Business Administration is an excellent degree to earn because it helps students to understand how businesses function, it offers them the skills they need for a career in business, and opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities. I want to study Business Administration as a foundation for starting my career. Business-related roles generally require at least an undergraduate degree in business or a similar field like economics, human resources, finance, or accounting. Many different kinds of business programs exist that offer degrees and certificates in Business Administration. The program’s courses, outcome, and costs are worth comparing before deciding which program to begin.
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What Types of Skills are Taught by a Business Administration Program?
Skills taught in a Business Administration program include hard skills and soft skills, both of which are crucial for succeeding today. Hard skills include technical knowledge and training that can be taught in a classroom and measured by a test (e.g., computer literacy, sales, marketing, advertising, finance, accounting, fundamentals of business, management of business operations, project management, etc.).
Soft skills are more universal qualities that can be quite useful to learn and to have in any type of career (e.g., leadership, strategic thinking, critical thinking, goal setting, making important decisions, overseeing teams, organizing and planning, time management, problem-solving, networking, building relationships, work-life balance, carry out an organization’s policies and procedures, effective communication, conflict resolution, etc.). Both types of skills are meaningful to learn about in order to achieve a good balance between knowledge and interpersonal development.
I want to study Business Administration to develop my career in business. What career options exist for Business Administrators? Career options for Business Administrators include Human Resources, Financial Analyst, Project Manager, Sales Manager, Market Research Analyst, Loan Officer, Event Planner, Appraisers and Assessors of Realestate, Owner, Chief Executive Officer, Director, Administrative Assistant, Entrepreneur, Manager of a Restaurant, Construction Manager, Hotel Manager, Principal, Bank Manager, and more.
Is a Business Degree Affordable?
I want to study Business Administration and am wondering how much a business degree will cost? The average cost per credit hour at an American university is $597. There are definitely less expensive colleges, including in-state colleges and community colleges, and there are also colleges that offer completely free tuition, but it does take a lot of research to find a list of these and to see if they are legitimate with good reviews, too. At a college that offers free tuition, you would not take out any student loans, and you would end up graduating with no student loan debt, which is really an ideal scenario for a young person to be in upon graduation.
The standard salary for someone who has a B.A. in Business Administration is in the five digits and can average between $60,000 and $80,000 a year in the U.S., with top earners at the six digits level earning $100,000 a year. A person who earns an additional degree, such as a M.B.A., can see an increase in salary to well over $100,000 a year.
The standard salary for someone who has an M.B.A. is $115,000 on up. The salary depends on the industry. Senior-level roles (e.g., C.E.O.’s, Senior Executives, Senior Management, and Directors) generally have an even higher salary, well above that. The salary for someone who has a D.B.A. can be the same as the salary of someone with a M.B.A.; though, with extra years of experience, that salary could increase to $135,000 on up.
Must a Person Have a B.A. in Business to Pursue an M.B.A.?
Many people who enter an M.B.A. program come from a non-business background. A four-year B.A.or B.Sc. degree is required; but, a B.A. in Business is not required. A person could come from any background. Depending on the university, a good undergraduate G.P.A. may be required. GMAT and GRE scores are required. The GMAT is an exam designed specifically for business schools to assess the candidate’s skills and likelihood of succeeding in a graduate-level business program.
The GMAT is available at test centers and online; you can choose where to take the test, as per your own preference. The GRE is a test that measures verbal, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills, and it is required for admittance to graduate programs across all subjects. Real-life work experience showing leadership skills and achievements as well as a deep interest in business is a plus for any applicant. An entrance essay, personal recommendations, and personal interview is also required.
What is a Professional Certificate?
A professional certificate is a recognition granted to a person for having completed a series of courses designed by universities to enhance professional skills in a specific field of study. For example, a person with or without a degree in Computer Engineering can enroll in a professional certificate program in Front End Design to add that skill to their resume. Or a person with or without a degree in Business Administration can take a professional certificate program in Digital Marketing or Business Leadership Skills in order to develop that skill and add it to their resume.
There are many benefits to completing a professional certificate program for both degree holders and non-degree holders. For example, a person who has a degree in Business Administration might enroll in a professional certificate program in order to enhance their skills in a given area of studies such as Corporate Financing, Strategic Thinking, Construction Management, or Project Management.
A person without a degree in Business Administration could also take a professional certificate course in order to learn a new skill and be able to use that skill at their job, add it to their resume when seeking a job, or simply explore business as a career by taking the program. For example, a person without a degree in Business Administration could take a professional certificate course in Microsoft Office and use the course to launch a gig-based freelancing career in data entry. Or, a person without a degree in Business Administration could take a professional course in Accounting in order to apply for an entry-level position at a bank or other financial institute.
edX offers professional certificates in business from well-known universities using a non-traditional online learning format. The business certificates edX offers include: Leadership & Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Project Management & Operations, Finance Fundamentals. Strategic Management, Corporate Finance, Brokerage Operations, I.T. Fundamentals for Business Professionals, English for Business Networking, Applied Entrepreneurship Scaling a Business for Success, Digital Marketing, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and more.
Any one of these business certificates could help a person to do better in landing or securing a job. For example, someone who has no degree in Business Administration but who takes a professional certificate in accounting could offer bookkeeping services or be hired to assist a certified accountant during heavy tax preparation season.
What is a MicroBachelor’s or a MicroMaster’s Degree in Business Administration?
I want to study Business Administration but am not sure if I am ready to enroll in a four-year bachelor’s program, yet. A MicroBachelor’s Degree program in Business Administration confers knowledge about the subject to help a person progress in their career path without actually having a degree. This may be a good option to consider because it can boost your knowledge and skills in business and allow you to apply your credits at a later time toward an actual Business Administration degree, if you would choose to enroll in one. In that way, your time and effort will not be lost. A MicroBachelor’s Degree program is a legitimate pathway to earn college credit for the future and to pay for the courses that most interest you at a more affordable rate. There is no application process required to enroll, it is one hundred percent online, and you can flexibly structure the study time around your job or other life commitments. A MicroBachelor’s Degree costs $166 per credit hour at edX online, which is much more affordable than the traditional rate of $594 per credit hour at a traditional four-year university program.
How Does an edX Online Master’s Degree Program in Business Administration Compare to Other M.B.A. Programs?
I want to study Business Administration and am ready to begin a Master’s degree; how does an edX online Master’s degree program compare to other M.B.A. programs? An edX online Master’s degree is much more affordable, though takes anywhere from 2 to 3 years to complete as any Master’s degree typically does. It does not require a GRE or GMAT to enroll, though adding your scores could enhance your application. You will need to show quantitative aptitude to succeed in a Master’s degree program with previous coursework and work experience. Other requirements include an application fee, transcripts, resume, professional letter of recommendation, and a personal essay. A personal interview is not required. Financial aid is available for this program, just like any traditional M.B.A. program. The degree earned at the end of the program is a Master of Business Administration from Boston University Questrom School of Business. The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The program costs $533 per credit hour, a total of $24,000. The cost of the edX M.B.A. program is far below the cost of other Master’s programs in the U.S. which have an average cost per credit hour of $627 and cost anywhere from $30,000 to $120,000 to complete.
What Non-Degree Programs are Available to Study Business Administration?
I want to study Business Administration, but I do not want to attend a four-year degree program. Are there any good options for me? The same company edX offers a seven-month XSeries non-degree program in Business Principles and the Entrepreneurial Spirit led by Babson College, the number one business school in entrepreneurship (U.S. News & World Report). The program is ideal for learners who are interested in starting their own business, learners who contribute to any organization, or
who are ready to move forward in their organization. The program teaches core business skills in accounting, statistics, marketing, finance, and strategy.
Similarly, the website Udemy which is an online marketplace of courses, offers over 10,000 courses in Business Administration. Some of the courses are actually free, and others cost a minimal fee, like $15 or $20. The course subjects range from accounting, marketing, I.T. for businesses, introduction to Business Administration, and more. The platform is very easy to get into because you simply compare similar courses by looking at their descriptions and reviews and then select a course and buy it.
I want to study Business Administration to improve my skills within my organization. Udemy for Business is yet another option for organizations to upskill their workers with virtual learning resources, including Software Development, I.T. Operations, Leadership & Management, Marketing, Personal Development, and Project Management. In Marketing, for example, courses include Facebook Ads & Marketing, Google Ads Training, Landing Page course for Conversions, and Digital Marketing.
I Want to Study Business Administration as a Foundation for My Career
Business Administration is an excellent field of study, offering many career opportunities. Programs of study include a four-year B.A. or B.Sc. degree in Business Administration, an M.B.A., a MicroBachelor’s degree in Business Administration, a professional certificate, and adult learning. All of these options vary by cost as well as by outcome. Some offer a degree, which may be essential for entering the career world, while other options simply offer knowledge. The wide range of options could make it difficult to decide. But, ultimately, the decision is in your hands to decide which program is most suitable for you to realize your career objectives.