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What are some classes to prepare for a business degree?
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David’s Answer
Some classes that would help prepare for a business degree would include a combination of financial, business operations, marketing, and human resources courses. Financial courses would help understand your cash-flow, budgeting, balance sheets, and other accounting-like principles that are necessary to quantify what money is needed to successfully operate and grow. Business operations courses would provide a comprehensive overview of managing things like suppliers, vendors, customers, and competitors. Marketing would help understand branding, consumer preference, and creating a buzz around your product or service. And finally, understanding the fundamentals of human resources is critical for hiring the right people, placing them in the right positions, and creating a healthy as well as engaging, diverse workforce so turnover is minimized.
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Alina’s Answer
Taking a wide variety businesses class is great to prepare for a business degree. In high school, I took accounting, marketing, economics offered at my school. These classes introduced me to topics that I learn a lot more about now in college. Specifically, I would say learning about how to use excel was very helpful because I use it in all my college courses, not just businesses courses.
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Cheryl’s Answer
While I was in high school, I took every business class I could fit into my schedule: Business Law, Accounting, Operations Management, Photography, Art, Creative Writing, etc.
I knew I wanted to get into Marketing and be involved in creative so take as many elective classes as you can so you can figure out what you like and don't like before you go to college. Never underestimate the need for understanding law. It will help you in all aspects of business.
I knew I wanted to get into Marketing and be involved in creative so take as many elective classes as you can so you can figure out what you like and don't like before you go to college. Never underestimate the need for understanding law. It will help you in all aspects of business.
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Anna’s Answer
Some classes you can take to prepare for any business degree would be:
-Microeconomics
-Macroeconomics
-Basic Statistics
-Financial Accounting
-Basic Marketing
-Basic Financial Management
-Basic Management
*If you're still in high school right now, I would focus on understanding what your prerequisites are for each class. For example, I didn't know that I had to take a statistics course before I was able to take my basic level financial management course.
Look into the prerequisites of courses at the colleges you are considering on attending.
-Microeconomics
-Macroeconomics
-Basic Statistics
-Financial Accounting
-Basic Marketing
-Basic Financial Management
-Basic Management
*If you're still in high school right now, I would focus on understanding what your prerequisites are for each class. For example, I didn't know that I had to take a statistics course before I was able to take my basic level financial management course.
Anna recommends the following next steps:
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Carina’s Answer
Hello! I think the most useful classes I have ever taken were an Excel course and (maybe surprisingly) an English writing course. As more of our communication becomes virtual, the ability to write and communicate effectively is so helpful and having an understanding of English grammar has been vital as I work to write professional emails.
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Christopher’s Answer
Hello Jessica. There are many great classes to prepare for a business degree. A healthy balance between accounting, marketing, sales, economics, and other areas of business will go a long way.
A solid foundation in accounting will allow you to understand how the business works. Accounting is the language of business. If you understand where the money is going, you can understand the inner workings of the business.
An understanding of marketing will allow you to understand what your customers want. Marketers try to appeal to those who demand their product. By understanding what your customers desire, you can tailor your marketing message and understand more about the importance of reaching out to customers to let them know about how your business can fulfill their demand.
When it comes to sales, this is extremely important as to whether or not the business remains operating. Whether it is business to business sales or business to consumer sales, it is a critical aspect of the business.
In regard to economics, it is important to understand the greater workings of the market in order to understand what the smart business decisions are to make. Decisions may vary depending on if the market is in a good state or a poor state.
Any classes that address different aspects of business will go a long way! I hope this helps!
A solid foundation in accounting will allow you to understand how the business works. Accounting is the language of business. If you understand where the money is going, you can understand the inner workings of the business.
An understanding of marketing will allow you to understand what your customers want. Marketers try to appeal to those who demand their product. By understanding what your customers desire, you can tailor your marketing message and understand more about the importance of reaching out to customers to let them know about how your business can fulfill their demand.
When it comes to sales, this is extremely important as to whether or not the business remains operating. Whether it is business to business sales or business to consumer sales, it is a critical aspect of the business.
In regard to economics, it is important to understand the greater workings of the market in order to understand what the smart business decisions are to make. Decisions may vary depending on if the market is in a good state or a poor state.
Any classes that address different aspects of business will go a long way! I hope this helps!
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Jay’s Answer
Take an intro level accounting course to familiarize yourself with common business terminology and technical skills. People often say that accounting is the language of business.
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Blake’s Answer
I would definitely recommend taking a class in finance or accounting.
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Tara’s Answer
My best advice is to take a wide variety of classes to prepare for the business world. Having knowledge of the different areas of business (ex: marketing, finance, supply chain, accounting, MIS, HR) is important when understanding how a company works. It is also important to get real world experience in addition to your classes. This might mean getting involved in different activities on campus or within the community, or going to businesses and applying to internships or asking to job shadow for the day. Getting experience in the workforce can sometimes prove to be more helpful than classes.
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Whitney’s Answer
Any business classes you could take in high school will help you with your business degree, whether it's intro to business, finance, accounting, marketing, or economics! Most business schools require you to take some classes from all of the major business areas regardless of your focus, so any exposure to these topics can be useful. If your school doesn't provide many business classes though, don't worry, you're not required to have any knowledge of the subjects coming in as you might with math or science courses.
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Holly’s Answer
Hi Jessica,
At my university all business majors were required to take Economics, Psychology, a specific math course and a specific English course freshman year. I was able to test out of three of these courses by taking AP courses in high school and as a result, I was able to get further ahead in different business courses. While this could be different for every university, I still recommend taking AP (Advanced Placement) courses while in high school if you are able. They can be somewhat challenging courses but they really prepare you for college material and if you take the final examinations you also receive college credit. The college credit I received from taking AP classes was extremely helpful because I didn't have to take as many courses in college and my workload was more manageable.
For a business major specifically, AP Economics, AP Calculus AB or BC, AP Language or AP Literature and AP Psychology helped me opt out of courses required my freshman year. I recommend you research these courses as well as other AP courses to decide if they fit your own needs. Also, you can always talk to your school's advisor or guidance counselor to help you chose classes that will put on the right track for college.
Besides AP courses, I found my Personal Finance class, Operations Management, Accounting and other business courses offered at my high school all helpful.
Hope this answers your question!
At my university all business majors were required to take Economics, Psychology, a specific math course and a specific English course freshman year. I was able to test out of three of these courses by taking AP courses in high school and as a result, I was able to get further ahead in different business courses. While this could be different for every university, I still recommend taking AP (Advanced Placement) courses while in high school if you are able. They can be somewhat challenging courses but they really prepare you for college material and if you take the final examinations you also receive college credit. The college credit I received from taking AP classes was extremely helpful because I didn't have to take as many courses in college and my workload was more manageable.
For a business major specifically, AP Economics, AP Calculus AB or BC, AP Language or AP Literature and AP Psychology helped me opt out of courses required my freshman year. I recommend you research these courses as well as other AP courses to decide if they fit your own needs. Also, you can always talk to your school's advisor or guidance counselor to help you chose classes that will put on the right track for college.
Besides AP courses, I found my Personal Finance class, Operations Management, Accounting and other business courses offered at my high school all helpful.
Hope this answers your question!
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Azeem’s Answer
Accounting
Economics
Marketing
Operation Research
People Management/Organizational Behavior
Economics
Marketing
Operation Research
People Management/Organizational Behavior