by Todd Pheifer

Created on: November 13, 2008   Last Updated: November 20, 2008

When I was in college and majoring in business, I was often posed the generic question, "So, what are you majoring in?" My typical answer of "business" or "business administration" usually solicited the follow-up question of "What kind of business are you going to do?" Oftentimes that follow-up question left me stumped. The reality of the business degree is that the opportunities are limitless. This is encouraged in terms of career options, but it can be frustrating for the person who does not have much in the ways of specific direction.

The degree itself

Most business programs include a number of organizational elements. These can include accounting, marketing, human resources, management, finance, and law. Typically business students will select a concentration or "track" which includes a number of courses in one of these areas. Again, the possibilities for application are endless, but where is this all going?

What do you do with this degree?

Many fields require specific types of degrees, but sprinkled throughout every industry are people with business degrees. This includes education, government, medicine, churches, art, music, small businesses, and corporate organizations, just to name a few. This goes back to the makeup of the degree. The person with the business degree may not be able to play an instrument or prescribe medication, but both symphonies and hospitals have some sort of human resources department. Everyone is part of some sort of "business" from an organizational standpoint. It isn't just about profit or product. It is about the fact that organizations consist of groups of people working towards some sort of goal.

The value of scope

This brings us to why the business degree is so versatile. As mentioned, there are elements of "business" in virtually every field. The specifics of that business are obviously different, but there is room for people who are aptly described as "generalists". Business people may not know the specifics of the industry, but they often have the ability to apply broader principles to the individuality of the field. The other major value of a business degree is that it gives the learner a broad understanding of how organizations work. Every day, institutions in every field make decisions based on money, people, and strategic planning. The business degree gives people a sense of all organizational aspects, and provides them with tools for making solid organizational decisions.

If people are struggling to choose a major in college, the business degree is often a good choice. Choosing a business degree does not mean that they are going straight into entrepreneurship or a stiff corporate lifestyle. Rather, it means that they are getting an intellectual toolkit that can be used in a wide variety of fields. The business degree can often be combined with some other area of study, even if the person does not have a specific degree in that field of interest.

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