Three online business degrees that will take you places

Getting an online business degree doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be stuck behind a desk all day shuffling papers. If you’re interested in the business world, there are plenty of exciting jobs out there for you.

Some of the hottest employment opportunities out there right now are in green and sustainable business. Demand is growing for companies that construct green-certified buildings, develop alternative energy solutions and specialize in eco-friendly products and food. You could end up as a consultant for several different companies trying to go green or as a high-level government employee in charge of sustainable development. No matter the position you take, with this degree you’ll be in high demand.

If you’re interested in green jobs, consider this online degree: a Bachelor of Science in Business/Green and Sustainable Enterprise Management. This degree will teach you more about the green movement and how corporations are applying sustainability practices to business. More and more companies are searching for ways to go green these days, and with this degree you’ll be the one qualified to do it for them.

Another exciting business field is global management. Take a look at the items in your house – how many of them were manufactured abroad? More than likely, most of the products you buy on a regular basis come from other countries – and companies that import goods or outsource labor need globally savvy people to help them.

If you’d like to expand your horizons, consider getting your Master of Business Administration/Global Management degree. The global community is only going to get smaller, and those who understand how to work with other countries and cultures are going to be essential to the modern business model. You’ll learn how to effectively manage multicultural and multinational workforces in a rapidly changing environment. This is a fast-paced business that will take you around the world, so make sure you’ve got your passport ready. You could work as a liaison between merging companies who are continents apart. Or, if you know a foreign language, you could be in charge of making sure factories on foreign soil are running smoothly. One thing is for sure: this degree will take you far.

So who’s going to teach everyone the business practices they need to know? Who’s going to be coming out with cutting-edge studies that change the entire landscape of how business is done? If you really love business, teaching and research, it could be you.

Consider a degree in Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership. This degree is one for those who already have a master’s degree and/or extensive experience in this field. You’ll be doing a lot of research as well as contributing new knowledge to your field. With this job, you could easily become a professor or a high-paid consultant. It’s a lot of hard work, so business needs to be something you’re really passionate about.

Interested in pursuing your business degree online? Sign up to receive free information today.

How to succeed in business with an online degree

Ever dreamed of running a successful company or even owning your own business? Entrepreneurship is often synonymous with the American Dream – but it’s not as easy as it looks. Starting a business without understanding economics, accounting, marketing and finance will sink your ship before it leaves the dock. If you want to succeed in business, prepare yourself with a business degree.

An online business degree may be the best choice for anyone who’s already working or parenting full-time and needs an affordable, flexible degree program. The type of degree you need depends on your career goals. Let’s take a look at the different degrees available.

Many online colleges offer an Associate of Arts degree in business. This degree will give you an overview of business principles, such as supply and demand, the relationship between marketing and sales and financial planning. You won’t learn everything you need to know to start your own business, but with an associate’s degree you can find an entry-level job in accounting, office administration, sales or customer service.

A business certificate program is a quick and efficient way to learn the basics of business and prepare you for a non-business-related undergraduate or graduate degree. You’ll learn introductory accounting and marketing, management skills and legal fundamentals. There are a few different types of business certificate, including business administration, business essentials and business analyst.

Getting your bachelor’s degree in business will prepare you for all kinds of jobs in business – and help you make more money! Studies have shown that people with bachelor’s degrees earn nearly twice as much, on average, as people with a high school diploma.

Online bachelor’s degrees in business come in all flavors. A Bachelor of Science in Business/Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship is the perfect degree to prepare you for starting your own successful business. A B.S in Business/Global Business Management will teach you how to do business in an increasingly connected world. The B.S. in Business/Green and Sustainable Enterprise Management is a popular degree, given the increasing demand for environmentally friendly products and green businesses. Other B.S. concentrations include Human Resource Management, Communications, Finance and Public Administration. You could also get your bachelor’s in marketing or accounting.

The ultimate aspiration for many business professionals is the MBA: Master of Business Administration degree. Getting an MBA will teach you advanced business strategy, decision-making and management skills. It’s an intensive program that demands a lot of time, creativity and teamwork. Many executives have an MBA – but keep in mind an advanced degree is not necessarily required for a high-level job.

Want to go even further in your study of business? Two doctorate degrees are available: the Doctor of Philosophy in Business (Ph.D.) and the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). The Ph.D. program is research-focused; get this degree if you want to pursue a career as a professor or researcher who develops new theories of management or economics. Though just as rigorous, the DBA is designed for people who want to focus on application, rather than theory. DBA candidates are often people who have a lot of experience in business and want to go to the next level as business leaders or consultants.

Got all that? Register for a degree program today and in a few years your company could be on the cover of Fortune.

What you need to know before getting a business degree

Getting a business degree can be a great career move. But what is going to business school really like? And can you get a degree while holding down a full-time job?

We spoke with Dr. Kenneth C. Sherman to get some answers. Dr. Sherman has more than 25 years of management experience as both a chief marketing officer and chief information officer. He teaches in the Doctorate of Business and Master of Business Administration program for the University of Phoenix Online and is the Area Chair. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration and Doctorate of Philosophy in Business Administration from Touro University International.

Trust us when we tell you Dr. Sherman knows his stuff.

What is a typical day like for a business school student?

Every day is different. Most of our students are working adult professionals; they are balancing a mix of responsibilities and priorities – career, family, school, and other happenings. The same is true for our faculty, many of whom are scholar practitioners. That’s one of the great things about the University of Phoenix: it allows for flexibility. You can take classes at a school location, online, or a mixture of both.

What subjects are typically studied in business school?

For your general education classes you’ll learn mostly skill-building courses that will prepare you for success. Classes like writing, math, communications, and so on.

Once you decide what you’re majoring in you’ll take classes specific to that major. Those attending a graduate program, like the MBA program, take classes like management training, human capital management, business law organization, leadership training, economics, accounting, corporate finance, marketing, strategic planning, operations management, business research and statistics. You’ll get a good mix of soft skills and hard skills. Most students have some professional experience and tend to be entry-level managers or supervisors looking to move up at the company they work for.

What surprises students most about business school?

Most are very surprised and pleased that they’re able to take what they’re learning in the academic classroom and be able to relate it in the real workplace. Our courses deliver relevant, cutting-edge content that helps our students with decision-making and fine-tunes their leadership skills. The University of Phoenix also has learning teams – so students are required to work together in teams and learn from the relevant experience of their peers.

What do you suggest for someone interested in starting their own business?

Most schools offer entrepreneurship tracks. You can also take concentrations and specializations outside of your degree or even take extra credits after you complete your business degree. You’ll need to learn about marketing, small business management, global management, energy management, and project management.

What is the most popular business degree?

It varies. Technology management, healthcare management, marketing, accounting and human resource management are all very popular business degrees.

How would someone know what kind of business degree would be right for them?

Think about how the content of the program you’re considering will make you a better problem solver. Check out the content of the courses – look for classes that teach you critical thinking, decision making and leadership. Make sure the courses in the major you’re interested in focus on real-world applied content. You need to carefully read the class descriptions – look for an emphasis on critical thinking and leadership skills.

What are some typical career paths after business school?

Our younger students usually end up at entry-level jobs within a company looking for their talents. Most employers today are looking for skills that translate from the classroom to the workplace and want people who are problem solvers. They also look for people with excellent communications skills that will fit in well in a team environment.

Graduate students are usually working adults and are getting their business degree to leverage within their current position. So a promotion in the company they already work for is likely a next step.

What are some common traits of a great business school?

Look for a school that allows students to demonstrate knowledge and skills to solve organizational problems. You’ll want a business school that teaches students to manage others, helps them apply critical analysis, and equips them with a toolbox to analyze different alternatives to problems. A good business school helps an individual hone and fine-tune their ethics and values. The school should make you a better leader and manager. Application and demonstration of business knowledge is the difference between a good business school and a great business school.

What advice do you have for people interested in attending business school?

Many educational institutions have some descriptions of their courses, but you should go in and dig deeper to find out how the content is structured. Look for real-world application opportunities. Look at the credentials of the faculty you’ll be interacting with. Most have all the right initials after their names – the difference is look for those who have relevant real-world professional experience.

MBA students should look for faculty who have contemporary workplace experience and can speak to things that will happen to the student once they’re in the workplace.

Ask yourself – how are the demands of this business degree going to fit in with your current family and work obligations? Some business degree programs require that you do stuff during the day and weekend. Will you be able to do that?

How is your school perceived by the business community? Be sure to check the school’s accreditations. How often is the faculty available to you? Look at the support resources the college or university will supply you with. Are there tutors, counselors, or coaches available to you? The University of Phoenix has learning centers and sometimes even offers daycare.

Most importantly remember this: Nobody ever makes a decision on their own. Talk with your family, your employer, and your peers, and ask for their support. Having a good support network is the key to your success.

Want to know more about business degree programs? The University of Phoenix and other accredited universities offer on-campus and online business degree programs with flexible class schedules for working adults. Find a business degree program near you.

A real student talks about how he strikes a balance between school and work

Everyday people just like you are going back to school to further their educations and are learning how to become nurses, computer technicians, and even teachers. One of the more popular degrees for adult students is an MBA, a Master of Business Administration. An MBA can help you become a successful manager, executive or even CEO.

Mike C., a Washington, D.C. native, is currently enrolled in business school and is on his way to receiving his MBA. We sat down with Mike to find out what it’s like to have a full-time job while you’re working toward your business degree.

Where are you attending business school?

George Washington University School of Business in Washington, D.C.

What business degree program are you in?

I’m in their Accelerated MBA program; GWU School of Business offers a few options for professional MBAs. Their flex program takes three years; the accelerated MBA program only takes two. It’s designed in the part-time format, but it’s pretty much a full-time curriculum. We’re completing 52.5 credit hours in about 22 months; anywhere between 9 and 11 credits per semester.

What do you do full time?

I work for an association management company; we are a full-service management company and consulting firms for associations. I work as an operations manager on multiple healthcare association clients.

What surprised you most about attending business school?

How hard it was to adjust back to being a student. I love to read, but I don’t love to read this much. Balancing all the assignments with work was very difficult, and several students even left the MBA program as a result. But once you get in the groove of it and figure out how to navigate the various courses and professors, it becomes like second nature.

What are some challenges of getting your business degree and working?

The same stuff everybody deals with all the time; work-life balance, just intensified. Finding time for your significant other (a wife, in my case), your family and friends, and yourself can be hard. It’s really difficult to make all of those things work, and you learn new prioritizing and multi-tasking skills. Stuff I had always put on my resume, but now I feel I actually earned those skills.

Is the business degree program affordable? If not, is financial aid offered?

GW is actually one of the most expensive undergrad programs in the country, but their professional MBA program is very affordable, comparably. Financial aid is offered, and the student loan process is very streamlined.

What do you like best about business school?

Meeting new people. The network I have made has already benefited my career; I got my foot in the door at my current job through somebody I met in the MBA program (I just started my current job in January). I’ve made friends who will last a lifetime. And of course, I’ve learned a substantial amount of skills and knowledge.

What is your least favorite thing about it?

The weekend classes; I miss weekend trips to New York and the mountains and beach. Those don’t happen anymore. But that was just the first year; I’m entering my second year now, where classes are just held on weeknights, so I’ll be overdosing on Manhattan and the Blue Ridge Mountains shortly.

What classes are you currently taking toward your business degree?

The first year taken as a cohort is all the core classes; that’s what I’ve finished so far. Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Operations, Statistics, etc. Right now I’m taking Business & Public Policy, Human Capital Management, and Entrepreneurship. I get to start taking electives soon, and will be taking courses with a business/government relations and international focus.

What do you hope to do with your business degree when you graduate?

I would love to get into international business, particularly a government relations type of job. Ideally, I’d work for a smaller consulting firm that works with international companies doing business in the states, or helping U.S. companies expand their business to emerging markets.

What was your undergrad major?

English! I couldn’t have strayed much further than this. I actually started in business school in undergrad, but didn’t like the program at JMU. Plus, I was 19; I wanted to work as little as possible.

Has any of your work experience helped you with school?

Absolutely. The MBA program is geared towards working professionals, so they model the classes around the fact that we have experience to bring to the table. There are some classes where my experience wouldn’t translate, such as statistics and finance. But there were finance professionals in those courses who had a lot to contribute. For operations, marketing, policy, and human resources, I was able to apply my work towards my schooling, and vice versa.

What should prospective business students know?

Be committed. You can’t go into an MBA program like this without a complete desire to make it through, regardless of the hurdles. Also, it takes time to adjust back to being a student; don’t rush it and don’t get frustrated. Most of the other MBA students are in the same boat.

Anything else you’d like to add?

It’s definitely an advantage to undertake a program like this with as little professional responsibility as possible; the younger students certainly benefit from not having demanding jobs. I waited until I was 30 to go back to school, so it’s a little different for me. That being said, I wouldn’t go back in time and start earlier if I could; I very much enjoyed my post-undergrad years, traveling and enjoying life. I just knew it was time to go back. So don’t force it, no matter what; you’ll know when it’s time to go, and you’ll be able to make it work. If you feel like waiting, wait. It worked for me.

Interested in getting your business degree, but not sure if you have the time? Online business degree programs offer flexible class schedules for working adults. Find a business degree program near you.