What is Business Administration?
Business administration professionals with degrees ranging from associate all the way up to PhD and doctorate may find the careers they are looking for in Georgia’s top industries. While the state is probably best known for its growing and harvesting of peaches, many other industries help to contribute billions of dollars into the state’s coffers each year.
Here are just some of the professions active in employing residents and providing services and goods:
- #5 - Information - $46.2 billion
- #4 - Finance and Insurance - $47.8 billion
- #3 - Manufacturing - $63.3 billion
- #2 - Professional and Business Services - $72.8 billion
- #1 - Real Estate, Rental, and Leasing - $74.1 billion
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Business Administration Education in Georgia
A business administrator holds a managerial or administrative role within the organization where they work. They supervise daily business operations, communicate with outside partners, make efforts to improve the organization’s performance, as well as that of other employees; they may also analyze financial information and negotiate contracts. Organizations hiring business administrators look for leadership skills and a well-rounded understanding of how businesses operate; the ability to optimize the organization’s operations may be a strong selling point.
Graduates who have a business administration degree with a broad foundation should be able to oversee financial operations and analyze transactions, mediate disagreements between executives and staff, appoint the heads of departments, and market and promote the organization, its products, and/or services. Hiring managers look for the applicant’s ability to streamline the organization’s operations, as well, as they maximize profits and efficiency.
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Online Associates (AS or ABA)
An associate degree is the lowest level of post-secondary education you can earn. It usually includes around 60 credit hours and takes full-time students around two years to complete. Though it is less expensive and faster than a bachelor’s degree, it usually will only gain graduates an entry-level position without much chance of promotion without extensive experience.
Georgia students in associate business administration degree programs will learn about foundational business basics. This may include accounting, finance, leadership, and more. Learning about business administration and management prepares students for a wide variety of careers in a huge number of industries.
When they are ready to graduate, students can land entry-level positions in independent retail stores or they may even find work in a large corporation, though this is more likely if they earn a bachelor’s degree. Students who have plans to start their own business may have the knowledge and skills they need to become entrepreneurs.
With this diversity, business administration professionals in Georgia are well-represented. Across all occupations, 4,308,600 are employed in the state, as well as more than 76,000 general and operations managers.
While they are in school, students majoring in business administration may choose to specialize in a specific area or sector of business. Having practical work experience can, of course, help a graduate get into their preferred industry. They may choose financial accounting, business law, management and leadership, or another pertinent field. Students should know that, by learning the foundations of business administration and a narrower focus, they will have an easier time working themselves into the role they have long aspired to. Other specializations include human resources management, construction management, and more.
Students enrolled in the best business administration schools in Georgia as they earn an associate degree in this field should have no problem finding an entry-level position. Students earning their bachelor’s degrees may find positions as general or operations managers, auditors, accountants, construction managers, or auditors.
Online Bachelors (BS or BBA)
A bachelor’s degree usually consists of around 120 credits hours, which full-time students can complete in around four years. This is the most commonly earned level of education, though it is more expensive by far than an associate degree. Students who are looking to save on their bachelor’s level education can earn an associate from an institution which ensures transfers to a four-year university and save a bundle on their overall education.
A business students earning their BBA via distance learning, may expand their career opportunities even more widely when they become a business administrator in Georgia. Because a higher level curriculum includes subjects such as strategic management, operations management, and organizational behavior, graduates may be better equipped to lead a department than those who only earn an associate degree. Depending on whether they take any specialization courses or had any business administration internships, they may be able to apply for more specialized business positions.
With a human resource analytics emphasis, some career paths the professional may consider include researcher, human resources professional, and entrepreneur. If they took part in a student business incubator or an internship in college, they may already have some work experience.
If a student concentrated on operations management or supply chain management, job opportunities may include logistics management, supply and demand planning, supply chain execution, or new product development.
Online Masters (MS or MBA)
A master’s degree will usually only take students 18 months to two years to complete. Luckily, since these are mostly attended by those who are already professionals well into their careers, they usually offer weekend, evening, or online learning options for busy attendees. These degrees tend to offer a greater emphasis on leadership and detailed knowledge rather than the basics that you should have learned in your undergraduate degree.
Graduates holding their Master of Science in Business Administration will have done the work and be ready to find the positions and industries for their blossoming business administration careers. They may work in marketing or sales, general management, consulting, analytics, operations/logistics, or finance and accounting.
Business graduates holding their MBA degrees are in the right field. The National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook (2017) says that more than 72% of businesses in the U.S. plan to hire employees who have business degrees.
MBA graduates are more often found in managerial or executive positions. Employers look for applicants with an MBA when they are hiring for roles that are higher in the organization.
Online Doctorate (PhD or DBA)
Graduates holding their Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), usually earned from a college of business, may be aiming for the C-suites, consultancy positions, or be looking to make it to the top of academia. Those who graduate with their DBA will have learned how to research and understand economic indicators and trends, which can give them the insight they need to tell a company why their plans aren’t working out in their current market.
On the other hand, DBAs in the C-suites work within the corporate world. They may be an operating officer, executive officer, or in a similar role. Those who are looking for positions outside of the business world may work as professors, teaching future business leaders. They may teach full-time or combine their teaching with corporate work.
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Become a Business Administrator in Georgia
There are no licensure or certification requirements for business professionals in Georgia. However, it’s important to consider all requirements if you choose to use your knowledge to start your own business. These types of ventures may require registering your business and gaining a business license. Be sure to check with the state if this is your plan.
Even with a business administration degree, earning and holding professional certifications may help the professional to move into a new business specialization or upward in their field. It may help the professional to focus more on general management and business credentials, though other optional specializations include supply chain, customer resource management, purchasing, and sales.
Some certifications options include:
- Certified Associate in Project Management
- Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)
- Certified Business Analysis Professional
- HubSpot Inbound Marketing
- Certified Supply Chain Professional
- Salesforce Certified Administrator
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- SAP Certified Application Associate - Business Planning and Consolidation
Some of the most in-demand certifications include the following:
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). Requests for this certification appeared 1,516 times.
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) - 645 times.
- Certified Supply Chain Professionals (CSCP) - 1,217 times.
The Certified Business Analysis Professional certification is best for those who want to use their skills analyzing business needs and developing solutions. The Certified Supply Chain Professional, offered by APICS, allows supply chain professionals to hone their skills in this field. Once supply chain professionals have earned their certifications, they may be qualified to work as operators, supervisors, and leaders. And the Project Management Professional certificate helps project managers to develop into effective leaders.
As you can see, there are plenty of certificate options that employers might require, or that you can choose to earn to enhance your resume.
Careers for Business Administration Graduates
- Branch Manager, Banking
A bank branch manager is the executive who runs one branch of a financial services company or bank. They may be responsible for all functions of the office, which can include hiring and discharging employees, marketing, supervising, and approving lines of credit and loans, as well as developing a relationship with the community so that the bank gains new customers. They will also make sure the branch meets goals and objectives in a timely way.
The manager makes sure resources are used wisely. They ensure the bank meets its sales goals, provides good customer service, and increases revenues.
- Team Supervisor, Call Center
Call center supervisors are responsible for training center representatives, ensuring they are able to answer customer calls, questions, and complaints. Motivating their representatives may be a major part of their work.
Supervisors also hire and train new employees. Once employees have been trained, they will be monitored on the calls they receive or make. The supervisor will coaches their representatives, encouraging them to develop their knowledge and skills. Effective call center supervisors should be supportive, able to analyze issues and able to be a resource to representatives.
- Financial Advisor
A financial advisor is responsible for getting to know the short- and long-term goals for their clients. This way, they can help their clients plan for their financial futures, whether that includes funding their child’s education, buying a home, or planning for retirement.
This professional may also offer advice on taxes, insurance, and investments. Financial advisors occupy much of their time in researching and analyzing investment opportunities so that, when they meet with their clients, they have suggestions to offer.
Their responsibilities include market analysis and research, assessing the needs and goals of their clients, recommending various financial strategies, recruiting and soliciting new clients, and carrying out investment strategies.
- Digital Marketing Manager/Director
A digital marketing manager plans and manages ongoing marketing campaigns for their organization’s brand, services, or products. This means they analyze metrics, plan campaigns, and identify trends. The marketing manager develops and manages the budgets for each campaign and they work to create and maintain accurate reports on a campaign’s performance.
The digital marketing director is in a higher role in the organization. This is an upper-management position which, if the director does well, may lead to other roles in the C-suite. Holding notable experience in marketing or another related field makes a future digital marketing director much more attractive to employers.
- Non-Profit Director
The director of a non-profit organization is responsible for the development and implementation of the programs the non-profit operates. They also assess the needs of the population the organization serves and verify that the objectives of the program are being met.
The program director may also manage the activities of the various committees and other groups involved in planning procedures, supervise fundraising events, write grant proposals, and oversee larger donations. The director may report to the non-profit’s executive director.
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