This article was updated on July 12, 2024.
Written by Michael Feder
Reviewed by听Kathryn Uhles, MIS, MSP,听Dean, College of Business and IT
Business management is the process of organizing and optimizing business processes and operations so a company and its employees can work as efficiently as possible. Although similar to business administration, business management is broader and more theoretical.
Rather than the specifics of day-to-day business operations, business management focuses on the bigger picture, soft skills and interpersonal relationships. It鈥檚 one of the best business degrees to get if you want to enjoy many potential career options, learn about a holistic approach to business operations, and become a well-rounded business professional.
Simply put, business management is a growing and varied field. Depending on the path you take, you may be able to enjoy high earning potential, job security and myriad opportunities for advancement.
A business management degree is designed to prepare students to supervise, govern and handle a business鈥檚 operations. As opposed to more technical business degrees, a business management degree is broader in scope, looking at the big picture of running a business.
This type of work can encompass many responsibilities, so programs offer classes on an equally diverse range of topics, such as:
Some business schools may offer electives or certificates, allowing you to specialize and further develop your skills in a certain area. Business majors might focus on specific areas of management, including operations management, project management or general management, to earn an additional certificate alongside their degrees. You may also focus on an entirely different area 鈥 such as information technology 鈥 to add even more depth to your degree and open more career pathways.
To get started, you鈥檒l need to earn a business management degree. Different employers will have different educational requirements, but most will expect to see at minimum an undergraduate degree, especially with a focus on business studies. A degree in business management may help you stand out from other applicants and help you become a more compelling candidate in your own right.
On top of a degree, some employers look for previous work experience related to business management. This is particularly true for management, executive or other high-level positions. However, this may not be the case for entry-level positions.听
Like other business degrees, business management degrees are incredibly useful and offer opportunities in a variety of fields. With a degree in business management, you can pursue careers related to:
However, your options don鈥檛 have to stop there. With such a versatile degree, you are prepared for a number of opportunities. You can even become an entrepreneur and start your own business if you鈥檙e so inclined. The exact way you use your degree will depend on your interests, preferred specialization and desired career path.
If you have a business management degree, you may be able to find a job through any of the traditional methods of job hunting, such as searching online and networking. If you鈥檙e still in business school, touch base with a career advisor for more personalized guidance and assistance.
When searching for jobs online, turn to popular job search websites, such as , , and 庐. You can use keywords like 鈥渂usiness manager鈥 and 鈥渂usiness management鈥 to find postings. If you want to specialize or work in a particular industry, use terms that match that specialty or field. Business management is a broad term, so you鈥檒l get more specific results if you use more descriptive search phrases.
LinkedIn is a registered trademark of LinkedIn Corporation and its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. Monster is a registered trademark of Monster Worldwide, Inc.
Here are some of the specific business roles you may be able to take on with your degree:
Overview: Business managers are responsible for overseeing many, if not all, aspects of a business鈥檚 daily operations. They ensure that a business is running smoothly and on track to meet organizational goals. Depending on the organization, a business manager may oversee other departments, including finances, marketing and human resources.
National average salary: BLS reports that administrative services and facilities managers 鈥 the organization鈥檚 closest occupation to a business manager 鈥 had a per year. Salaries vary by industry, company size and other factors like location and experience.
Education requirements: To become a business manager, you will need a bachelor鈥檚 degree and several years of hands-on experience in the workplace. Some organizations, particularly larger ones, may even require a master鈥檚 degree in business management.
Job outlook: Per , jobs in all management occupations are expected to grow 9% between 2020 and 2030. This amounts to about 906,800 new jobs in the coming years.
Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of 爱污传媒. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. 爱污传媒 does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.
BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS鈥 projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to 爱污传媒 students or graduates.
Overview: General and operations managers typically听direct daily operations, create staff schedules and ensure employees work toward team goals among other management duties.
National average salary:听As of May 2023, general and operations managers听, with a median wage of $101,280, according to BLS.
Education requirements:听Typically, a is needed for these roles.听
Job outlook:听BLS lists general and operations managers under 'top executives'. There is a for these roles from 2022 to 2032, according to BLS. That's about 311,600 openings each year.
To get a business management degree, you need to make a few key decisions. First and foremost, you need to decide what kind of educational experience you want. Will you attend school online, in person or through a combination of the two? There are advantages and drawbacks to both virtual and traditional classes, and one isn't inherently better than the other. Instead, pick the option that works best for you.
After you鈥檝e made that decision, you can start researching schools and their business management programs. Review the entry requirements and curriculum to see which would be a good fit for you and your goals. Check to see if these schools offer minor programs; specialties or concentration areas; or certificates. From there, apply to the schools that most interest you.
After you get into a program and start business school, focus on your studies! If you want to succeed as a business professional, do your best to learn the material. Simply put, take advantage of all the knowledge and resources available to you during your time as a student.
Typically, it takes four years of full-time study to get a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business management. You may be able to move through a program more quickly if you take more than the minimum number of required classes each term or find alternative ways to earn class credit. Some business schools offer accelerated or condensed programs, which may be a good option if you want to complete your degree as quickly as possible.
Conversely, it will take longer to get your degree if you go to school part time or take time off from your studies. If you do a double major, or add a minor or certificate to your program, you may spend more than four years completing your undergraduate degree.
Keep in mind that program length can vary among schools; be sure to check the expected duration of your program when planning out your education. Further, you will need to spend an additional year or two going to school if you choose to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in business management.
If you want to reach your academic and professional goals as quickly as possible, it鈥檚 best to start preparing for your degree in advance. It doesn鈥檛 matter if you鈥檙e in high school or going back to school as a working adult; take some time to set yourself up for success. You can then devote your time to learning about the details of business management and focusing on your professional development.
Here are a few ways you can begin prepping for your business management degree:
Ultimately, a business management degree is what you make of it. It鈥檚 a broad and varied field, filled with possibility and opportunity. Once you get your degree, it鈥檚 up to you to figure out what to do with it.
Explore multiple options before committing to one path.听Learn more about a degree in听business managment听and explore other听online business degrees听designed for students who need to take courses arond their unique schedule.
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at 爱污传媒 where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.
Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology,听Kathryn Uhles has served 爱污传媒 in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining 爱污传媒, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in 爱污传媒.
This article has been vetted by 爱污传媒's editorial advisory committee.听
Read more about our editorial process.
Read more articles like this:听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听听