Guide To An Online Business Management Associate Degree
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Online business management associate degree graduates qualify for an array of fascinating jobs after only two years of full-time study. Like other general business degrees, online associate degrees in management prepare learners for leadership roles that require decision-making and guidance skills. Such positions may include receptionists,sales agents, andcustomer service professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that each of these roles will see average or above-average job growth between 2016 and 2026, making it an exciting time to pursue such positions.
Management training equips students with many transferable business and leadership skills. Consequently, graduates can find work in all types of industries and settings. Some may want to work in insurance or advertising, while others may feel drawn to hospital administration or construction management. Many associate students go on to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s in business management.
The following guide highlights what it takes to earn an online business management associate degree, along with available jobs, average salaries, how to pick the right program, and where to find support along the way.
Featured Online Management Programs
The Best Online Associate in Management Degree Programs
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Clarion, PA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,716
- Out-of-state$11,574
- In-State$9,288
- Out-of-state$10,026
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate95%
- Students Enrolled4,700
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
- Daytona Beach, FL
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$9,912
- Out-of-state$9,912
- In-State$8,268
- Out-of-state$8,268
- Retention Rate52%
- Acceptance Rate62%
- Students Enrolled13,773
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment93%
- AccreditationYes
Fox Valley Technical College
- Appleton, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,095
- Out-of-state$6,143
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled12,239
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment26%
- AccreditationYes
Community Care College
- Tulsa, OK
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled542
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
Mesa Community College
- Mesa, AZ
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,040
- Out-of-state$7,824
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled20,351
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment37%
- AccreditationYes
Methodology
We selected the programs based on the quality of the program, the types of courses offered, the faculty, rankings, awards, and reputation, including the school’s reputation for effectively providing online degree programs.
How to Choose and Online Management Program
When considering prospective online business management associate degree options, students should take their time choosing a program. Distance learning opportunities exist abound, so make sure to choose a school that meets most of your needs and expectations. Many students opt for in-state public colleges, which tend to offer lower tuition rates, while others choose private or out-of-state schools and offset higher tuition rates with financial aid.
- Program Cost:
- Cost is often a prohibitive factor in higher education, but learners can usually work around it. In addition to seeking out federal, state, and local aid resources, prospective students should look into institutional and programmatic funding.
- Transfer Policies:
- Many learners choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree after completing an online associate degree in management. These students should make sure their associate programs offer classes with credits that transfer easily. When considering their next school, learners should ensure their chosen bachelor’s program implements transfer agreements or transfer-friendly policies.
- School Size and Type:
- Some students prefer small class sizes and intimate learning environments in which they can get to know their peers and professors. These learners may consider private colleges, which tend to offer smaller class sizes than public universities. However, private schools cost substantially more than public schools. Check with your prospective program about average class sizes.
- Program Length:
- Most full-time distance learners can complete their associate degree in two years. Students may complete their degree faster if they completed prior credits through AP classes or dual enrollment in high school. Conversely, part-time students usually need three years to finish their associate degree.
- On-Campus Requirements:
- Recognizing that many students work while enrolled, most online programs do not require campus visits. However, some do. If on-campus requirements do not fit your schedule, verify your prospective program’s on-campus requirements before enrolling.
- Paralegal:
- Paralegals support lawyers by conducting research, creating organizational systems, liaising with other legal staff, writing prep materials for trials, filing briefs and appeals, and managing clients to ensure smooth scheduling of meetings, depositions, and court hearings.
- Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $37,000
- Mid-Career: $47,000
- Experienced: $51,000
- Late Career: $55,000
- Administrative Services Manager:
- Also called chiefs of staff, these professionals manage other admin staff, create departmental goals, oversee sensitive data, liaise with senior leadership, and implement new strategies and protocols to increase productivity.
- Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $48,000
- Mid-Career: $59,000
- Experienced: $65,000
- Late Career: $66,000
- Management Analyst:
- Often working in consultancy roles, these professionals help clients identify and improve organizational efficiency issues. Analysts observe personnel, review data, and gather facts before creating solutions and presenting them to senior staff.
- Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $59,000
- Mid-Career: $70,000
- Experienced: $73,000
- Late Career: $79,000
- Sales Representative:
- Working on behalf of their companies and products, sales representatives identify prospective clients, contact them, discuss needs, and provide overviews of available products. They also court clients as they decide whether to make the purchase. These professionals execute sales contracts and check in with clients regularly.
- Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $35,000
- Mid-Career: $49,000
- Experienced: $55,000
- Late Career: $55,000
- Purchasing Manager:
- Also known as buyers, these individuals ensure their companies possess the raw and finished products needed to sell their goods and services. They find vendors, review quotes, work with suppliers to negotiate prices, and liaise with staff to determine when to make changes based on quality or price.
- Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $51,000
- Mid-Career: $63,000
- Experienced: $70,000
- Late Career: $75,000
Career Opportunities for Associate Level Management Degrees
Graduates of online associate degree in management programs can choose between several professional paths after earning their diplomas. Associate degrees tend to qualify graduates for entry-level support roles, but professionals in these positions may work their way up over time. Those who succeed in management love analytical thinking, finding inventive solutions, bringing the best out of other workers, and operating in a professional manner. Most work standard 40-hour workweeks, but some positions may require night or weekend hours, as well.
Source: PayScale
Courses in an Online Management Associate Program
- Organizational Behavior in Business:
- This course helps students understand how different management and leadership styles lead to different organizational behaviors and outcomes. Learners cover topics such as productivity, profitability, employee morale, motivation, managing conflict, overseeing times of change, and creating favorable group dynamics.
- Business Finance
- Usually taken in the first year of studies, this course helps students learn about the basics of business financials. Learners build skills in analyzing financial statements, managing cash flow, understanding risk and return, and seeking out diversified streams of income. They also learn about the foundations of financial management.
- Strategic Management
- Students in this class learn to complete competitive advantage analyses and think strategically about their companies’ short- and long-term goals. Learners cover topics such as strategic planning, making decisions about the future, and responding to industry-based and economic shifts.
- Human Resources Management
- This course teaches about the basic foundations of personnel management, with emphasis on developing effective HR systems, hiring the best qualified staff, creating and integrating innovative training programs, managing benefits effectively, and developing work environments that promote productivity.
- Sales Management
- Students in this class walk through the lifecycle of a successful sale, studying each step along the way to learn about best practices. Learners gain skills in developing customer leads, building portfolios, negotiating prices and contracts, garnering repeat clients, and creating organized and maximized strategies.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Associate Degree in Management?
An online business management associate degree usually appeals to students considering careers in business management. This degree provides learners with a sense of the industry without requiring a four-year commitment. Comprising approximately 60 credits, most traditional associate programs take full-time students about two years to complete. Students who want to graduate more quickly should consider taking summer courses or maxing out their course loads each semester.
Other learners may need to take their time as they juggle academic, personal, and professional responsibilities. These students might study part-time, which takes about three years. Part-time students often end up paying more for their degrees, as they enroll in school for longer periods of time and therefore pay more semester-based fees.
Featured Image Credit: Ezra Bailey | The Image Bank | Getty Images
