5 Most Popular Business Majors

Popular Business Majors

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Marketing
• Statistics
• International Business

Choosing an undergraduate major in a specific area of business can be daunting. There are tons of majors to choose from, and they vary wildly. It helps to consider which industry or setting that you see yourself in professionally. Another way to whittle down the list is by considering today's most popular business jobs, which are incredibly diverse. Here are five great examples:

1. Accounting

Accounting majors typically go on to pursue positions in finance, accounting, and tax. Accountants enjoy excellent job security because businesses across all industries are always in need of their services. Typical courses required for this major include financial analysis, accounting, economics and business law. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, the field is expected to add 166,700 new jobs between 2012 and 2022, which equals a growth rate of 13.1 percent. With a median salary of $65,080 in 2013, this is a promising option for anyone with a knack for crunching numbers.

2. Entrepreneurship

If you aspire to start, own and manage your own business, earning a business degree with a major in entrepreneurship is a smart move. Typical courses include marketing, accounting, business strategy and performance management. The skills you acquire easily translate to working within an organization too, so you will always have a fallback plan. If you get a successful venture off the ground, the sky is the limit.

3. Marketing

A marketing degree opens up all kinds of doors. Popular positions include marketing coordinator, marketing manager, and marketing specialists. These professionals work in organizations across all industries, as most need assistance in product promotion, customer retention, consumer research, brand awareness and other areas that help them grow, expand and remain competitive. According to the BLS, the field of marketing management is expected to grow by 12.7 percent between 2012 and 2022, with around 22,900 new jobs being added. The median pay for this type of professional in 2013 was $123,220, so this is a lucrative option to consider.

4. Statistics

While pursuing a degree in statistics, you will learn how to collect, organize, analyze and interpret numbered data sets. These skills are in high demand across all industries, as statisticians help organizations detect patterns and trends that help considerably in making informed business decisions. You can expect to take courses in calculus, probability and statistics and algebra, and popular positions for this major include data analyst, business analyst and statistician. In the case of the latter, the BLS projects a growth rate of 26.7 percent from 2012 to 2022, with 7,400 new jobs being added. The profession had a median annual salary of $79,990 in 2014.

5. International Business

Today's economy is truly global, and many corporations have operations spanning the globe. A degree in international business will teach you the fundamentals of concepts like expanding markets, global operations, and cultural behaviors. You can expect to take courses in subjects like business ethics, international markets, and global commerce, and the degree will qualify you for positions like management analyst, business development specialist, and logistician. According to the BLS, the latter is expected to enjoy a growth rate of 22 percent between 2012 and 2022, with around 27,600 new jobs being added, and the median annual salary for these professionals in 2012 was $72,780.

These five options are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to business majors. By considering your skills, interests and long-term career objectives, you will find the perfect business major before too long.

See also: Business & MBA Degrees - Best Value Schools