University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate, trustworthy rankings and resources for business management students.
The general undergraduate student body has plenty of academic resources which provide assistance to business students in almost every demographic group. If they need help polishing their communication skills, seek opportunities for professional development, or need help with career planning and academics, students are able to reach out and ask for help from one of the organizations created for their needs.
School isn’t cheap for anyone. Business majors can find grants or scholarships that meet their needs, helping them to pay for a little more of their education. Throughout their school years and into the beginning of their careers, students can network through business-oriented associations. Finally, reading journals and business-oriented newspapers helps them to relate learning to actual events.
If you’re looking for access to any of these vital business resources, you’re in the right place.
Resources for Business Management Students
Understanding Accreditation
Accreditation is vital for every student in every business degree program. Without this programmatic or regional recognition, students may find it more difficult to find a position that pays well. They may also have difficulty transferring their credits to a different school. And, schools and degree programs that don’t hold that special recognition lock students out of qualifying for federal financial aid. Business degree programs with accreditation offer true value to their students.
The US Department of Education maintains a list of accrediting organizations that accredit various business programs. Students can check this list to verify the quality of a program they are considering. Accreditation tells a student that the school or program they are interested in has the high quality standards for which they are looking. Every few years, an institution or degree program is required to submit visible proof that the programs they offer are changing and improving, rather than remaining static.
Here are some accrediting bodies and places to check if your school is accredited:
Questions About Financial Aid
Financial aid options are some of the biggest considerations a business major considers. Can they qualify for financial aid? If they do qualify, will they receive enough to help pay for college? Students who have a demonstrable financial need will qualify for at least some state and federal grants. To prove this need, they have to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
Should students in an undergraduate business degree program try to get student loans? They can, but they will have to begin repaying them, either while they are in school (repaying interest only) or after graduation (repaying interest and principal).
Grants and scholarships offer something close to free money, because they don’t have to be repaid. They allow students to go to school without worrying about debt piling up behind the scenes. Some students may not be able to afford school without this vital assistance—tuition, fees, books, school supplies, room and board.
The best-known need-based grant is the PELL Grant, provided by the federal government. Some grants are based on merit, which means the student’s high school GPA, ACT, and/or SAT scores are considered. Extracurricular activities and accomplishments may also be considered. Other available grants include those offered strictly to students majoring in business and business-related majors such as marketing, economics, accounting, or finance.
Business scholarships are most often based on merit. Students who have unique qualifications such as ethnicity, hobbies, special needs, being a single parent with dependent children, or being a member of an under-represented group may also qualify students for scholarships they weren’t aware of. The key here is to look for every type of scholarship so the student wins more money for school.
Once you exhaust your options with grants and scholarships, you may want to look into federal loan programs or personal loans to fill any gaps in your funding. However, students should be very careful with any type of loan, not just personal private loans. While federal loans have better payback options, the payments may end up barely covering interest when you take the lowest options, meaning your debt grows even when you’re paying it off. With personal loans, the interest rates can be exorbitant if neither you nor your co-signer has a good credit score or history. While these may be unavoidable options, you must be very careful when deciding which loans to pursue. These loans will make up your debt at the end of your academic career.
Business Management Associations for Students
Business majors who are still in their undergraduate programs have the opportunity to become members of business organizations; either those meant specifically for students or with a student membership to an organization you will be a part of throughout your career. These organizations provide definite benefits to students: they learn more, can obtain legal advocacy, and are constantly updated on the most recent industry trends. Most importantly, these students can begin to network while they are still in school—a benefit that will continue past graduation.
- American Management Association
Undergraduate business majors who want to work as executives will do well in this organization. Here, they learn about the best and newest management practices. - Association for Finance Professionals
This association, located in Washington, DC, works to promote members who work in finance and treasury, as well as their employers. AFP established the Certified Treasury Professional and Certified Corporate FP&A professional credentials, helping to keep high standards of excellence in both fields. - World Federation of People Management Association
This professional network is worldwide, focusing on professionals who manage individual persons. WFPMA was founded in 1976 and consists mainly of continental organizations made up of almost 100 national human resource associations and representing more than 600,000 professionals. - Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals in Business
IMA is made up of management accountants, who make vital decisions, protect their employer’s integrity, and enable business sustainability. Members may be budget analysts, CFOs, or treasurers. - Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA)
PIHRA works to engage human resource professionals in the state by using innovational programming, professional development and networking opportunities.
Student or Open Access Journals
Undergraduate students in business management are responsible for reading material that is noticeably more difficult than the materials they read in high school. If they are assigned business management journal articles, they will have to focus more and have at least a little background knowledge as they read. Journal articles are particularly challenging because the text of each article is so different from what students have ever known. To be able to understand what they are reading, students should have a good subject-specific vocabulary, some background knowledge, know how to discern the purpose of the article, and how to read research.
Below you will find some of the best open source journals on business administration available. By spending time on these types of text outside of the classroom, you will be more prepared for your in-class readings, be able to bring unique ideas to the table as you go through your projects for school, and be prepared to keep yourself up to date on new research and methods as you make your name in the world of business.
- Journal of Management and Business Administration
- Academy of Management Journal
- Administrative Science Quarterly
- Journal of Management
- Journal of Business Research
Business Management Study Resources
Knowing what business management study resources are available, and being plugged into those resources on a daily basis, allows a student to be more successful. More importantly, you’ll need to know whether the information in these resources is up-to-date, pertinent to their field, and accurate. Having the right knowledge at hand when you begin internships and job searches will impress internship managers and future employers. Here are some good resources for you as a business major.
- Leadership Skills in Business
An online course that teaches the basics of leadership needed by successful entrepreneurs. Learn to organize a company, hire a team, and manage people. - Analytic Techniques for Business Specialization
Learn to refocus business challenges as data questions. Learn how to use tools such as Tableau, My SQL, and Excel as you analyze data, design visualizations, and express new insights.
Popular Apps
Mobile apps are go-to items for a large part of the population, particularly students. For business management students, the right apps can help them to improve productivity, organize papers, complete an accounting spreadsheet for class, or just work as a study planner that helps them organize everything related to their classes.
Given that students spend at least an hour a day on their phones, it’s a natural progression to use it to help them keep up with their class materials and assignments. From Android to iPhone, smartphones act as mini-computers, carrying slide presentations, alarms, papers in progress, and apps to help manage finances. While spending that much time on their mobile devices may lead others to think that students are wasting their time, students know otherwise. If they maintain their commitment to their studies, these students may soon graduate with top GPAs.
- Microsoft Office Suite
This suite comes filled with everything students need, including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. - iStudiez Pro Legendary Planner
This is the mobile version of the traditional notebook planner. Instead of carrying around a heavy notebook, students can download this app to their Android devices. - Quickbooks Accounting
You don’t need to worry about being a math or accounting expert. This app allows you to make invoices, show profits and losses, and manage cash flow and expenses. - Wolfram Alpha
Loaded with data and algorithms, this app allows you to generate reports for your classes. - Grammarly
This app actively goes through your writing as you are working, making suggestions for you.
Internships
No matter your major, internships can play a vital role in your future career. However, for business majors, this can be a huge turning point. You could end up with a stellar mentor or find the company that you will give you your first job out of the gate. No matter what you’re looking for in an internship, it’s important to make the decision carefully. However, where are you supposed to look? Here are some options if you are looking to land an internship outside the umbrella of what your school might be able to help you find.
Companies across the US have business internships for students who are looking for real-life experience. This helps them turn their theoretical learning into something valuable. If a company you’re interested in offers you an internship, check it out and grab that opportunity with both hands! These opportunities aren’t long-lasting, generally running from one to four months. Caution: if you are an unpaid intern, your work cannot replace work done by a paid employee, per US law.
- InternAbroad:
If you are interested in International Business, there’s no reason not to look for an internship with this company that will help you match with companies looking for international business interns. - Idealist.org:
This website is focused on non-profit internships, an invaluable opportunity for those of you who are looking to gain experience in this area.
Explore Business Management Careers
Resources for Students and Professionals
Business Management Certification Options
Even as a student, you can opt to earn certifications that you believe will assist you to gain experience for a future career. No matter what you future career plans are, you are likely to find a certification program that will help you reach that goal.
If you have already graduated from college, a certification program can help you to gain knowledge you need for a future promotion or even that job you plan to apply for. Even if you don’t plan on moving to another company, a certification in a new area of knowledge can only help you.
- PMP - Project Management Professional
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
- VMware Certified Professional 6.5 - Data Center Virtualization (VCP6.5-DCV
- Citrix Certified Associate - Virtualization (CCA-V)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Additional Helpful Resources:
- GRE vs. GMAT
- Writing a Statement of Purpose
- Writing a Personal Statement
Resources for Business Management Professionals
Professional Business Management Associations
Joining a professional association for business management professionals is one way to advance in your field. You’ll get many benefits from joining, so it’s a good idea to explore the various business management associations. If your field is healthcare management, for instance, you’ll be able to meet with like-minded individuals who are passionate about promoting the medical association for which they work. You’ll be able to network with fellow association members, become active in your industry, and have the opportunity to learn about upcoming legislative rulings and bills, technological advances, and new industry trends.
Popular Business Management Journals
Even though you are no longer in school, you should definitely continue to read professional journals. Your learning does not and should not stop as you walk across the stage in your cap and gown. By continuing to read and learn about new developments in your specialty, you’ll make yourself more valuable to your employer, which may mean a promotion in the future.
- MIS Quarterly:
The objective of this journal is to enhance and communicate knowledge surrounding the development of IT-based services and their management as they are impacted by organizational, managerial, and societal concerns. - Personnel Psychology:
This journal publishes psychological research focusing on people as they work. Fields touched on include organizational behavioral topics, human resource management, and selection and recruiting, among others. - Journal of Management:
- Journal of Small Business Management:
Industry Conferences for Business Management Professionals
It is vital for those involved in business management to attend industry conferences. While they do cost significant funds, the return on your investment can be much greater. Managers and their attending staff will learn about, discuss, and bring back research and news about developments in their specialties. They may also make connections that may prove valuable to their firm and gain exposure to new audiences.
Meet-and-greets can be valuable events for managers to speak about what their organization is doing. They may even get the chance to meet with industry experts, some who have big names in their field. Managers will refine and develop their skills, as well as learn new skills that are critical to their daily work. With or without workshops, these events are excellent opportunities to learn and train.
Having the opportunity to meet and talk with other management professionals serves to inspire leaders who may feel their motivation dipping or flagging. It’s a change and can refresh your outlook on your business, employees, and more.
- One21 Experience:
This conference is a 21st century experience, featuring the best-known speakers and personalities. An expo will be included, featuring services and products from industry partners. - NJRPA Annual Conference:
This annual conference is aimed at not-for-profit organizations who work to promote parks and recreation. The professional development of its members is encouraged; in addition, sound policy and stewardship surrounding parks and recreation is stressed. - National Business Officers Association Meeting:
Aimed at CFOs, this conference also encourages business and operational leaders in regular and non-profit K-12 schools to engage in a 3-day meeting to discuss the challenges and issues your independent school faces. - Field Service Medical Conference:
This event invites more than 200 medical device service and support executives, innovators, and thought leaders to discuss and debate the regulatory environment and other factors that pose challenges to a market that is highly saturated.