which is harder bsba or bsa?

While both degrees offer a foundation in the basics of business, they each have a different emphasis. For starters, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSBM) degree focuses on business management. Coursework may include business communication, basics of accounting, and management theory. On the other hand, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) can have different specializations. Students can focus on more practical applications of business, such as finance, marketing, economics, and operations. While business theory is taught, students of BSBA programs also learn the tangible skills that drive business management, leadership, and ethical decision-making.

Students considering the differences between business administration and management should consider an online bachelor’s degree in business administration from Maryville University.

Before looking into a business degree, individuals should understand the definitions of business administration and management. In smaller organizations, the roles may not differ greatly. However, despite the tendency to lump business administration and management into a single category, they each are distinct in their own right.

Business administrators deal with the efficiency of a company’s day-to-day operations. Students who pursue a degree in business administration learn about effective forecasting, strategic planning and research, and entrepreneurship. These abilities are crucial to success in a fast-paced business environment and offer graduates the opportunity to make critical, far-reaching decisions for their companies.

Business administration and management both involve directing the operations of an organization. Students who train in these fields may be exposed to ideas including finance and economics, the functions of human resources, and how to apply statistical analysis to better guide the long-term plans of an enterprise. However, as the size of a company grows, the responsibilities of each role diverge into more specialized areas.

Enterprises tend to rely on business managers to deal with issues such as managing teams and dealing with interpersonal issues. The human-centric nature of a business management degree usually appeals to students who are better at communicating face to face with others. To this end, conflict resolution and diplomacy form core elements of a future business manager.

Business administration and business management have clear similarities, but the ways in which these two degree paths differ are just as notable. If an individual is searching for the broader of the two educational paths, business management may fit that bill. As noted by the Houston Chronicle, the focus of a business management program is typically on the bigger economic picture. Students in business management programs aim to have a broad understanding of modern business trends but may not necessarily concentrate on the specifics of any market.

Conversely, business administration is sometimes considered most appropriate for people who plan to take specialized business roles when they complete their studies. Those looking to work as high-level accountants, chief technology officers, chief operations officers, and similar roles may likely be best served by a BSBA degree before possibly moving on to graduate-level education.

In some ways, the two primary business degrees are different in a way similar to how public policy and public administration degree programs differ. Management is about vision, planning, and communication, while administration concerns itself more with ensuring the nuts-and-bolts operations of a business continue to function in optimal fashion.

Business administration and business management degrees offer different things to students. They have core courses in common, including the broad topics of finance, economics, accounting, and marketing. However, each degree has a focus that defines a distinct career path.

Business management tends to deal with the human aspects of running a business. To this end, the curriculum in a degree program covers topics such as human resources, information systems, logistics, and communication. Management programs prepare graduates to be leaders of teams, anticipating their coworkers’ needs and motivating them to perform efficiently.

On the other side of the spectrum, business administration also may include personnel management, but with an emphasis on the daily running of a company and its long-term strategic goals. Business administration degree programs focus on the technical aspects of planning and execution.

Both BSBA and BSBM degree programs offer a multifaceted foundation that can serve students well upon graduation and when they begin searching for careers. Those participating in either program should, for example, develop a strong understanding of the most essential business principles ― finance, accounting, marketing, and ethics, to name just a few. These skills can be useful in dozens of different industries. By the time of graduation, students will know what qualifications are required for various levels of managerial positions, and will have the skills and education to be able to apply them.

While both degrees offer a broad understanding of business, deciding on one over the other doesn’t necessarily limit career prospects. Students who graduate with administration degrees can still pursue jobs in management if that suits their interest. Immediately after graduation, the two paths may seem indistinguishable, as graduates are likely to begin in similar entry-level positions. However, job performance, experience, and degree specialization will all help to determine final career paths.

As the programs progress, curricula will grow more specialized for both paths. In management, students sometimes move away from strict business practices and toward areas of study such as communication and human resources management, because they will more regularly deal with fellow employees, clients, and business partners. Administration students, meanwhile, can find their ideal specialty and take courses focusing on personal finance, business law, consumer behavior, and project management. According to The Balance Careers, this can involve highly specific subcategories within preexisting specializations ― tax accounting and auditing principles versus the finer points of managerial or cost accounting, for example.

Graduates of business administration and management programs must still work their way up and gain relevant experience to reach managerial positions. Armed with the skills that BSBA and BSBM programs offer, they will be well-equipped to navigate the hierarchy of business leadership positions and executive management.

Career outcomes for those with a bachelor’s degree in business administration vs. business management cover a wide range of options. BSBA graduates often pursue roles in sales management, finance management, healthcare administration, and marketing management, among others. BSBM graduates may work in similar roles, as well as in financial analysis, management analysis, real estate sales, supply chain management, public relations, and other areas.

Overall, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects job growth of 7% for all business and financial occupations between 2018 and 2028. The BLS also reports 2019 median salaries for a variety of business administration and management careers:

The top earnings levels for these positions — many of which the BLS reports usually require only a bachelor’s degree at the entry level — edge well into the six figures.

Ultimately, the choice between business administration vs. business management is the student’s to make. However, in today’s business climate, students may find an administration education more widely applicable and versatile. Maryville University offers an online bachelor’s degree in business administration program for qualified students.

If you are interested in learning more, explore the online bachelor’s degree in business administration (BSBA) degree program and contact an enrollment advisor today. Now that you better understand the distinctions between business administration vs. business  management, look into potential career paths with a degree in business administration.

Recommended Readings

How to Become an Executive

Technology Trends in the Future of Manufacturing

The Future of Business Ideas: Where Creativity Meets Data Analysis

Sources

Career Trend, “Difference Between Business Administration vs. Business Management”

Houston Chronicle, “What Is the Difference Between Business Administration & Business Management?”

Investopedia, “Comparing Business Administration Degree vs. Finance Degree”

The Balance Careers, “Business Administration Major Career Paths”

When selecting an undergraduate business program, it is important to know what type of degree you will receive. The difference between a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration or BSBA degree and a Bachelor of Business Administration or BBA can lead to a significant difference in skillset and scope.

A BSBA degree is more math-oriented than a BBA, which focuses on providing students with a more general overview of business, economics, accounting, and marketing.

A BBA provides an emphasis on liberal arts studies with roughly a quarter of the credits coming from liberal arts courses. This provides a broad overview of many disciplines within business for an overall understanding.

A BSBA focuses on STEM courses in order to develop a more analytical skillset. Drexel LeBow’s BSBA program also provides majors outside of general business that allow for a focus in a given discipline including, accounting, economics, business analytics, and legal studies.

This degree works well for students who want a specialized skillset that can be applied to a variety of industries and disciplines.

For undergraduate applicants, Drexel LeBow requires all students meet university admission requirements in addition to three years of mathematics (algebra I and II, and geometry) and at least one year of a laboratory science (biology, chemistry or physics).

Admission to the BSBA program follows university standards with a basic additional requirement for at least three years of math.

LeBow College of Business offers the following undergraduate areas of study:

The BSBA provides a solid foundation and understanding of business during the first year with introductory courses such as foundations of business and introduction to analysis and then allows for specialization within each major over the 12 terms.

The Drexel LeBow BSBA program ensures students graduate with more than just theoretical knowledge by providing experiential learning opportunities through coursework and case competitions in addition to providing work experience through co-op.

The flexibility of the BSBA program allows for electives and undergraduate minors across disciplines so that students can create an area of study that fits their career goals.

Dual degree programs allow for students to pursue an additional degree in less time with a focused plan of study. Qualified students can pursue a BS degree and additional degrees such as an MBA with the help of their academic advisors.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth in the areas of business and financial occupations are expected to grow over 10 percent from 2016 to 2026. As the economy continues to grow and become increasingly global, the business acumen provided by each degree program continues to rise in demand.

Salary earnings also tend to be above average as Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage for business and financial occupations was $67,710 in May 2017, almost double the earnings of all occupations at a median of $37,690.

Due to the BBA’s focus on an overview of business and management skills, the degree can afford graduates with a variety of opportunities in marketing, human resource management, and strategic management.

With additional training or certifications, graduates can also enter specialized roles such as accountants and financial advisors.

The mathematical and analytical training that the BSBA provides prepares students for a much larger variety of positions and does not require the additional training that the BBA would require to enter disciplines such as accounting.

Particularly, as the need for analytics skillsets increase in the business world students who can tackle complex business problems are in demand more than ever before.

The BSBA provides training that prepares students for all of the roles that a BBA would but also encompasses the training necessary for roles that require an analytical skillset such a financial analysts, supply chain analysts, and accountants.

Business administration and accounting are two very similar fields, that in smaller companies can often be one department. However, in bigger companies, the distinction between them is clear, and professionals of the fields work in specific departments.

So, let’s see what each of these fields entails and where they differ.

A business administration degree is designed to help students build a foundation on core business administration subjects. These subjects include general business administration, finance, accounting, human resources, project management, marketing, etc.

The business degree’s curriculum is designed in such a way to develop strategic planning and financial skills in students. After completing the program, you can expect to be able to lead any kind of project in any given area of business.

An accounting degree is focused on equipping students with knowledge of financial recordkeeping for businesses, government, organization, and other entities Some of the subjects you will learn about in this program include corporate accounting, public accounting, taxing, etc.

An accounting program will prepare you on how to consult, manage, and advise organizations and individuals on financial matters. A bachelor’s degree in accounting can help improve your professional life since accounting professionals are in high demand.

Although business administration and accounting are closely tied together, they have their differences. The main difference between these two is what the major’s main focus is. Business administration doesn’t deal directly with bookkeeping, tax work, and accounting—rather with strategic financial planning. Accounting, on the other hand, deals directly with financial matters only.

Here are the two main differences between them.

Job opportunities for these two fields especially differ when it comes to entry-level jobs. While business administration deals with the organization as a whole, accounting tends to focus more only on the financial side of it. In essence, their main difference is that an accountant may deal mostly with past expenses, whereas someone with a business administration background will deal with the companies financial future.

With a business administration degree, these are some potential job titles:

With an accounting degree, these are some potential job titles:

Both accounting and business administration require a similar skill set. However, while a business administration requires someone with strong leadership skills, in accounting, you can very well get by without them.

Both of these fields require problem-solving and analytical skills, and people with strong communication skills.

There is no definitive answer to this question. Business administration and accounting, although fairly similar, both have their own distinct qualities and even meeting points in the job market.

The answer to which one is better, in this case, is subjective. It comes down to what you want to focus on. In addition, since they have many similarities, it’s possible to switch careers midway, and you wouldn’t be making a mistake with either one. There are also many positions available to professionals with either degree, such as market research analyst, logistician, management analyst, etc.

The bottom line is, both of the fields are increasingly popular and promise good career growth. If you’re good at numbers and solving problems quickly, you can succeed in whichever path you choose to follow. There is no right or wrong answer to this dilemma. If you have your mind set on a degree, you can start today by applying for either Bachelor of Arts in Accounting or Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration program at BAU!