Career Pathway
The BLS tracks data for two dozen managerial careers, and these sectors vary considerably in terms of earnings, projected sector growth, and other factors. Administrative service managers, for instance, earn a median salary of $77,890, and that particular career is expected to grow 15% between 2010 and 2020. Compensation and benefits managers, on the other hand, earned more than $10,000 per year — but that career path is only projected to increase by 3% during the same period.
Ultimately, you should research different management trajectories before choosing a specialization; many students invest considerable time and money into a specialized degree, only to find that jobs are sparser after graduation than when they were enrolled in classes. Regardless of job growth trends, candidates with a master’s degree or advanced certification should enjoy the best job prospects — but there are plenty of jobs available to individuals who only earn undergraduate credentials.
If you are committed to becoming a management professional in this competitive business world, show your determination through plenty of research. Get insight from students in business programs at schools that you find appealing or ask to chat with a professor during their office hours. Take a proactive step to finding the program that will work best for you.
Sample Courses
While programs can vary to a wide degree, students in a management program can count on a lot of group projects, as well as a focus on math, finance, and economics. Number-crunching and statistics are of particular importance in many degree programs, notes Princeton Review. This list of management courses should give you an idea of what you might expect from a business management degree program:
- Organizational Leadership
- Principles of Management
- Information Systems Design and Management
- Managerial Accounting
- Sales and Marketing
- Business Ethics
- Managerial Economics
- Financial Analysis
- Human Resources Development and Management
Possible Specializations
Specializations are common in this field. Many concentrate in marketing, data-analysis, organizational leadership, or information technology management.
Some colleges allow students to minor in areas of business that are a little broader, such as international business, business law, supply chain management, or information sciences and technology. Other schools allow students earn a double major in management and human resources, finance, or other related degrees.
Degree Types
A bachelor’s degree is an important credential in the world of business, and this will be the only requirement for many entry-level positions. Additional credentials, such as aproject management certificate might help you get in the door or improve your career prospects once you complete your program.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is one of the most popular advanced degrees in the U.S., with more than 125,000 graduates in 2011. Besides demonstrating a graduate’s academic commitment and discipline, an MBA also builds important management and leadership skills. According to Forbes, MBAs are best for students who have prior experience in the business world.
Ideal Candidates for Management
Successful managers have the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and act decisively. Staff will depend on you to identify needs, problem-solve solutions and do it so in a way that keeps the business thriving.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also encourages managers to build skills related to interpersonal communication and team-building. The ability to motivate and instruct employees, as well as facilitate productive brainstorming sessions between co-workers, is prized by all companies, but especially those who rely on innovative thinking.
