Career Paths

Accounting
Accounting continues to be recognized as one of the world's leading professions. Professional opportunities in the field of accounting include professional practice as a certified public accountant, corporate accountant, controller, and government sector fiscal officer.

Accounting is also excellent training for graduate business degrees (e.g. the MBA), law school and the FBI!  Many accounting graduates work for public accounting firms that provide audit, tax, and consulting services to all types of organizations. Other accounting graduates pursue careers in various businesses and industries, at all levels of government, as forensic accountants (investigating and uncovering fraud), and as accounting educators.

Professional designations include CPA (Certified Public Accountant), CFA (Certified Financial Analyst), CFP (Certified Financial Planner), COAF (Certified Professional Forecaster and Certified Advanced Professional Forecaster), CMA (Certified Managerial Accountant), CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner), CIA (Certified Internal Auditor).

Finance
Financial decisions affect everything that an organization does: from multimillion-dollar investments to salary and fringe benefit levels to the appropriate cash balances in a firm's bank accounts Professional opportunities in the field of finance can lead to careers in financial services such as banking officers, investment portfolio managers, corporate treasurers, and financial planners. Finance major specializations might include corporate finance and investment banking, energy finance, investment management, financial markets/banking, real estate or general finance. Professional designations include CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) CFP (Certified Financial Planner).

Management
Whether seeking employment in a large Fortune 500 company, a non-profit organization, or in an entrepreneurial endeavor, the management major can provide you with the foundation you need to be successful in any business environment. Management major specializations might include human resource management, operations management, hospitality management and distribution management.

Professional opportunities in management often begin as “management trainee” in large companies or as an assistant manager in other businesses. Persons with careers in management are found in entrepreneurial, private, public, and not-for-profit organizations. 

Marketing
Marketing involves developing products and services to satisfy customers' needs, making them available at the right places, at the right times and at competitive prices. Marketing must focus on both domestic and global opportunities, changes that new technology brings and be continually responsive to cultural differences, quality concerns, and ethical issues.

A career in marketing would typically begin in an entry-level position in advertising, logistics and distribution, marketing research, personal selling, or product management. Opportunities are available in manufacturing, wholesale/retail, service companies, as well as, in nonprofit organizations such as universities, government agencies, relief agencies and charitable organizations. Professional opportunities in marketing are marketing specialists and directors, sales professionals, advertising specialists and advertising directors.

Management Information Systems
Electronic business (e-business) transformation and rapid technological innovations continue to change the business environment, MIS students are prepared to face challenges to cope with new information technologies and business methods, learning how to analyze, design, and implement information systems required by diverse business activities.

Professional opportunities in the field of MIS include computer and information systems manager, database administrator, network administrator, systems analysts, technical support specialist and web developer.

Supply Chain (Distribution) Management
Supply Chain Management is a study of the flow of products and information from raw material suppliers, through operations, to the final consumer.  A degree in supply chain (distribution) management provides a solid background in procurement, distribution, operations management, and in numerous information technologies such as electronic business and enterprise resource planning. 

Professional opportunities in the field of SCM include purchasing manager, distribution center manager, inventory control coordinator, export compliance coordinator, fleet manager, materials scheduler, process engineer, SCM software consultants.

National Estimated Salary Data
The salary for this occupation varies depending upon the major chosen within the bachelor of business administration degree (BBA). In general, students with a major in accounting, management information systems, and finance command higher initial salaries than those with a major in management, marketing, or general business. Salaries also vary from city to city, with increases tied to work experience. Reports from the U.S Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, show projected employment increases of 12.5% in business and financial occupations between 2012 and 2022.

Note: Information and data obtained from Occupational Outlook Handbook, TWC Tracer, and CareerOneStop.