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What is Business Administration?
Texas is a state for business. After all, the state is home to the world's 10th largest economy, is home to the oil and gas industry that dominates global commerce, and has a business culture that continually diversifies and innovates to meet new challenges. The state's economy is led by its manufacturing industry, which also happens to be #2 for manufacturing nationwide. In fact, of Texas' top ten industries, all of them are in the top three for the United States. Unsurprisingly, Texas' mining, quarrying, and oil/gas exploration industry is the nation's leader, while enjoying the #4 spot for the Texan economy as a whole.
A business administrator is a professional who typically works in some form of commercial interest. Their employer is most likely a for-profit enterprise that is engaged in the production and sale of some form of good or service. For instance, an operations manager in a manufacturing facility is one sort of business administrator, as is the CEO of that same firm. It's worth noting that many business administrators work for non-profit organizations or government agencies where their job duties are often similar to their for-profit equals.
Regardless of their industry or their employer's tax status, most business administration professionals work on computers in office buildings. This may be shifting somewhat since many workers are starting to conduct most, if not all, of their work from home. Many business administration professionals also travel for their work, depending on their specific job description and the size of their firm.
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Online Business Administration Education in Texas
So it goes without saying that anyone interested in a business administration career should look at Texas as a potential home base. The state also understands that it needs to support its global leadership with a steady stream of business administration professionals from its business colleges and universities. The state pours resources into these educational efforts. State funded colleges and universities are encouraged to attract not only the best faculty members but also the best business administration students.
Since Texas' economy is led by its manufacturing sector, Texan college and universities strive to support business administration degree programs that concentrate on project management. They also have project management concentrations in their MBA programs. There are degrees that prepare business administration students to become leaders in the oil and gas exploration field, as well. However, since electric cars are on the rise, Texas' business administration students are learning more and more about how to mine and extract the minerals necessary for car batteries, while also studying supply chain management issues with regard to electric vehicles.
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From its community colleges through its world-class MBA programs, Texas' online college programs seek out the very best faculty members. Not only do they look for top academic credentials in terms of degrees and publications but also actual business experience. A well-balanced program will have top academics but also former executives on faculty. In fact, sometimes a jet-set business executive will take a semester, if not an academic year, to teach at a favorite university. It may be particularly valuable to have executives from the Texas economy on faculty to provide students with insights into how business is done in the Lone Star State.
Online Associate Degree in Business Administration (AS)
A community college is a great option for budding business administration professionals. A two-year degree requires that students learn the core knowledge and skill sets that all college students must learn. Their concentration courses can focus on business administration topics such as management, marketing, or accounting, among other options. In fact, those who are unsure of what specific sort of business career they'd like, an accounting degree might be the most useful. This is because nearly every business professional can make use of general accounting skills.
A two-year degree can help a student launch a career with an entry-level position, but it has other value, too. That is, every >associate business administration degree requires that students complete the core liberal arts curriculum found in any bachelor's degree program. Further, community colleges charge far less per credit hour, which means that those first two years of college come at a terrific discount, without compromising the quality of the academics.
Online Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration (BS or BBA)
To ensure best success, students should make a bachelor's business administration degree (BBA) their top priority. Most employers are looking to hire the best, most well-prepared entry-level workers, so they need to see resumes with a bachelor's degree. This is especially true for more technical job descriptions and career paths such as data science, finance, and certain managerial positions. Nevertheless, a bachelor's degree is always a terrific boon no matter what sort of job is at stake.
The four-year degree has such value because, over those years, students are required to take courses that dig deep into the subject matter. Their courses require deep and original research into business topics, and they also have to complete many group projects. After all, business is about more than numbers on a spreadsheet, it's about relationships. Students can also build relationships in the business community when they complete internships. Finally, bachelor's degree students can also complete a minor concentration in a field related to business such as economics, mathematics, or even sociology.
Online Master's Degree in Business Administration (MS or MBA)
The brass ring of business education is the MBA. In fact, many undergraduate business students are already applying for an MBA program before they graduate with a bachelor's degree. This is because the business community wants the best-prepared candidates for their positions. It's also a great idea to complete an MBA concurrently with a bachelor's degree, as in an accelerated MBA program, or immediately following one's undergraduate years. This is because the degree is an evergreen commodity that the business community will always value.
The first year of an MBA is spent in a general business curriculum, albeit at the graduate level. For this year, students should take courses in fields that they are most interested in, but also those in which they need to learn more. The second year is then spent focused on a specific concentration area such as marketing, management, supply chain management, information technology, leadership, or entrepreneurship, among many other options.
Online PhD Degree in Business Administration (PhD)
Though not typically valued in the business community, a PhD nevertheless can have great value in a career. Fields such as IT and finance in particular may reward those with a doctorate since they are complex subjects. It may also have increasing value as the business world is increasingly filled with MBAs and other graduate degrees. That is, hiring executives may see the limited supply of doctorates as an indication of high value.
However, the PhD is currently most valuable as a pathway to a career in academia. Those who are interested in pursuing a doctorate should look to a specialized MS or MA program for their master’s degree. That is because they'll need the strongest background in their specialty area before they move into their PhD courses.
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Become a Business Administrator in Texas
Texas offers many opportunities for students to become business administration professionals. The state's economy is enormous and very diverse. While Texas may have once been primarily an oil state, it has grown to support manufacturing, agriculture, real estate, and even high-tech startups that hold the promise of tomorrow. So, here’s how those who are interested can get started on their way to becoming business administration professionals.
Perhaps the first step is to identify one's strongest talents. No matter if that is art, writing, mathematics, or accounting, there will be a place in the business community that highly values those skills. However, most positions will look for skills dealing with mathematics, computers, or accounting. Regardless of where one finds their true strength, they should still cultivate it with an eye to its utility in the business community. For instance, a born poet might consider how they can focus their wordsmithing into copywriting, grant writing, or business communications.
A degree will help to strengthen and focus those skills, and Texas students have many business degree programs to pick from. Those who are looking to save a bit of money and/or launch a career early should consider a Texas community college and an associate business degree program. In two years, a student can graduate with a business administration degree that they can apply in an entry-level position. Community college credit hours are cheaper than four-year institutions, so those who still want a bachelor's degree can do so but at lower overall cost.
In fact, students should prioritize a bachelor's, or even a master’s, degree as their best route toward success in business. Employers place a higher value on these degrees, and they allow students more time to explore the topics that will guide their careers. Once a student has their MBA, they will likely find higher salaries, faster promotions, and perhaps even an eventual spot in the C-suites.
Keep in mind that even an MBA has a place in governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. These entities need managers, marketing geniuses, and accountants just like any for-profit concern. Business administration professionals can also consider starting their own concern. Entrepreneurship may come after many years of experience as employees, though there are undergraduate and graduate programs that focus solely on entrepreneurial endeavors. Savvy young business professionals might start small and build large empires, given the proper training.
Careers for Business Administration Graduates
- Maintenance Manager:
These managerial professionals often work as part of a property management concern. The job entails monitoring their properties for regular maintenance as well as emergency events. Maintenance managers often earn their position after a few years of work as a maintenance worker, but it will certainly help to have an associate management degree or some other college level business training. - Accounting Associate:
This position is mostly found in accounting firms, but larger accounting departments may also hire for this job description. Accounting associates usually have a bachelor's accounting degree or some equivalent experience in bookkeeping. Many accounting associates hold a bachelor's accounting degree and are preparing to take their CPA examination. - Branch Manager, Banking:
Students of finance may land a position as a bank branch manager. This position requires strong leadership skills, deep knowledge of how credit works, and the ability to effectively lead their team of personal bankers, tellers, and other personnel. With experience and/or an MBA in finance, a bank branch manager might become a regional manager or even secure a spot in the corporate offices. - Non-Profit Director:
Though non-profits aren't often considered alongside profit driven businesses, a non-profit director can benefit greatly from a business degree, even an MBA. Non-profit directors may be considered equivalent to a corporate, for-profit CEO or managing director. Their experience and leadership help organizations raise funds and develop into increasingly effective members of their communities. - Digital Marketing Manager/Director:
This job usually calls for many years of experience and/or an MBA in marketing. Digital marketing managers need to have a comprehensive understanding of web development, social media, web design, and data science.Search Programs Offering Business Administration Majors
- Team Supervisor, Call Center:
This is a management position that is often given to a call center team member who demonstrates strong leadership skills. To thrive in this position, it's necessary to have a thorough understanding of the work at hand and the ability to motivate their team members to achieve higher levels of excellence. - Project Manager:
To excel in this position, students should earn a degree in management with a focus on project management. Given the increasing popularity of this position and the attendant competitive nature of the field, it's recommended that entry-level project managers seek certifications that attest to their skills and professionalism. - Financial Advisor:
All over the internet, people who discuss stocks qualify their statements by saying, “This is not financial advice.” This is because financial advisors need specific credentials to give actual financial advice. There is no specific degree requirement for this license, but a background in finance will help.x - Supply Chain Manager:
These managers don't necessarily manage people, but rather their primary concern is with creating the most efficient path for their products to move through a system to their final destination. This may be through a manufacturing process or shipping from the far corners of the globe to a customer down the block.