People no longer enroll in a university for the purpose of studying a course and then go on to work for a company. People now pick up courses at the university that will help them become successful entrepreneurs. Interestingly, most universities are now designing courses that will help students start and run their businesses successfully.
It is now left for aspiring entrepreneurs to select a course that will address the kind of business they want to start. The truth is that some courses might not be directly linked to business but they can help you become a better business manager, leader or inventor et al. Having said that, here are some of the best courses you can study if you want to start your own business.
Best Courses for Starting a Business
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Business Administration (Business Management)
Top on the list of courses you should study if you want to start a business as an entrepreneur is business administration. Business administration which is also known as business management is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising business operations.
When you study business administration, you will have a general background in subjects including accounting, finance, marketing, human resources management, international business, and management. Please note that if you intend to study business administration as a degree, then you should be ready for a 4-year period consisting of 8 semesters.
The length of time it takes to earn a business-related degree with a narrower focus is typically the same length associated with earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration: four years for an incoming freshman, and two years for a transfer student with transferable credits.
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Marketing
Another very important course you should study if you want to start your business is marketing. Trust me, no matter the type of business you run, you will need marketing skills to be able to keep generating revenue for the business.
Marketing is the practice of increasing awareness, consideration, purchase/repurchase, and preference for a product or service through consumer-driven benefits, advertising, packaging, placement, pricing, and promotions.
Marketing touches many areas of study, so students will be well-versed in advertising, communications, consumer behavior, public relations, and marketing strategy and research. Typically marketing degrees last three to four years at the bachelor’s level, but in some countries, it is possible to do a two-year associate degree.
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Economics
Economics is yet another robust course you can study if you intend to start a business. The truth is that with a background in economics, you can do almost anything in the business world.
Aside from starting and running a business, you can be an auditor, stockbroker, insurer, business manager, retail merchandizer, pricing analyst, statistician, financial consultant, and salesperson. Economics is a mix of many subjects including mathematics, business, accounts, psychology, and sociology.
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Accountancy
When you study accountancy, you will be exposed to key topics that will help you understand how to manage your books as a business owner and of course how to manage your business. This is so because, during the course of studying accountancy, you will also study business management and other related courses that will make you a good business manager.
Studying accountancy provides you with specialist knowledge of accountancy practices, commerce, industry, and finance. In addition to gaining this subject-specific and technical knowledge, you will also develop more general skills, including knowledge and awareness of business organizations.
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Finance
Finance is yet another course that an aspiring entrepreneur should consider studying if they want to start and run a business. A finance degree will give you robust knowledge of how businesses should be run because a finance degree offers students a thorough understanding of banking, trading, and economics.
Please note that when you enroll for a finance degree, you will be exposed to math-related skills such as mental arithmetic (“fast math”), algebra, trigonometry, statistics and probability. A basic understanding of these skills should be good enough.
When you are through studying a finance degree, you will be well-grounded when it comes to planning, managing, and analyzing the financial, monetary aspects and performance of business enterprises, banking institutions, or other organizations.
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Entrepreneurial Studies
Entrepreneurial studies are one of the latest degree courses that have been introduced with the sole aim of preparing students to start and run their own businesses. Entrepreneurial study is a program that generally prepares individuals to perform development, marketing, and management functions associated with owning and operating a business.
An entrepreneurial studies degree teaches the student how to communicate effectively, how to see and provide for needs in the market, and how to find and pursue opportunities. The courses listed here are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience when you major in this field.
- Business Plan Development
- Entrepreneurial Strategy
- Entrepreneurship
- International Start-Ups
- Marketing
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Private Equity
- Technology Entrepreneurship
- Venture Capital
Please note that full-time students can usually earn a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship in four years, while part-time learners may take longer.
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Supply Chain Management
Another course you should consider studying if you want to start a business is Supply Chain Management. This course is key to starting a business because supply chain management degrees blend together course material from economics, logistics, and finance.
This course prepares students to manage logistics and to overcome challenges with problem-solving. Students learn how to perform data analytics, prepare presentations, and inventory management.
Please note that despite the fact that the supply chain management degree is not that tough, however, students who struggle with arithmetic and statistics may find it hard. It should not be difficult if you are comfortable with arithmetic, problem-solving, and analytics.