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By University HQ Staff Writers
Edited by Evelyn Keener
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What is Business Administration?

Business administration students in Maryland should have a bright professional future to contemplate. If they decide to stay in the state, they’ll have a range of industries from which to choose: professional and business services, real estate, educational services, healthcare, and many more.

Before they decide which industry they want to work in, they might want to explore and find out which are the highest grossing and fastest growing, and therefore the most likely to offer them an available position and good income when they graduate.

The business student seriously considering their professional future may be interested in the real estate, rental, and leasing field. This industry grosses $68.9 billion each year in the state of Maryland. Students who are considering finance and insurance will be happy to know that this industry grosses $22.6 billion each year. And educational services, healthcare, and social assistance gross $37.8 billion per year. These are just some of the highest earning industries in Maryland, and many of them are continuing to grow and offer plenty of openings to new workers who are just graduating from school.

As close as Maryland is to the District of Columbia, it houses the National Institute of Health, several Defense Department operations, NASA, the Goddard Space Flight Center, and other government agencies. This can mean that those who are still in school can land excellent internships, which can help you find your way to excellent careers that will offer, not only excellent income but also great growth opportunities in some of the most exciting fields.

Maryland is also close to the Chesapeake Bay, home of the blue crab. The state’s commercial fishing industry harvests and provides much of the blue crab shipped to other U.S. states.

Students who are thinking of earning a business administration degree in Maryland will be able to find these and other similar degree programs in many of the colleges and universities in the state. Students who want to work in one of the US’s highest ranked industries might want to consider cyber security (third among all states), offshore wind power (sixth), tech talent (fifth), or biotechnology (eighth). All of these rankings speak to the state’s ability to attract the top talent graduating from all over the country. And graduating in Maryland can give you a head start.

A business administrator is the one overlooking and managing an organization’s daily operations. It doesn’t matter what the business is or what it does, this professional supervises employees and makes sure that metrics are being met.

Business administrators can work in a huge variety of settings: non-profit organizations, small businesses, healthcare, government agencies, education, and much more. Business administrators have knowledge of processes including management, marketing, finances, economics, and human resource management. They have to know every part of the business because they are responsible for making sure that the business works together as a whole, especially at higher levels of employment.

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Business Administration Education in Maryland

Working in business administration means you might be responsible for any or all of the following functions.

  • Helping the business reach financial goals
  • Planning
  • Directing business operations
  • Staffing
  • Organizing

Business administrators should enjoy being around people as it is the nature of their job to be around others throughout the day, supervising and encouraging them in their work.

Online Associates (AS)

Community college students who plan to earn an associate degree in business administration should gain the skills they need to accept an entry-level job or they may decide to transfer their credit hours to a four-year university, where they can continue to major in business administration or move into another field.

In core business classes at this level, students will learn the basics of accounting, economics, marketing, entrepreneurship, law, management, and more.

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Business administration programs often offer students opportunities to meet with organizations and businesses in the local area; they may also meet business owners who are members of the school’s alumni association or an advisory board. Connections made through college business programs can lead to relationships that, once the students graduate, may result in job offers.

Online Bachelors (BS)

Undergraduate students enrolled in a school of business and majoring in business administration learn how to develop and communicate a mutual vision for an organization. In their coursework, students learn to plan and communicate their strategy to be used to meet a common goal. Students also learn how to design and create plans for management and leadership, evaluate both qualitative and quantitative data, communicate well through all organizational levels, create policies and procedures intended to reduce both cost and organizational risk, and more. Degrees at this level focus on the same learning as those at the associate level, but with more depth and breadth thanks to the extra two years of the program.

After graduation, students will be ready to work in management and operations.

Online Masters (MS)

Students enrolled in a Master of Science in Business and/or Management are exposed to a level beyond foundational business skills. These supplement business skills which have already been learned through undergraduate degrees and add a layer of depth focused on management and higher-level positions.

Students in an M.S. business administration degree program still study business subjects such as finance, strategic management, and marketing but with more hands-on learning, situational learning, and learning that comes from those who have experience in the field. This knowledge is meant to help them to move their careers forward. Graduates may find positions in finance, consulting, marketing management, strategy and innovation, project management, or supply chain management.

MBA students learn much of the same material as their fellow MS students and they also have the opportunity to choose a concentration, which offers additional courses focused on the students chosen career.

These careers might include:

  • Marketing Manager
  • Health Services Manager
  • Management Consultant
  • Project Manager
  • Financial Manager

Online Doctorate (PhD)

Student candidates enrolling in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration may be looking for careers in consulting, research, or teaching. The curriculum that students work through offers full exposure to a particular business content area. Students also gain experience in high-level analytical methods and rigorous educational techniques, depending on their chosen field of focus. PhD programs are demanding and students are expected to make contributions to advance the knowledge of business practices or research in order to earn their degree.

A PhD program may offer several disciplines. Among them are marketing, accounting, management, finance, and information science, among others.

Become a Business Administrator in Maryland

First, there is no specific licensure or education required to become a business administrator in the state of Maryland. However, business professionals who want to communicate their knowledge and skills may be able to do so with certifications they earn. Business administrators in almost every business specialization can find a credential that applies to their role. Here are just some options.

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  • Certified Professional - Human Resources (IPMA-CP)
    Human resources professionals who have all of the requirements, such as education and work experience can sign up for this study program and exam. Once they take the exam, they’ll have a new certification to list on their resume. Renewal is required every three years.
  • Certified Manager Certification (CM)
    This certification increases and proves competency in general management. This certificate requires that you pass three assessment exams. Three are arranged through the Institute for Certified Professional Managers (ICPM). Business managers signing up for this exam are not required to have a certain number of years of either education or professional experience.
  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
    This certification has been specifically developed to measure both the accounting and financial management skills that support business performance.
  • Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

    This certification comes with specific requirements:

    • Two references
    • 7,500 hours of experience in business analysis
    • 35 hours of professional development

    The International Institute of Business Analysis offers this certification to qualified individuals. Those professionals who want to learn more about analyzing businesses and developing solutions to fit their needs are well-suited for this certification.

  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
    This well-recognized certification allows project managers to handle more leadership responsibilities. Project managers should be able to manage projects and people efficiently. Topics include monitoring projects, project planning and project implementation.

Careers for Business Administration Graduates

  • Administrative Coordinator

    Administrative coordinators handle the responsibilities for efficient office operations, scheduling meetings held internally, screening phone calls, etc. A successful administrative coordinator should have strong organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks.

    Daily responsibilities may include processing office expenses and reporting on them, distributing incoming mail, maintaining employee records, making travel arrangements. and more.

  • Branch Manager, Banking
    A bank branch manager is an executive who manages one location of a bank. They are responsible for every function within that branch: hiring, managing loan approval and lines of credit, marketing and developing a relationship with the community as they work to attract new business. They help with customer relations and make sure the branch meets its annual objectives and goals within established time limits.
  • Financial Advisor

    Overall, financial advisors help their clients plan for their financial goals: short- and long-term. These may include buying a home, paying for their children’s education, and planning for retirement.

    Regular duties include market research, identifying new opportunities, market analysis, monitoring accounts, recruiting and soliciting potential clients, recommending and executing strategies, and assessing the needs and goals of their clients.

  • Accounting Associate
    An accounting associate helps auditors and accountants with accounting, bookkeeping, and administrative work. They may handle clerical tasks along with carrying out basic bookkeeping tasks and assisting with payroll and financial documents.
  • Chief Marketing Manager

    The chief marketing manager is responsible for setting and monitoring team goals and reporting on them, developing strategies for every marketing team, preparing budgets, and managing each budget.

    They also develop plans to establish the organization’s brand, develop positioning and pricing strategies, set aside resources for each project, set department goals, and more.

  • Project Manager

    Project managers plan, organize, and direct specific projects to completion for their organization. They also ensure their projects come in on time, within the established scope and on budget. The PM’s role is vital to the organization; they hold the potential to impact the company’s trajectory, maximize the company’s efficiencies, increase revenues, and reduce costs.

    While the exact duties of a PM rely on their particular industry and organization and the types of projects they handle, they may include initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing projects.

  • Supply Chain Manager
    Supply chain managers have the responsibility of developing and monitoring their organization’s supply chain strategy. They work to improve efficiency and productivity while they lower costs and source high-quality materials for their organization.
  • Public Services/Works Director
    Public works directors are responsible for managerial and administrative duties. They monitor and oversee the physical facilities of a community. On the organizational chart, the public works director in a city might fall under the city manager. They are responsible for creating and planning long-term programs intended to develop the growth of the city. The director also analyzes and assesses proposals made by the public works staff. Once these have been evaluated, they present the top plans to the appropriate department heads for consideration. They supervise their staff as they work on the projects selected by department heads.

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