Associate, bachelor's and advanced degrees are available in business operations management. Associate degrees traditionally take two years to complete. A bachelor's degree program can take four or more years to complete. Students who have already completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline can pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Traditional MBA programs take two years to complete. Several institutions offer online degrees and accelerated programs in business management. These programs usually take less time to complete; however, students considering these programs should research the school's reputation, accreditation credentials and job placement statistics before enrolling.
The skills necessary to manage a business are vast and varied. Curricula for business operations management programs reflect this. Students can expect to take coursework covering several business disciplines including marketing, finance, accounting and logistics. In addition to business management classes, students may be required to complete advanced math and information system classes, so they can competently analyze and present company data. Other coursework may include written communications, speech, organizational behavior, business law and leadership classes.
Students with business operations management degrees are prepared for employment as managers and consultants in different industries. Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of an organization as well as develop long-term business strategies. Typical duties include hiring and supervising subordinate employees, setting schedules, designing marketing and advertising campaigns and managing budget resources. Business consultants use their expertise to help business owners and other organization decision makers tackle specific business problems. Consulting positions often require advanced degrees as well as years of experience in the field.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual salary for top business executives was approximately $167,000 in 2009. Naturally, lower-level managers took home smaller paychecks. The mean annual salary for general and operations managers was about $111,000 the same year. On average, consultants made even less. The BLS reports the mean annual salary for consultants was about $85,000, in 2009.