Why a Degree in Business Administration

Tom Henderson why a degree in business administration

Written by Tom Henderson

Many people might argue that college students should focus on a specific field of study or major to become an expert in that field and give themselves a differentiator required for success in competitive job markets. Some people might also argue that a degree in business administration is too narrow and limiting because it is not aligned to any one specific functional area of business and likely to put graduates at a disadvantage when it comes to job hunting. For those college students passionate about a specific field of study and pursuing a specialized major with vigor and discipline, this certainly is admirable, and I say, “Follow your hearts.”

However, many college students have yet to discover what truly interests them, let alone what they are passionate about. Consider a degree in business administration from this perspective, please.

The Core Functional Areas of Business

Business administration, unlike many of such specialized majors as accounting, finance, information technology and marketing, introduces students to a wide range of topics and courses across many interesting areas of business, including the fields just mentioned — and more. If you are a university student trying to find your ideal career, or your dream job, the business administration degree program offers an excellent way to learn as much as you can about many different functional areas of business. The sooner you learn about accounting, finance, human resources, IT, marketing and supply chain management — the core functional areas of business — the sooner you are likely to discover which of those areas interests you most.

The undergraduate years usually are some of the most important and formative years for any college student. This is the time to explore all options, test assumptions, engage in personal and professional development activities and commit to internships — all in the spirit of learning as much as possible about the many aspects of a business.

Widening the lens now can be extremely beneficial to college students in the process of discovering their passion. A recent study suggests that 27% of college graduates work in a career directly related to their major. Using these extremely formative years as an opportunity to broaden one’s horizons can perhaps raise this percentage.

Besides, the “wider lens” of a degree in business administration gives graduates job versatility. The business administration program teaches skills required to succeed across a wide range and variety of industries and careers. Students also learn how different business areas connect and relate to each other. And they learn how an enterprise operates and makes money based on the interaction and connectedness of different functional areas of business. In other words, business administration majors are able to understand a company from abroad, integrated and more holistic perspective, which is a skill and a perspective that not all students possess.

A Mobile and Transferrable Degree

The business administration degree is arguably more mobile and transferrable than more specialized majors. The knowledge, skills and abilities that students gain from a business administration degree can be applied to several industries and careers. And the knowledge, skills and abilities can be honed and built on, over time and through experience.

For many students today, their formative college/university years are critically important. They are an opportunity to expand horizons, to test assumptions, to engage in interesting experiences, to focus on personal and professional development and to learn as much about business management from as many different perspectives as possible, making the path to discovering one’s passion that much shorter.

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