Why Online Business Administration Programs are Still a Top Choice for Students
January 13, 2010 by Rachael Hayward
Filed under Online Colleges
The number of degrees being offered online has exponentially increased. Let as look at: 1) What the top online degrees are; and 2) Why are these degrees popular? Recent studies indicate that although trends do fluctuate each quarter, there are some areas of study that have remained quite popular with students interested in studying online. These are healthcare, criminal justice, information science, and most certainly business administration and management degrees.
Why have online business administration degrees been so popular and what makes them different from other degree programs? You can imagine that the business profession is competitive one, and to succeed a professional should stand out in terms of performance and productivity. This can be accomplished through: becoming an expert in your niche; advancing your training, getting promoted; and gaining professional experience.
An advantage of business online programs is that you can complete the degree at many levels including: Doctorate degree level (DBA), masters degree level (MBA), bachelor degree level (BSc, BBA), associate degree level (AA, AS). In addition, you can also complete various online certificate programs in business at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Hence, online programs are an opportunity to distinguish yourself aside from your competition.
The MBA degree has made its mark as the industry standard for measuring success and accomplishment in business. This is true for mid-level business managers and business professionals who want to move beyond entry-level tasks and responsibilities for something more challenging. Student demographics indicate that many professional in online MBA degree programs simultaneously work and take classes.
An additional advantage of considering pursuing an online business administration degree is that there are multiple areas of focus to choose from including: accounting and finance, business leadership, human resource management, e-business, risk management, organizational management, project management, international business, marketing and sales, small business management, operations management, retail management, sport and entertainment management, and information technology management to mention a few areas of focus. This wide selection does make business administration stand out from other degree programs.
Online business programs use student-centered instructional approaches to enhance learning outcomes. These strategies include: enhanced student-to-student and instructor-to-student communication; customized approach to education tailored to students’ learning styles and schedules; providing 24/7 access to learning tools and materials; and using just-in-time approaches for student assessment and evaluation.
A big plus for online business management business is dedication flexibility in teaching approaches and their course scheduling. Unlike most traditional learning environments, getting your degree online assumes that you do not have to commit to being physically present in class. Attending a virtual classroom is perfect for professionals who have a busy work and/or family schedule. One thing to keep in mind however is that you should inquire from the college whether classes are synchronous, asynchronous, or a combination of both instructional delivery methods, as some learning activities may require synchronous communication such as chats and group activities.
The United States Department of Education reports that 20% of college students pursue a degree in business. As you can imagine, business degrees are an ideal option for many professional areas of concentration including sales, marketing, sales, accounting, finance and small business management. In fact, among businesses in the United States, the most popular major within the bachelor of business administration major is accounting, which has remained an important entry-level position in business world for years.
Other areas in business that continue to see growth and advancement are finance and economics. Further, employers also look to hire marketing graduates. This has been precipitated by trends in Internet marketing, and changes in how all kinds of businesses do their advertising, promotions, and sales. This has also changes the e-business or e-commerce or e-business platform.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs in public relations advertising, marketing, sales and promotions should see a 12% growth between 2006 and 2016. During that same period, accounting jobs are expected to grow by about 18%. Expanding economic market and increasing regulatory reforms have caused this increase. While the earning in business vary by industry, level of education, years of professional experience, and specific business major, some reported potential earnings are: $137,000 for financial analysts, $96,000 for project management positions, $97,170 for public relations managers, $113,400 for marketing managers, and $106,790 for sales managers.
Business professionals are employed in virtually every industry that you can think of. Banking, financial institutions, colleges and universities, non-profit agencies, manufacturing companies, and other areas hire business professionals. Because each business requires a diverse range of talents and skills, it is important to first determine your talents and interests and then pursue that area. Next, conduct detailed research on potential online degrees with the area of focus that is ideal for you. In your research, ensure that you only target recognized and accredited colleges and universities.
The online accounting degrees and online finance degree are some of the most popular degree concentrations. Read about these concentrationss are other areas of study with online business administration degree programs.