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What Can You Do With an Associate Degree in Business Administration? 10 Career Paths to Consider
In the business world, solid skills in strategic decision-making, operational efficiency, and adaptability to change are crucial. The University of Arkansas Grantham’s Associate Degree in Business Administration and Management is a foundational business program within higher education that allows students to acquire foundational knowledge and build strong, practical competencies that support professional goals.
Still, many adult learners approach educational opportunities with a career-focused mindset and a desire to understand possible employment opportunities before choosing an online degree program. This ensures your investment aligns with your personal goals, financial expectations, and job market realities.
If you’re considering a potential associate degree in business administration careers, here’s what you need to know about professional outcomes and increasing your ROI with a career you love.
What Is an Associate Degree in Business Administration?
UA Grantham’s Associate Degree in Business Administration and Management is designed to build foundational knowledge and skills in data analysis and problem-solving to prepare students to succeed in various domains across the business world.
The program includes 60 total credit hours and offers the opportunity to take essential courses in marketing, financial accounting, economics, business law, information systems, and human resources.
General education courses like ethics, sociology, psychology, and composition ensure that students pursuing an associate degree in business administration careers are well-rounded critical thinkers who can understand and communicate effectively with those around them.
With a focus on preparing students to take on significant professional responsibility, the program is designed for learners who are entering higher education with a high school diploma or who are returning to school after time away.
How an Associate Degree Can Support Early Career Exploration
Foundational business management and problem-solving skills like strategic planning, financial acumen, process optimization, and leadership are highly transferable and applicable across a number of industries. These skills enable professionals to define goals, allocate and manage resources, guide teams, and use data to make decisions and streamline processes.
Your associate degree program coursework will cover essential topics like accounting, marketing, human resources, and operations, ensuring you build the decision-making and management skills you need to successfully navigate today’s business landscape.
Combining your education with work experience in the right part-time or full-time role allows you to apply these theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios, which can accelerate your learning and further enhance your professional status.
10 Career Paths to Consider With an Associate Degree in Business Administration
With an associate degree in business administration, careers may vary depending on your personal and professional goals. Here are ten examples of roles that may align with your business administration education, though requirements for each will vary by employer:
- Administrative assistant
- Executive assistant
- Office manager or office management support roles
- Store manager or assistant store manager
- Business operations support roles
- Project management support roles
- Entry-level roles in human resources
- Roles in healthcare administration support settings
- Opportunities in real estate offices or nonprofit organizations
- Business development or sales support roles
It is important to note that many roles are entry-level jobs, and you may require additional years of experience, certifications, or further education to advance in your career.
What Factors Influence Career Opportunities After Graduation?
As you consider investing in an associate degree in business administration, careers are likely top of mind for you. The number and type of opportunities available to you will depend on a number of factors, including employer expectations and job requirements.
It’s important that your coursework and professional roles have helped you build sought-after technical skills employers want to see. They’ll also be evaluating your prior work experience (both related and unrelated) to ensure that you have what it takes to get the job done.
Additionally, your career opportunities can be significantly impacted by your target industry, preference for in-person vs. remote work, and physical location. For example, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that there are more than twice the number of construction managers employed in California as there are in Illinois, signaling that some states may have more employment opportunities in certain industries and roles than others.
Associate Degree vs. Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration
In some cases, students may either opt to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree once they have completed their associate degree program or decide at the beginning that a bachelor’s degree is the best path for their professional goals.
While the associate degree program is two years and sixty credits, the bachelor’s program takes four years and requires 120 total credit hours.
Some core courses are the same between the two programs. For example, associate and bachelor’s degree students will take Foundations of Marketing and Principles of Business Management. However, the bachelor’s program does dive deeper into more expansive topics, including strategic management and organizational behavior.
Some learners later pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration to expand responsibilities or specialization, as employers may value (or even require) a more advanced degree.
Is an Associate Degree in Business Administration the Right Step for You?
Once you’ve earned your associate degree in business administration, the careers you pursue will depend on your personal and professional goals.
Before you decide whether the associate degree is the right move, you should consider what you want to achieve as well as the amount of time you can commit to your education. Remember, a bachelor’s degree program is typically completed in four years, while an associate degree takes two.
You should also consider the degree of flexibility you’ll need and how you can balance school with work and family. Ultimately, whether any degree program is “worth it” in your eyes will depend on your individual career goals and personal circumstances, and whether the program curriculum, structure, and investment align with them.
Explore Business Administration Programs at UA Grantham
UA Grantham’s associate degree program allows students the flexibility of completing their coursework entirely online to help them balance their education with life’s responsibilities. We offer eight-week terms with structured weekly deadlines to ensure you can complete your work around your busy schedule.
If you’re considering an associate degree in business administration careers, know that our programs are specifically designed to support working adults and career-focused learners.
UA Grantham also offers opportunities to advance your education and professional opportunities by continuing into our bachelor’s degree programs. Request info to learn more about associate and bachelor’s program details and admissions requirements. Apply now to start reaping the benefits of a high-quality business education today.