Key Takeaways
- You can pursue a management degree at a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate level.
- The key focus of a management program is to build competencies in organizational leadership, operational efficiency, resource management and allocation, research, and more.
- With a bachelor’s degree in management, you develop a broad range of soft and hard skills in areas such as finance, accounting, operational management, market research, and so on.
- You can choose to pursue a specialization in a management program. Options include entrepreneurship and innovation, multinational management, strategic management, and more.
- Jobs you can get with a bachelor’s degree in management include financial analyst, facilities manager, marketing manager, and healthcare services manager.
- Colleges offering a bachelor in management include Canisius University, Moravian University, and University of Tampa. Read on to find out more.
- You can also pursue a management degree online from Concordia University St. Paul, University of West Alabama Online, Eastern Kentucky University, and others.
A management degree can prepare you for leadership roles in different types of organizations and various industries. Students enrolled in the program develop a comprehensive range of competencies required to lead any kind of organization and its human resources. Furthermore, you can tailor the learning outcomes of the program by pursuing a specialization of your choice.
In this guide, we discuss a management degree in detail, including program coursework, career opportunities, industry trends, and colleges from where you can pursue a bachelor’s in management studies.
What is a management degree?
A management degree features a comprehensive curriculum focused on building competencies necessary for leading, organizing, people and resource management, and more. The curriculum lasts three to four years, depending on whether the college requires completion of a work placement program or not.
After completing general coursework in accounting, finance, business management, research, and so on, students move on to choosing a specialization. There are several specializations you can pursue in a management degree, such as human resource management, entrepreneurship, strategic management, organizational leadership, and so on.
The exact specialization or range of specializations available to you will vary by college as not all offer the complete range. Make sure you determine the college of your choice and also offer the specialization of your choice. You should also check the work placement requirements of the management program you are applying to.
You can pursue a Bachelor of Management degree at the undergraduate and a master’s in management at the graduate level. At the bachelor level, you can get either a BA or a BS in management. Whether you choose a BA or a BS, you develop a wide range of competencies required to take on managerial roles in all types of organizations.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts degree offers courses in liberal arts and humanities. The program emphasizes holistic learning building a range of professional skills such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
A Bachelor of Science in comparison takes a more technical approach focusing on building quantitative and analytical skills. In a BS, you can expect to take more science, research, and mathematics courses.
What does a bachelor of management degree entail?
As mentioned earlier, a bachelor’s degree in management lasts three to four years depending on the work placement requirements of the program. Some colleges require students to complete an additional year of work placement bringing the total program duration to four years. The program features a blended curriculum with lectures, seminars, and practical learning opportunities.
Throughout the program, you will engage in group discussions, carry out projects in a group or individually, prepare assignments, and more. The blended learning curriculum not only enhances the learning experience but also builds essential professional competencies such as teamwork, collaboration, communication, public speaking, and more.
Management degree program coursework
A management program features a variety of courses aimed at enabling students to build broadly applicable competencies and skills in the field of management. Students enrolled in the program can expect to take courses in human resource management, project management, organizational behavior, strategic management, international business, and so on. The study of management transcends traditional notions of organizational management finance and time allocation and also encompasses the study of human resource guidance, and allocation.
The exact curriculum varies by institution, program type, and the specialization track a student is pursuing. The general topics of study in a management program are as follows:
- Strategic human resource management
- Teamwork models
- Models for organizational leadership and change
- Operational planning
- Strategic planning
- Social responsibility
- Business ethics
- Strategic human resource management.
Moreover, students will undertake courses in finance, accounting, operational planning, operational management, economics, marketing, and more. Additionally, you can choose a specialization area by choosing relevant electives in your topics of interest.
These can include courses in financial management, advertising and marketing, leadership, logistics, operations management, and so on. However, the best way to develop a specialized skill set is to pursue a management degree specialization.
Specializations in a management degree
If you want to keep your career opportunities open and flexible, a Bachelor of Management degree will suffice. However, for those who want to pursue a particular career opportunity, choosing a relevant specialization can significantly enhance their eligibility. Moreover, a management program offers students the flexibility to tailor their learning curriculum as per their career aspirations by providing ample choice of specializations.
Here are some specializations you can pursue in a management program.
Strategic Management
The strategic management specialization features courses such as Competitive Strategy, Management of Technology, Corporate Governance, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Value Creation in a Business. Through the program, aspiring professionals gain the skills and knowledge needed to equip organizations with a strategic advantage. They learn to assess external threats and factors that can potentially affect an organization’s operational efficiency and how to find effective workarounds to ensure an organization is able to achieve its long and short-term goals.
Multinational Management
Here students learn essential management and leadership principles and skills but in a global context. In the specialization, you can expect to take courses such as Global Growth of Emerging Firms, Multinational Corporation Strategies, Managing Globalization & Anti-Globalization, and Political and Social Environment of the Multinational Firm. Additionally, you will learn about international trade laws, regulations, and taxation, and maybe even take a deeper dive into organizations in emerging and established markets.
Organizational Effectiveness
Through courses such as Power and Politics in Organizations, Corporate Governance, Negotiation, People Analytics, How to Be the Boss, and Organizational Behavior, students develop an in-depth understanding of what it takes to lead the people that make an organization. The program will focus on organizational design, understanding how people behave in groups, and developing management systems for employees and overall organizational success.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Courses in the entrepreneurship and innovation specialization can include Social Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship through Acquisition, Intellectual Property Strategy, Venture Implementation, Venture Capital & Entrepreneurial Management, Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship, and so on.
Entrepreneurship and innovation specialization offers a more detailed learning curriculum and an extensive elective choice. Since entrepreneurship is a vast study discipline, students must target their pain points and choose relevant electives to build a comprehensive skill set.
Corporate Social Responsibility
A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) specialization takes a multidisciplinary approach to social and environmental issues. The CSR specialization’s curriculum features courses such as CSR Principles, CSR and the Environment, Business Strategies for Social Impact, CSR Reporting and Communication, and Corporate Social Innovation.
Through a combination of communication, leadership, and business courses students develop in-depth knowledge of corporate ethical responsibility, sustainability challenges and how to overcome them, environmental responsibility, and so on. Students will learn how to ensure financial profitability while also considering the societal, environmental, and social impacts of business activity.
Brand Management
From determining how a business wants to represent itself to setting up an image of your organization in the eyes of your consumers and figuring out how to use a brand image to increase engagement and achieve goals, a brand management specialization covers it all. Courses you can expect to take in the specialization include Brand Management Fundamentals, Branding Strategy, Brand Visual Creation, Consumer Behavior, and more.
Risk Management
Risk Management is an integral aspect of business operations. Thus, it is a specialization available in various degrees including business administration, and finance programs. Through the specialization students take a variety of courses in finance, and economics, learning to assess market situations, conduct a cost-benefit analysis, calculate probabilities, and prioritize data-backed decision-making. Thus, students also learn data analytics tools and techniques in a risk management specialization.
Human Resource Management
An organization’s human resources can be its biggest strength, and skilled labor is a limited resource. Through a human resource management specialization, you will learn how to find the ideal candidate among a sea of applicants. You will take courses covering a variety of topics such as legal and ethical challenges during hiring, negotiation, persuasion, cultural diversity in an organization, and more.
Skills you learn in a management degree
The skills learned in a management program transcend organizational types and geographical barriers. Students develop a range of soft and hard skills in different fields including business management and resource management principles to leadership, enhancing organizational efficiency, and more. Here are some skills you will learn in a management degree.
- Leadership
- Project management
- Organizational behavior
- Strategic planning
- Data Analytics
- Marketing
- Change management
- Managing innovation
- Financial management
- Financial planning
- Problem-solving
- Decision-making
Colleges offering a management degree
A bachelor’s in management can open many career opportunities for graduates. Here are some colleges in the United States offering an on-campus management bachelor’s degree.
| College | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Canisius University | 78% | 73% | $33,330 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | 63% | 62% | $12,383 in-state
$22,726 out-of-state |
| St. Ambrose University | 74% | 63% | $36,378 |
| University of Tampa | 41% | 60.6% | $32,096 |
| Moravian University | 67% | 69% | $52,000 |
| Northern State University | 78% | 48% | $8,845 in-state
$11,947 out-of-state |
| Caroll University | 72% | 67% | $37,230 |
Can I get a bachelor of management online?
You can either pursue a Bachelor of Management on-campus or online. Several colleges across the US offer online degrees to cater to the rising demand for distance-learning programs. If you are looking for increased flexibility in your learning curriculum, an online program might be ideal for you.
Additional benefits of an online management bachelor’s degree include convenience, easier access, and affordability. Regardless of where you live in the world, you can enroll in an online program and obtain your bachelor’s degree.
However, there are some cons to an online program, the most notable one being the lack of technical support and access to on-campus resources. Distance learners must also be excellent time managers and disciplined to take full advantage of the online learning module.
Which colleges offer an online Bachelor of Management degree?
If you’ve decided to pursue an online management degree, here are some colleges you can explore.
| College | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Concordia University St. Paul | 69.1% | 54.6% | $25,600 |
| University of West Alabama Online | 69% | 34% | $10,990 in-state
$20,090 out-of-state |
| Campbellsville University Online | 78% | 33% | $424/credit |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 97% | 86% | $10,020 in-state
$11,120 out-of-state |
| Daytona State College | 100% | 45.8% | $3,106 in-state
$11,994 out-of-state |
| Northern State University | 78% | 48% | $8,845 in-state
$11,947 out-of-state |
| University of Minnesota | 29.27% | 79.1% | $43,600 in-state
$59,040 out-of-state |
Management Major from the University of Minnesota – highlighted suggestion
The University of Minnesota offers a completely online management major. The Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Minnesota will equip you with the knowledge, tools, skills, and professional competencies needed to lead a successful career. After graduation, you can explore a variety of job opportunities in private corporations, public institutes, government organizations, and more.
Skills you will build in the program include being able to organize, plan, and lead an organization through marketing, advertising, data-backed decision-making, problem-solving, and so on.
What can you do with a management degree?
There are several management degree jobs that you can get with a bachelor’s degree. These range from managerial positions to consultant roles, finance executives, and more. Every organization, be it for-profit or not-for-profit, a private corporation or a government institute, a hospital or a production facility has the need for skilled managers overseeing day-to-day operations. Here are some high-paying jobs you become eligible for with a bachelor’s degree.
| Job title | Average salary |
| Administrative Services Manager | $106,470 |
| Marketing Managers | $157,620 |
| Compensation & Benefits Manager | $136,380 |
| Financial Managers | $156,100 |
| Human Resources Managers | $136,350 |
| Medical & Health Services Managers | $110,680 |
| Training & Development Managers | $125,040 |
| Public Relations & Fundraising Managers | $130,480 |
| Sales Managers | $135,160 |
Management occupations – Hiring trends and job market overview
Qualified management professionals are always in demand. Regardless of what technological changes may be driving the global market, skilled managers who are able to weather the storms, and lead organizations to success through good times and bad are always in demand.
According to a report by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for management occupations is high. A detailed report by the organization details which job roles within the management occupation bracket are growing at a faster than the national average rate. The following is a list of job roles and their job growth rate as listed by BLS.
- Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers – 8%
- Administrative Services and Facilities Managers – 6%
- Financial Managers – 17%
- Human Resource Managers – 6%
- Medical and Health Services Managers – 29%
- Training and Development Managers – 7%
- Public Relations and Fundraising Managers – 7%
- Sales Managers – 6%
For comparison, the national average job growth rate for all occupations is 4.0%. Nearly all management occupations have a rate higher than the national average.
On average 1.2 million job openings are projected each year indicating strong employment opportunities for management graduates. If you are looking for a field that is financially rewarding and promises a certain extent of job security, a management degree is a good option to consider.
Entry-level qualification
The Occupational Requirements Survey Report by BLS for all Management Occupations shows that a minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required for nearly 54% of all entry-level management positions. The report also highlighted the favorable working conditions those employed in management occupations enjoy.
More than 90% of employed individuals enjoy the freedom to choose whether to stand or sit. Less than 15% needed to climb stairs or structures and a meager 34.5% were required to drive to fulfill job obligations. The majority of employed professionals in management occupations experience moderate to low noise exposure. Around 75% of workers spend the majority of their day standing to complete tasks, but a significant percentage of them do so because of personal preferences.
Highest-paying industry employers
Pursuing a formal education in a subject you are passionate about is the ideal way forward. The more passionate you are about a field, the harder you will work for success and the better your chances of succeeding are too. Salary earned is one major measure of success and thus, choosing an area of study that leads to high-paying careers can be rewarding in multiple ways.
When it comes to management occupations, all industries and all types of organizations require skilled professionals. However, not all jobs and employers offer high-end salaries. Here are the 5 high-paying industries for management professionals.
Finance
The finance industry contains different types of organizations such as banks including investment banks, insurance companies, money lending companies, investment management companies, financial advisory and consultancy firms, real estate firms, and more. Management degree jobs in the finance industry include financial managers, personal financial advisors, and financial consultants. You will need at least a bachelor’s degree in finance or management to secure entry-level job roles in this industry.
Healthcare
Healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment, and product manufacturers are just some types of companies in the healthcare sector. In this industry, you can secure jobs such as hospital manager, medical director, and assistant manager of clinical services with a bachelor’s in management.
Utilities
Management degree jobs in the utilities sector include administrative services manager and facilities manager. These professionals ensure unhindered provision of critical services such as water, gas, electricity, internet, and more. You will need a bachelor’s degree to secure entry-level roles.
Educational Services
Management professionals employed in the educational sector take on many responsibilities. The primary ones include researching and developing teaching programs to improve the quality of education. You need a bachelor’s degree to enter the field as a management professional in the education sector.
Manufacturing
In the manufacturing sector, management professionals are employed in a variety of roles, including some specialized ones such as operations manager. Their roles and responsibilities include overseeing daily operations, ensuring operational efficiency, and quality assurance. You can get entry-level positions with a bachelor’s degree in management.
Answers to frequently asked questions about a management degree
Before you enroll in a program, you should learn about it in detail. A management degree is one that may confuse you. It is easy to confuse a management program with a Bachelor of Business Administration, or a business management program. Even though you can pursue a management major within a BBA, the two programs are quite different.
Is a management degree the same as a business management degree?
A management degree is often considered to be the same as a business management degree. However, there are subtle differences in the program curriculum and learning outcomes of the two programs.
A business management program focuses on developing competencies required to effectively lead a business organization. The curriculum emphasizes learning core business concepts such as finance, accounting, operations management, and so on. As a student, you will develop the skills and knowledge needed to oversee overall operations and set a strategic direction for the organization.
Whereas in a management degree students develop a range of skills applicable to a broader range of organizations including non-profit organizations, educational institutes, medical facilities, and even governmental organizations. The core focus of the program is on leadership and organizational principles.
While a business management program focuses on building skills needed to successfully operate and manage a business, a management program focuses on building organizational leadership and resource management in different organizational settings.
Is a management degree worth it?
A management degree is an excellent program for those hoping to develop highly transferable skills. With a management degree, you develop a range of broadly applicable competencies that transcend geographical and industrial boundaries. Moreover, with a Bachelor of Management, you become eligible for many high-paying jobs across a varied range of industries.
Why is a management degree good?
A management degree is an excellent program to pursue for a variety of reasons. However, its most significant advantage is that it leads to high-paying career opportunities in multiple industries. Additionally, it builds transferable skills and competencies applicable to a variety of managerial positions in different industries.
What is the highest degree in management?
At the undergraduate level, a bachelor’s degree in management is the highest level of qualification you can pursue. At the advanced level, you can pursue a master’s and then a doctorate in management studies, which is the highest degree in management. If you want to go into research or pursue teaching opportunities in management, a PhD is an ideal option for you.
Start your college application for a management degree today!
A management degree opens a world of career opportunities for graduates. From managerial-level positions in the finance and business industry to governmental institutions, healthcare companies, and more, a Bachelor of Management Studies can lead to many exciting opportunities in different industries. Moreover, qualified management professionals enjoy a favorable work environment, high pay, and job security.
Start your college application for a management degree online or on campus, today! Don’t be afraid to seek help with your college application. All Bachelor Degrees offer plenty of educational tools and resources to help you put your best foot forward in your college application.