Introduction

If the idea of working in a business environment of any kind excites you, getting a degree in business is an excellent first step toward making that dream a reality. A business degree can help you enter the business world, or, if you are already working in business, it can help you increase your opportunities to advance your career, increase your salary, and find more satisfaction with your job.

The Internet revolution has changed the face of business forever. Markets are becoming increasingly global, and deals can be cut instantly half a world away. A degree from business school can help prepare you for this challenging economic shift and the technology that accompanies it.

In today's economy, the competition for great jobs with solid companies is intense. If you want to maximize your chances of success, you need to start the race with as much preparation as possible. A degree from business school will not only help you by teaching you the theoretical concepts of business, but it will also offer you a variety of opportunities to practice what you are learning. This potent combination of knowledge and experience will give you the confidence and skills you need to thrive in your career.

Universities both online and in brick-and-mortar facilities offer associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees in a number of general business areas. You can earn your degree in a wide variety of specialties, including accounting, pre-law, marketing, finance, economics, information systems, business administration, real estate, strategy, and various types of management.

For each of these focus areas, you'll take some common core courses as well as several courses that are strategically targeted to help you gain a well-rounded foundation in order to enter that specific line of work. You'll learn how to deal with staff, clients, and coworkers. You'll gain valuable tips on how to work swiftly and accurately with numbers and statistics. You'll get the latest training on current technology. Some degrees focus more on 'people skills,' while others are more technically oriented and teach quantitative analysis methods that you can use in a diverse range of fields. The varied skill set and knowledge base you can gain in business school will make you highly attractive to potential employers.

As you consider which degree you'd like to earn at business school, it's important to take a look at the required coursework to see if the area actually focuses on your personal area of interest. You'll also want to consider the potential careers that await a person who has earned that degree. These things will help you be sure that your interests and goals will be met within the degree path you select.

Not all business schools are created equal. A degree from a highly ranked institution is going to hold a lot more water with potential employers than a degree from a relatively unknown school. On the other hand, higher-ranked schools often cost much more to attend. In addition, not every school has the same options in specialized areas for business majors. These are all factors to weigh as you consider which business school you will choose.

By successfully earning a degree in business, you can set yourself on a path toward opportunity. You may work in a lucrative job as an economist or market analyst. Or you may become a consultant, providing your expert advice to help maximize the success of your clients. You may even become an entrepreneur and start your own business to realize your personal vision of success. A degree can help open the door to these and other exciting career options.

Why are business majors so useful in such a wide variety of careers? It's because the idea of "business" itself is so broad. For thousands of years, the realm of business has existed to provide goods, services, and jobs to the public. If it weren't for business, each individual and family would have to know how to provide all the goods and services they needed for themselves. Every family would need to practice agriculture, cooking, mechanics, textiles, sewing, medical care, computer manufacturing, and countless other skills. This is not practical or realistic.

Business allows for the division of labor. People can produce the goods or services that they have specialized in. They then trade the value earned from their production for the things they need or want.

A business is an organization that provides goods or services to people who want or need them. Business makes things happen. It affects every part of our society. Whatever you want to accomplish in life, business can help you achieve that goal. In the modern world, technology has caused nations all over the planet to become connected. Communications and trade can happen instantly across thousands of miles. This relatively recent development has created a new and constantly growing set of challenges. People who want to succeed in business must be trained and knowledgeable, not only about business principles but also in practical knowledge that includes technical skills, communication, and global commerce.

Often people who think about business careers imagine a person wearing a suit and working in a high- powered corporation. However, many people work in small businesses, wearing casual clothes, and working to achieve personal dreams. Some work in nonprofit organizations for causes in which they have chosen to invest their lives. Still others work for government agencies or for schools or colleges. The fact is that there is not a sector of our economy that does not need people with strong business and “people” skills.

As a business career person, you could become a purchasing or merchandising expert, or you could manage a retail store. You could work in public relations, human resources, or finance. You could become an insurance salesperson or an accountant. You could start your own restaurant. There are literally hundreds of career titles that you could pursue in the world of business.

Business is the river that runs through society. It makes things happen and affects every aspect of the modern world. If you choose to pursue a degree in business, you will place yourself in the center of the action of modern society and culture, and you will have the opportunity to make an impact on your world.

Business History

Long before degrees in business were thought of, even in prehistoric times, some sort of business has existed. Before money existed, people traded goods or services. This is called the barter system. Business records have been found dating back several centuries B.C., when Assyrian merchants logged their dealings.

The first multinational corporation is considered by many to be the Dutch East India Company. During the early 1600s, this company expanded its trade to most parts of the world and achieved a monopoly in global business for more than two centuries. The Dutch East India Company was responsible for shipping imported goods to Europe from colonies around the world.

Later, business changed forever as technology offered ways for mass production of goods. The Industrial Revolution ran from about 1700 to about 1850. During this time, factories churned out textile goods such as clothing, metal goods including various tools, chemical goods and medicines, and more. The Industrial Revolution made agriculture more efficient with the development of tools that did the job of many workers.

The Industrial Revolution opened the door for many ambitious business people. During the late 1800s, people like John Davison Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and Henry Ford started businesses from the ground up and became extremely wealthy and successful.

The Carnegie Steel Company used industrial innovations to produce quality steel goods for affordable prices. Andrew Carnegie's business sense and innovation changed the infrastructure of the contemporary world. Because of the Carnegie Steel Company's success, America sprouted skyscrapers, bridges, and high-rise buildings.

John D. Rockefeller had a similar effect on his industry with his Standard Oil Company. He was on the cutting edge at the time when oil came into wide usage. He was the first person in the history of America to become a billionaire. Both he and Carnegie were known for giving large amounts of money and aid to charities.

Henry Ford was a young entrepreneur who had the bright idea to use an assembly line to mass-produce cars for his automobile company. The development of the assembly line in industry drastically shortened the length of time and amount of manpower needed to produce goods. Because of this, the cost of cars was reduced and they became affordable to many thousands of Americans. This changed not only the standard of living in America but the very fabric of American culture. As a result of this development, America became a 'car culture.' Families moved from the cities to suburbs. People traveled all over America on a quickly expanding network of roads and highways.

During the last half of the twentieth century, a new development in technology carried with it enormous changes to global commerce. The invention of the microchip brought the use of the relatively new invention of the computer into the lives and homes of consumers and into the framework of business itself. Today, the rapid developments in computer and wireless technology continue to expand. During the twenty-first century, the advent of the Internet and e-commerce in everyday life has made it possible for any person with drive and vision to become an entrepreneur.

It is clear that the drive of business and the desire to succeed in it have fueled innovations that have made life easier and more comfortable for individuals and businesses. When you see names like PepsiCo™, Apple™, Microsoft™, Sony™, Target™, and Toyota™, you recognize names that make up the building blocks of our lives. As we look into the future, we can only imagine what the imagination, ambition, and relentless hard work of the next generation of business tycoons will create.

If you'd like to join that generation of business tycoons, a college degree can give you the tools you need to get you on your way. Some famous business people attended business school. William Henry "Bill" Gates may have dropped out of Harvard, but he is an exception when it comes to high achievers. Radio show host Howard Allan Stern earned his communications degree from Boston University. Investment guru Warren Edward Buffet attended Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania. He transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated in only three years, even though he held down a full-time job. After that, he obtained his master's in business from Columbia University.

Real estate investor, reality TV show host and motivational speaker Donald John Trump, Sr. also graduated from business school. He majored in economics at Wharton School of Finance. And - on a different end of the spectrum - Sean "P. Diddy" Combs attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he majored in business.

It's clear to see that successful business people from all walks of life have attended business school. They realized that getting that groundwork in business theory and practice would serve them well throughout their careers, no matter where those careers led. Today, more than ever, the competitive world of business makes getting a business degree one of the best decisions an ambitious person can make.