Many two-year community colleges offer an Associate degree in business, whereas universities offer students the option to earn a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in business. A BS mandates extensive math and statistics coursework, whereas a BA often substitutes these classes for a foundation in psychology and sociology. Some programs offer a degree specifically catered to a business major called a BBA or BBS, short for Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Studies. Students who have earned any of these degrees in their undergraduate study can pursue a higher education in the field of business by earning a Master of Business Administration. An MBA takes less time to earn than an undergraduate degree, as it requires just three years. Some programs, such as Arizona State University's WP Carey accelerated program, takes just 18 months to earn the MBA. Many schools are offering MBA courses in the evening or online for those who work full-time.
Business courses include subjects such as business ethics, international business and strategic management. A business education also provides training in the subdisciplines of business. Such fields include accounting, economics, finance, marketing and supply chain management. The goal of these courses is to provide students a well-rounded approach to how corporations function. Many of these classes have prerequisites, and require a foundation in calculus, statistics and computer science.
Many students pursue a business degree because of its versatility and usefulness. Career possibilities include an analyst for a corporation, a consultant, becoming an entrepreneur and running your own business, working for the government or writing for business publications, such as Forbes or the Economist.
A primary benefit of earning a business degree is a high starting salary post-graduation, and a competitive advantage for lucrative business positions. The starting salary of a person with a business degree varies based on the alma mater, degree held and the position for which they are accepted. Most universities report a starting salary for a BBA in the mid-$40,000s: UW-Madison School of business reports the starting salary for those with a BBA at $45,742. Those with an MBA tend to earn more: Payscale.com shows the average salary of an MBA grad in New York is between $76,000 and $139,000. In Dallas, the range is $60,180 to $110,856.
Several students are enticed to attend schools promising quick and simple business degrees. Few classes are required to obtain this degree, and the quality of these classes is often sub-par. Such institutions are known as "diploma mills." The Federal Trade Commission published a report in 2005 warning businesses to avoid hiring students with business degrees from these for-profit, unaccredited institutions. Always attend an accredited school as listed by the Department of Education.
While in business school, apply for as many internships as possible. In many cases, businesses offer their interns jobs after graduation. Such connections earned during school will prove invaluable when you have to job-hunt your senior year. Also, several corporations in the area come to campus to recruit students: Do not miss these events, and stay in touch with the career center.