Business Administration at Christian Colleges

By Calli Wolfenden, Staff Writer
 

Business Administration is a broad degree that explores the management of business. Not necessarily “management” as we typically think of it with someone directing a few employees below them, but more of how a business functions on a larger scale. Studying business administration means course work that takes into account all the moving parts, legal requirements, personnel, financial aspects, and more of business, giving students a “wide view” perspective on how to make a business work.

Getting a business administration degree from a Christian college provides students with all the business know-how they need for their careers, with the added Biblical perspective on how we work together as separate parts of one body, toward one purpose. Applying the Biblical understanding of different but equal functions to our understanding of business allows us to have greater respect for each individual part of the machine that is “business.” We are more aware of our impact on others and their impact on us. We also learn how to see God working in the ordinary and how we can be good stewards of what gifts and roles he has given us to play.

Some example careers for students who major in business administration:

• Financial Analyst: A financial analyst evaluates financial trends and market data to help their clients make informed investment decisions. They may also prepare reports and forecasts and make recommendations for investment strategies or financial planning.
• Marketing Coordinator/Manager: Marketing Coordinators oversee marketing initiatives, organize promotional activities, and manage the company’s social media and website presence. Their work often involves researching market trends and analyzing results and effects from previous or current marketing strategies implemented at the company.
• Human Resources Specialist/Manager: A Human Resources Manager oversees the employees in a workforce, ensuring that HR policies and labor laws are complied with. They also serve a function of peacekeeping, as one of their primary roles is conflict-resolution and fostering a positive work environment. Typically, they also handle onboarding, training, and hiring of new employees.
• Operations Manager: An Operations Manager oversees production, logistics, and supply chain, ensuring efficiency in the processes and aiming to streamline operations safely. Their goal is to enhance productivity and reduce costs of production. They often work with other departments within a business to improve overall business and production performance.
• Business Analyst: A Business Analyst enhances efficiency and effectiveness in a business based off of their analysis of data, feasibility studies, and the business needs. They come up with solutions to improve processes, and create reports and work with shareholders, IT, and business teams to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the company.
• Account Manager: An account manager is the main point of contact between a client and the business. They work to keep and strengthen the relationship between the two, ensuring client satisfaction and goal achievement.
• Project Manager: A Project Manager oversees to completion projects within a company. Thay are in charge of planning, creating timelines, managing budgets and resources, and ensuring that objectives are met. They coordinate with others involved in the different projects, such as stakeholders, teams, and clients. 
• Entrepreneur/Small Business Owner: An Entrepreneur is someone who starts their own business. They identify a need or desire in the consumer/business market and create a product or service to fill it. They often fill many business roles, especially at first, such as marketer, operations manager, and accountant in order to get the business off the ground.

It is difficult to pin down exact placement rates for those who major in business administration, but it is typically quite high due to the great variety of career options. This means that there is plenty of opportunity post-graduation for someone with a degree in business administration. That said, because it is such a popular field, there is also a lot of competition. Depending on what sort of career you’re looking for, there are things you can do while in college to increase your chances of landing the job you want after graduation.

A big part of succeeding in the business world is networking. Businesses thrive on relationships. This is often seen through business to customer relationships, salesperson to client relationships, or business to other business relationships. But connections also play a huge role in getting work. Having someone who can vouch for your work ethic, your experience, or your readiness to step into a role can often be the difference between getting the job and being thrown back onto Indeed/LinkedIn. That said, start networking now; go to job fairs, events put on in your area by businesses, networking events, etc. One of the best ways to begin networking is to do internships.

Internships will give you connections in the field as you begin to learn what the career you want is actually like, how to use the information you’re being taught in school, and what to expect in the future. Internships show future employers that you have experience and are willing to make work a priority. These internships should absolutely be used to get to know the people you are working with/for. Begin building your network, ask questions at your internships, connect with these people on LinkedIn, and invest in maintaining these connections. They can come in handy when you’re looking for work or promotions later on in your career.

Another key to succeeding in business administration is knowing exactly what sort of path you want to take and excelling in it. Business Administration is a broad topic and has more to do with understanding how a business is run and the responsibility that comes with that. But the possible careers that come from a business administration degree are varied, ranging from things like education to finance and accounting. So, knowing what specific path you want to take will enable you to better prepare for it with the right classes, level of education, and certifications (if they are needed).

There are also some characteristics that will help in succeeding with a business administration degree. The first is being a self-starter. Being able to motivate yourself and work hard for what you want, especially in leadership or entrepreneurial roles, is crucial to advancing in your career. You’ll also need to practice people-skills. Being a good communicator, whether it’s with clients, superiors, or the bank, is incredibly important for maintaining good relationships and keeping your business going. Business is a field that requires a lot of flexibility, as things change often, people move around or change their minds, money comes and goes, and so on. Being quick on your feet and easily adaptable is invaluable in the business world, especially in roles of leadership or administration.

The average salary in the United States for those who major in business administration post-graduation is around $64,725. Because of how varied the field can be, it is likely that starting salaries for some may be outside of this range.

Succeeding with a business administration degree means being good with people, using your network, knowing your goals, and being self-motivated. You’ll learn to be fiscally responsible, to understand the ins and outs of business, and to know all the regulations and rules that go with running a business. All of this combined experience and knowledge makes for someone who is desirable in any number of career paths, including ministry and the Church.

Works Cited: “Business Administrator Salary in United States.” Indeed.com, 1 Oct. 2024, www.indeed.com/career/business-administrator/salaries. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

By Calli Wolfenden, Staff Writer
 

A business administration degree teaches us how to organize, prioritize, and function, both on a larger scale and smaller scale. Understanding how to create order and process out of chaos, handle money, and manage others is crucial to keeping a church and ministry running smoothly, so that the focus can remain on the Lord and bringing Him glory.

Titus 1:5
“The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.”

1 Corinthians 12:27-28
“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”

Churches and ministries can benefit from someone with a business administration degree because they often run very similar to businesses. Churches require a lot of moving parts, financial stability, and managing people. Those with a business administration degree understand well how to handle money, how to work with people, and how to organize chaotic schedules and operations, such as fundraisers, or ministry trips. They can fill many roles in the Church because of this, helping things run smoothly and allocating resources well.

Ministries or charities also require people who understand how businesses are run and know how to bring organization, fiscal responsibility, and management of volunteers/employees to their operations. They can fill roles like project management, human resources, financial officer, and much more. Those who major in business administration with a specific focus, such as accounting or marketing, can also be highly impactful in that area in either the Church or ministry. The applications of a business administration degree are quite varied, making those who have one an incredible asset in a Church or ministry setting.

For those who choose to major in business administration, the potential career paths present so many opportunities. Whether in the business world, in Church, or in ministry, the skills, characteristics, and leadership of someone with a business administration degree make them highly desirable candidates. If you are business-minded, self-motivated, organized, and great with people, maybe a business administration degree is the right path for you!