Once you decide to pursue a business administration degree, the next step is to determine what kind best suits your career goals. Many business students select between the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA).
To determine which one is a better fit for you, you must first learn what each offers and then compare several characteristics to see how well they fit your ambitions. What is the difference between a BSBA and BBA degree? The answer might surprise you.
Both the BBA and BSBA degrees are bachelor’s level disciplines of study that are intended to offer students a solid academic foundation in key business theories as well as an awareness of how they are applied in real-world work contexts. The primary difference between these two programs is the focus of study.
What is a BSBA Degree?
Students with a BSBA degree have a good foundation and grasp of business operations. Where management programs focus on the people side of business, the BSBA focuses on the operations and how the organization operates.
BSBA includes the word ‘science’ for a reason. The program develops and enhances your critical thinking and analytical problem-solving skills.
Students study fundamental business principles as well as hone organizational communication and decision-making abilities. General business operations, legal studies, management, finance, economics, and business analytics are some of the core topics of study for this program.
What is a BBA Degree?
The Bachelor of Business Administration degree, on the other hand, emphasizes liberal arts disciplines. This curriculum provides a broad foundation in numerous business disciplines, allowing the degree to be applied across a broader range of areas.
A BBA curriculum requires students to take classes in business economics, business mathematics, marketing management, statistics, corporate finance, and more. Each course provides students with financial and technical knowledge, but in a BBA degree program, approximately one-quarter of the courses are liberal arts-oriented.
What is the Difference Between BSBA and BBA?
On the surface, they look very similar. The concentration is different, though. They both cover the basics of business administration such as accounting, economics, business law, business ethics, human resource management, and other core business courses. When it comes to broad knowledge, they are the same, and either degree may support a path for a career in business.
The BBA, however, focuses exclusively on those broad knowledge topics. You learn how companies function, develop business communication skills, and discover the principles behind making business decisions.
The BSBA management degree shifts the focus toward technical skills, and course content make focus on a deeper understanding of a narrower range of topics. As a result, the degree has a stronger focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses to help students develop analytical abilities and a measured approach to business and management.
Someone studying in a BSBA degree may learn skills relevant to the following areas:
- Business analysis
- Human resources management or administration
- Market risk assessment
- Advertising and promotions
One degree program is not better than the other; they are just different. At Post University, students in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program obtain knowledge in the fundamental business disciplines of accounting, economics, management, finance, marketing, and business law, as well as develop key communication skills through writing and presentations.
They also have the opportunity to develop analytical skills, explore decision-making and ethical issues in business, and take a deep dive into the study of business operations. A BSBA degree may be a precursor to a Master of Business Administration program.
What Type of Business Administration Degree Should You Pursue?
There is no easy answer to this question because both degrees could be effective for working in the world of business. Consider your job ambitions and favorite fields of study before choosing a business degree. From an academic standpoint, both degrees are equally valuable.
To choose the right business degree, you must first understand what you want and then analyze the many elements of each program to find the best match. You should also evaluate your strengths. If you excel in math and science, for example, a BSBA degree may be the best option for you, especially if you want to pursue a career that has a more analytical focus, for example. A BBA degree is an excellent choice if your primary objective is to learn business, finance, and entrepreneurship without having to fulfill a separate set of general education requirements.
When choosing a school, look closely at their course catalog, too. They may only offer one program. For example, Post University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program but not a Bachelor of Business Administration.
The BSBA program at Post University covers general business administration studies but also specialty options such as:
- General administration -Expand further on your business knowledge with relevant upper-level elective courses.
- Accounting – This emphasizes financial planning skills that are applicable to any business setting. The coursework focuses on foundational skills and concepts of accounting as well as how to record and report transactions.
- Computer information systems – Learn how to manage and safeguard a company’s network and software with coursework emphasizing technology, computer science, and business and how they interact with one another.
- Entrepreneurship – This concentration helps students develop the skills needed to start, establish, and grow entrepreneurial ventures.
- Finance – This area helps students explore and understand opportunities in financial services, analysis, insurance, banking, and more.
- Human Resource Management – This concentration emphasizes the starts of performance expected of employees and managers while focusing on diversity, employee compensation, employee benefits, labor laws, and employment laws.
- International business administration – This emphasis allows you to broaden your knowledge of international business by taking suitable upper-level electives.
- Marketing – This focuses on the concentration of the foundational concepts and principles of marketing.
- Sport management – This emphasis will provide you with a solid foundation in sports management and marketing with electives in athletic administration, events and facilities management, and more.
- Supply chain management – This emphasis explores the how to maintain and manage the integrity so supply chains and logistics.
- MBA track – This focus allows students to study advanced MBA courses at the undergraduate level. This can help students get a jump start on their graduate studies while also adding substantial value to graduates when they enter the workforce.
Post University’s BSBA program is also available online or on-campus.
Are You Ready to Get Your Business Degree?
If you have decided that a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration makes the most sense for you, check out the BSBA program at Post University to find out more. You can go online and visit the school website or contact us for more information.
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Please note jobs and/or career outcomes highlighted in this blog do not reflect jobs or career outcomes expected from any Post program. To learn more about Post’s programs and their outcomes, please fill out a form to speak with an admissions advisor.