Updated: December 15, 2023
If you’re interested in being a leader in the business world, the idea of striking out on your own and teaching yourself to be an entrepreneur as you launch a startup out of your garage may sound fascinating. Though this all-or-nothing approach worked for well-known CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs, you don’t have to throw yourself into the business world knowing nothing to become an eventual success. In fact, if you want to work in the business arena, pursuing business administration jobs may be one of the best investments you ever make in yourself and your future.
Why Pursue a Career in Business Administration?
Business administration jobs are ideal for anyone considering a career in the private or public sector. Whether your goal is to work with a nonprofit, at a hospital, or in a large corporation as a human resources professional, a business administration degree is a great starting place on this journey.
Individuals who wish to start a career in business should gain important skills such as leading teams, thinking creatively and analytically, and solving problems large and small that help their businesses grow. These professionals also need “soft skills” such as great communication, empathy, and leadership to move forward in their careers.
Business Administration Jobs Career Outlook
Employees who hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration can expect a median salary of $50,000 to $90,000, depending on the state of residence and the field in which they work. For example, working as a financial analyst may grant you a salary of $83,660, while an employee at a nonprofit may make only $59,610. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, if you consider this degree, it’s a good time: We’ll see a 7% growth in this field and its related jobs over the next ten years.
Skills Gained With a Business Administration Degree
The best part of choosing a career in this field may be that you don’t have to settle for one specific job: When you begin a business administration degree program, you will learn skills that can be transferred to several different positions across many career paths. In this degree program, you can expect to learn the following skills:
- Analytical skills
- Project management skills
- Communication and leadership skills
- Math and financial skills
- Organizational skills
Whether you lead 50 employees or two, it’s important that you know how to speak to them in a way that leads to mutual understanding and respect. Whether you see yourself taking on a leadership role in business administration or you wish to work as a consultant, you should have these qualities and skills before stepping into your role. Those you work with as a marketing professional, a loan officer, or an organizational consultant will likely see you as a specialist in your field.
Business Administration Career Paths
A degree in business administration can lead to vastly different career paths. You may have an idea of where you want to take your career, or perhaps you’re just investigating. Those who gravitate toward fields of study that involve math and numbers may choose accounting over marketing, while students who are more socially inclined may choose to work on a fast-paced marketing team. Consider the following careers and ask yourself whether you could see yourself pursuing any of them:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Marketing (digital or print)
- Computer information systems or technology
It’s OK if you don’t yet know what you want to do with the degree as you will gain skills that are appropriate for these careers and more. If you know what you want to do, consider adding a minor such as accounting, media and communications, psychology, or writing, which may complement the business administration major.
Where Can You Work as a Business Administration Professional?
With skills in leadership, finance, and a good grasp of economics and marketing, you’ll be suited for just about any entry-level job in business when you graduate. You can find opportunities in the following professions:
- Accounting: Consider working in a numbers-heavy field if you’re good at organization, great with detail, and you like solving problems. You could work in tax preparation, business bookkeeping, or manage the payroll for a large or small corporation.
- Finance: While accounting helps people and businesses keep track of their money, financial services such as money management, insurance, and banking help people manage their money and make investments.
- Management: Though you may not land a management role with a bachelor’s degree and no formal job experience, you can certainly work your way up to a role in management after you’ve learned the ropes. As part of your degree, you will learn to communicate with potential team members and employees and hone your leadership style. If you are interested in furthering your studies and getting more specific training in marketing, business economics, and leadership, you can consider a master’s in business administration, or an MBA, as a future goal.
- Consulting: This career is not necessarily as vague as it sounds. Business consultants work with employers and other leaders to determine the best organizational scheme for their company, develop corporate strategy, and work with business owners to better a sales or marketing strategy.
- Nonprofits: It may seem as though a career at a nonprofit would be drastically different than a career in which you end up as the CEO of a large corporation — but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Nonprofits are often as busy and exciting as for-profit companies you may choose to work for. These organizations need the same qualities in their administrators and leaders: Your marketing, leadership, and communication skills will undoubtedly help you succeed in the nonprofit sector if this is your goal.
Master of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership
The Barton Strategic Leadership MBA offers the opportunity for students to develop their skills and to grow professionally and personally. This curriculum offers 2 choices for a path to your MBA; earn your MBA in as little as 16 months if you already have a bachelor’s degree; alternatively, enrolled students can opt for dual enrollment to earn the BA and MBA in just five years.
The Barton Strategic Leadership MBA offers the opportunity for students to develop their skills to grow professionally and personally. This curriculum offers 2 choices for a path to your MBA; Earn your MBA in as little as just 16 months if you already have a bachelor’s degree; alternatively, first-year students can opt for dual enrollment to earn their BA and MBA in just five years.
BS+MBA Path
For traditionally enrolled students, this path allows you to complete the Undergraduate Study toward your Bachelor of Science and Graduate Study toward your Master of Business Administration, earning both your BS and MBA in just 5 years after starting the program.
How To Start Your Career in Business Administration
Pursuing a degree in business administration can open the door to diverse learning and career opportunities; there isn’t one right career or path for everyone who chooses to study with us. If you’ve been considering getting a business degree from Barton College, reach out to our team to speak more in-depth about your future goals and plans. We look forward to helping you chart the course to the career of your dreams!
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