What Can You Do With a Business Administration Degree?

A business administration degree offers robust job prospects for graduates. In the business administration field, it’s expected that the economy will add nearly 30,000 services management jobs through 2028. This is a 7% rate of growth, which is faster than the average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.¹

This degree is also versatile. Let's take a look at the range of opportunities graduates may pursue. 

Sales Manager

A sales manager is a career opportunity that business administration graduates might consider pursuing. Sales managers play a crucial role in their organization. They are largely responsible for the revenue of their company.

Sales managers oversee the sales department, setting goals, analyzing data and developing training programs for sales associates. They may also be called upon to assess the potential profitability of products or services that the company is considering offering to customers.

Other job responsibilities may require the sales manager to:

• Establish sales quotas and assign sales territories
• Develop sales strategies to build the company’s customer base
• Establish special pricing plans or discounted rates
• Evaluate customer preferences and needs
• Develop budgets and approve expenditures

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that this particular position will grow by about 5% through 2028, adding about 20,600 jobs to the economy.² To be successful in this role, it’s essential to have solid communication skills and problem-solving abilities. In some organizations, sales managers must travel for work.

Human Resources Manager

Another career possibility for business administration graduates is the role of a human resources manager. These professionals oversee the HR department of companies, nonprofits and governmental agencies. In fact, nearly every industry and type of company must hire HR professionals, making this a smart job choice for graduates who crave versatility.

The primary responsibility of the HR manager is to oversee the recruitment, interviewing and hiring of new staff members. HR managers strive to make recruitment and hiring decisions that are aligned with the organization’s overall vision and growth objectives.

Other responsibilities may require the resource manager to:

• Work across departments with other managers to provide consulting on HR issues
• Manage staffing issues, including disputes and disciplinary actions
• Develop and manage employee benefits packages
• Supervise and coordinate the work of support staff

Increasingly, HR professionals are acting as major players in an organization’s growth objectives. They may also develop training and retention programs that are aimed at enhancing employee productivity and encouraging staff retention. Through 2028, it’s expected that the job growth rate for this profession will be 7%.³

Training and Development Manager

Companies rely on training and development managers to enhance the skills and productivity of their staff members. This niche in the business administration field may be the perfect fit for you if you enjoy working with all different types of people and you enjoy helping others grow their careers and perform at their best. Specifically, a training and development manager is responsible for planning, implementing and coordinating training programs that build the knowledge base and skills of staff members.

Most training and development manager roles require them to:

• Oversee staff members in the training and development department
• Assess the needs of employees for training in various areas in a way that aligns with the organization’s overall goals
• Develop and administer training programs
• Evaluate and select materials for training programs from various vendors
• Evaluate the effectiveness of training programs and make adjustments as needed
• Develop and administer training-related budgets

It’s typical for people in this niche to begin their careers as a program developer, instructional designer or employee trainer. After gaining experience in the field, these professionals may then pursue the training and development management position. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects this job to grow by 8% through 2028.⁴

Social and Community Services Managers

While there are many opportunities at for-profit companies for business administration professionals, some graduates prefer to pursue a meaningful career in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits hire social and community services managers to oversee and coordinate the efforts of their organization. In addition, these professionals may find work at government agencies and private, for-profit social service companies.

Social and community service managers may be required to:

• Liaise with community members and other professionals to identify the services and programs the community requires
• Plan and implement outreach activities to raise awareness of community resources and social service programs
• Evaluate the effectiveness of implemented programs and services
• Write grant proposals to secure social services funding

This job is expected to experience a robust rate of growth. Through 2028, it is anticipated that the economy will add nearly 22,000 jobs for these professionals. This represents a 13% rate of growth — a rate that is much faster than average.⁵

You can build the foundation to pursue a career in business administration when you join the Christian learning community at Grand Canyon University. Undergraduates can work toward the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, offered by the Colangelo College of Business. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, then consider applying for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program. Multiple specializations are available, such as the MBA in Leadership or the MBA in Health Systems Management.

Retrieved from:

¹ https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm

² https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-managers.htm

³ https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/sales-managers.htm

⁴ https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/training-and-development-managers.htm

⁵ https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm