How can you specialize a business degree? This is quite the common question. Much of the answer to this question lies within your own professional goals. What career are you ultimately pursuing, and what skills and knowledge are most valuable to it? Once you know this, then you will be able to specialize your business degree in the appropriate direction.
Degree specialization is essentially the arrangement of majors and minors so as to focus more acutely on a sub-group, or specialty area of study aside from the core focus of the major. For example, a major in engineering may specialize their degree in the very relevant area of computer drafting. There would then be an inclusion of drafting, drawing, and design courses built into the degree program as a compliment to, or specialty of the core study of engineering. Another example might be the agricultural science major minoring or specializing in earth science, meteorology, or food supply systems sciences. The combinations are limitless.
Accounting
In taking a look at specific examples of college-based business degree specializations, the accounting specialization is a great choice of relevance. Business is all about money and the control of its comings and goings. In preparing for your career choice in business, a specialization in accounting will provide some valuable coursework on investment, savings, equity, profit allocations, record-keeping, and more.
IT Management
If you know that your career goal entails regular, technical duties or familiarity of others in the tech world, consider specializing in IT management. This will align your business education with the modern framework of everything today – information technology. Career choices such as tech manager, automation manager, or even CEO of a mobile technology company can be made that much more attainable via this specialty.
Human Resources
People skills are a big part of proving to an employer that you have what it takes to understand all areas of operations, management, and the people behind it all. A specialty in human resources gives the business degree recipient a valuable, specialty skill. Coursework in this area will include classes on workforce psychology, workplace laws and regulations, and dispute processing. Virtually every employer wants people skilled in these particular areas, making this a perfect specialty to aim for.
Additional Guidance
Aside from direct, in-college specialization, there are a number of other, great ways with which one can specialize their background credentials. Membership in official clubs and organizations can facilitate growth, academic work, and valuable certifications. Tech schools and specialty educators also provide numerous programs on-campus and online. In addition, hands-on experience and internship can provide that perfect angle of specialized focus in preparation for that ultimate career goal. For more ideas on the subject, Huffington Post’s article, 12 Ways To Educate Yourself Without College provides a very helpful look at some alternative routes that can also work great for building specialty.
Finally, there are the invaluable resources provided by your actual college. Don’t hesitate to direct your questions, concerns, and goals to your academic counselors and advisors. These are your school’s go-to resources that can set you in exactly the right direction for attaining your desired specialty. For advice as well as the actual, administrative arrangement of your course schedule, they are there to help guide you through.
In today’s world, a business degree can align one with countless and very valuable career opportunities. Having this degree along a with an applicable specialty can be that much more valuable. For those looking to specialize a business degree curtailed to their exact needs, we recommend contacting your college administration, start looking into alternative options, and get going now.
See also: 50 Great Schools Where High School Students Can Get College Credit
