Business management degree overview

Are you considering a degree in business management? Are you wondering what you’ll be able to do with it after you graduate? You’ll be interested to know that business management graduates are highly sought after by employers, and can work in almost any sector.

A business management degree provides students with a broad-based management education and helps develop business expertise across a wide range of subject areas. The curriculum gives students a solid understanding of business, finance, economics, and marketing. Students learn how to plan, direct, manage, and control business operations. This education is paired with internships, giving students a practical and well-rounded skillset they can take with them into any workplace.

Management skills come to play in many environments and for many careers - from starting a personal business, to supervising people or managing business activities. Examples of careers one can pursue with a business management degree are: advertising project manager, small business owner, business development specialist, account executive, business analyst, and office manager.

Many business management programs allow students to select an area of concentration, such as:

• Human resource management
• International business or global management
• Supply chain and operations management
• Merchandising
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Marketing
• Leadership
• Industrial distribution

As mentioned previously, a business management degree provides students with broad-based management education across a wide range of subject areas. There are four basic types of business management degrees, one for each level of education. They include:

Associate Degree in Business Management - Two Year Duration
The curriculum includes classes in English, math, science, business, finance, communications, leadership, financial and managerial accounting, human resource management, business ethics, employment law, entrepreneurship, and micro and macroeconomics.

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management - Four Year Duration
The bachelor of management program provides a diverse and in-depth perspective of management in public and private organizations and the knowledge and skills students will need in many management and leadership roles. The curriculum includes general education classes as well as classes in economics, management, leadership, accounting, business operations, entrepreneurship, and related topics.

There are a few degrees that are along the same vein as a business management degree but are a bit more concentrated in their focus, such as:

Business Administration
Business administration degree students will learn the skills and education needed to work in potentially any industry. The focus is on commerce and business. There are four types of business administration degrees:

• Associate degree - for entry-level employment with coursework in fundamentals of business, management, critical thinking, project planning, business software, and communications (two years)
• Bachelor’s degree - minimum requirement for managerial roles with courses in organizational leadership, people management, strategic planning, accounting, finance, information technology, and marketing (four years)
• Master’s degree - for leadership positions with courses in organizational behaviour, ethical leadership, strategic planning, international business, accounting, finance, information technology, and marketing (two years)
• Doctoral degree - for research and teaching with courses in research and analytical methods, strategic planning, managing change and solutions-oriented leadership. At this level, students are able to specialize. Examples of specialization are: international business, management, marketing, and information systems (three to five years).

Public Relations
Public relations degree students study various methods used to get positive media attention and form public perception (persuasive communication). They learn how to create and manage communication campaigns (such as press releases and press conferences) for companies and corporations. There are four types of marketing degrees:

• Associate degree - for entry-level employment (two years)
• Bachelor’s degree - minimum requirement for public relations managers or public relations specialists (four years)
• Master’s degree - for advanced positions (two years)
• Doctoral degree - for teaching (three to five years)

Graduates can work in public relations firms, marketing, consulting, or advertising. Possible job options include: public relations specialist, media specialist, events manager, public relations manager, communications planner, promotions or advertising assistant.

Every organization has a need for people with business management skills, in both supervisory roles and in other types of roles where managerial knowledge is required. Some of the skills a graduate with a management degree will have to offer are:

• Communication (oral and written)
• Organizational
• Writing
• Planning
• Project management
• Problem solving
• Supervisory abilities
• Ability to build effective relationships
• Budgeting
• An understanding of how organizations operate
• Analytical and critical thinking
• Decision making
• Logical thinking
• Presentation skills
• How to interpret and use financial data
• Self-motivation, initiative and effective time management
• Project and resource management
• An understanding of economic fluctuations and other changes affecting business

A business management degree gives students a broad knowledge of business, finance, economics and marketing, as well as practical skills and work experience. There are various areas where management degree graduates can find employment, such as:

• Advertising
• Healthcare
• Insurance
• Hospitality
• Manufacturing
• Nonprofit
• Event Planning
• B2B Sales
• Project Management
• Property Management
• Retail Management
• Social Media Management
• Production Management
• Medical Practice Management
• Risk Management
• Computer and Information Systems Management
• Global Business Management
• Human Resources
• Entrepreneurship
• Consulting