Business students learn skills and principles that help organizations succeed in their businesses. Many students pursue a comprehensive business degree—a business administration degree or a business management degree—to gain a solid foundation in operations, strategy, leadership, marketing, and other areas of corporate work. Other leaders choose to focus on areas or specialties, depending on their strengths and interests. There are majors with a strong mathematical component such as accounting or finance, and there are people-focused tracks such as human resources or marketing. Regardless of major, business students can expect to apply practical theory, research case studies, collaboration and group work, and problem solving to their studies.
Business students can continue studies in master’s and doctoral programs; The most popular program is the Master of Business Administration (or MBA). After graduation, many students find jobs as CEOs, entrepreneurs, sales managers, accountants, or financial analysts.
The specialty you choose as a business major will also affect your job prospects and salary after graduation. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a market research analyst, the first job for corporate marketers, is $63,920, and a management analyst, or someone who works to improving the efficiency of an organization earns $93,000.
What is it like to study business as an undergraduate student in the USA? Understanding the differences between undergraduate business degrees in US universities can be confusing. As computer science and other fields require both hard skills (e.g., math) and soft skills (e.g., communication), business professionals may choose between a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS). There are also BBA and BSBA degrees – or Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, respectively.
A program of the same type of degree may be taken at one university, but a different type of degree at another university. Accounting students, for example, study to earn a BBA at Adelphi University and a BS at American University.
Although this may seem confusing at first, it is actually a useful way to understand the different programs and how they are organized. In the United States, universities often have their own curriculum, so research the curriculum before entering a business school. If you are looking for a math and science approach to business, you should pursue a BS or BSBA. If you are looking for an overview of all aspects of business, you should choose BA or BBA. It is rare to find a BA and BBA, or BS and BSBA, in the same major at the same school. What classes are Business Majors required to take?
Colleges in the United States are different from many other countries. American University takes a comprehensive approach to undergraduates. While UK students can major in their area of specialization, American students are often required to study majors in arts and sciences, regardless of their specialization. For example, students enrolled at Auburn University, the 78th best business school according to US News & World Report, call it “the premier business program.”
The pre-business program at Auburn is designed to give students a solid foundation in the arts and sciences during their first and second years. In many cases, students can also take a lower-level business course before moving on to their major. Other schools follow a similar curriculum, including American University, which requires at least half of its business students to do non-academic teaching.
College students in the United States generally choose their major at the end of their sophomore year, whether they are in business school or not. Declaring a major later allows students to explore courses and potential majors before choosing one.
What business courses do undergraduates take?
There are different business school programs and requirements at US universities. Most schools, however, have required courses that develop into their curriculum.
At American University in Washington, DC – ranked the eighth best international business program in 2023 by US News & World Report – business students will take 34 credit hours in core courses to give them a solid understanding of their major. These courses include:
Skills and Research Tools: Students learn software and programs that help them make better business decisions.
Analytical Analysis: Students understand, interpret, and use analytical or recording techniques to make informed decisions. Oral Communication Development: Students learn to be confident in speaking.
Developing team skills: Students work in groups when discussing and solving business problems. Developing written communication skills: Students learn skills to become better business writers.
Here is an example of a major business course at American University:
Company 1.0
Financial Accounting Standards
Marketing principles
Project management
Other academic requirements for business majors at American universities include three credit hours in economics and seven to eight hours in business mathematics. What are some areas of specialization for undergraduate business students?
In addition to core courses, some programs require students to choose a specialization. Each university has a special institution of endowments; However, you can focus on accounting, economics, finance, and management at any US accredited business school.
At the University of South Carolina, the best international business program in the United States in 2023 according to US News & World Report, students can focus on the following areas of study:
Account
Business Administration
Wealth
Shopping
Money
Human resources
International business
Management
Shopping
Services and supply chain
Real estate
Risk management and insurance
Other universities offer programs in information systems, ethics and public policy. Depending on where you choose to study, you can combine specializations for different points.