Types of Business Degrees

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Is a business degree right for you? The answer is a resounding yes. No matter your field or education, the benefits of a business degree make all your hard work worth it. Find out more about the most popular degree program in the country: the business degrees.

Majoring in Business

Thinking about majoring in business? You’re not alone. Business is the most popular of all majors, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of the 1,485,000 bachelor’s degrees conferred in the 2005-06 school year, more than 20 percent were in business.

No matter what type of business career you’re considering, a business degree gives you the knowledge and training you need for the field. Business majors go on to work for everyone from Fortune 500 companies to mom-and-pop establishments, and specific fields from human resources to financial planning. You could even start your own business or find yourself a home in an established company you love.

Build Your Own Safety Net

A business degree works as a safety net in a few different ways. If you’re venturing out on your own with a new business, the training you receive is invaluable for dealing with varied situations in the real world. A business degree also helps recession-proof your career as you prove your diverse knowledge–and worth–to management.

Which MBA Is Right for You?

If you already hold a bachelors degree, but you’re looking for more education, a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) could be the your next step. Earn your MBA degree without specialization, or customize this advanced business degree with a focus in management, entrepreneurship, international business, accounting, or a myriad other options. You can even find MBA degree programs with specialized courses in church management or the wine industry.

Many full-time workers choose a part-time or online MBA with classes held in a more convenient format. If you’re an older student with more experience in the workforce, you may choose an executive MBA, or EMBA, which caters to your knowledge with an accelerated program.

In the business world, training matters. Workers without adequate management training are often passed over for raises and promotions. That’s one reason workers across industries choose to pair their existing education and experience with business training.

Business Salary Statistics

The salary increase when you reach the management level typically makes training worthwhile. Here are a few examples, with 2008 mean annual wages reported by the Bureau Labor Statistics:

• Human resources assistants earned $36,810 while human resources managers earned $103,920
• Public relations specialists earned $58,960 while public relations managers earned $101,220
• Hotel desk clerks earned $20,630 while lodging managers earned $52,550

Big salary jumps are common for workers making the transition to management positions. While no business training program can guarantee a salary or promotion, managers often prefer or require training among promotion applicants across industries. If you’re looking for a boost in your take-home pay, you might benefit from a degree or certificate in business.

Amelia Gray
Amelia Gray is a freelance business writer with years of experience in the field. She is teaches business writing at a major, online university.

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