There are 607 institutions in 38 countries that have earned their business accreditation, meaning five percent of all business schools worldwide. AACSB schools must meet 21 standards for business accreditation. There are 50 schools that have bachelor's degree programs only and 28 with graduate programs only. There are 175 schools that have additional accreditation in accounting and 15 more standards to comply with. To have an accreditation in accounting programs, an institution must be granted a business accreditation first.
There are bachelor's degree programs in accounting, audit and tax, business administration, entrepreneurship, management in human resources and marketing. A master's degree doesn't necessarily require a bachelor's in business. Students are required, though, to have a bachelor's degree and take a set of business courses to prepare for the master's studies. A doctorate requires a lot of academic work and it is generally pursued by candidates interested in teaching in a university or doing research.
Requirements to enroll in an AACSB-accredited school are generally the same, irrespective of the degree. Candidates need to fill out an application form for admission, except for the doctorate degree. They must add an essay on a given topic of around one or two pages. They must provide transcripts from previous schools attended and one to three letters of recommendation from former teachers, supervisors or coaches. They also need a resume and the official results to one of the standardized tests to be passed, depending on the program desired.
Careers in business are exciting and generally very well-paid. In a global economy that needs new ideas and financial strategies, professions like financial consultant and financial planner are very successful. Highly profitable and in demand are also careers in health care management, in accounting and business administration. Graduating from an AACSB-accredited school offers numerous entry-level positions. A master's offers additional possibilities as senior-level accountant, director of human resources or chief financial officer. Furthermore, doctoral graduates can decide among a university professor career, an industry organizational consultant or researcher, or a mix of the two.