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What is Business Management?
Oregon is a relatively sparsely populated state that still manages to contain a diverse landscape and economy. Eastern Oregon is a high desert climate that is primarily agricultural, with some mining and tourism. Western Oregon, on the other hand, supports not only the rainy climate so many associate with the state but a vibrant modern economy. The I-5 corridor is full of tech startups, vineyards, cutting-edge restaurants and hospitality, as well as shipping and manufacturing.
A business manager is a professional whose job duties entail overseeing or supervising people and processes. We typically consider a management professional as one who supervises a team of people in a department, usually within a larger organization. In a restaurant, for example, there are managers who work with the servers and others who we see in the main dining room. Then there are managers who oversee the kitchen, including inventories and its equipment.
Business managers are usually the authorities who bear ultimate responsibility for the people and processes in their workplace. To earn this position, they have usually undergone training by completing a college management degree along with significant experience in the firm. There are also management training programs that offer new graduates the opportunity to learn their job through rigorous immersion before taking over a department. Managers may ultimately rise through the ranks into the executive offices of their firm.
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Online Business Management Education in Oregon
According to the numbers, the top industry in Oregon is real estate. This is no surprise since the housing market has been exploding since around 2015 or so. The number two industry in the Beaver State is manufacturing, which processes the state's agricultural materials. At number three, Oregon's business services sector is the 24th largest nationwide.
To support this broad, diversified economy, Oregon needs a steady supply of business management professionals to keep these sectors strong. Thus, the state supports a robust community college system which offers students top-notch instruction in business management, computer science, and practically any other field imaginable. Oregon's community college system offers many opportunities for students, and thus helps support the state economy.
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Naturally, Oregon has some of the nation's best four-year colleges and universities that graduate top professionals every year. The schools continually seek out the nation's top academic stars to come and strengthen their business school faculty. They also seek out degreed professionals from the local economy. Since Oregon has such a diverse economy, it can be valuable to recruit business management professionals who have experience navigating the state's regulatory structure while also paying attention to the unique cultural makeup of the state. After all, the state is home to vital urban centers like Portland but also rural, indigenous communities. When business faculty can address these issues from personal experience, students benefit tremendously.
Online Associate Degree in Business Management (AS)
An associate business management degree is a great way to get one's feet wet in the field of business management. While there are specific management programs, such as sports management, a general management degree should convey the needed skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in a management position. An associate business management degree has specific advantages.
Community college students are able to take advantage of lower tuition rates on top of smaller class sizes and expert instruction. The lower tuition rates will pay off later and can significantly reduce the overall cost of a bachelor’s business management degree. Community colleges also typically have smaller class sizes, which can help facilitate learning. On top of this, community college faculty tend to have a real passion for teaching, as they are unencumbered by demands to conduct endless research projects that take their focus away from the classroom.
Online Bachelor's Degree in Business Management (BS)
A four-year bachelor’s in business management degree is perhaps the best launchpad for a successful career in business management. This is because these degrees allow more time for students to expand their knowledge and skills. The upper-level classes especially provide students with the opportunity to dig deep into the subject matter. For instance, four-year students can pursue minor concentrations such as information technology, communications, mathematics, economics, and sociology, which will inform their career in very valuable ways.
Online bachelor’s business management degree students may also be able to pursue an internship or other experiential learning courses. Four-year undergraduate management degree programs can offer students options such as co-op learning, where they spend every other term working full-time for a company. Their degrees take much longer to complete this way, but they graduate with loads of practical experience. Then there are accelerated MBA programs that students complete in five years, resulting in savings of both time and money.
Online Master's Degree in Business Management (MS or MC)
These days, a master’s in business management degree is increasingly necessary for long-term success. An MS in management or an MBA can help management professionals rise through the ranks of their firms, while adding more figures to their paycheck. However, students need to determine which degree option is the best for them.
The master’s business management degree is a terrific option for those who want to study management exclusively. Depending on one's business goals, this may be the perfect choice. On the other hand, the MBA is highly valued in the C-suites. This is because it's a more well-rounded business degree that steeps students in business fundamentals for the first year and then allows them to focus on management as their second-year concentration. However, there are also dual-MBA degrees that allow students to complete a second master’s on top of their MBA, but within a protracted period of time. A dual-MBA program is very intensive, though, and students will not likely be able to work during their time in school.
Online PhD Degree in Business Management (PhD)
An online PhD or doctorate degree that focuses on management practices is rather rare in the business community. Most in business place a higher premium on business experience than theoretical discussions or approaches. However, since business master’s degrees are increasingly popular, a doctorate may be the perfect way to differentiate oneself in the job market or to move into education.
There are also other options for a doctorate that are more highly valued in business. For instance, a worker with a doctorate that focuses on data science, such as mathematics or computer science, will be snapped up perhaps even before they finish their dissertation. Businesses even hire PhDs to conduct research, much like they did in school. Cryptography experts, for instance, continue to explore that topic and hand over all of the resulting intellectual property to their employer.
A PhD in management is also helpful for a career in academia. While it is possible to teach with a master’s degree, a PhD will pave the way to a tenure-track position and a long-term, secure position with an Oregon university.
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Become a Business Manager in Oregon
Business careers are very popular in Oregon. Perhaps this is because there are so many varieties of business and business management positions that people see that they will be able to find the perfect niche for themselves. Plus, it only makes sense to seek a career where the most money is available. However, Oregon students might still be wondering how to become a business management professional. In fact, there are many ways.
The path to become a business management professional in Oregon usually starts in high school. In those years, students are learning more and more about the wider world and the possibilities that they can explore. To help prepare for a business career, high school students can take business-related courses while still in high school. There are schools that offer courses in accounting, management, and general business. High school students may also take jobs in their community that provide hands-on experience working in businesses.
High school students who are interested in a career in business should also consider augmenting their schoolwork with extra online courses. There are innumerable free and affordable business courses available online. Students can also find in-depth discussions of business and finance on YouTube and other platforms. However, it's vital that they seek out sources that have bona fide credentials and not random YouTubers who spout unfounded opinions.
Toward the end of high school, students should seek out business management degree programs in Oregon's colleges and universities. They should ensure that their top picks all hold at least regional accreditation from CHEA-approved agencies. They should also consider business degree programs that hold programmatic accreditation from AACSB or ACBSP.
Once in college, students should seek to augment their management studies with electives or minor concentrations that inform their business ambitions. These days, students might want to consider a few courses in information technology or computer science. It will also be a terrific benefit to take courses in interpersonal communication and writing. Even creative writing courses can help students develop their approach to business strategy and formulating a narrative for their work.
Careers for Business Management Graduates
- Sales Manager:
These business management professionals often don't need a specific degree in management. Rather, they need strong experience in sales, especially in their industry, selling specific products. Sales managers need strong communication skills and the ability to motivate others to sell and reach ever-higher sales targets. - Financial Analyst:
Financial analysts generally come from college degree programs in finance or accounting. They may also have strong computing skills, including programming. In the investment banking community, financial analysts are fresh from an undergraduate program and spend two years in their analyst position. However, there are business professionals who spend their careers in analyst positions with banks or large firms that need continued assessments of their finances as well as those of their competition. - Project Manager:
These management professionals are in charge of ensuring that each person on a project is on track with deadlines and deliverables. They may work in IT, where they assemble teams of technology workers to solve problems for their firm or that of a client. There are also project managers who oversee architectural or other construction projects. - Marketing Manager:
Every marketing campaign is comprised of multiple parts. There are market analysts who crunch the numbers, graphic artists who design materials, and copywriters who help create the tone of a marketing campaign. Marketing managers coordinate the entire marketing team with the goal of boosting sales for their firm or their client. - Administrative Assistant:
These business professionals are at the front lines of enterprise. They may assist a large team of professionals, or they may work exclusively for a single executive in the C-suites. Administrative assistants support professionals with typing tasks, fielding phone calls, and organizing meetings. A strong administrative assistant is vital to business success and those with deep knowledge of business will do well in these roles.Search Programs Offering Business Management Majors
- Management Information System Specialist:
These business professionals sit at the conjunction of business and information technology. To succeed in this position, they need strong communication skills, deep technical knowledge, and keen business insights. They act as a bridge between technology and traditional business functions. To launch a career in this field, students should look for MIS degree programs. - Benefits Specialist:
These professionals typically work in a human resources department for a larger firm. However, there are also benefits specialists who work as consultants for firms that cannot support a full-time human resources department. Benefits specialists spend their time researching healthcare and other benefits packages for their clients or fellow employees. They need strong communication and negotiation skills to find the best price and package for their team. - Non-Profit Manager:
To succeed as a non-profit manager, most pursue the same sorts of degrees and credentials as their for-profit counterparts. Non-profit managers may have other things to focus on, however. Non-profit organizations need to continually seek out donations or grants to fund their projects. Thus, non-profit managers may be called upon to help with fundraisers on top of their daily duties where they may manage a team of employees and volunteers.