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Not your father’s business program
If you’re like many of today’s students, you’re probably wondering what kind of education to pursue. In the midst of all of your choices, have you given any thought to a career in business?
Business? Absolutely! More and more students are coming to recognize the value of an applied degree. And many are surprised to find it’s not the business study that dear old Dad experienced!
Not so long ago, a business education implied a lot of traditional number crunching—but no longer! Today’s business field has become incredibly complex, encompassing not only the old standbys of accounting and finance, but also such diverse areas as management, quantitative analysis, information technology, marketing, economics and so on. The possibilities that exist within the business world are limited only by the extent of your imagination and commitment. Here are a few paths that you might choose to follow.
Economics
Economics involves the study of how resources are used in a society to produce goods and services. The field provides excellent preparation for careers in government and the financial services industry.
Accounting
Once limited to the recording of financial transactions, modern accounting courses emphasize the importance of “the numbers” to the effective management of today’s organization. Training in accounting opens doors in a number of areas, including small business, corporate financial management, taxation and even further study for a career in public accounting.
Finance
A “kissin’ cousin” of accounting, finance involves the acquisition and disbursement of funds. Financial managers can be found in larger corporations, where their areas of responsibility include asset management, mergers and acquisitions and the control of corporate stock portfolios.
Information technology
Information technology (IT) is a broad field of study that encompasses the use of technology (especially computers) to enable businesses to adapt and thrive in our global economy. IT careers in business range from network administration to software design and include the area of electronic commerce, the management of online financial transactions.
Marketing
Another expansive region of opportunity, marketing entails the determination of customer needs and desires and then seeks to satisfy them. Careers in marketing are incredibly diverse, ranging from sales to advertising and promotion, shipping and freight management. And, as the conduct of business becomes more and more global in scope, new opportunities are being created daily for marketers in the area of international trade.
Management
The subject of management is about more than just being the boss—it includes the study of organizational goals and objectives and the processes of planning, organizing, leading and controlling that lead to organizational success. Managers are found in all areas of the business world, from the smallest service company to the largest corporation and in all areas of government.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is one area of study not for the faint of heart! This subject is all about the development of the skill and determination needed to successfully operate a business in an incredibly complex business environment. Entrepreneurs are found in all industries across all sectors of business and are the individuals who take the risks to start the companies that form the backbone of our economy.
These of course are only a few of the many avenues of study available to those who elect to pursue a business education, but as you can see, the opportunities are many indeed! If “business is the engine of society,” then the choice of a business education may be just the ticket you’re looking for to leave your mark in an exciting and fast-paced world.
Robert A. MacDonald is assistant professor of business administration at Atlantic Baptist University.
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