Getting an associate degree in business is a good, solid foundation for many career paths. Instead of choosing an associate degree that is generic, however, you can select an area of focus that will add value to your business degree.
1. Digital Marketing: If social media, web 2.0 sites, and video content interest you, then you could focus your business degree on digital marketing, a sub-category in the continually growing marketing field. Many big businesses are playing catch up with social media and are trying to lure both Millennials and Generation Z to their brands. A business degree with a focus on digital marketing could help you get in on the ground floor.
2. Entrepreneurship: Many business schools are offering associate degrees that specialize in entrepreneurship. You can use what you learn to build your own business, work at a startup, or just to stand out from other job applicants at a traditional office job. If you wanted to work for a government agency, you could even parlay your degree into a federal, state, or local job with the Small Business Administration working to help other small business owners get their dreams off the ground.
3. Project management: Project management is business lingo for understanding the steps needed in a project and being able to lead a team to see it through from beginning to end. If this interests you and you feel you have the right skill set for the job, you can focus your associate degree in project management. You can also take one of the many certification classes available such as Certified Project Manager (CPM) or CompTIA Project+ in order to make your resume stand out for future employers.
4. Health care informatics: Healthcare is a growing field that is virtually recession-proof. Instead of working with patients, however, you can choose to specialize in health care informatics, or the organization, storage, and management of health records. This degree focuses on combining healthcare record-keeping and information technology in a unique, truly 21st-century career.
5. Web development and e-commerce: A business degree with a focus on web development and/or e-commerce can be helpful in any number of settings from big business to start-ups. You can pad your expertise by learning a programming language, like Java, Ruby on Rails, or Python. In fact, Python is considered to be the best programming language to learn for those without a four-year degree.
Adding an area of focus to your associate degree in business only requires taking a few extra classes in your chosen area of specialization, but can help you increase the ROI (return on investment) of your degree. Learn more by contacting local business schools.
