Business

Business as a Field

Businesses continue to grow, expand and evolve as our social, political and economic structures change form. As these transformations take place, it becomes increasingly important to improve upon the structures and maneuverability of businesses. The field of business is one in which professionals work to positively affect the course of businesses and to secure businesses’ stability, prosperity and competitiveness in an increasingly competitive and evolving world.

The field of business is broad and diverse. It includes small, medium and large sized businesses; businesses that are locally, nationally and internationally owned; businesses that operate for profit and businesses that operate as non-profits; businesses that offer a specific product or service, or specialize in offering a plethora of products or services; and  businesses that range from simple to complex in structure and form. If it buys or sells products, makes or spends money and operates within the capitalist system in some way, shape, or form, it is included in the field of business.

Communication is an important aspect of the field. People who have a degree in business pay particular attention to the ways in which businesses and people communicate with one another. Whether a person in the field focuses on marketing, accounting, purchasing, or any other aspect of business, he or she most commonly works to increase the effectiveness of communication within that specialty. An accountant, for example, works to ensure that a business’ finances are aligned with its social, political and economic goals. Similarly, an expert in marketing, for example, works to ensure that a business’ marketing campaign is consistent with fulfilling its social, political and economic missions. Degrees in business can prepare individuals to be attuned to the communicative needs of businesses and people who earn those degrees may have a particular interest in ensuring that a business’ communications run effectively.    

What Types of People Earn a Degree in Business?

 The field of business might interest you if you are passionate about doing any of the following:

• Ensuring that businesses enjoy freedom, stability and success
• Identifying the ways in which businesses can be better run and operated
• Helping businesses to grow and expand physically or financially
• Ensuring that businesses are using their products, services and advertisements to achieve their social, political and economic goals
• Structuring businesses so that they are well-prepared for an uncertain or unstable future
• Ensuring that businesses operate smoothly, transparently and/or with integrity

If any of these actions inspire, motivate, or intrigue you, consider earning a degree in business and communication.  

What Types of Classes are Offered in Business Programs?

Because the field of business is incredibly broad, courses in business and communication programs cover a vast number of topics. However, there is a standard list of courses that are commonly offered through the majority of programs. They include:

• Marketing 
• Accounting 
• Economics 
• Business communications  
• Business law and ethics 
• International business 
• Operations management
• Organizational behavior
• Human resource management
• Financial management

Students commonly take courses in each topic and then specialize in one particular field. Some programs also offer students the option of participating in a co-curriculum study in which they focus on two or more topics. No matter the focus of the program, students may emerge prepared for careers in a huge variety of venues.

Career Paths

People with a degree in business could work for any size, structure, or type of business. They may, for example, work at a small, locally owned coffee house, a medium sized national company that sells socks, or a large sized international company that distributes products to any number of smaller companies. They may work behind the scenes in a company’s administrative building with its executives, in a warehouse with a company’s laborers, or in a showroom with its workers selling the final product. They may work for businesses that make lots of money, business that make small amounts of money, or businesses that make just enough money to operate. They may work for private companies such as Coca-Cola, public companies such as the government, or non-profit companies such as Greenpeace. They may, in short, work for any agency that operates in some shape or form in the capitalistic economy.