Business CareersJune 02, 2020

Whether you want to be a business entrepreneur or be a decision maker for a major company, Midland College can get you started on your path to success with a bachelor’s degree, associate degree or certificate in Business.  Doug Johnson, MC department chair of Business, answers some frequently asked questions.

1.  What business degrees are in high demand?

The current trend of high demand business disciplines are those in finance, accounting, and business administration/management.

2.  Why should I choose a business major?

Regardless of all students’ fields of interest and specialization, when they graduate their workforce status will be either a business owner (entrepreneur) or they’ll be working for a company. Having a basic understanding of how business works will add value to academic accomplishments. As a business major, students will discover 15-20 different areas of specialization available as a profession. Exposure to those areas will reveal which one(s) are most appealing.

3.  What specializations are available in business?

Specialization within the business industries include statistical analysis (statistician), medical and health services management, operations management, financial management, accounting, market research, financial analyst, banking (loan officer), Human Resource specialist, customer service representative and many others. Speaking in a general sense, anything that is of interest to students can be found within the profession of “business”. Check out this article from USNEWS.com for more information.

4.  Does Midland College offer any industry placements or work experience for business majors?

Midland College operates a placement office within the Student Services division. Most employers will contact the placement office when employment opportunities are available. Sometimes employers will contact the Business Studies department directly, at which point the faculty will announce employment opportunities to students enrolled in Business courses.

5.  What kinds of associate degrees in business are available at Midland College?

The Associate of Applied Science degree that specializes in Business Management is a 60-credit hour degree offered at Midland College. While the Associate of Art and Associate of Science degrees in General Studies do not specialize in business, the AS can provide up to five courses that can transfer to a 4-year university whereupon students can complete their bachelor’s degree.

6.  Does Midland College offer any courses or programs for people who want to start their own business?

Midland College’s Small Business Start-Up Certificate is 16 credit hours (5 courses) designed to provide the entrepreneur the basic information for starting a business. Those 5 courses are Introductions to Business Principles, Finance, the MS-Office Suite, Small Business Operations and Business/Professional Communication. Thirteen additional credits (4 courses) will provide the business owner information in marketing, accounting, management principles and strategically managing a company.

7.  Do any of the MC business courses transfer to 4-year universities?

We offer five courses that transfer to 4-year universities: Financial and Managerial Accounting (ACCT 2301 and 2302), Macroeconomics and Microeconomics (ECON 2301 and 2302), and Business Principles (BUSI 1301). Students planning to transfer to a 4-year university should follow the courses listed on the Business Administration Transfer Guide or those in the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree plan in General Studies.

8.  I’ve heard that Midland College offers a bachelor’s degree in business.  What is that?  Do I have to have an associate degree first?

The Bachelor of Applied Technology in Organizational Management is the second part of a “2 + 2” program.  During the first 2 years students complete an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in an approved technical field, and during the second 2-years students complete the bachelor’s degree. Upon completion of the A.A.S., the graduate can apply for admission to the bachelor’s degree program.

9.  What skills are important for someone who wants to major in business?

The ability to write and speak clearly (communication), good reading skills, and acceptable interpersonal relationship skills are always valuable to everyone involved in business.

10.  Is math important for a business degree?  Do I have to know calculus?

Employers expect graduates with a bachelor degree in business to understand the basic and commonly used mathematical formulas and functions for business calculations and operations. Calculus may become more important in specialized business occupations such as statistical analysis and creating algorithms used in forecasting. However, at the bachelor’s level and for job entry, mathematics for business and the social sciences is sufficient (MATH 1324).

11.  Are there courses at MC that can teach me some important business skills so that I can get a job in a hurry?  I don’t have time for an associate degree.

Yes, there are. A one-semester 5-course schedule will provide basic entry-level skills (Small Business Start-Up Certificate) and a two-semester 9-course schedule will provide even more business operations skills (Assistant Manager Certificate).

12.  Are there any jobs in the business that are low-stress?

“Low stress” jobs are generally any position that does not involve managing or supervising.

13.  What starting salary could I expect with an associate degree in a business-related field?  What starting salary could I expect with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Midland College?

There are several variables involved when determining a “starting” salary. Some examples include how much experience a person has, the level of formal academic training, and how much experience a person has in the area of supervision or management. A new employee with little applicable experience but a 2-year degree may be able to command between $28,000 to $32,000 per year. The more education and experience a person has, the higher that “starting” salary will be. The overall industry and national economic situation will also play a part in determining starting salaries.

14.  Everyone tells me that if I want to be successful in business, I need to be able to work as part of a team and communicate effectively.  How does Midland College prepare students for this?

Many MC students have experienced team members at the project level. In today’s world, working in teams is the way business happens. Teams are set up to solve problems. Problems can’t be solved if team members aren’t willing to communicate well or work well together. Midland College helps prepare students by teaching team dynamics and practicing those concepts with group work.

15.  What was your major and why did you choose it?

Regardless of the field of interest, people will either work for themselves or work for someone else. The more one learns about how business work, the better they will be actually doing it. My first field of interest was the science of Geology applied in the Petroleum Energy industry. I chose that major because I was enamored with the science. I applied what I learned in business, working for energy companies. The most successful geologists and engineers with whom I have worked had a firm understanding and grasp of knowledge, communication and interpersonal relationship skills, and the ability to work with others. All those can be learned in courses embedded in business schools. Applying them improves a person’s skills and that is done within the business world.