8 Misconceptions About Business Administration

Campus is the new alternative to online community college that provides a 100% live and online Associate of Arts in Business Administration degree program. Our comprehensive, career-focused business program equips students from across the U.S. with a solid foundation in core business principles to set them up for success no matter what their next step is. Read on to explore the world of business and how starting with a business degree might be your next best move.

“You’ve got to be great at math to get a business degree.”

“You’ll never climb the ladder if you study business administration.”

“Your background won’t impress hiring managers.”

These are a few of the more common misconceptions about business administration. The truth is that pursuing a business administration program can open doors in many fields. Explore the real insights that debunk myths about this dynamic discipline as we shed light on the real value and versatility of business administration.

After all, there's a reason we offer an online associate degree in business administration program at Campus!

Let’s begin.

Misconception 1: Business administration is boring.

Sure, you do have to learn quite a few basic principles about running a business successfully. However, the learning process is filled with information about many business sectors – human resources, finance, marketing, accounting, customer service, management, and entrepreneurship – and gives you in-demand business skills you can carry with you throughout your career.

It’s also impossible to name a major that does not require learning foundational knowledge. It’s all a part of the learning process. Business administration is no different!

Misconception 2: You’ll never advance from an entry-level position.

If you hear that you’ll only be an office clerk or receptionist, that is not correct. With a degree in business administration, you may even bypass those positions because you will have a broad scope of business knowledge behind you.

Although many who are senior-level business admins have advanced degrees, many have also worked their way up the ladder. When you study business administration, you may boost yourself up through the ranks because you

• Increase your self-confidence by developing interpersonal skills to help you deal with people
• Improve your communication and listening skills by learning to write reports and emails, deliver presentations, and negotiate with customers and colleagues
• Become an involved team player working in a collaborative environment
• Learn to provide excellent customer service by understanding your company’s services and how to best present them to your audience and satisfy their needs
• Solve problems and make decisions that can help your company grow and profit
• Exert your creativity by presenting new ideas and making innovations that make an impact

Misconception 3: Business administration is not an “in-demand”career.

Exploring common misconceptions about management reveals the varied career paths available to business administration graduates. According to O*NET Online, jobs in business administration, which includes entry-level business administration jobs, are projected to grow faster than average through 2026. Your education will provide familiarity with human resources and business management, marketing, finance and accounting, and the legal environment of modern business. You can apply your knowledge in nearly every industry.

Misconception 4: Business administration is only appropriate if you want to work for a corporation.

This is also not true. Although business administration nicely prepares you to work within a corporation, you can also work in government, retail, advertising, health care, market research, nonprofit, insurance, real estate, manufacturing, service firms and hospitality.

Your skills are transferable. While you may be a “generalist” when you graduate, you can soon become a “specialist” because of the versatility your education provides. You may get a first job in a hospital, for example, and decide that you want to focus on business admin possibilities in health care. The possibilities are endless.

Misconception 5: Career options in business administration are limited.

This couldn’t be further from the truth! Getting the education is just the start. Understanding what to know about business administration can dispel many misconceptions people have about the field. There are so many different career paths you could choose. You could become an accounting technician, an airline customer service agent, a facility manager, a restaurant manager, human resources administrator, special events coordinator, account manager, property manager, credit analyst, marketing director and more. The skills and knowledge you learn can apply to a wide range of positions.

Because your education gives you knowledge of so many components of business, your job search can cross multiple boundaries and fields. You will have a broad set of transferable skills. If you become a student in our online associate in business program, you’ll have access to exclusive career workshops and events and 1:1 sessions to build your resume, develop interviewing skills, and explore career pathways as part of the Campus student experience.

Misconception 6: Once you start your business administration program, you must have a career plan.

You may know exactly what you want to do once you graduate, but this program is actually also ideal for someone who doesn’t really have specific career ambitions. As you study, you may find that you prefer human resources to finance, or marketing to management. You have the opportunity to explore and develop your passion. You might be surprised with what you learn about yourself!

Misconception 7: You’ll be stuck in a traditional 9-to-5 job.

Some companies still prefer this type of arrangement, but the trend in today’s workplace is toward the non-traditional, with flexible hours, job sharing, telecommuting, and even shortened workdays. Of course, everyone has their preferred work environment. Just don’t box yourself to one kind solely based on what you studied. Depending on where you work, you may have options!

Misconception 8: You must be good with numbers and math.

Although part of running a business involves accounting and financial skills, you are not limited to those fields as a business administrator. Business majors stereotypes often overlook the diverse range of skills and knowledge students acquire in their programs. Organizational skills and attention to detail – keeping track of the numbers – are more important than knowing the math itself. As part of your business administration curriculum, you will learn the basics of accounting and finance to help make yourself more competitive in the job market regardless.

Become a Skilled Business Administration Professional

If you think the versatility of a business administration career might be for you, consider studying at Campus. Our online associate degree in business program provides you with business training in general administrative skills and the principles of business management.

When you have an opportunity to get hands-on experience, you learn better. That’s one of our signature training methods. Since your instructors have worked in business, they share their experiences with you and put you into real-world scenarios that you may well be faced with once you enter the business workplace – all through our online community college alternative so you can study from wherever you need to be.

Campus prepares you with the training and skills you need to confidently work in business. The skills you earn are easily adaptable to any type of business, and they provide a foundation for job growth.

There’s no time like the present to begin your business administration career training! Request more information about our online business program today.