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Texas is the state for business. In fact, the Lone Star state is the 10th largest economy in the world. As such, it is one of the largest state economies in the United States, perhaps second only to California. Texas is known for its strength in the oil and gas industry, but a state that big is also dominant in many other economic sectors. In fact, Texas' top industry is manufacturing, which is the second largest manufacturing sector nationwide. But they do also lead the nation in mining, quarrying, and oil/gas extraction.
A business professional is any person who works in an organization that strives to generate profit on its books and, often, value for its investors. Business professionals can be anyone from file clerks to the top level, C-suite executives. Business professionals can be high-tech workers such as programmers, supply chain managers, or database managers. Even an independent entrepreneur can be called a business professional even if they don't ever wear a suit or work from nine-to-five.
Thus, business professionals work in a wide variety of environments. While most do work on computers and report to an office for scheduled working hours, others operate small companies such as independent electricians or even mom-and-pop retailers, including record shop owners and food cart operators. Though they may spend much of their time doing the nitty-gritty work of their industry, they also must devote time to matters such as inventory, payroll, and other administrative matters that impact their bottom line.
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Online Business Education in Texas
Thus, a budding business leader in Texas has a wide range of options available to them. They could dive into construction, transportation, educational services, healthcare, or professional services, among other top choices. Within each of these industrial sectors, students will find that they can apply their business degrees to suit the nuances of their field. For instance, a human resources professional in a high-tech firm will need to recruit programmers and IT experts, while an HR professional in construction will need more savvy when it comes to seeking top foremen to manage either the carpenters, electricians, or plumbers.
To get a strong start in the Texas business community, most start with a college business degree. There are many choices in this area such as accounting, marketing, management, or management information systems. Students will find no shortage of community colleges and four-year degree programs that will provide strong training in their chosen field. To ensure that each of these students receives the very best education, Texas supports those programs with financial assistance and governmental oversight.
Texas' online programs thus strive to recruit and hire the very best business faculty the nation has to offer. They scour PhD programs to find experts whose research is the most applicable to their college of business or which will take the business program in a new direction. Texan business programs also look for local talent. They may seek area MBAs who wish to teach a course or two to undergraduate students. Locals are a great addition to any business degree program because they have intimate knowledge of the state's business climate. They may have specific knowledge of shipping in Houston or running a tech start-up in the Austin area. Such real-world knowledge can enlighten and inspire business students.
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Online Associate Degree in Business (AS)
One great way to launch a career in business is with an online associate business degree. Most community colleges offer a variety of majors that focus on business. Popular choices include, but aren't limited to, marketing, management, and accounting. For those who are undecided, but who have strong math skills, accounting may be the best choice. This is because businesses often run on spreadsheets. Furthermore, a two-year accounting degree can help students find work in bookkeeping, which is a skill that businesses always need.
An online associate business degree is also helpful from an even more practical standpoint: finances. Community colleges charge far less for credit hours, so students can complete their first two years of college for a discount. Since community colleges also require that students complete the core college curriculum as part of an associate business degree, students are also prepared to go on to complete their bachelor's business degree, if they choose.
Online Bachelor's Degree in Business (BS)
The most successful business careers start with a bachelor's business degree. A full four-year education includes more in-depth courses that challenge students to arrive at solutions that their less-trained colleagues might not be able to. Most four-year universities also provide more choices in terms of their business degree offerings. Not only can students major in management, but they might choose sports management. Accountants might specialize in forensic accounting or add a minor concentration in computer science or information technology.
These choices may also include experiential learning opportunities. Business students frequently complete internship programs. Many four-year institutions also support students with co-op degree programs. Co-op programs allow students to alternate terms, where one is spent studying and completing their business degree while the next term is spent working full-time. The work portion of a co-op program is always with the same firm, so students are able to build a solid base of experience in the business community.
Online Master's Degree in Business (MS)
Business careers always move into high gear after a master’s degree. Here, students can choose a two-year program that is dedicated to their specific career focus, such as marketing or management. Other students can choose an MBA, which starts with one year of general business courses, albeit at the graduate level, and then a year that focuses on the student's area of specialization. This degree is often considered the brass ring of business education.
While an MS that focuses on only one specialty will be a terrific boon, the MBA is perhaps more highly valued because those who earn an MBA have a more broad-based education. They are able to study not only their field, such as marketing, but they can also inform their work with courses in finance, human resources, investment banking, and more. This way they will have a more informed view when they reach the C-suite level in their firm.
Online PhD Degree in Business (PhD)
The business community doesn't often seek an online PhD for their corporate offices, but that could soon change. Since so many workers are earning their MBA, the next way that executives can differentiate themselves is either with a dual-MBA or a doctorate in business administration. Currently, businesses are more interested in PhD candidates in fields such as data science, computer science, and cryptography. These highly technical fields are in high demand, and many PhD candidates are even leaving their program prior to defending their thesis. They may realize that their research can be very valuable and form tech start-ups where they can maximize their personal earnings.
A doctorate in business is more often used in an academic career. Since the market is flooded with master's degrees, a PhD in a business area is all the more necessary when it comes to landing a tenure-track position with a college or university.
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Become a Business Development Specialist in Texas
Texas means business. The state has long dominated the oil and gas exploration market and it is also strong in agriculture, technology, and more. However, Texans are interested to learn how they can become a business professional in Texas. The short answer is that there are as many ways to approach a business career as there are businesspeople. A more complete answer starts with whether the person has a fundamental passion for a specific part of business.
Young students can start to identify their talents and understand how they might be useful in a business career. For instance, those with strong artistic talent might start looking into marketing and graphic design. Youngsters with a strong mathematical ability might start applying their knowledge and skill to stock market analysis. They might even start dabbling in accounting and finance.
While still in high school, future business leaders can take business related courses that will help them in the long run. Many high schools offer introductory courses in accounting and general business. Even if a high school doesn't offer such courses, students can still strive to take as many math courses as they can. Other students might not have such strong mathematical abilities so might want to take courses in sociology, literature, and communication. After all, many business leaders find their way with soft skills and hardly ever touch a spreadsheet.
As high school comes to a close, students need to start looking for the best business administration degree they can find. One of the primary criteria to look for is accreditation. This credential attests to the business degree program's academic strength. The basic standard for accreditation is the regional accreditation. A CHEA-approved regional agency can approve a program's overall academic strength, thus assuring students that their degrees will be of value. A higher standard of accreditation comes from a programmatic credential that verifies business programs exclusively. When a program has received accreditation from either the AACSB, ACBSP, or the IACBE, students can be assured that their degree will be recognized nationwide. Indeed, only the strongest business degree programs have these credentials.
When armed with a college business degree, students can choose either an MBA or the working world. Both options are valid, but all students should expect that they will need to continually learn throughout their careers. Accounting students, for instance, may need to take more credits than their undergraduate degrees required in order to qualify for a CPA license. Others may never re-enter academia but will need professional certifications to work in areas such as risk management or supply chain management.
Careers for Business Graduates
- Business Development Director:
This upper-level position requires a good deal of insight into coming trends and then the business knowledge to understand how one's firm needs to proceed in order to successfully exploit the new trend. Business development directors also need strong accounting skills to help the firm manage budgets, among other financial needs. - Human Resources Specialist:
This position is vital to the success of any firm. After all, no business can succeed without a strong body of workers. HR specialists need to know how to recruit, compensate, and maintain employees over a long time period. HR specialists may also need strong communication skills and the ability to mediate inter-employee conflicts. They may conduct trainings on matters related to employment law, among other matters pertinent to the firm's well-being. - Team Leader:
Workers who are interested in a career in management often start out as team leaders. This is can help their leadership abilities shine through and help them rise to the top of a department. Team leaders may have a variety of duties, but they are more often called to be added leadership and motivation for their team. After a period of success, many team leaders rise into a higher management position.Search Programs Offering Business Majors
- Administrative Assistant:
This job title can mean many different things. Many administrative assistants are receptionists who answer phones and prepare meeting rooms. Others are the right-hand person for a CEO and thus they need to have strong business skills to help their firm succeed. C-suite assistants are often quite well paid. They not only need strong typing and communication skills, but they may also need to help plan and manage corporate events including training sessions, golf outings, and year-end parties. - Financial/Business Analyst:
This position is often the entry-level job of budding corporate financiers. Investment banks hire fresh business degree graduates for a two-year intensive position as a financial analyst. After the two-year program ends, analysts then return for an MBA before returning for a career in investment banking. Then there are bankers who make their career as business analysts. They may assess businesses to see whether they are a good credit risk for their bank. - Account Manager:
This job title is found in many offices. Account managers essentially work with a client company to ensure that they are receiving what they need. Account managers may also serve a sales role in that they may seek to entice their clients to try new features or products they have on offer. In many situations, an account manager is also an intermediary who communicates the client's needs to the production team. - IT Director:
This position is often earned after several years in IT. An IT director may have a specialty area, such as database management, but also general knowledge of other matters such as networking, cyber security, or hardware solutions. IT Directors are more likely to be found in larger corporate entities where they oversee multiple IT departments.