Choosing a Business Major
B-School Degrees for College Students from Marketing to Finance
Jul 6, 2007
Need some basic information about business majors? Here's the scoop on finance, accounting, marketing, business management, managerial economics, and more.
So you have a knack for business and are thinking about getting a degree from a business school. But which major is right for you? To help you decide, here's a description of the most popular business majors.
- Business Administration and Management. This major trains students to become leaders and creative problem solvers who make decisions about everything from employee relations to budgeting. Consider this major if you're good with people, decision making, and numbers, and if you're a creative person who can think of innovative solutions to unexpected problems.
- Finance. Finance majors learn to be the closest thing a business can get to a crystal ball. They learn how to make educated predictions about the stock market, economics, and the corporate world. Businesses use these predictions to make decisions about investments and resource allocation. Consider this major if you have the interpersonal skills needed for business and have an excellent grasp of math and economics.
- Accounting. This major trains students how to help a business keep track of its resources and spend them wisely. Students learn to speak the "language" of accounting so that they can translate confusing financial data into information that everyone can understand. Choose this major if you're good with numbers, logic, and problem-solving, and if you enjoy have the interpersonal skills needed to explain confusing information to others.
- Marketing. Marketing majors learn how to persuade audience members to purchase a particular product. They use creative strategies to make their own products look more desirable than the competition's, and sometimes create a need for a product in the mind of consumers. This is a good major for creative people who have a knack for writing and an understanding of psychology.
- Human Resources. A degree in human resources prepares students to work with a company's employees. Students learn how to manage benefits, hire and fire, train, and create a productive and pleasant work environment. Consider this major if you're very detail-oriented and if you're a strong people person who puts others at ease.
- Managerial Economics. This major trains students to become "big picture" people who are trained to make practical business decisions based on an in-depth understanding of economic factors such as inflation, interest rates, and supply and demand. A grasp of both domestic and international markets is necessary. This may be the most difficult business major, and it prepares students for careers in upper management.
- Management Information Systems. MIS majors learn how to create user-friendly information systems that are designed to organize a company's information about taxes, employees, profits and losses, and other vital data. They learn how people interact with computers so they can create systems that are easy to use. Choose this major if you work well with people and computers.
- International Business. As the economy becomes increasingly global, there is a strong need for people who understand international markets and can communicate with members of the business community worldwide. Consider this major if you have a knack for business and a strong interest in travel and other cultures.
- Hospitality Management. Hospitality managers are in charge of hotels, restaurants, resorts, golf courses, cruise ships, weddings, and more. If you work well in groups and under pressure, are looking for a hands-on business career, and don't want to sit in a cubicle all day, this might be the major for you.
- Entrepreneurship. This major is designed for people who want to create their own business, expand an existing small business (such as a family business), or develop new divisions and programs for large companies. This is a good major for creative risk-takers with excellent problem solving and leadership skills.
- Public Relations. PR majors learn how to spread information about a company, product, or person. They learn the art of using the media to create a positive image of something in the public's eye. This major is good for creative people who are comfortable communicating aggressively in a fast-paced environment.
See also: How to Choose a College Major and College Freshman Year 101.
The copyright of the article Choosing a Business Major in College Degrees/Programs is owned by Naomi Rockler-Gladen. Permission to republish Choosing a Business Major in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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