Business administration is a course of study designed to prepare students to enter the world of working on the management end of running a business. Business administration degrees stress leadership abilities, strong communication and teamwork skills and a good grounding in the mathematical and economics processes required for successfully managing money. Many colleges offer a specific course of study for business administration majors that will prescribe the classes you need to take.
Accounting
Classes in accounting are basic requirements for getting a degree in business administration. Courses that teach the principles of accounting will cover the accounting cycle, preparing and analysis of financial statements, applying accounting practices to partnerships vs. corporations, departmental vs. branch accounting, creating and balancing budgets, determining the income and direction of businesses and cost control. Most colleges will have an accounting track that includes accounting courses for students going into management as well as students focusing solely on accounting.
Ethics
Business ethics is an increasingly common offering in college for those pursuing business administration degrees. Courses in business ethics will cover ethical issues in business and ethical decision making that will be relevant for those going into upper management. Expect classes on business ethics to discuss appropriate ethical business models, guidance systems, potential ethical hazards and tough decisions and appropriate ethical expectations for both yourself and the people working under you in your business.
Statistics and Economics
The hard math portion of a business degree comes in the form of statistical analysis and an understanding of economics. Most business degree course tracks will offer classes in microeconomics, monetary theory, managing finances, statistics, investments and business calculus. Depending on the depth of the business administration program at your college, you may find math courses that specifically relate to your area of business administration, such as statistics for accountants or microeconomics for managers.
General Business Administration
The business of teamwork, leadership and good communication is generally covered in general business administration courses. Topics such as networking, communication management, interpersonal relationships, human resource management, organizational theory, cultural diversity, emergent technology and general business policies are all touched on in specific courses that cover the more human aspect of the business management career. Depending on your concentration in business administration, you may also want to take courses in management theory or principles of management to supplement your course load.