3 Ways to Make Business Studies Work for You

Deciding which major to declare can be a daunting prospect. It can feel as if this one decision will define the person you will become and determine whether or not you will be successful in the future.

One way to ensure that you have flexibility post-graduation is to incorporate business studies into your undergraduate curriculum. Supplementing your academic passion with a degree in business can be a great way to help you excel in the future.

Choosing any combination — a double major in business and another major, a major in business with a minor or concentration in a different field, or a major in another field with a minor or concentration in business — will afford you great opportunities, regardless of whether you decided you want to go on to earn an MBA or work in a creative environment.

Here are three ways to make a business major, minor, or concentration work for you:

1. If you major in business, choose a minor — strategically.

If you select business as your major, opt for a minor or concentration that you also have a true passion for. Be thoughtful when selecting this minor or concentration. How do you make the right choice? Think about what kind of industry you’d like to apply your knowledge of business in. If you see yourself working at a big technological corporation, then pairing your business major with a minor in computer science can be a great idea. If you see yourself leading a global company, then a minor in international relations can be a smart route for you to take.

2. Make business your minor — in a major way.

If you are truly passionate about a creative (or any non-business) field but are concerned about how you will leverage your knowledge to be successful, supplementing your major with a business minor can be a great way to stand out. For example, if you are interested in fashion or music, you can major in that artistic area and then supplement your studies with a business minor. This will give you a comparative advantage over those who study just one subject — particularly a creative subject alone. Artistic and business pursuits need not — in fact, they should not — be mutually exclusive. Each can help augment the other.

3. Cultivate complementary skills.

There are many benefits associated with studying business. It allows you to develop practical skills that are transferable to many different industries. Skills in leadership, budget management, marketing, and strategy will all move fluidly from one job or industry to another. In this competitive economy, if you are looking to hold a leadership role in any company or organization, it is imperative that you take the necessary business courses to educate yourself in the basics of running a company so that you can be a more valuable member of the organization. In addition, studying business will help to balance out your overall education. If you tend to be creative, you will learn skills that will help you harness qualitative data in your analyses. If qualitative data analysis comes easy to you, a business major can help to build proficiency in managing people and to develop strategic marketing initiatives. Rather than passively completing your degree, challenge yourself to connect business with another field. Doing so will give you the edge needed in today’s competitive job market.

And Remember…

There is no single path that all students who major in business follow. What business study will do is open up more opportunities for you and allow you to tailor your education to your future career.

_Use Noodle’s personalized college search to discover colleges with undergraduate business majors based on what factors are important to you._

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