Business and commerce graduates are increasingly in demand as globalization intensifies. Top universities around the world are stepping up to the plate, providing a diverse range of excellent undergraduate degrees for the keen business student.
Business and commerce pertains to the exchange of goods, services, or information between individuals or companies. Experts date the practice of commerce back to prehistoric times when individuals bartered for goods and services. Nowadays business and commerce rule almost every aspect of our lives, particularly in capitalist societies. Accordingly, there is a steady demand for well-trained businesspeople, in every field from finance to marketing to information technology.
You will have good problem solving skills and an inquisitive nature. You will also have good numerical capabilities and be analytical. If you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and ‘thinking on your feet’, this may be the university degree for you. Good communication skills are also very desirable and will take you a long way in the field of business and commerce.
If you’re thinking of studying abroad, many top universities offer undergraduate university degrees in business and commerce, so you will have a wide range of institutions and countries from which to choose. Curricula differ so it’s important to decide whether you prefer a more general degree or to specialize in a particular business sector. Most universities, however, provide two or three years of general business education and the option of later specializing in subjects like corporate finance, international business, or marketing.
Some universities offer even more specialized programs. Queen’s School of Business, in Canada, for example, gives students of its Bachelor of Commerce degree the opportunity to study corporate social responsibility in detail, through its certificate program in this subject. Joint programs like USC’s Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Cinematic Arts, and Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an Emphasis in East Asian Studies allow the student to major in business, as well as another subject. USC’s Marshall School of Business also gives commerce students the chance to travel to Asia and meet executives from some of the world’s most successful businesses. In cities like Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Beijing students learn how to conduct business in culturally different environments and experience globalization’s effect on international business. And of course, there is no classroom or book which can match experiencing first-hand a foreign culture and environment.
Studying business and commerce at an undergraduate level will give you a broad education on theoretical and practical business practices. Even if you don’t intend to pursue a career in a traditional business field like accounting, the communication skills and analytical capabilities you will learn will prove invaluable to any career path you choose.
Graduates of business and commerce programs occupy many different job positions. Traditional business professions include accountant, management consultant, human resource manager, and advertising executive, to name a few. Those looking to start their own business will find a business and commerce degree very helpful. Let’s not forget about e-commerce. Popular sites like myspace and eBay were all started by those with excellent business skills.
Many graduates, however, go on to fill job positions not typically associated with the business world – everything from novelist to teacher.