What Will I Learn in an Online Associate Business Degree?

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.

If you’re planning a long-term career in business, you may already be researching what a business administration degree covers. Understanding what is business administration is the cornerstone of this research, offering insight into the role it plays in shaping successful careers.

You’re certainly not alone – business degrees are one of the most popular types of online degrees. There’s a good reason for this popularity: many employers are seeking qualified candidates with the necessary business skills to fill vital positions in their organizations. This trend underscores the importance of mastering the business management basics that are at the heart of these programs.

As a result, many students are choosing to study business administration and earn a college degree, whether it’s an associate degree or a bachelor’s.

So then you may be wondering: what will I learn in an associate degree in business program? What types of classes will I be taking? What areas will I be studying? In essence, you'll delve into what are the fundamentals of business — concepts that are the lifeblood of any corporate venture. We’re here to answer all your questions about business administration programs!

What is business administration?

This common query, what is business administration, seeks to demystify the broad scope of activities that define the field. Business administration is the work of managing the resources and people in an organization engaged in commercial enterprise. The work includes every aspect of overseeing and managing business operations.

A business administrator makes sure that the business or organization is running smoothly, efficiently, and profitably. Business management professionals may work directly in upper or middle management, finance, operations, human resources, or marketing.

Having a wide range of skills is what can set you apart from other business professionals, particularly those skills including:

• Leadership
• Entrepreneurship
• Marketing
• Accounting
• Finance
• Sales
• Data Analysis
• Project Management
• IT Management
• Human Resources
• Accounting

A business administration educational program teaches students how businesses function and gives them the necessary skills to provide oversight to a department or organization. Students learn skills like communication, operations, finance, management, and human resources. After completing a business administration degree program, graduates should be prepared for a business position in an organization. After all, a proficient business management professional is a great asset to any company!

What concepts will I learn as a business administration student?

A robust business administration degree program will prepare students for a career in business management. It is designed to impart business management basics while fostering an adaptable mindset for the dynamic business landscape. Some of the things you might learn in a strong business degree program are accounting, internal business principles, marketing, human resource management, and an overview of business finance and economics.

Following this foundational knowledge, one might wonder, how does a business degree program stay current with industry trends? Such programs are anchored in the fundamentals of business, ensuring graduates are adept at navigating both time-tested principles and emerging trends. Programs like the one offered by Campus, with its online associate degree in business, ensure that their curriculum is career-focused and regularly updated. That way, graduates of our program can walk away with knowledge that reflects the latest practices in the business world and a solid foundation in basic concepts including

• Human Resources
• Business Management
• Marketing
• Finance and Accounting
• Entrepreneurship

Students who complete the business administration degree program at Campus will be able to do the following:

• Apply an understanding of global and economic, social, and environmental trends to issues and developments in the current business environment.
• Demonstrate an understanding of ethical decision making based on knowledge, self-awareness, and critical thinking skills.
• Apply an understanding of the principles and best practices of management, human resources, finance, and marketing to analyze issues and problems, and contribute to continuous quality improvement efforts.
• Apply methods and materials of research to complete written projects based on business administration concepts and topics.
• Model behavior that reflects confidence, competence, and professionalism.

Classes in Business Administration Programs

What specific subjects are covered in a business degree? These classes lay the groundwork for what are the fundamentals of business, building a comprehensive understanding essential for any business professional. While the specific curriculum may vary from school to school, these classes are part of the requirements in most business administration degree programs in the United States.

Accounting

In accounting classes, students learn fundamental accounting principles and standards as prescribed by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). You will also learn accrual-based accounting for service industries, including the entire accounting cycle, procedures for the internal control of cash, using accrual-based accounting for merchandising businesses, the 10-column worksheet, financial statements (including Statement of Cash Flow), adjusting entries and closing entries.

Human Resources

In these classes, students will learn about the role and function of the Human Resources Department in a business environment. Some topics you will learn about include recruitment, selection, training, development, the compensation of employees, labor relations, health and safety, customer service, and equal opportunity and diversity. Students will learn about the issues, principles, and practices of HR and how it functions in an organization.

Business Management

In business management classes, students learn about the multiple roles of the business manager. Attention is given to the legal, ethical, and global context of today’s businesses and leadership. Business students are introduced to the concepts of leadership and planning, organizational structure, production and quality control, market trends, customer service, decision-making and change, and management information systems.

Students may also learn about starting, owning and operating a small business, entrepreneurial characteristics, developing a business plan, financial and legal considerations, developing goals, and management and leadership skills.

Finance

Basic finance classes teach students about finance for small businesses and non-profits, concepts of profitability analysis, financial statements, forecasting, capital management, budgeting, and the time value of money.

Marketing

These classes introduce the student to the basics of marketing including pricing, promotion, product development, advertising, and distribution strategies. An up-to-date marketing class will also provide current theory on consumer decision-making, customer service, international marketing, and market segmentation. Marketing is an ever-evolving field.

Strategic Management

A strategic management course will integrate the areas of general business studies, including marketing, finance, and management. Strategic business management focuses on the competitive strategy of an organization, examining issues central to long-term and short-term competitive position. By placing students in the roles of key decision-makers and stakeholders, in a classroom environment, they will practice solving problems related to developing or maintaining competitive advantages in a market segment.

General Education Courses

Many programs will require some of your coursework to include general education credits. These courses complement your specialized knowledge with a broader educational palette that reflects the fundamentals of business. These are courses that don’t directly tie to your major but are required so that you can have a more well-rounded education and to promote critical thinking. Many accrediting bodies also require programs to include some number of general education courses to ensure just that.

Specialty Courses

If you take business administration degree programs that have a specialized concentration, then you should also expect to take classes from that field of study. For example, business administration programs with a concentration in healthcare, finance, real estate, or law, then you would also have classes from the corresponding concentrations.

Does the curriculum of a business degree include practical experiences? Yes, many business degree programs, especially those designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the business world, incorporate practical experiences into their curriculum. The nature and extent of these experiences can vary significantly from program to program, including capstone projects, case studies, live projects with local businesses, and more, all aimed at bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world application.

The Importance of Accreditation

It is strongly recommended that you seek out accredited programs like Campus, because those have vetted curriculum with a track record of well-trained alumni. Regional accreditation is the preferred type of accreditation in the United States.

Just as importantly, federal financial aid is available to students who enroll in accredited programs. Employers tend to look for candidates who have completed a business admin degree program from an accredited college or university.

While there are many business programs out there to choose from, depending on your goals, you might want to take accreditation into consideration, as that may have a substantial impact on your finances as well as your prospects for transferring.

Earn Your Business Administration Degree Online at Campus

If you are planning on pursuing a degree in business administration, Campus currently offers an online business administration program to earn your A.A. degree and start your business career! Our associate degree in business program allows learners from across the country to complete their associate degree, giving students the opportunity to do all the coursework from home and preparing them for entry-level positions in office and business administration.