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Business Administration vs. Business Management: Which is Right for Me?

By DeVry University

The information presented here is true and accurate as of the date of publication. DeVry’s programmatic offerings and their accreditations are subject to change. Please refer to the current academic catalog for details.

 

April 26, 2024
10 min read

If you’re considering charting a course towards a career in business, it’s good to know that the breadth of the field offers so many options in terms of industries you can work in and what kinds of roles you can consider pursuing.
 

But with so many options, how do you know you’re taking the right path? When pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business, how do you know whether a bachelor’s in business administration vs. business management is the right degree program for you?
 

In this article, we’ll help you tackle that business administration vs. business management degree conundrum by taking a close look at both degree options and examining their similarities and differences. Along the way, we’ll offer insights to help you develop a greater understanding of these academic options and determine which business degree is a better fit for your personal and professional goals.

What Is Business Administration?

Business administration refers to a range of roles that are crucial to the day-to-day operations of any business, from a small enterprise with less than 100 employees to a giant corporation with multiple layers of administration.

Administration is a high-level activity carried out by a group of people who formulate organization-wide policies, plans, rules and regulations, supervise and foster a company’s growth, and keep company culture focused on its goals.

What Is Business Management?

Regardless of the its size or business model, the objective of a company’s business management team is to ensure it's an efficient, profitable and sustainable operation. 

Professionals in business management are tasked with carrying out the policies that the administrators set. Managers may set objectives, organize and motivate their teams while devising systems to measure their performance and help them reach their full potential.

What Is the Difference Between Business Administration and Business Management?

As you compare business management vs. business administration, the common thread running between them is the management of resources. This can encompass human capital, finances or equipment. With solid business administration fundamentals in place, businesses stand a better chance of achieving their goals and doing so efficiently. 

Administration revolves around decision-making function, involving decisions that affect the entire organization, while management represents an executive function as it is applied to implementing decisions, resources working with teams to maximize their potential and reach their goals.  

Students who are considering administration or management will need to be mindful when it comes to selecting their course of study. 

Academically, business management and business administration degrees are related in that they include core courses that can introduce you to some basic business disciplines like accounting, ethics, business law, and both micro and macroeconomics, but a bachelor’s degree in business management will concentrate more on performance improvement, management theory, budgeting, forecasting and other operational disciplines than administration will. 

Another key difference between a bachelor’s in business administration vs. business management lies in the level of prior business experience students might typically have. Business management students often already have some experience in the workforces or may have completed some college education, while students pursuing a business administration degree tend to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program directly out of high school.

Which Business Degree is Right for Me?

When determining which degree is right for you, it’s a good idea to look at where you’ve been and where you’re going. First, look at how much business education or experience you already have under your belt, then take stock of your career goals. Do you want to advance in your current career, or start down a whole new path? Another consideration is knowing what you want to focus your education on. What new skills will you need to work toward opportunities that lie ahead? 

Bachelor’s degrees in business administration and business management both explore topics like statistical and financial analyses, solutions for daily business operations and strategies for managing both people and projects, but here is a breakdown of what you’ll study in each degree program respectively:

Bachelor’s in Business Administration

In a bachelor’s degree in business administration program, the emphasis is on building an understanding of core business concepts. You’ll learn how to analyze business opportunities and risks by working with statistical and financial data, and how to produce financial statements, apply marketing strategies and leverage technology to develop solutions for smooth and efficient day-to-day operations.

Here at DeVry, our Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration program can help you focus your degree to fit your goals and the industry you’re considering by choosing from 11 degree specializations in accounting, healthcare, marketing and small business management and entrepreneurship to name a few.

Bachelor’s in Business Management

A bachelor’s degree in business management prioritizes planning and organization. It focuses on strategies for managing people and achieving business goals. This degree program will delve into management theory and deliver concepts like business intelligence and analytics management, project management and finance. At DeVry, our Bachelor’s Degree in Management program can also be aligned with your career goals in 10 specialized areas that include global supply chain management, accounting, hospitality management, finance, project management and more.

What Skills Will I Need?

Both business administration and business management professionals need skills to help them collaborate well with others while staying focused on accomplishing their goals. 

Here are a few of the ways business administrators and managers apply these skills to their chosen area:

Business administration skills

Coursework in a bachelor’s in business administration program like the one offered at DeVry covers the concepts related to conventional business practices like accounting, marketing, management and the analytical skills that form the basis of sound decision-making. 

Critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, judgment and decision-making, and leadership skills are explored, as are communication skills. Opportunities to analyze business opportunities and risks, examine statistical and financial data, and produce financial statements using GAAP accounting guidelines are introduced. The application of marketing strategies and how to leverage technology to solve problems is also covered.

Business management skills

The coursework in a bachelor’s of business management degree program spans a range of topics related to daily business operations, such as finance management practices and business analytics. At DeVry, our curriculum is focused on hands-on learning and infused with the technology that enables today’s businesses to keep moving forward in competitive markets and amid rapid technological change. 

The management skills explored include fundamental management theories, leadership, project management and planning, and resource management. Judgment and decision-making skills allow you to sharpen your ability to consider the costs and benefits of actions to make the most appropriate choices.

Job Outlook for Business Professionals

What does the job growth look like for business administration and management degree holders? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall employment across the broad category of business and financial occupations is projected to grow faster than the national average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032, with about 911,400 openings projected each year, on average, over the decade.1  

The BLS also projects faster than average employment growth for management occupations during the same period, with about 1.1 million openings projected each year, on average, over the decade.2 

This growth is projected on a national level and local growth will vary by location. BLS projections are not specific to DeVry University students or graduates and may include earners at all stages of their careers and not just entry level.

Business Administration Careers

Whether earning a degree in business administration or management, the career options you explore should be aligned with the degree specialization you choose and your personal goals.

Earning a business administration degree may give you the opportunity to explore a wide range of careers in a variety of industries, including but not limited to management positions like these:

  • General and Operations Manager

  • Management Analyst

  • Financial Analyst

  • Sales Manager

  • Construction Manager

  • Social and Community Service Manager

Business management careers

A business management degree can prepare you to purse a variety of roles in business, in areas like human resources, marketing, project management and more:

  • Accountant

  • Business Analyst

  • Project Manager

  • Investment Analyst

  • Financial Planner

  • Marketer

  • Talent Acquisition Specialist

How to Pursue Business Management or Business Administration Education

You want to be confident that you’re choosing the education path that will best align with your goals, so it might be helpful to ask yourself some questions:

  • Do you want to be a business generalist or specialize in a specific discipline?

  • How do you feel about managing people and/or projects?

  • Do you like to analyze data or apply the findings to actionable solutions?

  • Are you tech savvy or interested in the latest tech innovations?

  • Do you see yourself as a leader, a problem solver or both?

It’s also important to choose a degree program that fits your lifestyle. These questions will help you choose the type of program that will be most likely to help you balance your commitment to education with other aspects of your busy life, including work, family and community obligations:
 

  • Do you want to take classes online?

  • Do you plan to study full-time or part-time?

  • How soon do you want to start pursuing your bachelor’s degree?

  • Are you ready to commit to a multi-year program?

Here at DeVry, everything we’ve learned in our 90 years of history and more than 25 years of online teaching go into our commitment to busy adult learners like you. Online learning with DeVry offers the flexibility to study when and where you want to and engage with a nationwide community of fellow online students as you prepare to advance your education and your career.
 

At DeVry, you can decide how quickly you earn your degree by opting for an accelerated schedule. For example, you can earn your Bachelor’s Degree in Management or your Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in as little as 2 years and 8 months on a minimum schedule, or 4 years on a normal one.3


3
Normal schedule assumes 2 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in 12-19 credit hours a semester per 12 month period. Minimum schedule does not include breaks and assumes 3 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in 12-19 credit hours a semester per 12 month period.

Take the First Steps on Your Business Education Journey with DeVry

DeVry can help you gain a skills-focused, technology-infused education through degree programs like our Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or Bachelor’s Degree in Management. Both undergraduate programs feature hands-on learning from experienced faculty in core business essentials, interpersonal skills and offer avenues for personal and professional development. You can also enhance your education in either degree program by choosing a specialization that aligns with your career goals.  

Both our Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration and our Bachelor’s of Science in Management are accredited4 by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) www.acbsp.org.

1Growth projected on a national level. Local growth will vary by location. BLS projections are not specific to DeVry University students or graduates and may include earners at all stages of their career and not just entry level. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm

2Growth projected on a national level. Local growth will vary by location. BLS projections are not specific to DeVry University students or graduates and may include earners at all stages of their career and not just entry level. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/home.htm

3Normal schedule assumes 2 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in 12-19 credit hours a semester per 12 month period. Minimum schedule does not include breaks and assumes 3 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in 12-19 credit hours a semester per 12 month period.
4Student Achievement At-a-Glance - Available for all of DeVry and Keller's ACBSP accredited programs. For a full list of DeVry University's business and accounting degree programs accredited by ACBSP, please see the Accreditation page.

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