Online Business Administration & Management Degree Programs

Online business administration degree programs are offered at the basic certificate, associate, masters and doctorate levels. Whether you are just starting out or the best in your field, business administration and management programs prepare graduates to understand, plan, organize, and lead in the different processes of an organization. Business degrees continue to lead in popularity.i Per DATA USA, 350,924 business administration, management and operations degrees were online business administration degree; business administration degree programsawarded in 2019! If you are interested in earning a potentially versatile credential through top web-based learning programs, you might consider earning a business administration degree online!

Online Business Administration Degree Programs: Essentials

Online business administration degree programs are offered at the undergraduate level as associate’s degree in business administration and bachelor of business administration (BBA) degree programs. At the graduate level, you may find certificates, master of science and master of business administration (MBA), doctor of business administration (DBA) and Ph.D. in business degree programs. These may be offered as general programs, or they may teach business practices that pertain to a specific industry such as sports business.

DID YOU KNOW?

Per DATA USA, “The most common degree types awarded to current students graduating in Business Administration, Management & Operations are Bachelors Degree; Masters Degree; and Associates Degree.” i

Earning a Business Administration Degree Online: Potential Time to Completion

How long might it take for a business major to complete their business administration degree online? Program lengths not only vary between business schools. Factors such as program level and whether you are studying full-time, part-time, or choosing an accelerated online business administration degree program are going to influence the time to completion. This is a general suggestion; best bet is always to inquire at your prospective college or university;

  • Online Associate’s Degree in Business Administration might take about 2 years.
  • Online BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration might take about 4 years.
  • Online MBA - Master of Business Administration might take about 1-2 years - although you can find an accelerated MBA program
  • Online DBA – Doctor of Business Administration might take about 3-6 years.
  • Online Certificate in Business Administration might take about 1 year.

Getting Started: Business Administration vs. Management

For someone interested in entrepreneurship or simply bolstering credentials, choosing between an online business administration degree and an online management degree may seem confusing – aren’t they the same thing? Some traditional and online business schools may use these terms interchangeably, but there are some differences that may shine through in a curriculum. Take away: Read through the course syllabus from prospective business schools to determine whether their program emphasizes general business administration courses or management courses that might pertain to a specific organizational setting (e.g. restaurants, hotels, hospitals, technology).

Potential Business Administration and Management Core Topics

Both business administration and business management curriculums may revolve around core classes that students are responsible to take to graduate their programs. These courses are designed to provide a broad understanding of business topics, and some useful skills to take forward into a variety of potential career paths.

9 Potential Business Administration and Management Core Topicsii

  1. Marketing and Sales
  2. Economics and Accounting
  3. Strategic planning and Coordination
  4. Mathematics
  5. Personnel and Human Resources
  6. Business law, legal codes
  7. Finance and Analysis of Financial Data
  8. Human Behavior, Motivation
  9. Principles of Customer Care

About an Online Business Management Degree Program

If you are especially drawn to the supervisory and authoritative aspects of business, choosing a program that focuses in on management might suit your needs. Students in a business management degree online program may learn:iii

  • Strategic planning
  • Business communication
  • How to lead within an organization
  • Purchasing and distribution of supplies
  • How to set goals within an organization
  • How to organize business departments
  • How to manage employees (Human resources)

About an Online Business Administration Degree Programs

Some online business administration degree programs may offer management as a concentration area. Otherwise, what you might learn in general topics that correspond to the different influences in a business setting such as:iv

  • Business decisionmaking
  • Organization and production
  • Purchasing and logistics
  • Marketing
  • Management theory
  • Human resources management and behavior
  • Quantitative methods (finance, accounting)

Which Business Administration Online Degree Is Right for You?

Whether you are looking for a few business courses or a full degree program, earning a business administration degree online may offer some scheduling flexibility. Some degree programs may be 100% online, while others may entail a few campus visits for things like team building or other courses where collaboration and interaction are components. Look for potential features such as:

  • Asynchronous learning – courses pre-taped or pre-recorded
  • Synchronous learning -live streaming lectures
  • Online group discussion boards
  • Use of various digital media platforms (video conferencing, email, IM, MP3)

Online Associates Degree in Business Administration

If you are interested in learning the fundamentals of business, management and project planning, earning an online Associates Degree in Business Administration may be worth considering. The variety of programs may offer individuals just starting out the opportunity to either prepare for continued education with a bachelor’s degree or to pursue potential employment as:v

  • Food Service Managers
  • Lodging Managers
  • Property, Real Estate and Community Association Managers

Online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA, BSBA)

Per the BLS, “career preparation may be the primary reason that business is a popular major for undergraduates.” vi Earning an online Bachelor of Business administration (BBA) degree may offer the opportunity to learn business strategy and operations management, research skills and teamwork. Plus, as the entry-level education for many management occupations, graduates may be able to pursue a variety of potential career paths:v

  • Sales Managers
  • Purchasing Managers
  • Administrative Service Managers

Online Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Earning an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) may prepare graduates to climb up the corporate ladder and move from lower level managerial positions to potentially senior positions.vii Per the BLS, there are a variety of occupations in which workers with a master’s degree earned higher wages than those with bachelor’s degrees.  Grades aren't the greatest?  You can find MBA programs that accept students with low GPA!

  • Logisticians
  • Financial Managers
  • Marketing Managers

Online Doctor of Business Administration | Ph.D. in Business

Online DBA an PhD in Business degree programs may be designed for executives with previous management experience, who may wish to establish expertise in their field. Some of the potential career paths that graduates might pursue could include:

  • Management Analystix
  • College Presidentvii
  • Top Executive

Online Business Administration Certificate

Earning a business administration certificate online may offer students an academic option that doesn’t require as much time as a full degree, and targets specific business skills. Some of the business occupations in which some workers reported needing a certificate include:x

  • Property, Real Estate and Community Association Managers
  • Farm Products Buyers
  • Tax Preparers

Find Accredited Online Business Administration Degree Programs

Accreditation for online business administration degree programs indicates that an institution of program meets standards of quality set by an outside accrediting agency and that it strives to maintain or exceed these standards. The two types of educational accreditation are institutional (provided by regional and national associations) and specialized. The 3 main specialized accreditors for business administration degree programs are:

  1. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  2. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP)
  3. International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)

Take the Next Step

Search for accredited business administration online degrees and online business schools on our site. The top navigation menu is set up so you can narrow your search by degree level (associate, bachelor, master, doctorate and certificate). Scroll through the sponsored listings on the appropriate page, then use the ‘request info’ setting to initiate a dialogue with the provider. Take the next step in building on your education today!


[i] datausa.io/profile/cip/5202/ |[ii] onetonline.org/link/summary/11-1011.00 |[iii] bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm |[iv] nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/cipdetail.aspx?y=55&cipid=88877 |[v] bls.gov/ooh/management/ |[vi] bls.gov/careeroutlook/2008/winter/art03.pdf |[vii] bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm |[viii] bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/should-i-get-a-masters-degree.htm#Education |[ix] bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/management-analysts.htm |[x] bls.gov/careeroutlook/2012/winter/art01.pdf