Business and management
What to expect
Getting a degree in business and management
What to expect
Not every course in the business and management field will lead you to a desk in an office in a corporation.
Business and management courses usually teach knowledge and skills that will apply in a range of different organisations, including management, human resources, corporate governance, business administration. They might also teach you about different types of businesses, such as international businesses, community business, logistics businesses, and e-commerce businesses.
Getting a degree in business and management
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Courses and specialisations
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Aboriginal business |
Actuarial studies |
ATSI community management |
Administration |
Air transport management |
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Airport management |
Asian economic development |
Banking |
Business administration |
Business communications |
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Business information systems |
Business logistics |
Commerce |
Community management |
Conveyancing |
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Corporate planning |
Corporate management |
Disaster management |
Distribution |
eBusiness |
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eCommerce |
Entrepreneurship |
Executive secretary |
Finance |
Frontline management |
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Government and public administration |
Government management |
Human resource management |
Industrial relations |
Insurance |
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International business |
International trade |
International management |
Leadership |
Manufacturing management |
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Management systems |
Maritime business |
Marketing |
Office management |
Operations management |
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Organisational behaviour |
Organisational management |
Personnel management |
Port and terminal management |
Project management |
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Property |
Public sector management |
Quality management |
Real estate |
Sales |
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Small business management |
Strategic management |
Transport management |
Valuation |
Volunteer management |
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Workplace leadership |
Workplace relations |
You can study business and management in over one thousand different degrees! The two flagship degrees are the Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Commerce, but there are plenty of others that include a host of interesting business specialisations. These specialisations fall roughly into three different groups:
- Specialisations focused on the main business functions that are central to organisations in and out of the corporate sector, including business information systems, finance and human resources management.
- Other professional preparation in related sectors, like actuary, business and finance.
- A growing group of specialisations defined by a focus on specific sectors or industries, including air transport management, government and public administration, and property.
Which course is for you?
First, identify which of the business and management specialisations might be of interest to you. You can then look for a suitable degree with that specialisation.
There are general and specialised business degrees. General degrees like the Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Commerce will usually include all or many of the specialisations listed above. Specialist business degrees will be named after (and will focus on) any of the specialisations discussed above.
In some cases, you’ll get much the same whether you do the specialisation in a general business and management degree or in one with a specific title or focus. The beauty of a general business degree is that it will give you some room to dabble in a few areas before deciding on your specialisation. On the other hand, courses with specific titles will usually make you specialise from the start. However, this is fine provided you know what you want to do; in fact, it might even offer better career preparation for your particular role.
Note that some specialisations will not be offered in a general business and management degree, particularly those focusing on specific industries.
Getting in
With so many business and management degrees available across the country, the law of supply and demand dictates that this is not a very difficult field to enter. Of course, some universities and campuses are generally harder to get into than others.
Where to study
‘Business and management’ is the biggest of our 30 fields of study. It can really be described as a world within the world of tertiary study. There are one or more business and management courses in every university (and often at each campus), at TAFE institutes and many private colleges.
What to look for
Business and management courses vary in their breadth, and the level of intellectual stimulus and practical training they provide. As for what one faculty or institution might do better than another, there are many variables. Some will take a very academic approach; others might have more working professionals as lecturers. Some offer work experience and have close relationships with industry; others, a strong honours and research program. Again, it all depends what you’re after. But as always, a good look at graduate ratings and detailed course brochures is a must to ensure that the course is what you expect.
Careers for business degree graduates
What is a career in business and management? Now that you know what comes under the heading of ‘business and management’, you will understand that the range of careers available to business graduates is huge!
In short, you could wind up in any type of organisation, in any industry. You might be involved in any manner of functions, from general administration to people management or in a special role associated with a particular industry or type of business, such as property.
According to the national Course Experience Questionnaire survey, business and management graduates are only moderately satisfied with their courses overall. Starting salaries were average, at $47,815 in 2009. Perhaps more important is the proportion of graduates who were unable to find full-time work. Unemployment rates rose from around 10 per cent for graduates in 1989 to 30 per cent or more (depending on the specialisation)
in 1992, and have gradually improved since then. At 29 per cent in 2009, unemployment is still higher than in other fields. Again, there are likely to be big variations according to the course, campus, and specialisation, so shop with care. The skills and experience you gain through internships, co-curricular work and activities are other important determinants — and they’re often up to you.
For more information
If you are interested in business and management you should also look at what’s on offer in other fields such as accounting , economics , and law . Depending on your interests you might also look at sport and leisure studies , communications , environmental studies , agriculture and paralegal studies .
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