If you’ve ever gained satisfaction from organizing events or people, then management is probably the career path for you. Once you’ve chosen to be a management major, finding the perfect curriculum is integral to your knowledge base and potential success in the business world. Here are a few can’t miss classes you should consider when pursuing management.
1. History
While history may seem like a class with no practical function in the business world, it actually provides management lessons and insight. History analyzes past events and how they shaped the world today. By understanding various aspects of the past, you’ll be prepared to integrate with people of different backgrounds and cultural heritage. This is especially useful when managing a group of diverse people.
2. Economics
Although this class is required for many if not all business majors, economics is vital for the success of management majors. You’ll be working in an environment based on all aspects of economics. The class provides a broad assessment of supply and demand and the role of value, costs, price, and free markets. All of these aspects are truly beneficial, no matter who you work for.
3. Applied Management
Once you’ve learned the basic principles of management, finding a more specific, career-focused class is the next step to take. Applied management classes go above and beyond earlier management classes and show potential employers that you’ve gained the necessary background to excel at the position. Once you’ve taken a few of these classes, your prospects for transitioning to a supervisory position will improve.
4. Computer Programming
Due to its high demand and application in the business world, computer programming classes are extraordinarily beneficial. Learning a programming language such as Java allows you to understand how computers work in a business setting and how data can be used and manipulated for a practical purpose.
5. Sociology
Sociology is a quintessential course for a management major. It enables you to understand why people behave in a certain way and how the human mind interacts with other people. This is helpful in management, as it will allow you to understand relationships between employees and their relationship with you, thus allowing you to diffuse conflict and come up with diplomatic solutions.
6. Basic Accounting
Even if you aren’t interested in numbers or how they apply to business, a knowledge of basic accounting is practical in management, because you may not always be managing in the corporate world. Applying the basic concepts of accounting will allow you to see revenues and expenses and what needs to be done to improve the bottom line. At the very least, this can be helpful in your personal life when managing a budget.
No matter where you want to go in the world of management, these courses will assure you of a well-rounded education and make you more attractive to prospective employers. Even if you don’t find the class enjoyable, know that the knowledge gained is invaluable. Remember — no knowledge is bad knowledge.