A career in business/business administration will prepare you for the business world by giving you an understanding of interpersonal skills, business technology and management principles. The associate degree will cover communications, business software, planning and implementing projects, critical thinking, management and the fundamentals of business. Many schools allow the student to concentrate on one area of business administration such as information systems, human resources and health care administration.

Earning an associate degree in business/business administration requires the student to take four core courses, which includes Introduction to College Mathematics, Introduction to Computer Information Systems, Introduction to Business, Accounting I and II. The eight major courses are Principles of Marketing I, Business Law I, Economics, Human Resource Management, Business Ethics, International Business Environment, Principles of Management and Principles of Organization Behavior.

General study courses include Written Communication, Introduction to Psychology and Sociology, and Logic and Pre-calculus. Schools will also require two elective courses that are your choice. The associate degree is divided into four terms that must be completed before earning the associate degree.

Principles of Marketing teaches the student about marketing processes, how distribution and supply chains work, marketing communications and the impact of product life cycle in marketing. The courses in Accounting are necessary in any business setting and teach the concepts of accounting fundamentals including payroll, ledgers, accounting cycles, manufacturing, corporations and partnership accounting and inventories and depreciation.

Written Communication teaches the process of editing, reviving, drafting and prewriting. The student will be able to analyze, organize and research ideas and design documents based on any content and subject matter. Introduction to Psychology is standard in many associate degree programs and teaches the student to understand human functions and social influences.

After taking these courses, the student will have learned how to take the lead in a team orientated office culture and use their skills in human relations. You will also learn how to control, organize and plan management job functions. The student also learns how to use problem solving strategies and how to resolve conflicts. You will know how to manage your time and multi task effectively.

An understanding of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word are necessary to complete the associate degree in business administration. These classes can be taken before the start of associate degree. The student must have the skills necessary to use these programs effectively. 

Careers in Business/Business Administration

Students that earn their associate degree in business/business administration find employment in public and non-profit organizations, management trainees, managers in retail and sales, technology support specialists, office managers and project assistants. Entrepreneurs will learn everything they need to know about running a profitable business and what is needed to keep sales up. Operation mangers will be able to effectively run the operations of a small or large company.

The associate degree can help the office administrator move up in a company rather quickly. After the associate degree, the student may decide to continue their education and earn a bachelors degree in business administration.