization run smoothly or to help develop a business idea.

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Areas of Study for Business Degrees

Most institutions that provide business degrees require that their undergraduate students take a variety of classes in general arts and sciences as a freshman and sophomore, and then begin their professional business courses in their junior year. In addition, business students generally declare a specific business major (e.g., accounting, finance or marketing) near the start of their junior year.

Since many people who are currently employed look to a degree in business to help them get ahead in their chosen career or to prepare for a job change, there are a large number of accredited providers of online degrees in business. Many institutions that provide business degrees online have structured their programs so that a bachelor's degree in business can be obtained in less than the four years the same degree would take at a traditional college or university.

Although courses may vary a bit by the educational institution, students who major in business can expect to take courses in the following areas of study:

  • Accounting
  • Calculus
  • Computer science
  • Finance
  • Human resources
  • Macroeconomics
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Microeconomics
  • Probability and statistics
  • Psychology
  • Operations management
  • Sales

Prospects for Business Graduates

There are many jobs for which a bachelor's degree in business prepares a student. From government agencies to philanthropic organizations and from large companies to small start-ups, business graduates are in high demand. Depending on your area of specialization, you might work in one of the following job functions:

  • Assistant product manager
  • Computer programmer
  • Database manager
  • Economic forecasting expert
  • Entry-level manager
  • Financial analyst
  • Human resources associate
  • Market researcher
  • Sales representative
  • Securities analyst
  • Staff accountant

Some graduates with a bachelor's degree in business decide to pursue a higher degree, most often a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) degree. In general, MBA. Students have at least two years of work experience before going back to school, but a small percentage of MBA students go directly from their undergraduate program to graduate studies.

For those who are interested in teaching business courses at a college or university, a doctorate level degree is usually required.

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