A management degree can be the key to a career that is both challenging and rewarding. Whether you want to work for yourself or for a large organization, a business management degree can give you the leadership and communication skills that you need to succeed.
A bachelor’s degree in business administration or management can be the starting point for your career. Both programs teach critical business principles, and they both prepare you for the leadership and management roles that are common in many industries.
Choosing a college program is a process, and it is important to be methodical and honest about what you enjoy doing. You may need to take personality and career assessment tests, or interview with several different schools to find the right program that matches your goals.
You can pursue a bachelor’s in business administration or management, or you can specialize and get a master’s degree. Either way, a bachelor’s in business management can lead you to a variety of employment opportunities, including entry-level positions such as production manager, sales manager and administrative assistant.
Business management degree focus on the supervision of operations within a company. As such, they provide the skills and knowledge necessary for those who supervise employees, organize and plan projects, and ensure that the overall business runs smoothly.
In addition to the traditional classes of English, math, science and business, business management students often take courses in leadership, accounting, finance, marketing, communications, human resources, employment law and other topics. These courses help managers understand how their jobs intersect with other functions of a business, and they can also teach them the importance of teamwork, leadership, organizational skills and sensitivity to customers and employees.
Both business administration and management programs provide a broad understanding of the field of business, but the curricula will become more specialized as students progress through their education. For example, management students often move away from the more rigid business practices, such as tax accounting or auditing, to courses focusing on consumer behavior, business law and project management.
If you choose to pursue a degree in management, you can also opt for an accelerated cohort program that will save you time and allow you to study with the same group of peers online. This can be especially helpful if you are a busy student and would like to complete your degree faster.
You can also pursue a graduate degree in business, a professional degree that combines a business management degree with a relevant master’s degree. This can open a variety of career opportunities, such as executive management or entrepreneurship.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that job opportunities in management occupations will grow five percent between now and 2029, which is much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. As a result, the potential for a management career is almost endless, and there are jobs in every type of industry that need strong leaders.
A management degree can be a great way to build a successful career in a variety of fields, but you must choose wisely. As a general rule, the better your school and the more experienced your professors, the more likely you are to find a position that suits you.