If you're considering going back to school for a business degree, you have more options than ever to choose from. Browse through these frequently asked questions to explore the right path for your career and find a UMass Global program that helps you achieve your goals.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A business administration degree provides the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in nearly any industry. Graduates can work in healthcare, technology, finance, government, and education. Most institutions offer undergraduate and graduate-level business degrees in various specializations, and some even extend to the doctoral level. Explore UMass Global’s full range of business programs.

A high-quality business degree should be structured to teach you the skills needed to be competitive in the workforce. Core concepts include financial reporting, ethical decision-making, organizational communication, leadership, and principles of management. Students can also align their program with their career goals by specializing in a certain area. 

You’ll graduate with a high-demand skill set that includes:

  • Functional competence: Analyze and execute core business operations and strategic processes in diverse corporate environments.
  • Global perspective: Apply cross-cultural insights and core business processes across domestic and global environments.
  • Strategic communication: Demonstrate advanced oral and written communication proficiency across varied organizational and professional settings.
  • Business ethics: Identify ethical conflicts to construct defensible, compliant resolutions across diverse corporate landscapes.
  • Data-driven decision-making: Apply business intelligence tools and technology to analyze data, optimize operations, and provide strategic leadership.

Common courses in most bachelor’s-level programs include statistics, management, finance, accounting, organizational communications, operations management, leadership, and professional ethics. You can often choose from a range of electives to customize your degree. An MBA also has similar concepts but digs deeper into more advanced concepts within each field.

A traditional bachelor’s in business can take up to four years, and an MBA up to three.
 

With a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, you can explore diverse career paths. Common options include: 

  • Business analyst: Analyzing data, identifying trends, and making informed business recommendations
  • Marketing manager: Planning and executing marketing strategies to promote products or services
  • Human resources manager: Overseeing employee recruitment, training, performance management, and organizational development
  • Financial analyst: Evaluating financial data, conducting investment research, and providing financial guidance
  • Operations manager: Optimizing processes, managing resources, and ensuring efficient business operations

The specific career path you choose may depend on your interests, specialization, and additional qualifications you may acquire. Discover more paths with our 9 Different Types of Business Degrees and Career Paths blog post.

An MBA can be beneficial in several ways. Earning one can help you achieve your long-term career goals, increase your earning potential, expand your professional network and even allow you to break into a new field.

Considered the gold standard in business, an MBA can help increase professional opportunities and even earning potential. Adding a specialization can help align curriculum with a certain career path. Example positions for MBA grads include financial analyst, risk solutions architect, health services manager, marketing director, benefits specialists, and more. Explore your options by checking out our resource "MBA specializations and why you should consider pursuing one."