Should You Consider A Minor In Business Administration?

A minor in business administration can serve you well in any profession. When you take core classes in business administration, you will learn key skills for the workplace. Some students decide they want to major in business administration, whereas others want to minor as a complement to their degree. Regardless of what route you take, you will boost your resume, learn valuable skills, and be able to use the knowledge in your future career.

Before you decide to declare a minor in business administration, it’s good to know the difference between a minor and a major. We’ll get into this, as well as the benefits that come along with a minor in business administration. Lastly, if you already have a degree in business administration or you want to maximise your possibilities, we’ll share some information about earning a master’s in business administration (MBA).

What Will I Learn with a Minor in Business Administration?

Selecting a minor in business administration sets you up with foundational knowledge that will span microeconomics to finance accounting and more. You’ll be able to boost your problem-solving skills and build upon your entrepreneurial spirit.

Every school has different requirements when it comes to their business administration program, but in general, you will pick up the same highly transferable knowledge.

With this minor, you’ll graduate knowing:

• The foundations of how business works
• Marketing theories and methods
• Economics, markets, and consumer behavior
• Management and organizational structures

With this knowledge, you will be able to benefit your future employer in whatever career you pursue.

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Benefits of a Business Administration Minor

Every type of job that exists does so related to business and its industry. Whether it’s a non-profit organization or for-profit company, there are business practices behind its existence.

When you are interviewing for a job and you have a minor in business administration, your potential employer will know that you understand the basics of how businesses work.

This means that you can provide a new perspective to the role, you likely have more abilities than someone without the minor, and you understand how the company works. These all make you a more attractive candidate to hire. 

Examples of Courses You Can Expect to Take

Although you won’t take all the courses that someone earning a degree in Business Administration takes, you will take a lot of the same core classes. Some examples of classes you can expect to take include:

• Financial Accounting
• Managerial Economics
• Economics
• International Business
• Marketing
• Business Management
• Business Law
• Business and Entrepreneurship

The Difference Between a Minor and a Major

Earning a degree comes along with choosing your major, or main area of academic focus. You’ll be required to fulfill a certain number of course units directly associated with the subject matter. Additionally, most programs require that you complete undergraduate general education classes and electives.

When you select a major, you can enroll in different levels of a degree. You can choose an associate degree, which typically takes two years to complete. Or you can complete what is often a four-year program and graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

To pursue a minor, you must do so with a major area of study. A minor is a secondary academic focus in a subject. It is less intensive than a major because you take less core classes. However, you still will learn a lot of knowledge about whatever subject you choose.

A minor must be chosen in a subject that is outside of your declared major. This is because the classes you take for a minor are generally the same core classes that you would take for a major. The amount of units you will have to complete depends on the institution you attend — but it generally takes about 15-20 units to earn a minor. An easy way to think about a minor is to consider it a “mini major.” 

Want to Major Instead?

If you know that you want to work directly in business as an executive, manager, business owner, marketing specialist, consultant or related position, then it could be worthwhile to get a degree in business administration instead of a minor. For those who want to take their education to the highest level in the field, then you’ll look to earning a master’s of business administration. Pursuing a certificate program in business administration can also prove to be highly beneficial.

In most cases, a master’s degree can be a costly endeavor. However, at University of the People (UoPeople), we offer a tuition-free master’s of business administration program. This means you can earn the high-level degree at a very affordable rate.

An MBA can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, but at UoPeople, you can earn your MBA for the relatively low estimated cost of $2,460. The 12-course/36-unit program is designed to provide you with everything you need to know to excel in the job market.

Most people with an MBA hold positions like:

• Sales Manager
• Investment Banker
• Management Consultant
• CEO
• Financial Manager

If you’re looking to start your own business, then an MBA will set you up for success with a deep understanding of how businesses operate. You can also benefit from the extensive networking opportunities that come along with the master’s program.

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The Bottom Line

Attending any institution of higher education requires devotion, commitment, and effort to succeed. If you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in another field, but you are interested in business administration, find out if your school offers a minor. If there isn’t a minor in business administration, there may be another option that is closely related like: Marketing, Economics or Finance.

Students who graduate with a minor are able to showcase that they are hard workers and can manage their time well. They have chosen to add an extra challenge to their already heavy workload of earning a degree. With a minor in business administration, you will be able to apply the knowledge in whatever field you work in.

If instead you want to focus your studies on business administration entirely, then it’s smart to major in the field. Depending on your career goals, an MBA may also be worth earning after you complete your bachelor’s degree.

Business is universal and far-reaching, so it pays to know even just the basics!