Business Management and Administration

Overview

Students learn the fundamentals of business, including:

• Accounting
• Economics
• Management theory
• Organizational psychology

Concentrations

Students in a bachelor's degree program may have the opportunity to concentrate in one or more of the following areas:

• Accounting
• Customer service management
• Finance
• Human resources
• Marketing
• Operations
• Research and development management

Schools

Community colleges and other two-year schools offer associate degree programs in business management and administration. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete. After earning an associate degree students can transfer to a college or university for further study.

Most colleges and universities offer bachelor degree programs in business management and administration. A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study.

Many schools offer graduate degrees in business management and administration. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program requires two years of study beyond the bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

• Business Economics
• Business, General
• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
• Finance
• Human Resources Management
• International Business, Trade, and Finance
• Labor and Industrial Relations
• Logistics and Materials Management
• Management Information Systems
• Management Sciences
• Nonprofit Management
• Operations Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Organizational Leadership
• Project Management
• Public Administration

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

• Administrative Services Managers
• Agents and Business Managers
• Business Executives
• Computer and Information Systems Managers
• Construction Managers
• Financial Managers
• General and Operations Managers
• Geothermal Production Managers
• Health Services Administrators
• Hotel and Motel Managers
• Human Resources Managers
• Industrial Production Managers
• Management Analysts
• Meeting and Convention Planners
• Project Managers
• Property and Real Estate Managers
• Purchasing Managers
• Regulatory Affairs Managers
• Restaurant Managers
• Sales Managers
• Storage and Transportation Managers
• Supply Chain Managers

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

• Accountants and Auditors
• Advertising Managers
• Advertising Salespeople
• Architectural and Engineering Managers
• Brokerage Clerks
• Budget Analysts
• College and University Administrators
• Education Administrators
• Farmers and Farm Managers
• Financial Analysts
• Golf Course Superintendents
• Insurance Agents
• Marketing Managers
• Wind Energy Operations Managers

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

• Economics
• English Composition
• Introduction to Business
• Psychology
• Public Speaking
• Trigonometry

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores. It is possible to study a business specialization even though your undergraduate major is not business-related. But you should complete courses in accounting, economics, statistics, business law, and management information systems.

Prior work experience in the business world is very helpful, and may be required for MBA programs.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

• Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
• Letters of recommendation
• Interview

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

A bachelor's degree program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

• Business Law
• Business Writing
• Calculus for Business
• Finance
• Human Resources Management
• Introduction to Accounting
• Introduction to Management Information Systems
• Introduction to Marketing
• Organizational Behavior
• Principles of Macroeconomics
• Principles of Management and Organization
• Principles of Microeconomics
• Psychology
• Statistics for Business
• Writing

Programs that lead to an associate degree cover a more limited selection of the same subjects.

Graduate Program Courses

MBA programs typically cover many of the subjects listed under program courses in the first year. In the second year, you choose subjects in the area where you want to specialize. Often you do an internship between the first and second years. A thesis also may be required.

Things to Know

Business courses often focus on cases drawn from real life. Students sharpen their analytical and problem-solving skills by examining situations that businesses have encountered. They evaluate the strategies that the businesses have followed.

Business courses in high school can be useful preparation for a career in business administration. However, your high school transcript needs to show that you are preparing for a demanding college-level program.

Good skills in writing, speaking, and critical thinking are needed for advancement in the business world.

Schools

East Side Area

Big Bend Community College

• Associate in Business

Central Washington University

• Business Administration
• Business Administration--Specialization in Personal Financial Planning
• Business Administration--Specialization Leadership and Management
• Information Technology & Administrative Management--Administrative Management
• Information Technology and Administrative Management
• Sport Business

Walla Walla Community College

• Applied Management & Entrepreneurship
• Business Administration

Walla Walla Community College (Clarkston)

• Associate of Business
• Business and Management

Walla Walla University

• Business Administration
• Business Administration--Management Concentration
• Business--Business Analytics
• Technology--Automotive Management

Washington State University - Pullman

• Business Administration
• Business Administration--Management
• Business Administration--Operations and Management Science
• Business Administration--Wine & Beverage Business Management
• Executive Master of Business Administration

Wenatchee Valley College (Omak Campus)

• Associate of Business

King-Snohomish Area

Bellevue College

• Associate in Arts and Sciences Transfer Degree
• Business Administration Online Bachelor's Degree
• Business Administration with Management Major (in cooperation with Eastern Washington University)
• Business Management
• Project Management

Central Washington University - Des Moines

• Information Technology and Administrative Management

City University of Seattle

• Business Administration
• Leadership
• Management
• Management & Leadership
• MBA with Accounting Specialization
• MBA--Change Leadership Emphasis

Columbia College - Naval Station Everett/Marysville

• Business Administration
• Business Administration--Sports Management
• Management

Edmonds Community College

• Business Management
• Business Management--Business Studies
• Business Management--Global Business
• Hospitality and Tourism---Business & Management

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Everett

• Aviation Business Administration
• Management

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Renton

• Aviation Business Administration
• Management

Everett Community College

• Business Administration

Everett Community College (East County Campus)

• Business Administration

Green River College

• Applied Management
• Associate in Business
• Business Management
• Business Management--Management and Supervision
• Business Management--Retail Management

Highline College

• Associate of Business

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

• Business Technology--Project Management Support

North Seattle College

• Associate in Business
• General Business
• Project Management

Northeastern University - Seattle

• Energy Systems
• Innovation
• Master of Business Administration
• Project Management
• Regulatory Affairs for Drugs, Biologics, and Medical Devices

Northwest University

• Business Administration
• Business Management (Online only)
• Management

Renton Technical College

• Associate in Business

Seattle Central College

• Associate of Business (Transfer)

Seattle Pacific University

• Business Administration
• Business Administration--Economics Concentration
• Business Administration--Finance Concentration
• Business Administration--General Business Track
• Business Administration--Information Systems Concentration
• Business Administration--International Business Concentration
• Business Administration--Management Concentration
• Business Administration--Marketing Concentration
• Business Administration--Public Policy Concentration
• Business and Applied Theology/Management--Faith and Business (Dual Degree)
• Divinity/Business Administration (Dual Degree)
• Management--Faith and Business
• Management--Human Resources
• MS Information Systems--Cybersecurity Emphasis
• Theology--Business and Applied Theology (Dual Degree)

Seattle University

• Bridge MBA
• Business & Law
• Business Administration
• Business Administration--Business Analytics
• Business Administration--Business Valuation
• Business Administration--Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Business Administration--Global Business
• Business Administration--Internal Audit
• Business Administration--Management
• Executive Leadership
• Juris Doctor/Professional Master of Business Administration Joint Degree Program
• Master of Professional Accounting/Master of Business Analytics Joint Degree Program
• Master of Professional Accounting/Professional Master of Business Administration Joint Degree Program
• Master of Science in Business Analytics/Master of Science in Finance Joint Degree Program
• Master of Science in Business Analytics/Professional Master of Business Administration Joint Degree Program
• Master of Science in Finance/Professional Master of Business Administration Joint Degree Program

Shoreline Community College

• Business Administration--Sustainable Business Leadership

South Seattle College

• Associate in Business (Transfer)

TLG Learning

• Project Management for Professionals

University of Washington - Bothell

• Business Administration--Management
• Business Administration--Technology & Innovation Management
• Leadership MBA
• Technology MBA

University of Washington - Bothell (Eastside Leadership Center)

• Leadership MBA

University of Washington - Seattle

• Business Administration
• Executive Master of Business Administration
• Technology Management

Washington Technology University

• Business Administration

Kitsap Area

Brandman University - Bremerton

• BBA to MBA Accelerated Degree

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Whidbey Island

• Aviation Business Administration
• Management
• Technical Management

Olympic College

• Business Management
• Business Management--Supervisory/Human Resource Skills

Olympic College (Poulsbo Campus)

• Business Management

Spokane Area

Eastern Washington University

• Business Administration--MBA
• Communication Studies--Leadership

Eastern Washington University (Spokane Campus)

• Business Administration
• Business Administration/International Business and Economics Dual Degree
• Public Administration/Business Administration Dual Degree

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Fairchild AFB

• Aviation Business Administration
• Management

Gonzaga University

• Business Administration
• Business Administration and Law
• Business Administration--Individualized Program
• Engineering Management--Optional MBA
• Leadership Studies

Spokane Community College

• Associate in Business
• Business Administration Pre-Major
• Management
• Project Management/Lean/Six Sigma

Spokane Falls Community College

• Business Management
• Business Technology & Software Specialist

Washington State University Health Sciences - Spokane

• Doctor of Pharmacy/MBA Concurrent Degree

Whitworth University

• Business Administration
• Business--Management

Statewide and Distance Learning

Washington State University - Global Campus

• Executive MBA
• MBA

WGU Washington

• Business Administration
• Business Administration--Healthcare Management
• Business Administration--Information Technology Management
• Business--Management

Tacoma Area

Bates Technical College

• Marketing

Central Washington University - Pierce County

• Business Administration--Leadership and Management
• FLexIT--Information Technology and Administrative Management--Administrative Management

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Joint Base Lewis-McChord

• Aviation Business Administration
• Management

Pacific Lutheran University

• Business Administration--Individualized Major Concentration
• Business Administration--Supply Chain Management
• Business Administration--Technology and Innovation Management

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom

• Applied Business
• Applied Business Management
• Supervision & Management

Pierce College Puyallup

• Applied Business Management
• Supervision and Management

Tacoma Community College

• Applied Management--Human Resources Option
• Applied Management--Project Management Option

University of Puget Sound

• Business Leadership Program

University of Washington - Tacoma

• Business Administration
• Business Administration--Accounting
• Business Administration--Finance
• Business Administration--General Business
• Business Administration--Management
• Business Administration--Marketing
• Business Analytics
• Project Management (continuing education)

Tri-Cities Area

Columbia Basin College

• Applied Management--General
• Business
• Business Administration

Washington State University - Tri-Cities

• Business Administration
• Business Management--Human Resource Management Track
• Business Management--Innovation & Change Track
• Hospitality Business Management
• Hospitality Business Management--Wine & Beverage Business Management

Vancouver Area

Charter College--Vancouver

• Business Administration

Clark College

• Applied Management
• Business Administration
• Supervisory Management

Washington State University - Vancouver

• Business Administration
• Business Administration--Entrepreneurship
• Business Administration--Management

West Side Area

Bellingham Technical College

• Associate in Business DTA/MRP (Transfer)
• Business Management

Brandman University - Lacey

• Business Administration--MBA

Centralia College

• Applied Management
• Business Administration--Management Emphasis

Columbia College - Whidbey Island

• Business Administration
• Management

Evergreen State College, The

• Business & Management
• Leadership Studies

Grays Harbor College

• Associate in Business
• Business Management

Lower Columbia College

• Associate in Business
• Business Management
• Business Management--Transfer to The Evergreen State College

Northwest Indian College

• Tribal Governance & Business Management

Peninsula College

• Applied Management
• Associate in Business
• Business Administration--Management

Saint Martin's University

• Business Administration

Skagit Valley College

• Applied Management
• Business Management

South Puget Sound Community College

• Business Administration

Western Washington University

• Business Administration MBA Program
• Business and Sustainability

Whatcom Community College

• Applied Business Management
• Associate in Business
• Business Administration

Yakima Area

Heritage University

• Business Administration--Business Leadership/Entrepreneurship
• Business Administration--Economics Emphasis

Yakima Valley College

• Business Administration
• Business Management
• Business--Management

Yakima Valley College (Grandview)

• Business Management