What Is Business Administration?

Across all industries, organizations require leaders who understand how to develop and apply the most effective business strategies, as this is the key to long-term success. Thus, the field of business administration focuses on the management and oversight of an organization.

Knowing what business administration is and the degree options in business administration entails can help you decide if this is the right educational pathway for your career goals.

Key Areas of Business Administration

Business administration is a comprehensive field that encompasses several core realms, all of which play a pivotal part in organizational success. These key areas of business administration include:

Finance and Accounting

Finance and accounting are two business disciplines that involve recording transactions, managing revenue, and improving financial health. Both finance and accounting have an integral role in business administration because business leaders rely on their financial acumen to make decisions that progress the overall position of the company.

Marketing and Sales

Marketing and sales concern the promotion of products and services in order to drive revenue. Those in business administration must have an advanced understanding of the leading marketing principles; this allows them to create and implement an organizational strategy that enhances product development and increases revenue growth overall.

Operations Management

Operations management is a discipline involving strategic oversight and ensuring that operations are as efficient as possible. When it comes to operations management, business administrators must consider operations at every stage of the process — from the gathering of raw materials through the distribution of products.

Human Resources and Organizational Leadership

Human resources (HR) and organizational leadership both assume a central role in business administration. HR is a business discipline focused primarily on attracting and retaining top talent within the industry in order to curate a strong workforce for the organization.

Business Administration Degree Options

Those who are interested in the field of business administration will find that there are multiple degree programs and educational pathways to consider. Johnson & Wales University Online offers a few different options, including:

Associate Degree in Business Administration

An associate degree in business administration is an undergraduate degree program that provides an introduction to the business field and an overview of the key business administration disciplines. This typically takes about two years to complete, depending on the pace that you choose for your program.

Bachelor’s in Business Administration

A Bachelor of Science in Business Administration is an undergraduate degree program that provides a comprehensive overview of the field of business administration, allowing you to take a deep dive into the main disciplines within this field. Throughout the bachelor’s degree program, you have an opportunity to develop an advanced sense of business acumen as well as the practical, technical, and analytical skills required to create and implement organizational strategy within an organization.

Bachelor’s in Business Administration – Entrepreneurship

Some business administration bachelor’s degree programs offer concentration areas, with one example being entrepreneurship. This focuses on coursework that enables aspiring entrepreneurs to develop relevant skills, such as the ability to write a business plan or the ability to perform a market analysis.

Bachelor’s in Business Administration – Human Resource Management

A bachelor’s degree in business administration and HR management is ideal for those who want to tailor their business degree program to focus on the field of human resources. Coursework may cover the key aspects of human resource management (such as creating workplace policies, developing talent acquisition strategies, and creating hiring protocols).

Bachelor’s in Business Administration – Operations and Supply Chain Management

The business administration bachelor’s degree program in operations and supply chain management provides an overview of the leading business administration strategies while also delving in-depth into operations and supply chain management. Coursework within this concentration area may focus on business analytics, operational management, and supply chain optimization.

Master of Business Administration

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a graduate degree program focused on the advanced business acumen and leadership skills required for many of the top management positions in the business field. It is often referred to as one of the premier educational qualifications for business leaders, making it a valuable graduate degree program in the business field.

At JWU Online, for instance, we offer the following MBA concentrations:

Accounting
Data Analytics
Event Leadership
Finance
Hospitality
Human Resources Management
Marketing
Operations and Supply Chain Management
Organizational Leadership
Organizational Psychology
Sport Leadership

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The Doctor of Business Administration is a terminal graduate degree program that requires applicants to already be experienced business leaders aiming to evolve into executive leaders, thought leaders, and innovators in various sectors. This program integrates applied research and business theory — culminating in a rigorous dissertation that’s embedded within the coursework to facilitate timely completion. The process demands evidence-based research that helps solve a real-world business problem and can be applied in the student’s own organization (or others). At JWU Online, students may choose from concentrations like organizational development or hospitality leadership, tailoring their studies to align with specific industry goals.

Skills You Can Learn With a Business Administration Degree

The business administration degree program curriculum focuses on not only business strategy but also the core business competencies required to successfully lead an organization. Throughout this program, students have the opportunity to learn essential business administration skills that are transferable across nearly every sector and applicable in a wide range of business environments, such as:

Analytical and Critical Thinking

Business administration students are able to elevate their analytical and critical thinking skills through coursework that covers advanced business topics alongside experiential learning opportunities. Throughout this degree program, business administration students learn how to collect and analyze data as well as extract business insights that can improve organizational decision-making.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Communication, emotional intelligence, and other interpersonal skills are considered among the most valuable skills in today’s dynamic business landscape. Soft skill development is effortlessly woven into the business administration degree program curriculum, allowing students to develop into thoughtful and intuitive business professionals.

Leadership and Strategic Planning

In the world of business administration, leadership skills are crucial. Within this degree program, students can explore various leadership styles and hone the strategic thinking skills required within organizational leadership positions. Key leadership skills explored throughout include ethical decision-making, delegation, and conflict resolution.

Financial and Technological Proficiency

With an emphasis on the central components of business administration, this degree program allows students to improve their overall financial acumen and become familiar with the leading financial strategies required for organizational success. In addition, students have the opportunity to work with advanced business technology — enabling them to become proficient with the digital tools currently leveraged in the business field.

Potential Careers in Business Administration

While other degree programs focus on a specific field, the business administration degree offers a broad scope, allowing students to develop the skills required for a variety of careers in the business field. Some of the potential careers in and related to business administration include:

Business Manager

A business manager is primarily focused on the strategic direction and financial health of an organization. They may set long-term goals, develop growth initiatives, and make high-level decisions that affect the overall trajectory of the company. Business managers often oversee multiple departments, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and that each area is aligned with the broader business objectives. Their work commonly involves financial planning, business development, and establishing company policies that support sustainability and expansion. In this role, business managers act as strategic leaders who assess market trends to identify opportunities for innovation and, ultimately, guide organizational change. Their primary concern is how the business performs over time — economically, competitively, and structurally.

Operations Manager

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), operations managers are primarily responsible for managing the day-to-day functions that keep a business running efficiently. They focus on internal processes, workflow optimization, and departmental coordination to ensure that productivity and quality standards are consistently met. These managers are concerned with the tactical execution of policies and business plans, often collaborating closely with various teams to streamline operations and address performance issues in real time. Rather than setting strategic direction, operations managers are typically involved in implementing the strategies developed by upper management. Their success is measured by how effectively the business operates on a daily basis, making them essential to maintaining smooth internal operations and delivering consistent outcomes. On a departmental level, they may oversee aspects like:

Supply chain management
Production schedules
Staffing logistics
Budget adherence

Chief Executive Officer

The chief executive officer (CEO) assumes a high-level leadership position in the field of business. According to the BLS, chief executive officers often serve under the direction of a governing body and are responsible for creating policies that provide overall direction for businesses and corporations.

Financial Manager

Financial managers are business leaders who specialize in creating and implementing a long-term financial strategy for an organization. According to the BLS, financial managers are responsible for monitoring financial data and creating reports, and they often work to create investment strategies.

Sales Manager

Sales managers are business administrators who oversee product or service sales for a specific organization. According to the BLS, sales managers help create and implement sales strategies that drive product sales and increase revenue.

Business Analyst

Business analysts are data scientists with business expertise who often work to extract relevant data and glean business insights that organizational leaders can use when making critical decisions. Blending information technology with business administration, business analysts are playing an increasingly prominent role in the field.

Is Business Administration Right for You?

Offering a broad scope along with opportunities for specialization, business administration could be an ideal field for anyone interested in leadership positions in business. It is a versatile degree program that offers both flexibility and career growth opportunities, allowing you to become proficient in the core competencies required for many careers in business. If you are a self-motivated, goal-oriented individual passionate about the world of business, this may be the right degree program for you.