What Can I Do with a Business Management Degree? Skills, Jobs, and Courses

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Undergraduate degrees in business management can prepare you for a successful career. Learn about the requirements for a business management major, career paths, jobs, and more.

[Featured Image] A business advisor, who completed a business management degree, presents their analysis and ongoing strategy to company leaders.

When deciding to pursue your business management degree, you can choose from various options for your future career in the business world, such as project manager, marketing manager, or business analyst, among many others. Furthermore, if you enjoy being in charge, a degree in business management can help you explore the knowledge and skills you need to be a leader in the workplace. Earning this degree can start an exciting and diverse career in almost any industry. 

Learn about the different types of business management degrees, career paths, and various certifications to enhance your resume.

What is business management?

Business management refers to the practice of managing a company's operations. It involves coordinating and organising general or specific business activities to help an organisation succeed. To do this, business managers often apply strategic and financial planning for production and resource management to benefit the business. 

What is a business management degree?

A business management degree is a foundation, undergraduate, master's, or doctorate, with coursework that covers business management principles. This degree programme typically focuses on the knowledge and skills you need to oversee an organisation's resources, like information systems and human resources management. A business administration degree programme typically concentrates on business functions like marketing and finance. With a business management degree, you may seek a management position in business, including a business analyst, human resources manager, or risk manager.

Types of Business Management Degrees

You can pursue four types of business management degrees: foundation, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate. However, the type of degree you earn can affect the jobs you'll have within an organisation. Read on to look at how different business management degrees can affect your career prospects.

Foundation degree in business management

A foundation degree is a two-year degree programme with coursework designed to help you understand how businesses work. You may take classes that help you learn about management themes and transferable skills development. This can prepare you for entry-level positions as an administrative assistant, account manager, or business analyst.

Undergraduate in business management

An undergraduate degree is a three or four-year programme that can open additional career opportunities. The coursework is similar to a foundation degree programme, with accounting, finance, economics, and marketing classes. However, you can explore these and other management topics in-depth and have more time to devote to the practical components of the major. After graduation, you may pursue work as an accountant, human resources manager, or in marketing.

Master's degree in business management

Master's degree programmes typically take one to two years to complete after you earn an undergraduate degree. A Master of Business Management (MBM) is an alternative to a Master of Business Administration (MBA). An MBM might be a good fit for you if you have not yet acquired the years of work experience usually necessary to pursue an MBA. With a master’s in this field, you can expand your knowledge regarding key business concepts such as accounting, customer service, digital business, management, metrics, operations, and sales.

Doctorate in business management        

Depending on the program, you can earn doctorate degrees with differing titles, even though the subject revolves around business management. For example, the University of Manchester offers a PhD in business management, but the degree awarded will be a Doctor of Philosophy. Your coursework will involve innovative research into marketing management, business, and strategy. For another example, you can look at the University of Oxford, which provides a DPhil in Management. For this programme, you choose an area to focus your research on, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion or artificial intelligence and media management. In a doctoral program, you can enhance your research skills and apply business theories to real-world situations.

Certifications in business management

You may choose to earn a certification related to business management in place of or to support a degree. Certifications show that you’ve completed the required business management courses, which may help you get closer to your dream job or provide growth opportunities in your current career.  Take a look at a few certifications that might enhance your skill set and even boost your career:

  • Project Management Institute (PMI): Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

  • International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA): Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

  • Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM): Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)

Business management degree coursework 

The courses you take in a business management degree programme are similar to what you would take in an MBA program. This includes accounting, business ethics, business law, leadership, and quantitative methods. Some of the courses you may take include subjects such as:

  • Accounting for business

  • Business fundamentals 

  • Management theory

  • Corporate finance

  • Data and business analytics 

  • Human resource management 

  • Organisational Behaviour

  • Principles of sustainability

Skills you can learn in a business management programme

In addition to exploring business management, marketing, and accounting theories, you also have opportunities to develop skills in a business management program. You may use the following technical and workplace skills in your career:

  • Accounting

  • Adaptability

  • Customer service

  • Communication

  • Leadership

  • Negotiation

  • Problem-solving

  • Time management 

  • Technical

  • Teamwork

How long does it take to earn a business management degree?         

A business degree typically takes two to six years to complete, depending on the type of degree and programme you pursue. You can complete a foundation degree at some schools in about two years. Undergraduate degree programs take about three to four years to complete if you’re a full-time learner. A graduate degree, such as an MBM, typically takes one to two years.

Some business management degree programs include expedited options to complete the degree faster than on a traditional track. This can be a great option if you have time to devote to the coursework. However, if you have a full-time job while you go to school, you may need to attend school part-time, which extends the time it takes to complete the degree.

What can you do with a business management degree?

With a business management degree, you can pursue the opportunity to work in various industries as a corporate investment banker, a data analyst, a forensic accountant, or a supply chain manager. The courses you take and the skills you develop can be transferred to many job opportunities, ranging from entry-level to managerial positions. They include those listed below:

  • Business advisor: Examine procedures to identify areas for improvement and devise strategies to boost profits and performance.

  • Human resources officer: You’ll recruit, screen, hire, and train employees. These roles can also include ensuring the company complies with labour laws and advising employees regarding pay and benefits.

  • Marketing executive: Plan, execute, and evaluate marketing initiatives and advertising to raise brand awareness, produce creative content, and operate social media channels.

  • Management consultant: In this role, you will most likely assist organisations in solving problems, enhancing their performance, identifying issues, and analysing their procedures.

  • Project manager: This position oversees projects from start to finish, including setting goals, organising resources, monitoring progress, and evaluating processes.

Business management career outlook and salaries 

If you choose to work in the business field, you might have some solid opportunities for employment because according to Prospects Luminate. “Graduates from [the business and administrative] cohort demonstrate strong career progression, with Graduate Outcomes data showing 65.4 percent of business and administrative studies graduates in full-time employment as opposed to the average of 58 percent from all subjects surveyed” [1]. 

In terms of salary, Glassdoor’s October 2024 data suggests the median annual base salary for someone who graduates with a business management degree is £29,107 [2].

However, salaries for business management positions vary depending on your position, location, employer, and industry. Some business management roles and their average annual salaries include:

  • Administrative assistant: £22,332 [3]

  • HR analyst: £36,746 [4]

  • Project manager: £45,348 [5]

  • Business manager: £41,532 [6]

Continue exploring business management with Coursera

You can develop in-demand skills and advance your career by completing a business management degree programme, which will support you in developing essential leadership skills to use when running a business. You can also develop those skills outside of a degree programme. For example, you might consider the Business Foundations Specialisation from The Wharton School or a Professional Certificate like Google Project Management to focus on project management. Or pursue a bachelor's or master's degree like the University of London's Bachelor of Business Administration. You’ll find these options and more on Coursera.

Placeholder

Bachelor of Science in Marketing

University of London

Article sources

1

Prospects Luminate. “What do business and administrative studies graduates do?, https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/what-do-business-and-administrative-graduates-do.” Accessed 18 October 2024.

Updated on
Written by:
Coursera Staff

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

Build Agile skills to stay organized and complete projects faster.

Save money and learn in-demand skills from top companies and organizations.