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Groundbreaking technology and shifting consumer preferences are changing the corporate landscape, requiring organizations to seek out the most highly-qualified and experienced professionals. If you have previous college credit and some real-world experience, you may find that earning a bachelor's degree in business and organizational studies can help you acquire the fundamental knowledge and practical skills needed to position yourself for success in an evolving market environment.

What Is a Business and Organizational Studies Degree?

Prospective students who are interested in this program often ask: What is a business degree? And what is organizational studies?

A bachelor's degree in business and organizational studies is a comprehensive business degree program that looks beyond basic business principles to build the expertise required to transform organizational processes and make a significant, lasting impact in any industry. Neumann University's Bachelor of Science in Business and Organizational Studies degree stands out because it is a flexible online degree completion pathway for adult learners who have some college credit and want to earn a four-year degree.

An Interdisciplinary Business Education

The curriculum for this program is anchored by the core business foundations of management, ethics, and creativity, with the goal of expanding upon your existing foundation. In addition, organizational studies concepts such as leadership, behavior, and systems thinking are effortlessly incorporated through interdisciplinary coursework. Students have the opportunity to choose electives based on their personal interests, strengths, and previous experience, letting them tailor the degree program to align with their career goals.

Understanding How Organizations Function and Evolve

Organizational behavior has a direct impact on operational success, with more companies looking to hire professionals who have an advanced understanding of organizational behavior due to their knowledge of workplace structure and culture. By intentionally choosing a degree program that focuses on organizational studies, you can improve your leadership skills and develop the core competencies needed to motivate those around you and facilitate change.

Designed as an Online Degree Completion Program

So, what is a degree completion program, exactly? A degree completion program is an accelerated academic pathway designed for adult learners with previous college credit. Neumann University's online business degree is structured for transfer students and working adults and offers specific program requirements based on the number of credits that you have previously earned.

What You’ll Learn in a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Organizational Studies

Rather than providing an industry-specific education, the bachelor's degree in business and organizational studies equips you with the business acumen and practical skills needed in a wide range of professional environments. Within this program, you will study key business topics such as change management, operations management, and ethical decision-making in business. Through applied learning, you will collaborate with your classmates and learn how business principles can be expertly applied within today's evolving landscape.

Core Business Foundations

The fundamentals of business serve as the structural backbone of this degree program. According to Indeed, business fundamentals are the basic processes that fuel operations and drive success in organizational settings. Professionals across all industries and specialty areas need a strong business foundation before they can begin developing advanced strategies that support innovation and position organizations for long-term success. Topics such as management, ethics, creativity, and operations anchor this degree completion program, giving you the firm base that you need to build your career.

Organizational Behavior and Leadership

Organizational behavior refers to the study of how professionals act in group settings. In this program, students explore the role of workplace dynamics in employee performance and operational success, learning how to perfect their own leadership styles so that they can motivate and encourage those around them. With an emphasis on communication and collaboration, this program prepares you for strategic roles where you can have a significant impact.

Strategic Thinking and Systems Perspective

Through experiential learning, students hone the creative and critical thinking skills needed to develop advanced organizational strategy. You will begin to see how organizations function as interconnected systems, allowing you to better understand leading change management strategies and how they can be used to fuel innovation in the workplace.

Practical Communication and Decision-Making Skills

The American Management Association states that open communication is essential to business success, yet many organizations don’t recognize the importance of transparency and accountability. In this program, you will explore business communication techniques while improving your presentation skills and developing your personal leadership style. Project-based learning experiences give you the ability to organically develop the critical thinking and collaboration skills needed for effective and professional communication in business.

How This Degree Differs From a Traditional Business Major

Traditional business degree programs have a more limited scope, with coursework primarily covering the fundamentals of business. This degree completion program looks beyond the basics and offers a holistic, interdisciplinary curriculum that develops the core competencies needed for organizational leadership through applied and experiential learning.

Broader, More Flexible Focus

Designed with adult learners and working professionals in mind, this program features a broad curriculum that prepares graduates for strategic roles in multiple industries. Rather than making you choose a narrow specialization that prepares you for a specific entry-level role, this program gives you the flexibility and freedom to tailor your degree to meet your specific needs. The number of electives that you may need will vary based on your existing credits, but you will have the opportunity to enroll in courses such as risk management, sustainability in business, cross-cultural communication, and organizational psychology. Graduates leave with universal business knowledge and the transferable skills desired in a wide range of professional positions.

Emphasis on Leadership and Organizational Impact

Degree programs that concentrate solely on specific aspects of business, such as accounting, finance, or marketing, develop foundational knowledge and the key skills required for success in those areas. The bachelor's degree in business and organizational studies extends past basic knowledge to promote leadership and management skills, which are in high demand in today's dynamic work environments.

Is a Business and Organizational Studies Degree Right for You?

Choosing to return to school and earn your bachelor's degree is a major decision with personal, professional, and financial impacts. It is important to take time to consider your current circumstances and decide if this is the right program for you. Through thoughtful reflection, you can evaluate your goals and determine if now is the right time to invest in your education. Completing your four-year degree can be an incredibly rewarding experience — one that not only supports career advancement but also leads to a deep sense of fulfillment.

Assessing Your Career Goals

Before you enroll in an online business degree program, you will want to consider your academic background, professional experience, and long-term career goals. These are some questions that you should ask yourself as you assess your readiness for a degree completion program:

• What are my business interests?
• Do I see myself in leadership roles in the future?
• What type of organizational impact would I like to have throughout my career?
• Do I want to develop new areas of expertise within my chosen industry?

Considering Long-Term Career Flexibility

At this point in your life, you will want to invest in an academic credential that gives you the freedom to carve out your own path. Broad preparation supports today's evolving industries, giving you more flexibility in the years to come. If you want to expand upon your existing business knowledge while simultaneously developing the interpersonal skills that are preferred across all industries in the modern landscape, then this may be the perfect degree completion program for you.

Build a Flexible Future with a Business Degree From Neumann

Going a step beyond fundamental business knowledge, the Bachelor of Science in Business and Organizational Studies degree at Neumann University emphasizes skill development by giving students access to the tools and resources needed to transform traditional business practices. This accelerated, online degree program is designed for students who have previous college credit and who want to complete their four-year degree. With a focus on career preparation and professional readiness, this program allows students to develop the critical thinking and communication skills that are in demand in today's competitive climate. Request more information about our degree completion program and apply today.