Which Is Best: A Bachelor's in Business Administration or Business Management?
If you're looking to pursue a career in business, a Bachelor's degree is generally considered an essential first step, but with Business Administration, Business Management, and other variations to choose from, selecting the right course can be a challenge. The courses aim to give students both theoretical understanding and practical skills pertaining to various aspects of business and have a lot to offer prospective students, opening doors to future employment or further study. While many aspects of the degree programmes are similar to one another, their differences between a BA in Business Administration and Business Management hold the key to picking the best programme out of the two for you and your future goals.
A bachelor's degree in Business Administration is the most popular and thus most widely recognised undergraduate business course. It covers a broad range of topics and gives students an understanding of each key area of a business and the interconnection between them. Core topics include: accounting, business law, management of payroll, HR and IT, marketing, strategic management, and the teaching of qualitative techniques, such as statistics and mathematics for financial planning.
Pros:
• Widely recognised
• Broad basis of understanding
• Practical experience gained through case studies, presentations, and internships
• Can specialise later in course
• Adaptable to wide-range of industries post-study
• Can lead to Masters of Business Administration, a highly sought-after qualification
Cons:
• Popular degree so competition for jobs with people with same qualification is high
• Specialisation comes later so less time for detail
• General nature may necessitate further postgraduate study
Business Management
Courses in business management still tend to begin with foundational courses in different aspects of a business, but focus much more on specific management issues, rather than teaching about economics, finance, and marketing, for example. Those who aren't interested in the wide range of Business Administration modules may find that a Business Management Bachelor's allows them more direct access to their fields of interest.
Pros:
• Courses tend to emphasise management in certain types of industries such as: agriculture, finance, hospitality, human resources, and marketing. Those looking to move into management in these industries will find this a plus.
• Opportunity to specialise and hone skills in a particular area
• Specialisation may help graduates stand out against competitors with more general degree in certain industries
• Often includes sought after modules such as change management and leadership
• Can lead to an MSc in Business Management