What Is the Difference Between a BSBA Degree and Business Management Degree?

A BSBA degree is a great option for students who are interested in pursuing managerial positions. The BSBA degree program focuses more on the mathematical and analytical side of business leadership, meaning this program typically has a diverse and in-depth range of courses. Another business leadership degree students often consider is the Bachelor of Science in Business Management. This degree offers a more general overview of business and management, focusing on the key areas of organizational behavior, servant leadership, human resources management, accounting, finance and marketing. While the BSBA and business management degrees might initially seem similar, they are very different and can open the door to different opportunities after graduation.

What Is a BSBA Degree? Meaning, Curriculum and Career Paths

Q: What Is a BSBA Degree?

A BSBA degree gives students a solid foundation and understanding of business practices. It is an excellent choice for those who are interested in pursuing entry-level business management or leadership positions. A BSBA degree program is available both online and on campus, making it easy to fit into your schedule. While earning this degree, students will learn about a variety of topics in the areas of finance, accounting, marketing and management.

A BSBA degree is a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration that equips students with versatile skills for careers across industries like healthcare, finance and manufacturing. This guide breaks down the curriculum, career paths and how a BSBA can help you prepare for today’s business world.

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Read time 3 minutes

GCE Editorial Team

Published on Apr 9, 2025

A BSBA degree is a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. It’s one baccalaureate degree option designed for students who intend on pursuing a business-related career. This degree can be an appropriate choice for students interested in any industry — from healthcare to manufacturing to sports and beyond.

There are many great reasons to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree. A typical business administration degree focuses on a variety of important topics for any business operation, including accounting, business communication, information literacy and data analysis. The BSBA degree student will examine other important issues, as well, such as diversity, ethics, politics and other dynamics that play a role in every work environment.

What Is a BSBA Degree? Understanding the Meaning and Importance

A BSBA degree is a specialized undergraduate program that provides a solid foundation in business principles, with a focus on technical and analytical skills in areas such as finance, accounting, marketing and management. It is designed to prepare students to position themselves for potential leadership and management roles in the business world.

GCU’s BSBA degree program is available both online and on campus, so you can choose the option that works best for your schedule.

BSBA Degree Curriculum: Key Courses and What You Will Be Taught

When deciding whether a BSBA degree could be the right fit for you, it can be helpful to take a closer look at the overall curriculum and the specific courses you could take.

For example, to help prepare you for a future in business, here are a few core areas you will examine while earning your BSBA degree:

Business planning and development: If you want to be a future leader in the business world, you will need to know the basics of planning and developing a business. This includes setting core values, coming up with products and services and determining ways to finance these plans.
Financial management: Every business aims to achieve financial stability and growth, making financial management a crucial skill for future business leaders.

While earning a BSBA degree, you can expect to take a variety of courses in areas such as marketing, business statistics, business analytics and business finance. You might also examine organizational behavior and management, strategic management and global business concepts.

You can earn either a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration or a Bachelor of Science in Business Management to help prepare you for the demands of contemporary business environments.

BSBA Degree vs. Business Management Degree

Business administration and business management are frequently used as if they mean the same thing. While they do share some similarities, the two fields have distinct differences that set them apart. The BSBA degree program focuses more on the mathematical and analytical side of business leadership, meaning it typically offers a diverse and in-depth range of courses.

A BSBA’s meaning shouldn’t be confused with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSBM) — a similar degree you might consider earning. This degree offers a more general overview of business and management, focusing on the key areas of organizational behavior, servant leadership, human resources and marketing.

While business administration professionals oversee the finer details of running the company, business management experts focus on the overall picture, such as the company’s growth and expansion efforts. Business management also tends to be more involved with leading teams and structuring the organization. Our business administration program contrasts our management program with courses in business analytics and investments.

What Jobs Can You Get With a BSBA Degree?

The mathematical and analytical thinking skills you will be taught in a BSBA degree program may prepare you for a variety of positions in the business world, including:

Sales manager
Operations manager
Facilities manager
Training and development manager
Transportation, storage and distribution manager
Production manager

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for sales managers to increase by about 6% from 2023 to 2033, accounting for about 48,600 projected openings each year in the field.¹

Earn Your BSBA Degree at GCU

Grand Canyon University's Colangelo College of Business offers a diverse range of degrees, including the BSBA and BSBM degrees. Following graduation, you may wish to further your education by earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. This advanced degree may help you position yourself for potential leadership opportunities in the vast world of business.

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COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Sales Manager, retrieved on March. 19, 2025.

Approved and verified accurate by the program manager of the Colangelo College of Business on March 25, 2025.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.