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What is Business Administration?
New Mexico’s top industry, healthcare, which recently added as many as 15,000 new jobs, is poised to experience the highest level of growth out of every other sector in New Mexico in the next 5-10 years. And the second-largest industry is retail, despite a recent fall in retail numbers.
Business administrators oversee an organization’s daily operations. Depending on their degree level, as well as any concentrations they’ve taken, they may focus on enforcing compliance with local or federal business law, overseeing the general operations of an office, and more. Your specific duties will greatly depend on the industry you are in and the organization you work for.
A business administrator may have a variety of responsibilities such as organizing, planning, staffing, controlling, and directing operations or the organization itself and making sure it achieves its established financial goals.
If you wish to work in business administration, you should be ready to work with people for a majority of the business day. You will need to be able to develop and build relationships with employees, other managers, and representatives outside the organization. You’ll need to be able and ready to work with employees in accounting, human resources, operations, finance, marketing, and legal departments – especially if you work for a larger corporation and you hope to make it to an upper-level supervisory position.
A business administrator should be an excellent communicator, decision-maker, problem-solver, and multi-tasker. They should be flexible, patient, creative, and innovative, be able to focus on details, and have a high degree of strategic management skills.
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Online Business Administration Education in New Mexico
From the bachelor’s level to the master’s and MBA levels, students can find degree programs that fit their career goals. These include a Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Health Administration, and Bachelor of Science in Health Administration. At the master’s level, students can find Masters of Science in Health Policy and Management or Health Administration, Master of Health Administration, and Master of Business Administration with a focus in Health Administration. And that’s just one industry.
However, business administrators can work in any industry: healthcare, retail, supply chain management, hospitality, logistics, finance, sales, marketing, information technology, and many more. They can find work in domestic or overseas organizations, large or small organizations, non-profits, government departments, and anywhere you see businesses thrive.
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Business administration professionals work in advertising agencies, staffing organizations, and accounting firms. And, if they speak another language along with English, their degree may give them access to even more opportunities.
Online Associate Degree in Business Administration (AS)
At the associate degree level, students should be ready to combine both theory and hands-on experiences. They should have a solid foundational knowledge of business and management techniques by the time they graduate.
Associate degrees are most commonly found in community colleges, which may offer online courses or on-campus options. This type of degree usually requires around 60 credit hours for completion and may take anywhere from 18 months to three years to complete, depending on whether or not you choose an accelerated program or attend part-time due to other responsibilities.
If students choose to continue on to earn a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, they may complete this higher-level program in around two years as long as they ensure that their associate degree credits will transfer. To this end, you should ensure that any college program you consider is fully accredited and consider attending a program with transfer agreements with a four-year university.
The best faculty will have business experience, which benefits student learning. These degrees offer students business skill development and training that focuses on practicing new skills. After students graduate, they may choose to transfer to a four-year New Mexico university or to begin their business careers in project management, accounting, or in a general management position.
Online Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration (BS)
Students who decide to earn a BSBA degree in New Mexico may choose an in-person or online option. There are a huge variety of options available both within the state and across the country. Anyone who wants to become a business administrator in New Mexico should definitely plan to earn at least a bachelor’s degree, as this is the most commonly earned business degree and you might have a fight to gain access to supervisory roles without at least a bachelor’s.
You can, however, get some of the lowest tuition rates by completing your associate degree at a community college and transferring to a local four-year institution. You’ll still be able to choose from business administration specializations such as Applied Economics and Finance, Hospitality Management, General Business, Information Systems, Marketing, and Personal Financial Planning, etc.
By combining an undergraduate degree in business administration and a specialization, such as one in information systems, graduates should be able to find positions in facilities management, information and data processing, telecommunications management, records management and information system security, and more. You’ll be well-prepared for a rewarding career.
Online Master's Degree in Business Administration (MS)
If you already have a degree focused on something other than business, you can earn an MBA to help you move into management. New Mexico’s sole technical university offers a Master of Science in Engineering Management. While this advanced degree focuses on graduate students who already have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, technology, or science, the curriculum introduces students to the practical skills and knowledge needed to lead project teams and succeed in supervisory roles. It also equips students and graduates with the knowledge they need to lead an organization through a fast-changing business environment.
Those with undergraduate business degrees might get more out of an MBA program. The best options are accredited by the AACSB, making them highly-sought after programs for students focused on business and looking to earn their graduate degree. Graduate students gain great benefits from the relevancy of degree programs accredited by this gold standard association.
Online PhD Degree in Business Administration (PhD)
Doctoral candidates may choose to enter a PhD management program or any other PhD focused on business. These are challenging programs that often focus heavily on management theory and understanding employee motivations. Areas of research may include operations management, organizational behavior, strategy and policy, human resource management, and more.
Candidates may be expected to take part in residential studies on a full-time basis or you can choose a program that allows for a less intensive track. These degrees often take around four years to complete, though requirements will change based on the school/program you choose to attend.
Candidates who complete these programs should be ready to begin or continue academic careers in teaching and research, as well as allowing them to become subject matter experts and work as consultants if they choose. These degree programs offer students exceptional opportunities, allowing them to work together with professors on presentations and research articles, they can gain both online and classroom teaching experience, and they can develop expertise in their areas of interest.
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Become a Business Administrator in New Mexico
The most important thing to know about working in business is that you are likely to require an education in the field. While there are no state requirements for education or certification, businesses have plenty of options when it comes time to hire employees. You need to have the education and any company-required certifications if you are going to compete with other professionals in your industry.
There are many certifications available to businesspeople, though deciding which to earn is not always an easy choice. You should learn as much as you can about certifications common to your industry before you go out of your way to earn any new certifications. Here are just a couple business-focused certification options you might consider.
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
This certification is intended for business analysts and is a more advanced certification for managers and leaders. Those earning this certification should have more than five years of business analysis experience. This means a minimum of 7,500 hours of business analysis experience within the last ten years; 900 of these hours must relate directly to four out of the six BABOK Guide knowledge areas. They also need a minimum of 35 hours of professional development credit hours earned in the past four years. - Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project managers will be in a great position to improve their career with this certification, including more chances to work in leadership roles. This certification has been recognized as an excellent option for project managers in a variety of industries. Earning it may help improve advancement, hiring, and salary opportunities.
A record of experience in managing projects, as well as a secondary degree are required. The project manager should also show proof of 35 hours of previous education in project management.
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
This certification focuses on supply chain professionals: supervisors, leaders, and operators. The study course goes over supply chain concepts, as well as technology and strategies to aid in end-to-end operations.
Candidates need to hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and need a minimum of one other approved certification and three years of business experience related to supply chain management.
Careers for Business Administration Graduates
- Administrative Coordinator
This professional is responsible for helping their organization to create and follow schedules, meets staff and guests and communicates with them, maintains an effective workflow in the office, and manages organizational budgets.
An administrative coordinator may also handle other duties which are usually associated with managing an office, such as:
- Filing
- Writing memos and reports
- Other clerical work
- Maintenance Manager
Maintenance managers are responsible for supervising and taking the lead on maintenance procedures within an organization. Part of their duties may include giving progress updates to managers or owners, specific tasks which have been assigned to them, and tracking expenses.
The maintenance manager inspects the facility to identify problems needing attention and ensure the problems are corrected or repaired without slowing down the business’ operations.
- Branch Manager, Banking
The manager of a bank branch is responsible for managing daily operations of their location. These responsibilities may include reaching sales goals, creating business plans, providing attentive customer service, and increasing revenue via loans or other income streams.
The manager directs all operations: distribution, human resources, customer service, administration, and sales; they provide training and coaching, development, and motivation for bank personnel; they also develop financial objectives.
- Team Supervisor, Call Center
Team supervisors are responsible for providing training to call center representatives and motivating them as they deal with complaints, offer support to clients, and answer questions.
The supervisor also helps with hiring and training new employees, monitoring their progress, and helping them learn and assimilate the knowledge and skills they need to offer the best customer service. They should have an analytical nature and be supportive and ready to act as a resource to representatives.
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- Financial Advisor
Financial advisors meet with their clients to discuss their financial goals with them. They may offer advice on mortgages, insurance, estate planning, investments, taxes, and retirement.
They instruct clients and answer their questions about investment options and any potential risks of each, recommend investments or choose them on behalf of their clients, and help clients to plan for retirement or education.
- Accounting Associate
An accounting associate helps an organizations accountants and auditors with bookkeeping functions, accounting, and administrative tasks. they may file paperwork and answer phone calls; carry out basic bookkeeping tasks, help with payroll processing, and prepare financial documents.
This associate should be familiar with accounting software programs and should have a good grasp of basic accounting rules and practices.
- Product Manager
Product managers are vital to their organization. They have the knowledge and expertise to move a product from production to successful sales. A product manager should have the necessary expertise to lead their team, work on making the product better, and use strategic thinking to help position their product for success with consumers.