Online and Distance Learning

Business degree programs open the doors to higher salaries than those with other majors do over time.  This page helps you to find out where you can take suitable programs, what the trends are, what you can earn after graduation, and more ... 

Many future and current college students analyze the potential that a degree may hold for them, especially in today's challenging economic environment. The economic downturn of 2008 made many business students and graduates wonder what their degrees would be worth. There are fortunately many lucrative opportunities available for those who hold associates, bachelors, and master degrees in a business-related field, and the higher the level of degree, the higher the earning potential for a professional.  And of course, there is always the possibility of starting one's own small business.

There are degrees to cover a broad spectrum of business disciplines, including accounting, finance, management, international business, human resources management, and marketing.  One trend within the field of business, in fact regardless of what discipline one chooses, is the increasing popularity of online degree programs.  Many individuals who wish to complete their degrees are juggling family, work, and educational obligations all at once. Online distance learning programs give students the flexibility to take classes from home and to focus time that would have been spent on commuting on other life priorities of importance.  This page mainly has links to schools offering degrees by online studies. 

Where can I study business?

Many schools offer online bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in business.  Here are a select few:

• DeVry University:
  • Bachelors in Business Administration
    
    • Accounting
    • Business Information Systems
    • Finance » Health Services Management
    • Hospitality Management
    • Human Resource Management
    • Operations Management
    • Project Management
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Security Management
    • Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship
    • Technical Communication.

• Villanova University
  • Master Certificates in:
    • Project Management
    • Six Sigma & Lean
    • Contract Management
    • IS Security
    • Business Analysis
    • Software Testing
    • Human Resources
    • ROI Methodology
    • Leadership

• Walden University - Online:
  • M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Leadership - General
  • Doctor of Business Administration
    
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Finance
    • Information Systems Management
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
    • Social Impact Management
    • Technology Entrepreneurship

• University of Phoenix
  • BS in Business/Administration
  • BS in Business/Public Administration
  • BS in Business/Global Business Management
  • BS in Business/Hospitality Management
  • BS in Business/Human Resource Management
  • BS in Business/Integrated Supply Chain and Operations Mgmt
  • BS in Business/Management
  • BS in Business/Project Management
  • BS in Business/Retail Management
  • BS in Business/Small Business Management & Entrepreneurship
  • BS in Business/Sustainable Enterprise Management
  • MBA
    
    • Accounting
    • Global Management
    • Human Resource Management
    • Marketing
    • Technology Management
  • DBA (Doctor of Business Administration)

Use this search link to explore more business programs.

For schools in Canada

• CDI College (for diplomas)
  • Accounting & Payroll Administration
  • Business Administration
  • Business Administration Management
  • Business Administrative Professional
  • Microsoft Office Specialist Certificate
  • Oil & Gas Administration
  • Dental Receptionist Coordinator
  • Medical Office Administration
  • Medical Office Administrator

• Vancouver Career College (for diplomas)
  • Accounting and Payroll Administrator
  • Business Administration Management
  • Business Administration / E-Commerce Management
  • Office Administration

• Reeves College (for diplomas)
  • Accounting and Payroll Administrator
  • Business Administration Management
  • Business Administration / E-Commerce Management

• Click here for a page that links to campus universities and campus colleges in Canada. It also provides some advice on choosing a suitable campus.

• Click here and then enter your Canadian postal code to search for other Canadian college or university campuses.

What do I study in a business degree?

In terms of what students need to take to complete a business program, in particular a bachelors, they usually have to take statistics, economics, algebra, accounting, marketing, management, and finance courses as part of a general curriculum. They then have to take specialized courses in their major and minor, for example, DeVry University has a bachelors degree in business administration with majors including: Project Management; Business Information Systems; and, Technical Communication (further details are given above).

What can I do after graduation?

There are many new trends in the field of business education that students need to be aware of. The first is that a degree in business administration is by far the most popular choice amongst students.  But within an administration degree one finds many specializations.

Health administration degrees are becoming more widespread. The demand for healthcare professionals, given the higher demand that aging baby boomers will have for medical services, will steadily increase in the next decade. Along with this increase will be more of a need for professionals who run medical offices, offices within hospitals, and more. This is where business health degrees come in.

Other specializations to look at include: international business, human resources management. and, of course, marketing.

Another hot trend in the field of business networking is that of social networking. The most popular social network sites provide solid forums where classmates and professors alike can post comments within minutes of posts going up. It is a phenomenon that was unheard of just a few years ago.

Those holding degrees in different business disciplines can expect to earn higher salaries than those with other majors do over time. The higher the level of degree, the more that a person earn. Some of the trends in business education include the prevalence of healthcare administration degrees, the increased demand for online learning classes, and the increasingly important role that social networking now plays in business programs across the country. There are general classes that all business majors take, including statistics, accounting, finance, marketing, and economics classes. Students then proceed to take more specialized classes in their major.

What can I earn after graduation?

Your salary will depend on the level of the degree.  According to reputable sources, those who have an associates degree can earn anywhere from US$32,000 to US$43,000 per year. Those with a bachelors can add up to US$5,000 more per year in earning potential, and those with a masters can earn up to US$11,000 per year more. Those with masters degrees tend to take on executive roles, and their earning capability has the potential to be limitless if they are aggressive and network extensively.  Of course, all these salaries are also dependent on experience, location and the particular business.

On average, those who are in retail and hold degrees tend to see earnings on the lower end of the spectrum as described above. Those in finance, accounting, and marketing see some of the highest salaries and are on the higher end of the salary range as delineated previously. Entry level employees in any business field overall tend to make salaries spanning from US$30,000 to US$50,000, though there are many exceptions and salaries that fall out of this range.

More information

If you don't find what you want here, try using this search link to explore more business programs.

Also, try the search facility on this site using business degree as your search term.