Advance Your Career With These Online Business Degrees

An advanced degree can help fuel the next step in your carer.

In a 2016 report, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that workers 25 and older with a master’s degree earned a median salary of $74,620, compared to a median salary of $60,060 for someone with just a bachelor’s degree – a wage premium of $14,600.

Such salary premiums can be even higher in specific fields, such as business, finance, and sales. In fact, the wage premium in some areas — securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents — was as high as 90 percent.

Many sought after advanced degrees are offered online, allowing cohorts to pursue an education that can help them advance their careers while working full-time.

Below are five online degree programs that can help kickstart a stagnating career:

Master of Business Administration (iMBA) at the University of Illinois, Gies College of Business

The University of Illinois’ iMBA is a chance to earn an advanced degree online from a prestigious institution. The University of Illinois was rated as the 13th best public university by U.S. News & World Report. The online course design encourages engagement with peers, leading to long-term networking opportunities and graduates join a robust alumni network of more than 470,000.

Cohorts can tailor their learning experience to their interests and career focus through specializations such as digital marketing, strategic leadership and management, financial management, global business challenges, and business analytics, to name just a few. Regardless of the specialization you choose, the program is meant to provide real-world, applicable skills. The program ends with a capstone project meant to simulate a real-world business situation.

The iMBA uses Coursera’s online education platform to deliver a dynamic experience. Cohorts participate in discussion forums, use chat tools, enjoy a video conferencing platform, and take advantage of social media workspaces. Coursera features interactive video transcription and allows for learning across multiple devices. The University of Illinois iMBA is a chance to earn a quality advanced degree fully online.

MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OMIE) at HEC Paris

Cohorts interested in starting their own business or who want to be a change agent in an organization can benefit from the online MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship offered by HEC Paris. HEC is one of Europe’s top-ranked business schools and was ranked #1 in 2020 by the Financial Times. HEC prides itself on producing graduates who are ready to be tomorrow’s business leaders and innovators.

Graduates leave prepared to drive innovation and business development, while the program’s unique online structure provides opportunities to engage globally with peers. The collaborative learning approach culminates with a team project and capstone overseen by instructors and business leaders affiliated with the program.

Foundational courses such as Building your Leadership Skills, New Product Development, Entrepreneurial Strategy, are taken over a six month period. In the second part of the program, cohorts complete a project-based curriculum in which cohorts create a new product, brand, or business. In the third part of the program, cohorts take project-based courses over a 12 month period that focuses on teamwork, scaling up operations, and negotiation fundamentals.

The program takes advantage of the Coursera platform to deliver an interactive online learning experience, allowing cohorts to collaborate with classmates, instructors, and HEC alumni.

Masters of Accounting (iMSA) at the University of Illinois, Gies College of Business

The University of Illinois offers one of the top three accounting programs in the country online through its iMSA. The program is geared to cohorts seeking to be analytics-driven professionals and is a chance to gain an advanced credential from one of the best accounting schools in the country. Graduates leave with developed skills in analytical thinking, data mining, and strategic accounting.

The iMSA is a flexible degree applicable for cohorts planning to pursue a career as an accountant or who want to leverage analytics ability for a non-accounting career. The online course structure is divided into self-paced lecture content, live classes, and experiential learning through hands-on projects. Through the Coursera platform, lectures are organized into weekly modules and are available live, through video playback, or through transcripts.

Master of Science in Management (iMSM) at the University of Illinois, Gies College of Business

Cohorts looking for an online degree that provides foundational business knowledge and management and leadership skills should consider the University of Illinois’ iMSM.

The program offers accounting and finance classes and fundamental leadership skill-focused courses such as marketing management, strategic management, and process management. Electives provide cohorts the chance to study global business challenges, how to make data-driven decisions, and communications.

The dynamic and unique online learning experience incorporates lectures and video for independent learning. The Coursera platform allows for an asynchronous learning experience that includes live sessions. Online classrooms allow for collaborative learning environments, fostering innovative thinking, and strong peer relationships.

Global MBA at Macquarie Business School

According to CEO Magazine’s ranking of online MBAs, the Macquarie Business School offers Australia’s #1 ranked Global MBA and the #6 Global MBA in the world. This 100 percent online program provides foundational courses in marketing and accounting while delivering forward-looking leadership skills to prepare cohorts for the complex modern business world. Cohorts build leadership skills, develop strategic skills, learn how to analyze and use data, tackle problem-solving, and leave with the ability to influence and lead in today’s business environment.

The program uses the Coursera platform to host live interactive webinars, podcasts, and other high-engagement learning activities such as local meetups in various countries. Graduates also join an expansive, global alumni network.

The program concludes with a capstone created in concert with industry partners affiliated with the program, ensuring a real-world learning experience that provides tremendous networking opportunities.

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A degree in business can help you accelerate, or even pivot your career at every stage. Push yourself to the next level by gaining new skills, expanding your network, and enhancing your candidacy in any industry.

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