Careers: general and operations manager, project manager, administrative services manager, office manager, and management analyst. Majors: Business Administration, Management and Organizational Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Project Management, and Operations Management.
College majors for business and management
Business Administration
A broad business major that covers management, finance, marketing and operations.
Management and Organizational Leadership
Focuses on leading people, teams and organizations.
Entrepreneurship
Teaches you to start, fund and grow a new business or venture.
Project Management
Teaches you to plan, schedule, budget and deliver projects of any kind.
Operations Management
Studies how organizations produce goods and services efficiently and with high quality.
Healthcare Administration
Teaches you to manage the business side of hospitals, clinics and health systems.
Marketing
Studies how organizations understand customers and promote products and services.
Accounting
Teaches you to record, analyze, report and audit financial information.
Finance
Studies how individuals and organizations raise, invest and manage money.
Careers in business and management
General and Operations Manager
Keep a business running day to day, from staff and budgets to results.
- Typical training: 5+ years of experience
Project Manager
Plan projects, lead teams and deliver results on time, on budget and in scope.
- Typical training: 1–4+ years
Administrative Services Manager
Run the support services that keep an office working.
- Typical training: Several years of experience
Office Manager
Run an office’s daily operations, staff and systems so everyone else can do their jobs.
- Typical training: 3–5 years of administrative experience
Management Analyst
Help organizations run better by finding and fixing problems.
- Typical training: Less than 5 years of experience
Executive Assistant
Keep senior leaders organized, prepared and focused on what matters most.
- Typical training: 2–5 years of administrative experience
Administrative Assistant
Keep offices organized: calendars, communication, documents and logistics.
- Typical training: Weeks to months
Customer Service Representative
Help customers solve problems by phone, chat and email, and keep them coming back.
- Typical training: 2–6 weeks (paid training)
Office Clerk
Handle the everyday tasks that keep an office running.
- Typical training: A few weeks on the job
Skills these careers use
- Budgeting
- Office operations
- Records management
- Vendor management
- Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
- Data entry
Minors that fit this interest
- Accounting: Adds the ability to read, prepare and analyze financial records.
- Business: Adds core knowledge of management, finance, marketing and operations.
- Data Analytics: Adds skills in collecting, analyzing and presenting data.
- Healthcare Administration: Adds knowledge of how health organizations are managed and financed.
- Information Systems: Adds knowledge of how organizations use databases and business software.
- Management: Adds leadership, supervision and organizational skills.
- Marketing: Adds knowledge of customers, branding, promotion and digital marketing.
- Project Management: Adds methods for planning, scheduling and delivering projects.
- Supply Chain Management: Adds knowledge of purchasing, inventory and logistics.
Start building skills now
A self-paced online course on what general and operations managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: operations management, budgeting, and process improvement
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Business and Management
A self-paced online course on what project managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: scope, schedule and budget management, project management software, and risk management
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Business and Management
A self-paced online course on what administrative services managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: office operations, records management, and vendor management
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Business and Management
A self-paced online course on what office managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: office operations, budgeting, and vendor management
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Business and Management
Business and Management: frequently asked questions
What careers are there in business and management?
Careers connected to business and management include general and operations manager, project manager, administrative services manager, office manager, management analyst, executive assistant, administrative assistant, and customer service representative.
What should I major in if I am interested in business and management?
Majors connected to business and management include Business Administration, Management and Organizational Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Project Management, Operations Management, and Healthcare Administration. Compare what each includes, the skills it builds and where it leads.
What business and management careers do not require a four-year degree?
Examples include office manager, executive assistant, administrative assistant, customer service representative, office clerk, and bookkeeper. They typically start with a high school diploma, a certificate, an associate degree, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Which business and management careers usually require a bachelor’s degree or more?
Examples include general and operations manager, project manager, administrative services manager, management analyst, accountant, and human resources specialist. Some also need a license or certification.
What skills do you need for a career in business and management?
Skills that come up often in these careers include budgeting, office operations, records management, vendor management, microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, and data entry, along with communication and problem solving.
What minors fit an interest in business and management?
Minors connected to business and management include Accounting, Business, Data Analytics, Healthcare Administration, and Information Systems.
How do I start a career in business and management?
Learn about the careers in the field, choose one or two that fit you, check the education or training each requires, and build practical knowledge early through classes, part-time work, volunteering or short career training.
Can I explore business and management careers before choosing a college major?
Yes. Career profiles, job shadowing and short online career training let you learn what jobs in business and management involve before you commit to a major or program.
Does Career Education Institute offer training related to business and management?
Yes. Related online trainings include General and Operations Manager Training, Project Manager Training, Administrative Services Manager Training, and Office Manager Training. They are general, non-credit courses that teach what a job involves; they do not grant a degree or license.
Which colleges offer programs related to business and management?
Use the college search to find U.S. colleges that report awarding degrees in related majors, filtered by state, city, ZIP code, online programs and type of school.