Choosing a minor is a great way to add depth to most academic programs, and a good minor for business degree candidates helps them to differentiate themselves from their peers, according to an article in the New York Times. Students who take advantage of this option usually already have some specific ideas about their career goals. Their chosen minor often enhances their professional and personal development. Below are some great choices for minors for those pursuing a business degree.
Management Information Systems
Management information systems (MIS) uses information technology (IT) to identify, analyze and solve business problems. This minor is a classic fit for business degree majors because it extends the reach of their skills beyond mere administration. Business degree majors who choose MIS as a minor equip themselves with the technical knowledge needed to accurately align IT solutions with organizational goals to overcome business challenges. The result of this interdisciplinary approach to strategic management often creates a competitive advantage for the company. Also, today’s employers often prefer candidates with specializations like MIS over those with general business degrees.
Health Policy and Administration
One of the fastest growing industries for job seekers is health care, and the field of health administration affords business professionals with the right credentials access to rewarding non clinical careers. The minor in Health Policy and Administration is a natural fit for business administration degree candidates who want easier access to jobs post graduation. The skills taught in many business administration courses like accounting, finance and management are the same ones used in health care administration positions. Typically students with minors in Health Policy and Administration take about 18 credits of specialized health management courses on health care planning, economics, regulations, technologies and delivery of services.
Nutrition and Food Science
A career field that has always been important but normally flies just under the radar for those seeking beneficial and rewarding careers is nutrition. In today’s society, many seek a better quality of life, and they are quickly realizing that it will not come from miracle pills, potions or pharmaceuticals. A healthy body that also influences a sound mind is a result of a lifestyle of good nutrition. Studying the science behind nutrition can be beneficial to one’s self, family and future business. Research indicates that the vitamin supplement segment of the health and wellness industry is over a billion dollar market. A business degree holder with a minor in nutrition is poised to get involved in a fast growing niche of the health care industry either through a traditional job or a health related start-up business.
Related Resource: Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing
Environmental Science
Environmental issues have brought many changes to how traditional businesses operate, and companies that are environmentally responsible usually seek to enact policies about sustainable practices within the organization. To guide their actions, some companies hire environmental consulting firms to help them. While the star players in such organizations are environmental engineers and scientists, there is likely room in their business support offices for a business degree holder who was motivated to obtain a minor in environmental science. Although the functions of accounting, finance, human resources and management fit firmly within the business discipline, a person with a minor in environmental science brings the right perspective to those generic functions.
Conclusion
Selecting a minor gives students a way to customize their degree programs, and many schools’ academic affairs departments are very flexible when it comes to allowing students access to minors across all disciplines offered by the university and their affiliates. A good minor for business degree majors comes in many flavors that reflect the candidates’ interests as well as the economic climate for job prospects.
