These types of certificates and degrees are considered preparatory because they introduce very general business concepts. These preparatory certifications and degree programs usually are taken by high school level individuals looking to develop basic business skills needed for entry level jobs. Some examples of these preparatory diplomas include an associate degree in business, marketing certifications and human resources training courses.
Bachelor's programs in business often contain both general business training and a core business specialization. These specializations are taken in intensive course sets and typically denote the type of job the student will pursue after graduation. For example, a bachelor of finance holder typically has taken mostly finance courses in his last two years of college. For employers, professional job descriptions commonly mirror the business training and skills learned in school.
A Master of Business Administration degree is among the most respected and demanded degrees in the workforce. Companies may reserve management opportunities solely for MBA degree holders. There are several kinds of MBAs. An executive MBA caters to older professionals with eight to 10 years of prior experience. Conversely, a traditional MBA program is designed for students right out of college with little to no work experience.
There are two prevalent types of doctorate business degrees: a Doctor in Business Administration or DBA and a Ph.D. in business. A DBA degree holder typically focuses on applying academic business theories in real life applications, while a Ph.D. conducts high-level research that leads to new business theories. Economists typically are doctorate degree holders, working in an advisory capacity for companies implementing business strategies.