Essential Information
A bachelor's degree in commerce, as it's called in certain countries, is the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in business in the United States. In this field, students can pursue various concentrations, or earn a general business degree. Many programs also focus on hands-on training. This often takes the form of collaborative capstone projects, in which groups of seniors participate in simulated business projects and present them to committees of professors and local business professionals. Experience may also be gained through the completion of required internships
Like other bachelor's degree programs, these programs require incoming students to have a high school diploma or equivalent. They also sometimes require the submission of standardized test scores and letters of recommendation. Prior participation in school organizations and extracurricular activities may be preferred.
Bachelor of Commerce or Business
Students in these programs can expect a combination of didactic and hands-on learning. There are a number of concentrations students may pursue, including accounting, management, marketing sales, entrepreneurship, economics and finance. Classes may be different for different concentrations; for example, a student studying entrepreneurship might take sales and business development courses, while a student studying economics might take statistics and political science classes. The following are examples of course topics common to bachelor's degree programs in business:
- Macroeconomics and microeconomics
- Organizational development
- Resource management
- Small business management
- Entrepreneurship and sales
- Marketing and market analysis
Popular Career Options
Graduates of bachelor's degree programs in business are positioned to work in a number of different areas, and many students secure permanent positions through internships completed during school. Here are a few job titles graduates might have:
- Salesperson
- Manager
- Supervisor
- Accountant
- Financial planner
Employment Outlook and Salary Information
Overall, careers in commerce look promising. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports employment opportunities for sales managers should increase by 4% between 2019 and 2029; meanwhile, accountants and auditors will see a 4% increase in demand, and personal financial advisors are projected to have a 4% increase in demand. Figures from the BLS show these three fields are relatively high paying, with median salaries of $73,560 for accountants, $89,330 for personal financial advisors, and $132,290 for sales managers in May 2020.
Continuing Education
Graduates of bachelor's degree programs in business wishing to continue their education often pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA). This is a terminal degree that qualifies its holder for leadership positions like CEO, CFO or senior consultant, though such roles typically require substantial work experience as well.
A Bachelor of Commerce degree is an equivalent degree to many bachelor's degrees in business. Like many bachelor's degree programs in business, a bachelor's in commerce prepares students for careers in sales management, accounting and finances, as well as graduate studies in business administration.
