What Degree Do You Need to Become a Business Manager?

People become Business Managers in a wide variety of ways. Some get into this field after earning a college degree in a field like business management. However, any type of degree can be helpful to an aspiring Business Manager. Another way to learn the skills you’ll need in this field is to enroll in a certificate program or bootcamp at a professional training school. These types of programs have become more popular in recent years because they require less time and money to complete than a college degree and also because they are specifically designed to get students career-ready. This article contains more information about both degree and non-degree paths to business management.

What is a Business Manager?

A Business Manager is a leader who supervises the personnel and operations of a department or organization. They work to maintain productivity, efficiency, and organization, and to help the company achieve its goals. They also help improve overall performance and find new opportunities for growth and improvement. A small company might have only one Business Manager, while a larger company might have a number of them. Some Business Managers specialize in a specific area such as marketing, sales, or administration.

A Business Manager typically takes responsibility for a wide range of different tasks. These vary depending on the industry they work in and the company they work for, however, in general, this position involves four main aspects. One is planning, which means setting future goals and making a plan for achieving them. The second is organizing tasks and resources so that business plans can be implemented. A third part of business management is leading employees. Finally, Business Managers are responsible for controlling the operations of a business, which means keeping track of how it is performing and making any changes that are needed.

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Do I Need a Degree to Become a Business Manager?

In the past, a college degree in business management or a related field has been the traditional way to get into this field, but in recent years, a growing number of employers have begun to realize that a college degree doesn’t necessarily equate with the ability to do this job well. Instead, they are finding that some college graduates are not good matches and that there are many people without college degrees who are good matches. Rather than simply looking for employees who have a college degree, many employers have begun to focus on finding people who have the skills and experience that will allow them to get the job done well, whether they have a degree or not. Wall Street Journal reporter Lauren Weber discusses this in a February 27, 2024 podcast. She says, “It's called skills-based hiring, that's what this approach is known as. So that might mean . . . [that companies use] different types of assessments to really try to determine whether someone has the communication skills, or the writing skills, or the teamwork skills, or the technical skills, that you're looking for. So it does change the way companies have to think about their hiring process.” With many companies lessening their focus on degrees, it is definitely possible to get into business management without a degree.

There are actually a number of benefits to pursuing a career in business management without earning a degree. One of the biggest is that this method is likely to be far more affordable and less time-consuming than college. Most college degrees require a significant time investment--at least a couple of years, and usually longer--and they cost tens of thousands of dollars. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average price of attending a four-year college ranges from $14,700 to $24,600, depending on whether it is a public or private college. In contrast, the price of a bootcamp or certificate course--which is another popular way to prepare for a career in business management--is usually no higher than $20,000 or $30,000 and most take only a matter of weeks or months to complete.

Common Degrees for Business Managers

If you do want to pursue a degree, there are a few different specializations common to the field of business management. You can take a general Business Management degree, or you can specialize in a type of management. It’s also up to you how far you want to go in school. Some people decide that a two-year associate’s degree is enough, others pursue a bachelor’s degree--which takes about four years to finish--while some spend even more time in school and earn a master’s degree. On the other hand, some people become a Business Manager without any college degree. In summary, everyone has their own unique educational path. 

• Business Management. A Business Management degree covers business and management skills such as financial management, marketing, strategic planning, human resources management, leadership, and communication.
• International Business. Some of the topics likely to be covered in an International Business degree include foreign markets, global banking, business ethics, international finance, and cultural behaviors. 
• Project Management. A Project Management degree covers the skills needed to plan and oversee different types of projects. Students learn about various types of project management, budgeting, risk management, organization, and communication.
• Human Resources Management. This type of degree program is focused on the human resources side of business management. You’ll learn about employment and labor law, organizational behavior, diversity and inclusion, talent acquisition, and operations management.

Tips for Starting a Business Manager Career Without a Degree

If you’re trying to start a career as a Business Manager, but you don’t have a degree, experts offer a number of tips that can help you be successful:

• Start in an entry-level position. An entry-level position might not be your dream job, but it’s a great way to get yourself in the door to a career in business management. You can work your way up from there. In an article titled “How To Get a Corporate Job Without a Degree (Plus Tips),” Indeed advises that you shouldn’t stop with an entry-level job, but should make an effort to continually add to your skills and experience so that you can move upward. It says, “Once you get a corporate job, work hard to demonstrate your abilities and commitment. Consider taking opportunities to learn more about your role and others' roles, and volunteer to help with important campaigns. This may help you gain promotions or move to other roles with more upward mobility. Remember that these efforts can take time, so set periodic goals for yourself to maintain motivation.”
• Gain experience. While some employers look for a degree, others are more interested in your experience, since this shows that you can actually do the job. Gaining as much experience as you can is a good way to make yourself attractive to potential employers. In an article titled “You Want To Get Experience in Business Management Before Starting your Career. How Can You Do It?” LinkedIn suggests some ways to gain business management experience prior to finding a job in this field. It says, “One of the most effective ways to get experience in business management is to find an internship or a part-time job that relates to your field of interest. You can search for opportunities on job boards, career fairs, social media, or your network.” Other suggestions include joining a student organization, volunteering, and starting a side project.
• Enroll in a certificate program or bootcamp. These types of programs are a great way to gain the skills and experience that you’ll need for a career in business management. Many are specifically designed to get students career-ready, and they often include career support services like help creating a resume and portfolio, and advice about applying for jobs and interviewing. In some cases, you’ll even leave the course with connections to professional networks in your field.
• Use free online resources. If you want to work in business management, you’ll need to learn a broad range of concepts and skills including many different financial principles and a long list of soft skills such as communication and leadership. You’ll also need to learn a number of computer applications. There are many different free resources online that can help you work on some of these skills. For example, some schools offer free resources so that students can get a better understanding of the topic before they enroll in a class. YouTube also contains many free, short tutorials on business management. If you’re serious about learning business management though, you’ll probably end up deciding to invest in a paid class where you can follow a comprehensive curriculum under the guidance of an expert. 
• Build a strong portfolio. This is a collection of samples of professional work and you can use it to show potential employers and clients what you’re capable of. It can take a while to create a strong portfolio, so don’t leave it until the last minute. Your portfolio should include your best work and it should showcase both your technical skills and your soft skills. You can make a physical portfolio or an online one. Indeed suggests, “Depending on what kind of work you do, you might keep a record of projects you complete. For example, if you work in consulting, you might save plans you make for clients, along with their feedback. This can help you demonstrate your growth and the span of your experience.”

Learn the Skills to Become a Business Manager at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is a New York City-based school that offers a wide variety of business classes, both in person--at its Manhattan facility--and in a live online format. Courses include comprehensive, hands-on bootcamps and certificate programs, which are designed to help you master all the skills that you’ll need in order to work as a business manager. Noble also runs a number of shorter courses where you can spend a day or two learning essential business skills like financial modeling or Excel. This school is licensed by the New York State Education Department.

• One popular Noble Desktop option is the “MBA” Business Certificate. This course is an “MBA-style” program and it includes some of the skills taught in MBA programs. In this class, you’ll learn tools and strategies for finance, project management, marketing, and data analysis. You’ll also learn about the practical applications of generative AI, and will get access to a self-paced class that covers the basics of business insurance, employment law, and business law. This class includes the option to take electives that match your specific area of interest. Finally, it comes with eight one-on-one mentoring sessions. 
• Another popular certificate program is the Data Analytics Certificate. In this course you’ll learn about gathering, wrangling, analyzing, and visualizing data, and you’ll work on a number of real-world projects. Both predictive and prescriptive analytics are covered, in addition to Python, Excel, Tableau, and SQL. All students also receive eight one-on-one mentoring sessions, which can be used to work on challenging concepts or for resume and portfolio advice.
• Noble Desktop also runs many different business-related bootcamps. The Project Management Bootcamp is a popular option. This class is designed for students who want to learn more about project management. It is a combination of the school’s Level I and Level II classes and is offered at a discount. When you take the Project Management Bootcamp, you’ll learn the five phases of project management and will receive a slide deck that contains a variety of exercises. You’ll also learn about Waterfall, Critical Path, and Agile methods of project management, including popular Agile frameworks. You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
• Another bootcamp option is the Chat GTP & AI for Business Bootcamp. This course is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to utilize AI in your daily business tasks. You’ll learn how to create effective prompts, manage conversations, and use advanced features like memory settings. You’ll also learn about the ethical considerations of AI. In addition, the course focuses on ways to use AI for task management, communication, and project planning. You’ll learn about automating repetitive tasks, optimizing schedules, and improving collaboration and administrative workflows.
• Noble also offers many shorter classes focused on a number of different business skills. For example, it has a variety of short Excel classes: Excel Level 1,Level 2, and Level 3. Level 1 is focused on getting familiar with the interface, entering data, using essential formulas and functions, and creating charts. You’ll also learn how to format and print. Level 2 covers splitting and joining text, adding data validation, named ranges, database functions, adding logical statements, and using Pivot Tables. In addition, you’ll learn to use statistical functions and create advanced combo charts. In Level 3, instructors cover advanced concepts including cell locking, auditing, hotkeys, formatting for calculating dates, advanced functions, advanced analytical tools, Pivot Charts, and advanced database functions.