What can you do with a business management degree? (2023)

What can you do with a business management degree? (1)

Find out why a business management degree opens doors to lots of different careers

Claire Sparrow

4 min read

Claire Sparrow, Head of Undergraduate Business Courses at the University of Portsmouth, explains why a business management degree could be the right choice for you.

What can you do with a business management degree? The answer, in short, is pretty much anything. Well, you wouldn't be able to do open heart surgery, or fly a fighter jet (not without a bit more training), but you could find yourself managing the team that builds the new operating theatre or the team that sells the jets.

Employers love business management graduates due to their adaptability, broad skill sets and ability to understand all facets of a business. Graduating with a business management degree will allow you to apply competitively for a vast array of roles across a variety of sectors.

Luke Hahn, Careers Adviser, University of Portsmouth

What is business management?

It sounds like too many words, doesn't it? And sometimes, just to confuse things, you'll see it as 'business and management'.

Business management is a broad degree that allows you to examine and understand all parts of a business.

A good business management course should give you an insight into all the key business areas; economics, accounting, marketing, operations, data and managing people.

Whatever kind of team or department you end up managing, a business management degree allows you to have an understanding of how everything fits together. A Business Manager is like the conductor in an orchestra, bringing all the separate instruments together to make beautiful music.

Why study business management?

1. Keep your options open

If you're not sure whether you want to work in marketing or business operations, then this is the degree for you. A business management course should allow you to explore a range of specialisms and offer you the option to focus on your interests, if you want to, as the course progresses.

2. Work in any sector

A business management degree gives you tools you can apply to virtually any industry. You might end up in IT, or banking, or arts management, or shipping. You can take what you've learned and practice it in an industry you're passionate about.

What about setting up your own business? If you have an entrepreneurial dream, business management will give you a strong grounding in all the moving parts of your business that you'll have to manage.

3. High earning potential

The average salary for a Business Manager in the UK (2021) is £53,913 (Reed recruitment).

What's more, employers often ask for business management degrees when hiring new recruits. HR News puts business degrees at number 2 in their list of the 'Top 20 most in-demand degrees in the UK' (2021).

4. Transferable skills

Even if you finish your degree and decide you don't want to be a Business Manager, you'll have developed lots of useful skills you can apply elsewhere. Did you know, for example, that Mick Jagger, Cate Blanchett and Arnold Schwarzenegger all have business degrees?

Transferable skills include:

  • Communication
  • Team working
  • Data analysis
  • Problem solving
  • Presenting
  • Leadership

I chose business and management because I wanted to gain a wider knowledge of business, with the hope I'd find something I enjoyed doing, and could then specialise. I enjoyed the variety and flexibility, the ability to be able to tailor the course to meet my own interests.

Thomas Ruther, BA Business and Management alumnus, University of Portsmouth

What jobs can I do with a business management degree?

One of the joys of a business management degree is that there's no such thing as a typical employer. The skills you learn doing a business management course are needed in tiny start-ups, large corporations, and both the public and private sector, which means you'll have lots of options.

Some of the common roles you could go onto include:

  • Project Manager
  • Business Analyst
  • Production Manager
  • Marketing Manager
  • Banker
  • Risk Manager
  • Entrepreneur
  • Accountant
  • Retail Manager
  • HR Manager

For some of these roles, such as being an accountant, you'll have to do further study and exams. But, because you've studied some accountancy in your degree, you'll know for sure that it's the career for you.

Is business management a good degree?

Business management is a very well respected degree that's often quite competitive to get into.

Business degrees are also the most popular choice for international students studying in the UK. There are many reasons for this, including the UK's well-respected finance and service sectors and our entrepreneurial culture (1,843 new companies start-up every day in the UK).

If you know for sure that you want to be an Accountant, then you should apply for a specialist degree in accountancy. But, if you want to keep your options open, taking a business management degree is your answer. You can still be an Accountant, or a Marketeer, or an HR manager, but you'll also have a much better understanding of how a whole business works.

Claire Sparrow is Head of Undergraduate Business Courses and a Principal Lecturer in Law at the University of Portsmouth.

FAQs

Is business management a good major? ›

The good news is that for many people, a business management degree can be worth the investment in terms of potentially expanded job opportunities, greater earnings potential and career advancement possibilities. Earning a business management degree can also offer wonderful personal satisfaction and a sense of pride.

Is business management a high paying job? ›

It's no secret that business management jobs pay high wages. In fact, the median annual salary for management occupations was $102,450 in May 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What is the job of a business management? ›

A business manager is a supervisor who controls and directs the personnel and activities of an organization or a department. By adopting operational plans, carrying out performance evaluations, and supervising all daily activities, they strive to keep the business productive, efficient and organized at all times.

What is the highest paying job with a business degree? ›

Highest-paying business jobs
  • VP, finance. Most common major: Accounting. ...
  • Chief financial officer (CFO) Most common major: Accounting. ...
  • Finance director. Most common major: Accounting. ...
  • Corporate controller. Most common major: Accounting. ...
  • Portfolio manager. ...
  • Tax manager. ...
  • Finance manager. ...
  • Financial controller.

Is business management a lot of math? ›

While a business management degree only requires a couple of pure math classes, many of the degree's other requirements, such as economics, involve a lot of number crunching.

Is business management a hard major? ›

Generally speaking, a business degree is not the hardest one out there but is not the easiest one either. The level of difficulty depends on your program and university. It is not a secret that some business programs and schools are harder than others.

Can you make 6 figures with a business degree? ›

Companies within every industry need business administrators. Specializing in one of the fields below can land you a job in everything from technology to healthcare. Obviously, years of experience and an MBA will make achieving six figures that much easier.

Can business majors make 100k? ›

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a business manager.

The chances of earning over $100k for a business manager are actually pretty good because the highest-paid business manager positions typically pay at least $144,000 per year.

Is being a business manager worth it? ›

Yes, being a business manager is a good job.

There is demand for business managers in numerous areas, as most businesses need professionals who understand business and technical principles. The business manager can use their specialized knowledge to help them make informed business decisions and increase profits.

What are the 4 types of business management? ›

What Are the Different Types of Managers? The four most common types of managers are top-level managers, middle managers, first-line managers, and team leaders. These roles vary not only in their day-to-day responsibilities, but also in their broader function in the organization and the types of employees they manage.

What is a business management degree called? ›

For starters, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSBM) degree focuses on business management. Coursework may include business communication, basics of accounting, and management theory.

Why should you study business management? ›

Business management gives you skills and knowledge that are directly applicable in all aspects of your life. Whether it is planning, influencing, analyzing, networking or organizing – business management helps you to develop key competencies that will promote your career prospects and will ultimately lead to success!

Are business degrees in high demand? ›

Business is the most common major across all bachelor's degrees conferred, and business majors are among the most in-demand graduates [1, 2].

What major should I choose for business? ›

Well, the most popular choice among students is Business Administration. In fact, it's not just the most popular among business majors, Business Administration & Management is among the most popular majors in the United States with over 410,000 degrees and certificates handed out per year.

Do business majors make a lot of money? ›

How much do business majors make? PayScale reports that business majors earned an average annual salary of $69,000 as of September 2021. A professional's salary varies by specialization area, education level, and experience.

Do business degrees require calculus? ›

Calculus is essential for business majors. Usually, the prerequisite is that students complete a calculus course at the college level, added is a similarly leveled statistics course. Business majors with plans to focus on finance careers need a strong calculus backing.

What are the easiest degrees to get? ›

The 16 Easiest College Majors – 2023 Rankings
  • Psychology.
  • Criminal Justice.
  • English.
  • Education.
  • Religious Studies.
  • Social Work.
  • Sociology.
  • Communications.
Nov 1, 2022

What's the hardest degree? ›

What are the hardest degree subjects? The hardest degree subjects are Aerospace Engineering, Law, Chartered Accountancy, Architecture, Chemistry, Medicine, Pharmacy, Psychology, Statistics, Nursing, Physics, Astrophysics, Biomedical Engineering, Astronomy, and Dentistry.

What is the easiest major in a business school? ›

Easiest Business Majors
  1. Human Resources. ...
  2. Marketing. ...
  3. Organizational Leadership. ...
  4. International Business. ...
  5. Business Administration and Management.
Sep 8, 2020

What are easy degrees that pay well? ›

8 Easy Degrees That Pay Well
  • Business Administration. Business administration is one major that is usually considered “easy.” Some programs will also only take 3 years to finish! ...
  • English. ...
  • Human Resources. ...
  • Criminal Justice. ...
  • Marketing. ...
  • Supply Chain Management. ...
  • Psychology. ...
  • Communication.
Dec 22, 2022

What majors guarantee 6 figures? ›

As you start your job search, consider these six-figure jobs you can get with a bachelor's degree:
  • Financial manager. National average salary: $100,178 per year. ...
  • 2. Development director. ...
  • Aeronautical engineer. ...
  • Electronics engineer. ...
  • Sales engineer. ...
  • Security engineer. ...
  • Compensation manager. ...
  • Deputy director.

Is a business degree all math? ›

Algebra and geometry round out the list of college math skills business majors should have. Business degree requirements also typically include courses that are not "pure math" but still require mathematical thinking, like accounting, computers and economics.

What 4 year degrees pay the most? ›

30 Highest Paying Bachelor's Degrees
  • Petroleum Engineering. Early career salary: $96,742. ...
  • Operations Research. Early career salary: $74,114. ...
  • Marine Engineering. Early career salary: $70,837. ...
  • Computer Engineering. Early career salary: $80,587. ...
  • Systems Engineering. ...
  • Chemical Engineering. ...
  • Electrical Engineering. ...
  • Computer Science.
Mar 2, 2023

What business jobs pay 6 figures? ›

The most popular jobs paying six-figures
  1. General and Operations Managers. Number of employees: 2,289,770.
  2. Software Developers and Programmers. Number of employees: 1,666,270. ...
  3. Physicians and Surgeons. ...
  4. Lawyers. ...
  5. Financial Managers. ...
  6. Financial Analysts and Advisors. ...
  7. Computer and Information Systems Managers. ...
  8. Sales Managers. ...

What businesses make 300k a year? ›

If you want to earn a high salary, look at some of the jobs that pay $300,000 a year to the top earners.
  • Radiologist. ...
  • Chief executive officer (CEO) ...
  • Chief financial officer (CFO) ...
  • Principal software architect. ...
  • Obstetrics and gynecology physician. ...
  • Emergency medicine physician. ...
  • Psychiatrist. ...
  • Physician.

What are the cons of being a business manager? ›

The downsides of being the boss
  • You have to fire people. ...
  • You have to hire people. ...
  • You get the blame. ...
  • The workday doesn't end when you leave work. ...
  • You have to deal with bureaucracy. ...
  • Employees deserve your attention. ...
  • Someone can always come for your job. ...
  • Don't nickel-and-dime every decision.
Mar 2, 2023

What is the basic salary of business manager? ›

Business Manager salary in India ranges between ₹ 3.0 Lakhs to ₹ 25.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 7.6 Lakhs. Salary estimates are based on 11.8k latest salaries received from Business Managers.

Does business management have a future? ›

For any person seeking a successful corporate career, business management is the key needed to open the doors of your future. A business management degree provides the academic knowledge and skills to pursue a ton of career opportunities by giving you a broad understanding of the way a business may work.

What are the 3 levels of management in business? ›

The three levels of management in most organizations are top-level management, mainly responsible for overseeing all operations, middle-level management, responsible for executing plans and policies, and low-level management, responsible for direct task execution and deliverables.

What is the difference between business management and business administration? ›

A business administrator runs the company's day-to-day operations while the business manager focuses more on overall leadership. One person can do both things in a small business. Larger companies, though, will probably have both an administrator and a manager.

How many levels of business management are there? ›

There are 3 levels in the ranking order of an establishment and they are: Top-level management. Middle-level management. Lower-level management.

What is a 2 year business degree called? ›

A 2-year business degree is called an associate degree. The majority of associate degree programs fall into two categories - Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS).

What is a 4 year business degree called? ›

Among the most popular are: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA).

Is business management a BS or BA? ›

Is a business management degree a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS)? Herzing's degrees in business management are Bachelor of Science degrees. This program requires students to take a higher proportion of courses focused on the technical and practical aspects of their major.

What does a business degree teach you? ›

What is a Business Degree? A business degree teaches theories of finance, marketing, and management and administration—and how to apply these theories to real-world problems—in order to prepare the student for the fast-paced, fast-changing business world.

Which degree is best for future? ›

Here are some fields that are expected to have growth potential and continue to develop.
  • Engineering. Engineering is a large scientific branch focused on the practical design and building of structures or machines. ...
  • Healthcare. ...
  • Psychology. ...
  • Computer Science. ...
  • Business. ...
  • Information Technology. ...
  • Accounting. ...
  • Economics & Finance.

What degree is in highest demand? ›

  • Engineering.
  • Business.
  • Nursing.
  • Hospitality.
  • Education.
  • Computer Science.
  • Architecture.
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences.

What do most business majors do? ›

Typical job responsibilities include creating financial reports, analyzing market trends, advising upper-level management on financial decisions and planning, and sometimes supervising a team of financial analysts.

What is the best major in business management? ›

Most in-demand business majors
  • Finance.
  • Accounting.
  • Business administration/management.
  • Logistics/supply chain.
  • Management information systems.
  • Marketing.
Jan 9, 2023

Why is business management considered such a worthless degree now? ›

Business management is sometimes considered worthless, although it can be a fine degree. The issue is that many people have degrees today, so the skills you learn in a Business Management major are also often learned through real-world experience or in conjunction with other majors.

Is BA business management a good degree? ›

A good business management degree will provide insights into key areas such as accounting, marketing, economics, operations, data and managing people. It can be worth the investment as it offers expanded job opportunities, higher earning potential and career advancement possibilities.

Is business management a growing career? ›

Overall employment in management occupations is projected to grow 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations; this increase is expected to result in about 883,900 new jobs over the decade.

Is it smart to major in business? ›

A business degree can increase job prospects, create advancement opportunities, and increase your salary and lifetime income. It's a worthwhile investment in your career—now and into the future. You just have to find the right business degree program for you.

Why do you choose business management major? ›

Business management gives you skills and knowledge that are directly applicable in all aspects of your life. Whether it is planning, influencing, analyzing, networking or organizing – business management helps you to develop key competencies that will promote your career prospects and will ultimately lead to success!

What is a 2 year degree in business called? ›

A 2-year business degree is called an associate degree. The majority of associate degree programs fall into two categories - Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS).

What are the least regretted degrees? ›

The least regretted college majors, which graduates would choose all over again, are reportedly Computer and Information Sciences, Criminology, Engineering, Nursing, Health, Business Administration and Management, Finance, Psychology, Construction Trades, and Human Resources Management.

Which business majors are hardest? ›

Hardest Business Majors
  • Accounting. ...
  • Management Science. ...
  • Finance. ...
  • Entrepreneurial Studies. ...
  • Human Resources. ...
  • Marketing. ...
  • Organizational Leadership. ...
  • International Business.
Sep 8, 2020

Which is better a BA or BS in business? ›

The BS degree offers more practical experience and is especially helpful for those who want a more specialized, technical career, such as economics, accounting, or business analytics. With a BS degree, you often can choose a specialized “track” to work towards in addition to your general courses.

Which is better business management or business administration? ›

If you want a specialized business role, you should pursue a bachelor's in business administration, where you can focus your study on marketing or finance, for example. Otherwise, if you're hoping to lead company operations and employees, a bachelor's in business management will better prepare you.

What is a BA business management degree? ›

The BA (Hons) Business and Management suite of programmes gets you ready for a career in business while giving you the flexibility to focus your studies on an area that interests you. With an employer embedded within every module, you'll interact with industry at every step of your journey.

What are the 3 types of business management? ›

There are three broad categories of management styles: Autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire. Within these categories, there are specific subtypes of management styles, each with its own pros and cons.

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