An undergraduate business degree can give you the opportunity to advance in your current role or switch career paths entirely, but you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing the best business degree program for your personality, skills, and career goals.
There are multiple business-related topics to choose from:
- accounting
- business admin
- data analytics
- economics
- finance
- human resources
- leadership
- marketing
- supply chain and project management
Here’s what you need to know about the different types of business degrees.
Accounting
A bachelor’s degree in accounting provides a foundational knowledge of business and accounting principles and focuses on topics like financial and managerial accounting, auditing, taxation, financial reporting, and cost management.
An undergraduate accounting degree can also start you on the path to a graduate degree and professional licensure and help you meet the requirements to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
Common Accounting Courses
Depending on the specific program and what electives or specializations you might choose, you can learn complex business and technical accounting skills, such as:
- business information systems (Microsoft Excel, QuickBooks, and SAP)
- financial data analysis and risk assessment
- financial statement preparation
- auditing techniques
- business law and regulatory compliance
Accounting Career Paths
An accounting degree is a great option if you enjoy working with numbers and have strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Many accounting graduates work as:
- private or certified public accountants
- budget analysts
- auditors
- financial planners
- bookkeepers
You can also pursue several professional certifications, such as:
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Business Administration
A general business degree, such as a bachelor’s degree in business management or business administration, provides foundational knowledge in essential business principles.
A business administration or management degree can help you learn the fundamentals of business operations in areas such as accounting, economics, finance, operations, management, and marketing.
Common Business Administration Courses
Many business programs let you tailor your degree by choosing a specialization that aligns with your personal interests and career goals, such as entrepreneurship or international business.
Most business degrees include courses that cover topics like:
- ethical leadership and conflict resolution
- business strategy and planning
- communication and negotiation skills
- marketing techniques and sales fundamentals
- business analytics
Business Administration and Management Career Paths
Of the different types of business degrees, a more general undergraduate business degree can prepare you with versatile skills relevant to a diverse range of career opportunities and industries.
Graduates can go on to start their own businesses or pursue careers such as:
- operations managers
- business analysts
- marketing coordinators
- sales managers
Data Analytics
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, data analysts are in high demand and have a median annual salary of six figures or more. A bachelor’s degree in data analytics can give you the math, science, communication, and computer skills needed to start on a data science career path.
Data Analytics Courses
Studying data analytics can help you learn to collect, manage, and interpret data to make informed decisions about day-to-day business operations.
Most programs have course topics on:
- descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics
- data ethics and privacy
- data visualization and communication
- data warehousing and programming languages
Data Analytics Career Paths
A data analytics program is a great option if you enjoy reviewing large amounts of data to find patterns and present those insights to help make improvements in business functions.
With an undergraduate degree in data analytics, you’ll find opportunities in a variety of industries with roles such as:
- market research analyst
- data scientist
- statistician
- budget analyst
Economics
An economics degree explores how individuals and societies produce, distribute, and consume goods and services. The study of economics combines theory, data analysis, and problem-solving to evaluate resource allocation and predict economic trends.
Common Economics Courses
While some economics degrees have a heavier focus on complex math courses, others focus more on the social science of economics to better prepare students to work in global organizations.
No matter which type of degree you choose, you can take courses on:
- data collection and analysis
- market research and forecasting economic trends
- critical thinking and problem-solving
- policy analysis and economic modeling
- financial management and decision-making
Related: The differences between a B.S. and a B.A. in Economics Degree
Economics Career Paths
A degree in economics is best suited for someone who enjoys working with and analyzing data and is interested in what influences local and global economic markets.
Many students with an economics degree go on to become:
- economic analysts
- financial analysts
- market research analysts
- government, corporate, or research economists
Finance
An undergraduate finance degree program offers a strong foundation in the principles of business, economics, and accounting, but it also provides a more in-depth study of financial principles such as investments, corporate finance, and financial markets.
Common Finance Courses
By studying multiple components in the field of finance — including corporate, nonprofit, and personal finance — you can take classes on:
- investment analysis and risk assessment
- portfolio management
- financial modeling
- market research and economic trends analysis
- strategic financial decision-making
Finance Career Paths
A finance degree is a great option if you’re detail-oriented, enjoy working with financial data, and have an interest in helping individuals or companies make strategic financial decisions.
Many graduates with finance degrees pursue professional certifications and careers as:
- financial managers
- budget analysts
- portfolio managers
- credit analysts
- wealth managers
Human Resources
Human resources employees play an essential role in supporting businesses by ensuring a productive and equitable work environment.
With a labor and human resources undergraduate degree, you can learn the best methods for managing an organization’s workforce, including recruitment, employee relations, training, and benefits administration.
Common HR Courses
Many HR programs are SHRM-aligned and can teach you the core competencies needed to prepare for SHRM-CP®, SHRM-SCP®, and aPHR® professional certifications, such as:
- ethical recruitment and hiring
- training and professional development strategies
- conflict resolution and relationship management
- organizational behavior and employee engagement
- employee compensation and benefits management
- labor economics
Related: An HR Degree to Meet Your Needs: B.S. or B.A.
HR Career Paths
If you enjoy working with others and shaping workplace culture, and have strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, an HR degree could be a good fit.
Many who graduate with a human resources degree hold roles as:
- compensation and benefits managers
- HR analysts
- labor relations specialists
- human resources management
A human resources degree can also serve as a pre-law option for those looking to focus on labor and employment law.
Leadership
Business-focused leadership degrees, such as strategic and organizational leadership programs, aim to develop management and executive leadership skills for roles in the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors.
Common Strategic and Organizational Leadership Courses
While any leadership degree can provide you with the basic skills, an undergraduate degree focusing on managerial, strategic, or organizational leadership will have courses focused on:
- collective and strategic decision-making
- communication skills for leaders
- organizational theory and leadership functions
- conflict resolution and negotiation
- change management and employee relations
Career Paths in Leadership
An undergraduate degree focused on organizational leadership can be for aspiring leaders or those who wish to strengthen their leadership skills and advance in their careers.
A strategic or organizational leadership degree can help you start on the path to a career in:
- general management
- business management
- sales management
- production and operations management
- human resources
Marketing
An undergraduate marketing degree teaches students how to analyze and understand consumer behavior to develop marketing and branding strategies that promote products and services.
Common Marketing Courses
Marketing is essential to the success of every business, and most marketing programs cover a variety of marketing strategies and tactics with courses on:
- marketing research and planning
- digital and traditional marketing strategies
- brand reputation management
- social media and PPC advertising strategies
- consumer behavior analysis
- content planning and project management
Marketing Career Paths
A marketing degree can help you prepare for careers in the more creative parts of business, but you can also pursue data-driven analytical positions.
Many marketing graduates have careers as:
- marketing managers
- digital marketing strategists
- social media managers
- marketing analysts
- search engine optimization (SEO) strategists
Supply Chain and Project Management
An undergraduate degree in supply chain management or project management can help you learn to optimize the flow of goods and services while focusing on overseeing projects that adhere to hard deadlines and budgets.
Common Project and Supply Chain Management Courses
A supply chain or project management degree blends key concepts from logistics, procurement, and management, so you have the skills to improve the overall efficiency and performance of complex business processes.
You’ll see course topics focused on:
- project scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation
- risk management and problem-solving
- team leadership and communication
- purchasing and materials management
- Agile and Scrum methodologies
- business information systems (such as SAP processes)
Related: The advantages of a certificate in enterprise resource planning with SAP
Supply Chain and Project Management Career Paths
Project and supply chain management degrees are a good choice if you have strong time-management and organizational skills and are interested in leading teams, coordinating projects, and managing resources.
Most graduates pursue careers as:
- project managers
- logistics operations managers
- supply chain coordinators
- transportation or distribution managers
A degree with a focus on project and supply chain management can also help prepare you for professional certifications, such as:
- Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) Certification
- Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Certification
- Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
Choosing the Right Business Degree for You
No single degree is inherently better than another, but choosing the best business degree for your goals can still feel overwhelming.
Now that you know more about the different types of business degrees available, take the time to think about which of the topic areas mentioned best match your skills and personal interests.
