“So, what are you going to do with your life?”
If I had a dollar for every time I was asked that before I went to college, I would have paid off my student loans a lot sooner.
Depending on your interests and career goals, the answer could be anything from an astronaut to working in the business field.
If you answered the latter, you’re probably interested in business administration, what kind of schooling you’ll need, and the kind of career path you’ll take. We have that all laid out for you in this article, so let’s get started.
In the education system, business administration is the course of study taken in college that prepares you for managerial roles in various companies and organizations.
When in the role of a business administrator, your job is to oversee all functions related to managing a business that lead to successfully reaching goals. This includes anything from planning and organizing to staffing the business.
For those who have a passion for leadership and excellent organizational skills, a degree in business administration could lead you to a rewarding career in the future.
If you’re interested in getting a degree in business administration, you’ll want to get your bachelor’s degree in business. This degree will incorporate practical and quantitative courses that will provide you with skills you can take to a future organization.
Colleges and universities that offer this program typically require around 120 credit hours. In addition to general education classes, like college-level algebra and English composition, other courses that are often required for this degree are:
Taking things further, you can continue your education in business administration at the graduate level with a Master’s of Business Administration, also called an MBA. To get into the program, you’ll need to get into business school, so you’ll take either the GMAT or the GRE.
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Once accepted, full-time MBA programs can take two years to finish, while it may take part-time students at least three years. Courses can range but will likely consist of accounting, economics, marketing, business law, international business, and more.
It’s easy to get business administration and business management confused, as the two are similar and can sometimes be used interchangeably. However, the two do have some key differences:
The core curriculum for both degrees have similar courses related to business fundamentals, such as marketing, economics, finance, law, and ethics.
One of the great things about earning a degree in business administration is that there is a wide range of career opportunities at your fingertips. Some business administration jobs include:
A business administration salary is going to depend on the type of career path you choose. These are the salary averages, according to Payscale, for the most popular career choices:
| Office manager | $43,000 |
| Loan officer |
$45,000 |
| Accountant | $51,000 |
| Advertising executive | $52,000 |
| Public relations specialist | $59,000 |
| Financial officer | $60,000 |
| Sales manager | $60,000 |
| Market research analyst | $65,000 |
| Human resources manager | $67,000 |
| Small business administrator | $70,000 |
| Commercial loan officer | $72,000 |
| Business analyst | $76,000 |
| Management analyst | $82,000 |
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the business administration field will grow 10% from 2016 to 2026.
And we’re just living in it. Getting a business administration degree is a great way to kickstart your career in the business world. With so many potential career paths to take, the world is your oyster.
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