What is Business Administration?
Nebraska is often considered an agricultural state, and its corn crop is particularly famous. However, there is more to the cornhusker state than farms and vegetables. In fact, the top industry in Nebraska is manufacturing, which may include food processing but also includes ethanol fuel created from corn and various products. The state's economy is also dominated by finance/insurance, real estate, business services, social services including healthcare, and transportation & warehousing.
A business administrator is a professional who works in an administrative capacity in a commercial business concern, a government agency, or even a non-profit organization. They have been trained with specific skills related to their job. Those skills include, but are not limited to, accounting, marketing, corporate communications, operations management, information technology, finance, and more. Thus, it's clear that business administration is a broad term that covers many workers who may have very different jobs.
Most business administrators work for commercial firms where they report during standard business hours. For most of their day, business administrators spend time working on their computers, but many will have meetings planned throughout the day or week. On the other hand, many business administration professionals also work as consultants. They still maintain regular business hours but may also be expected to travel for most of their working week, though they might also be able to complete much of their work from a remote location.
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Online Business Administration Education in Nebraska
With such a diverse and growing economy, the state has a strong demand for business administration experts. Even an agricultural concern such as a farm needs people with a keen sense for business to predict what crops are most likely to be profitable, when to make capital investment in equipment, and more concerns. And towns like Omaha are surely eager to have entrepreneurial businesspeople arrive to infuse the city with new enterprises such as restaurants, technology startups, and retail operations.
To ensure that Nebraska continues its growth, the state continually strives to support its colleges and universities. Not only does the state government support these educational institutions, but the schools themselves strive to support their business degree programs. Whether they are two-year community colleges or massive universities, Nebraska's higher educational system recruits the top talent to teach in their business programs.
In fact, Nebraska students can attend a local community college and earn a two-year business administration degree. This associate business degree will help them land their first entry-level job and it will also serve as a low-cost two-year head start on a B.S.B.A. degree. Given the increase in online associate business degrees, some may even complete their associate degree from a distant school without having to leave home. Essentially, Nebraska is a terrific state in which to launch a stunning business career.
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Online Associates (AS)
A two-year business administration associate degree from a Nebraska community college is a terrific way to get started. During the course of an associate business administration degree, students can gain many new skills and knowledge. Though the major coursework in an associate business administration degree is somewhat limited, graduates come away able to land an entry-level position.
To make an associate business administration degree pay off in the short-term, students might consider a degree that confers skills that immediately translate to a job. For instance, an accounting degree is a terrific way to learn fundamentals for a business career. Students can also consider information technology, computer science, management, or marketing.
An associate business administration degree is terrific for starting a business career. However, students should keep in mind that a bachelor’s business administration degree will take them even farther, and an MBA will allow then to reach the top. Thus, students should try to land an entry-level position in a firm that offers tuition reimbursement for when they decide to progress to the next academic level.
National rankings for online associates in business administrationOnline Bachelors (BS)
A four-year degree is the best foundation for a successful career in business. Employers typically note this as a basic requirement for all candidates. While this is not always a strict requirement, a four-year college degree in business administration will always benefit the holder.
Not only does a bachelor’s business administration degree instill a deeper knowledge of business practices, it also allows time for students to broaden their education and students can pursue secondary fields that inform and deepen their knowledge. For instance, a good minor concentration for business administration might be information technology or perhaps accounting. Students can also broaden their scope by exploiting experiential learning opportunities.
Internships provide the opportunity to learn while in an actual business environment. Students have the chance to see how things are done in a business office. Along the way, they can broaden their business network and might even land a job opportunity.
Online Masters (MS)
The gold standard for business success has long been a master’s business administration degree, commonly known as an MBA. This is a two-year graduate degree that students pursue after completing their bachelor’s degree. During the course of an MBA, students spend their first year studying general business topics, though at a more advanced level than their undergraduate courses. Many MBA students find that this year is instructive as to where their true passions lie. Then, in the second year, MBA students choose a concentration. This concentration is of vital importance because it will likely determine the course of their later career days.
An MBA will help students grow in their careers. Many MBA students who continue to work find that they receive raises and promotions even before they complete their degree. Then, upon completion, an MBA holder will find that opportunities at the C-level may be within their reach. They can also find work with consulting firms who love to have MBAs on their professional roster.
Online Doctorate (PhD)
Though these are not a real requirement in the business community, that may soon change. This is because the market is increasingly crowded with MBA graduates. Thus, it may soon be the case that candidates need to distinguish themselves with a PhD. While that may be a ways away for executives in marketing, management, or sales, others are already feeling compelled to pursue a doctorate.
This is especially true for those in tech fields. Cyber security is one field where a PhD can be highly valued, especially those in cryptography. Data science is also leaning heavily towards PhDs. Since data science impacts finance, marketing, and nearly any business application, the field is growing rapidly. A doctorate also opens up later career opportunities for those who desire a spot in academia. With a PhD, students are more likely to land a full-time, tenure track job than their peers who only have an MBA.
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Become a Business Administrator in Nebraska
Nebraska is a state full of opportunities for a business administration professional. Their economy is quite diverse and supports wide range of industries and businesses. Still, Nebraska students might be interested to know how they can become a successful business administration professional in Nebraska. The good news for these students is that there is no licensure requirement for business professionals. However, most employers will want to see a degree on their resumes.
Therefore, the road to business administration success starts as early as high school. Students should seek out courses that will prepare them for even more business knowledge and skill. A high school accounting course, for instance, can set the stage for later college courses. Other students might focus on information technology courses or extra-curricular activities. After all, the intersection of business and technology is vital to understand.
Youngsters might want to take part-time or summer jobs in businesses that interest them. That might mean a clerk position in a video game store, but that can be perfect. After all, the laws of supply and demand still apply; the books must be balanced and customers must be wooed and brought to the closing table, or cash register. After high school, however, students should start to sharpen their focus.
When it comes time to find a business administration degree program, students need to find the best they can. This search can include many factors, but accreditation should be at the top of their list. At a minimum, their business administration degree program should have regional accreditation. However, any program with accreditation from AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE should receive special attention. These program-specific accreditation agencies confer credentials that are nationally recognized.
During their college experience, students should continually seek out opportunities to build their professional network. After all, business is a series of inter-related relationships, so joining business focused campus clubs or organizations could pay off later. To this end, students should pursue internships or co-op learning opportunities where they alternate terms of working and studying.
It should also be mentioned that business administration professionals don't only work in for-profit firms. Government agencies also need the same sorts of business skills. The same is true of non-profit organizations that can offer very successful career paths.
Potential Careers for Business Administration Graduates
- Business Administrator/Manager:
These professionals work as managers for the maintenance staff who service properties. They must be constantly aware of the needs of their buildings, apartment complexes, and grounds. To succeed in this position, professionals need to manage their budget as well as the personalities they work with. - Branch Manager, Banking:
Bank branch managers are finance professionals who are charged with overseeing and growing business for their bank branch. They need to be knowledgeable of each aspect of the banking business, which includes writing loans, balancing teller cash drawers, and opening new accounts. Branch managers often have a bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting. - Team Supervisor, Call Center:
Team supervisors work under their upper management but are of vital importance. A team supervisor works more directly with call center staffers to keep their performance at top levels. Team supervisors may also be integral in training and hiring new staffers. After all, team supervisors are often hired from the existing pool of call center team members. - Financial Advisor:
These business professionals are experts in the world of finance and often hold licenses to work as financial advisors. In fact, the title demands licensure from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Upon licensing, advisors work with individuals and institutions to help them protect and build their wealth. Thus, a knowledge of the equities markets, real estate, and banking is vital. - Accountant:
These finance professionals usually have a bachelor’s accounting degree and may be studying to become Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). In the meantime, they work for a CPA and help balance books and evaluate their client's businesses. This is an entry-level position that many accounting firms consider an opportunity to prepare full-fledged CPAs for later success. - Marketing Manager:
This job sits atop the intersection of creative marketing teams and the analytical side. They must have a good working knowledge of the data science behind market analysis and they need to be able to effectively communicate that to the creative artists who put together the marketing campaigns we all see on television, billboards, and the internet. - Digital Marketing Manager/Director:
Marketing professionals are increasingly looking at digital means of promoting their company's goods and services. A digital marketing manager thus must be expert at things such as search engine optimization, utilizing big data troves, and implementing dynamite digital marketing campaigns. A degree in marketing plus years of experience with digital marketing will be vital for success. - Project Manager:
This is a vital role in any organization. It may be most important for firms that send teams of consultants into the field. This is because the project manager needs to be able to coordinate all aspects of a project including travel, accommodations, and benchmarks of success. A business administration degree will be vital for success in this field. - Product Manager:
These executives carry a huge burden of responsibility in their firms. They oversee their product's life cycle, from inception through manufacturing, and finally to the shelves or wherever it is for sale. Thus, product managers need to have a great deal of expertise and experience in business administration. They need to be able to communicate with everyone in the product's lifecycle, starting with the folks in manufacturing, then to the shipping handlers, marketing team, and more.
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