Types of Business Degrees

A degree may open the door to a variety of opportunities and diverse career paths. The degree programs offered at CTU will not necessarily lead to the featured careers. This collection of articles is intended to help inform and guide you through the process of determining which level of degree and types of certifications align with your desired career path.

With a degree in business, students have the potential to develop foundational business knowledge that may help them prepare for a number of career fields in a wide range of companies, from large corporations and government institutions to small businesses and nonprofits. A business education should provide broad academic exposure to principles of finance, accounting and statistics. Students may learn various theories and explore how they apply to real-world situations.

The types of courses a business student may encounter can assist them in choosing a specific degree concentration. For example, a student may select to work with people by pursuing a concentration in human resources (HR) or focus on the processes production and distribution by pursuing logistics and supply chain management.¹ Regardless of obtaining a general business degree, concentration or specialization, there are certain aspects of a program that students should be aware of before making a decision.

Why Degree Concentrations Can Be Useful

A degree in business can help students prepare to pursue their professional goals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2015, some business-related jobs had higher than average wages compared to other occupations throughout the country.

Of the 2016 graduating class, business majors were projected to be the most sought-after students in the job market. However, some employers may also value the perspective offered by a candidate with another type of academic background. For example, an American Community Survey recorded that over half of management, business and financial operations workers majored in subjects including communications and social sciences.¹ Concentrating in a non-traditional business degree field could be important and help students prepare for their career path.

Focused Business Degrees

Colorado Technical University (CTU) offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and concentrations. The following business-focused degrees are obtainable at CTU:

Accounting

The world of business has to react quickly to changing laws and regulations. To stay up-to-date, companies rely on highly-skilled accountants and auditors to monitor their day-to-day financial operations and advise them regarding how to adapt as necessary. CTU’s Associate of Science in Accounting (ASACC) is designed to teach the foundational knowledge to help students prepare for a number of career paths, covering topics from tax fundamentals to business law and computerized accounting. Students who pursue this degree will have the opportunity to prepare for entry-level employment in the accounting field or can continue their education with CTU’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree program. CTU’s business degree programs, including accounting, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Business Administration

Students who choose to study a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) have the opportunity to explore several aspects of business, including financial management, human resources and spreadsheet applications. These students will have the chance to develop a broad and useful understanding of business practices to help students prepare to pursue employment in the business field and hopefully begin a rewarding career. If a student chooses to specialize further, CTU offers 14 concentration options designed to help students develop niche skills that can help them prepare for the career path of their choice.

Business Degree Concentrations

Colorado Technical University also provides the opportunity for students to concentrate on a particular area of business administration. These focuses include:

BSBA – Management

Aligned with the American Management Association (AMA) competency model, the body of coursework for a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Management degree from CTU is structured to help students explore process improvement, problem-solving, multicultural work environments, managerial perspectives, finance, accounting, statistics and more.

BSBA – Project Management

With a curriculum based on Project Management Professional Exam Content, this coursework demonstrates various industry-relevant concepts. From data-driven decision-making to project scope analysis and resource management, students will have the opportunity to explore planning, executing and supporting a broad range of business projects. CTU’s Bachelor of Business Administration – Project Management degree program is accredited by the Project Management Institute’s Global Accreditation Center (PMI-GAC).

BSBA – Finance

A concentration in finance focuses on practices related to risk management, financial accounting and investment allocation, as students develop their understanding of marketing, business development, international business practices and international finance. The curriculum builds on core business administration coursework, and the business degree programs at CTU are ACBSP-accredited.

BSBA – Marketing

Aligned to the American Marketing Association’s Professional Certified Marketer (PCM®) certification, students explore strategic planning, data collection and analysis, research design, e-marketing, accounting, finance and statistics, among other topics. This curriculum speaks to both business fundamentals and consumer behavior and is ACBSP-accredited.

BSBA – Human Resource Management

This concentration is structured to take students through ideologies of strategic HR planning, forecasting, critical-thinking and applying concepts and practices to address organizational challenges including ethical issues, diversity, affirmative action and labor relations. CTU’s BSBA – Human Resource Management degree program is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) content areas.

Study Business at CTU

U.S. News & World Report has listed multiple CTU bachelor’s degree programs among their “Best Online Programs” for three years in a row. The programs are evaluated on criteria including faculty credentials, student engagement, student services, peer reputation, and available technologies.

In 2024, CEO Magazine ranked CTU’s online MBA program on its Global Online MBA Rankings list for the fifth time. Factors such as quality of faculty, accreditation, faculty to student ratio, and professional development all contribute to their rankings. Learn more about CTU’s program and institutional awards.

¹ Business Careers with High Pay. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: http://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/article/high-paying-business-careers.htm (Visited 9/11/17).

For important information about the educational debt, earnings, and completion rates of students who attended this program, go to /financial-aid/student-disclosures. CTU cannot guarantee employment or salary. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
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