Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Business and management
Listed by colleges as Business Administration, Management and Operations
Prepares you to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. Covers management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.
Inside the major
Programs within this field
Colleges may offer this field under 17 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Prepares you to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. Covers management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.
- Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management
- Prepares you to manage and/or administer the processes by which a firm or organization contracts for goods and services to support its operations, as well as contracts it to sell to other firms or organizations. Covers contract law, negotiations, buying procedures, government contracting, cost and price analysis, vendor relations, contract administration, auditing and inspection, relations with other firm departments, and applications to special areas such as high-technology systems, international purchasing, and construction.
- Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
- Prepares you to manage and coordinate all logistical functions in an enterprise, ranging from acquisitions to receiving and handling, through internal allocation of resources to operations units, to the handling and delivery of output. Covers acquisitions and purchasing, inventory control, storage and handling, just-in-time manufacturing, logistics planning, shipping and delivery management, transportation, quality control, resource estimation and allocation, and budgeting.
- Office Management and Supervision
- Prepares you to supervise and manage the operations and personnel of business offices and management-level divisions. Covers employee supervision, management, and labor relations; budgeting; scheduling and coordination; office systems operation and maintenance; office records management, organization, and security; office facilities design and space management; preparation and evaluation of business management data; and public relations.
- Operations Management and Supervision
- Prepares you to manage and direct the physical and/or technical functions of a firm or organization, particularly those relating to development, production, and manufacturing. Covers principles of general management, manufacturing and production systems, plant management, equipment maintenance management, production control, industrial labor relations and skilled trades supervision, strategic manufacturing policy, systems analysis, productivity analysis and cost control, and materials planning.
- Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
- Prepares you to manage the business affairs of non-profit corporations, including foundations, educational institutions, associations, and other such organizations, and public agencies and governmental operations. Covers business management, principles of public administration, principles of accounting and financial management, human resources management, taxation of non-profit organizations, and business law as applied to non-profit organizations.
- Customer Service Management
- Prepares you to supervise and monitor customer service performance and manage frontline customer support services, call centers/help desks, and customer relations. Covers customer behavior, specialized information technology and systems management, developing and using customer service databases, user surveys and other feedback mechanisms, strategic and performance planning and analysis, operations management, personnel supervision, and communications and marketing skills.
- E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce
- Prepares you to plan, manage, supervise, and market electronic business operations, products, and services provided online via the Internet. Covers business administration, information technology, information resources management, web design, computer and Internet law and policy, computer privacy and security, e-trading, insurance, electronic marketing, investment capital planning, enterprise operations, personnel supervision, contracting, and product and service networking.
- Transportation/Mobility Management
- Focuses on the theory, policy, law, and practices required to administrate and operate public transportation facilities, networks, services, and systems. Covers demand analysis and forecasting, environmental planning, facilities design and construction, geographic information systems (GIS), logistics, multi- and intermodal transportation systems, project management, public administration, public policy, transportation economics, transportation law, transportation operations, transportation systems, and transportation technologies.
- Research and Development Management
- Prepares you to manage projects, programs and organizations involving basic and applied research, or specialized technology applications, in the public or private sectors. Covers all aspects of business management applied to the leadership and control of scientific, clinical, engineering and social scientific enterprises; the management of related operational, security and logistical issues; and technical competence in one or more research disciplines.
Also called General Management, Business Administration
Also called Purchasing Management, Contracts Management, Acquisition/Procurement Management
Also called Logistics Management, Materials Management, Acquisition Logistics, Supply Management
Also called Maintenance Management, Production Management
Also called Mobility Management, Air Mobility, Sea Mobility, Freight Forwarding, Customs Broker, Transportation Administration and Management
Where it can lead
Careers this field can lead to
Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.
General and Operations Managers
- Median pay
- $105,770
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.0%
- Job openings a year
- 285,000
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing with the economyManagers, All Other
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Hiring change through 2035
- 4.9%
- Job openings a year
- 100,900
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing slowlyFirst-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Median pay
- $69,500
- Hiring change through 2035
- 0.1%
- Job openings a year
- 127,400
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
Explore this career Growing fastMedical and Health Services Managers
- Median pay
- $123,860
- Hiring change through 2035
- 24.2%
- Job openings a year
- 62,300
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career GrowingProject Management Specialists
- Median pay
- $102,320
- Hiring change through 2035
- 6.7%
- Job openings a year
- 76,500
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career ShrinkingFirst-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
- Median pay
- $48,520
- Hiring change through 2035
- −3.7%
- Job openings a year
- 113,500
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
Explore this career Growing with the economyBusiness Operations Specialists, All Other
- Median pay
- $83,050
- Hiring change through 2035
- 3.9%
- Job openings a year
- 98,700
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing fastManagement Analysts
- Median pay
- $101,860
- Hiring change through 2035
- 10.1%
- Job openings a year
- 94,100
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing fastConstruction Managers
- Median pay
- $114,990
- Hiring change through 2035
- 9.1%
- Job openings a year
- 49,700
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career GrowingAdministrative Services Managers
- Median pay
- $114,130
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.2%
- Job openings a year
- 22,000
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing fastLogisticians
- Median pay
- $82,320
- Hiring change through 2035
- 17.6%
- Job openings a year
- 26,600
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career GrowingBusiness Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $99,080
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.9%
- Job openings a year
- 7,600
To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree
Explore this careerAll work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it. The figures beside each career are the pay of that work, across everyone doing it. Graduates of this field earn $42,563 one year after completing the program, which is the start of a career rather than the shape of one.
Working style
How and where the work happens
Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.
Few of the careers connected to this field are measured as substantially in-person or active work. Compare the specific occupations to see how much time each one involves with people, equipment, and movement.
College options
Where to study it
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