The Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) is one of the most popular professional qualifications, schooling students in specialised business-related subjects.
The courses that make up a BBA degree – which include strategy, people management, financial accounting, commercial law, business research and marketing – prepare students to take up greater responsibilities and challenges such as managerial posts, or to tackle entrepreneurial activities.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Who can do a BBA degree?
- What makes the BBA special?
- How a BBA provides a sound foundation
- Career options for BBA graduates
Who can do a BBA degree?
While school leavers with adequate marks can enrol for a BBA degree after finishing matric and emerge from their tertiary studies ready for the job market, students with some workplace experience really benefit, finding it easier to place their learning in context, and saying it gives their prospects of promotion a real boost, as they are able to work on job-related projects as part of the curriculum, putting their learning into practice in real time.
What makes the BBA special?
A BBA degree provides the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in business, providing a comprehensive understanding of its many aspects, from operations and finance to marketing and human resources. This academic programme permits you to develop the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the ever-changing global business landscape, and whether your economy is growing or shrinking, managerial skills and leadership ability will always be in demand.
In a growing economy it’s fairly easy for graduates with BBAs to find opportunities thanks to the broad business acumen the qualification equips them to offer in a variety of sectors. And in a difficult economy BBA graduates’ skills empower them to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their organisations … or even to start out on their own as entrepreneurs or consultants.
BBA students have the opportunity to experiment in the safe space of the classroom, and in doing so build their people skills, analytical acumen, ability to think critically, as well as their confidence.
How a BBA provides a sound foundation
In first year students gain an understanding of core business principles. In second year they start to specialise, picking the majors they will take through until the end of third year, such as finance, marketing, project management and people management. In third year they specialise further with electives such as change management and business intelligence.
Strategy is generally compulsory in each year of the programme; this helps imbue in students the forward, strategic thinking they need to future-proof themselves.
During the course of the programme they will learn to use technology; communicate effectively with colleagues, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders; to collaborate and negotiate; to plan; and most importantly, to solve problems. They will also hone their ability to adjust quickly, innovating and adapting to changing conditions to maintain a competitive edge.
BBA graduates should emerge from the programme committed to lifelong learning, as staying abreast of trends and topics is a crucial part of being able to spot and take advantage of opportunities, and to circumvent possible threats (or turn those into opportunities!).
Career options for BBA graduates
Your skills will be very useful in most spheres of business, particularly:
- Logistics;
- Hospital and health care;
- Retail;
- Travel and tourism;
- Foreign trade;
- The stock market;
- Manufacturing;
- IT;
- Banking;
- Finance; and
- Government.
Posts you can aspire to with a BBA degree include:
- Assistant HR manager or HR manager;
- Assistant marketing manager or marketing manager;
- Assistant finance manager or finance manager;
- Project manager; and
- Communication or media manager.
