Choosing a concentration for your B.S. in Business
An undergraduate degree in business is a generalized degree that allows you to pursue a career in the business world by giving you the principles of business and teaching you how to apply them in the industry. This degree will require a broad range of courses covering the business world, including marketing, management and economics, among many others. Having a degree in this sought-after field will enable you to be a contender in the competitive job market and help you earn a higher salary. According to Dina Itkin at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2009), employees with undergraduate degrees in business earned 16 percent more than their colleagues in other majors after a year in the workforce.
Importance of specialization
A bachelor of science in business degree is going to be an asset to you in the business world, regardless of the direction your career path takes you. However, specializing in a specific area of study, which allows you to become knowledgeable in one or two niche areas, will provide an extra edge when it comes time to put your degree to use. “This training is important to employers, a fact reflected in the competitive salary offers that business majors receive when they enter the job market” (Itkin, 2009). Concentrating on a defined area of business, such as marketing or management, while pursuing your undergraduate degree will also prepare you for a career that is of more personal interest to you.
Potential concentrations
The areas of concentration available to you in business school are vast. If you have a knack for numbers, consider a concentration in accounting or finance. If you are good at working with people and have leadership skills, there are multiple specialized management concentrations available: human resource management, project management, global business management and even supply chain management, to name a few. The areas of concentration within the business program are as varied as the students pursuing the degrees.
Concentrations with the best job prospects
Human resource management yields the second-highest salary range, with managers and generalists earning more than some of their peers in other departments (PayScale, 2011). College students concentrating in human resource studies are pursuing a lucrative specialization.
Students who choose to concentrate in accounting or finance can typically expect both above-average salary and job security. “Employment of financial analysts is expected to grow by 34 percent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations” (Itkin, 2009).
Customizing your college experience
Customizing your college experience by choosing a degree path that is both enjoyable to you and attractive to potential employers is going to be very rewarding. Individuals who take the time to customize their education tend to be happier and stay within their field longer than those who just go for generalized degree programs. Setting out on an educational course tailored specifically for you and your interests is going to be beneficial to both you and your future employer.
References
Itkin, Dina. (2008/2009). Career beginnings for business majors. Occupational Outlook Quarterly, 24-33.
PayScale. (2011). Bachelor of Science (BS), Business Management Degree Salary.
