WHAT IS BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION?

Business administration involves the performance, management, and administrative functions of business operations. Many companies have multiple departments and personnel that can fall under the business administration heading. Business administration can encompass:

• Finance: The finance department manages money (both incoming and outgoing) and other financial resources for a business.
• Economics: An economist monitors and predicts economic trends. 
• Human Resources: A human resources department helps to manage human capital and benefits. They plan and direct many key administrative functions of a business.
• Marketing: The marketing department develops campaigns to bring in customers and improve brand awareness.
• Advertising: The advertising department finds ways to promote a business or the business's products and services.
• Logistics: This department works to get products to consumers by coordinating people, facilities, and supplies.
• Operations: An operations manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a business.
• Management: Managers may supervise projects or people. In a hierarchical organization, managers may work in low-level management, middle-level management, and top-level management.      

Business Administration Education

Some business administration jobs require advanced degrees; others require no degree at all. This is why there are many different business administration education options. You could benefit from on-the-job training, seminars, and certificate programs. Some business administration professionals also choose to earn an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or even a doctoral degree. The education option you choose should depend on what you want to do in a business administration career. If you want a job at the entry-level, you may be able to begin work while you get an education. If you would like to work in management or a supervisory position, some formal education may be required before a job appointment. Here is a breakdown of the most common business administration education options.

• On-the-Job Training: Training is provided on-the-job. Unlike many of the other options below, you are typically paid for the on-the-job training and do not have to pay tuition. Training time can vary depending on the job.
• Continuing Education: Continuing education may be provided through colleges, universities, business schools, and other academic institutions. You may take courses or a short seminar to earn continuing education credits or a certificate of completion.
• Certificate Programs: Certificate programs tend to focus on a very specific topic, such as customer service or tax accounting. These programs are generally offered through colleges, universities, business schools, and other academic institutions. Tuition is often cheaper for a certificate program than it is for a degree program. The amount of time it takes to complete a program varies; most programs are one month to one year in duration.
• Associate's Degree in Business Administration: An Associate in Business Administration can be earned from a college, university, or business school. You should seek out an accredited program with a curriculum that covers topics you need to know or are interested in. Most associate's programs take two years to complete.

Your career options in business administration will depend largely on your education level as well as your other qualifications. For example, do you have an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree? Do you have any certifications? Do you have prior work experience in the field? Are you a capable leader? Do you have a record of proven performance? What special skills do you have? All of these things determine whether or not you are qualified for a specific position. That said, many different jobs may be open to you in the business administration field. Some of the most popular options include:

• Accountant: Industries include tax preparation, payroll accounting, bookkeeping services, financial accounting, accounting management, government accounting, and insurance accounting.
• Advertising Executive: Advertising executives and managers are needed to create, coordinate, and roll out advertising campaigns for every type of business that offers a product or service.
• Business Manager: Business managers are employed by both small and large companies; opportunities are available at every level of management--from department supervisor to operations management.
• Finance Officer: Finance officers can be employed by any business that has money coming in or going out. Positions vary from entry-level to management.
• Human Resources Manager: Government employs the largest percentage of human resources managers. Positions are also available in company management, manufacturing, professional and technical services, health care fields, and social service agencies.
• Management Analyst: Most management analysts are self-employed. About 20 percent work for small or large consulting firms. Management analysts can also be found in government and the finance and insurance industries.