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I'm a professional in financial services and started school (first time) last year. After I get my A.A., I can transfer to one of several programs at University level (or get my BS at my current state school). My narrowed down choices are a BA/BS in Economics or BS in Business Administration. Which one do you think is more stand out for an experienced professional looking to move ahead? I figure with 15 years business experience, my situation is not the same as a fresh grad with no work experience. The school for Business Admin is higher rated (UF) than the Economics school (USF), but does that really even matter at my age? I tried asking my degrees colleagues, but they all have Bus Admin degrees from UF and are a little biased!
Ultimately, I think I'll do the Economics degree since much of the bus admin degree would be redundant to me. Just looking for thoughts as I make this decision. I think if the Economics program was through UF, I'd find it easier to choose.
I was an economics major myself and it did nothing for me professionally, though it completely redirected my educational worldview. I use the material I learned in my major daily reading financial publications, but it does not help me one bit (call center rep).
I wouldn't complete either degree. Neither will pay off. Neither degree is likely to carry you beyond where you couldn't otherwise go with fifteen years of verifiable, quality experience with plenty of references.
I was an economics major myself and it did nothing for me professionally, though it completely redirected my educational worldview. I use the material I learned in my major daily reading financial publications, but it does not help me one bit (call center rep).
I wouldn't complete either degree. Neither will pay off. Neither degree is likely to carry you beyond where you couldn't otherwise go with fifteen years of verifiable, quality experience with plenty of references.
Thank you for your input, but my experience has been different Six promotion opportunities in five years and each time I was told, "You're great, but we want someone with a degree". That's just reality these days, opportunities to move ahead without a degree in the business world are few and far between
Last edited by Lior Arel; 10-05-2013 at 07:33 AM..
I don't know much about the job market for those with economics degrees. I've heard that it helps to get a graduate degree, but maybe your experience would more than make up for the lack of a graduate degree. Business administration degrees are a dime a dozen. Not only is it the most popular degree in the country, but these majors are the most underemployed. In other words, a business admin degree won't make you stand out. On the other hand, it might be okay for you since you probably just need to check the box.
Business degree. Econ will get you on the track to more degrees. The variable is your experience, Business would be more practical in that case, although the Econ wouldn't likely hurt you as much as it would with no experience.
I don't know much about the job market for those with economics degrees. I've heard that it helps to get a graduate degree, but maybe your experience would more than make up for the lack of a graduate degree. Business administration degrees are a dime a dozen. Not only is it the most popular degree in the country, but these majors are the most underemployed. In other words, a business admin degree won't make you stand out. On the other hand, it might be okay for you since you probably just need to check the box.
Thanks. Yes, that's exactly my conundrum. Every guy in my office has a business admin degree from UF (but also MBAs). I feel like an Economics degree would give me a little extra I could bring. Another option is to go in a different direction and get a Computer Science degree, but I feel like that will just lead to me sitting in a cubicle and writing lines of code for 10 hours a day. Not my thing.
Business degree. Econ will get you on the track to more degrees. The variable is your experience, Business would be more practical in that case, although the Econ wouldn't likely hurt you as much as it would with no experience.
Thanks. I've thought on that track to, and that UF is a "Public Ivy" while USF is a virtual unknown in the rest of the country (except for biology/medicine). So aggravating to make this decision! if I could do anything, it would be the Substance Abuse counselor program, but I couldn't deal with the pay cut
Thank you for your input, but my experience has been different Six promotion opportunities in five years and each time I was told, "You're great, but we want someone with a degree". That's just reality these days, opportunities to move ahead without a degree in the business world are few and far between
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lior Arel
Thanks. Yes, that's exactly my conundrum. Every guy in my office has a business admin degree from UF (but also MBAs). I feel like an Economics degree would give me a little extra I could bring. Another option is to go in a different direction and get a Computer Science degree, but I feel like that will just lead to me sitting in a cubicle and writing lines of code for 10 hours a day. Not my thing.
Didn't you say you wanted to switch careers?
Honestly, I doubt it matters much either way. Those two are pretty synonymous. Though in my perspective, Economics degrees would be geared more towards someone who is doing financial analysis while Business is geared more towards someone who is doing sales. I've never worked in that industry though.
That's exactly what a Comp Sci degree will lead you to, though likely gainful and steady employment as well. I think a lot of people spend 10 hours a day in front of a computer regardless.
Business degree. Econ will get you on the track to more degrees. The variable is your experience, Business would be more practical in that case, although the Econ wouldn't likely hurt you as much as it would with no experience.
Exactly. If you were planning to go to grad school and maybe get an MBA, I'd definitely go with the Econ degree. But if this is it for you, the business degree from the better rated program would be your best bet.
I think in your situation any degree would be fine since that seems to be what you are missing to move up the chain. Personally Econ is a more challenging major than Business and seems to be what you like so I would go for that one.
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if I could do anything, it would be the Substance Abuse counselor program, but I couldn't deal with the pay cut 
