What are some of the specializations within this degree program?

• Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurs are businesspeople who look for ways to innovate current products and services, in order to found their own business.
• General Management: Many people in business are involved in managing the general aspects of day-to-day operations, including making strategic decisions, organizing the business's structure, and developing plans for growth.
• Human Resources: Human resources comprises a special subset of managers that oversee the employees and intra-office issues within a business. HR managers are in charge of recruiting and training new employees and handling labor disputes.
• Financial Management: Financial managers are the businesspeople in charge of the cash flow in a company. They prepare legal financial documents, make investment decisions, and develop the company's budget.
• Marketing/Public Relations: These professionals research the market for a company's products or services, develop target buyer profiles, and create strategies for selling the company's wares.
• Consulting: Business consultants sell their expert advice on any number of business topics, from general administrative issues to marketing and human resources.
• Nonprofit Work: Business majors who work for nonprofits are provided with the benefit of putting their expertise to use while pursuing an important cause. Nonprofit companies use all of their revenue to pursue their cause -- be it protecting the environment or helping more people go to college -- as opposed to distributing funds to shareholders or selling stock.

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What degree levels are available?

• Associate Degree: 2 years to complete
• Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
• Master's Degree: 1.5-3 years to complete
• Doctoral Degree: 4-5 years to complete

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What are the educational and certification requirements?

Two-year associate degrees in business can prepare graduates for entry-level or assistant positions in business firms. These degrees cover basic topics in economics and management, along with general education requirements. Most business jobs, including consulting, marketing, financial management, administrative management, and human resources management, require at least a bachelor's degrees in business or a related field. Master's degrees are preferred by employers for many business positions, and will give job applicants better chances at landing a job. The Master of Business Administration is the usual practical business degree earned by business professionals, although the Master of Science in business can provide an adequate background as well.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is the most important accrediting body for business schools; it awards accreditation to bachelor's and master's business programs. The business doctoral degree is usually aimed at individuals who would like to enter academia as researchers and postsecondary instructors. In this four- to five-year program, students conduct intensive research on business practices and principles rather than learning the practical skills to run a business.

While there are no mandatory certifications for most business positions, voluntary certification can be one way to stay up-to-date with the latest business trends. The Institute of Certified Professional Managers offers one such certification, the Certified Manager credential, which is open to managers of all experience levels and industries. Many particular areas in business have their own credentials as well. The American Society for Training and Development, for example, offers over a dozen voluntary credentials in areas like learning and performance, which are appropriate for human resources managers. Financial managers can earn credentials from the CFA Institute and the Association of Financial Professionals. The one area of business where certification is mandatory is for accountants at major firms, who will be filing papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These accountants must earn the Certified Professional Accountant license from the state where they will be practicing accounting.

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What kinds of classes will I be expected to take?

Courses in undergraduate business degrees cover the basic components of a liberal arts degree, including math, English, social science, and natural science courses, as well as the foundational principles of business. The business courses cover topics in economics, psychology, finance principles, and business dynamics. For example, two universal requirements of business degrees are the courses macroeconomics and microeconomics, which explore different aspects of the market system. Macroeconomics looks at big picture issues in finance, such as government policies, national incomes, and global monetary systems. On the other hand, microeconomics explores how businesses and individuals affect markets, the principles of supply and demand, and pricing structures.

Nearly all accredited business degree programs also have courses in accounting principles. These classes look at the bookkeeping required to track financial decisions, and how to effectively use accounting information. Human resources is a course included in many business programs, which covers techniques to recruit the best employees and navigate intra-business relations. A course in information technology, such as PC software or information fluency is often included in the required curriculum to teach students about the computer hardware, software, and information theory topics necessary to remain competitive in an increasingly wired world.

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If I pursue this program online, will I be required to complete any on-site training?

Usually not. Most business degrees can be completed entirely online, since the curriculum does not require extensive hands-on training.

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What are some other degrees that are related to this program?

A degree in accounting is quite similar to the business degree; accounting students also take classes in economics, but they are required to complete more courses in accounting fundamentals, like tax law and financial math. A degree in finance also shares some key classes, like business principles, organizational behavior, and financial accounting, but finance students learn more about investing and capital management.

A more specialized business degree would be a degree in human resources management. Human resources students learn basic business principles, along with employment law, training techniques, and compensation management. The health management degree focuses on the skills necessary to run a healthcare business, including healthcare administration and legal aspects of healthcare. Hotel and restaurant administration is learned during a degree program in hospitality management.

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