Once you've decided to study business in the United States, you may feel as if you've decided to swim the English Channel. What college should you take? What business field should you major in? What classes should you take? All are questions that swim in the minds of nearly every college student in the United States and around the world, but that's where the many highly accredited colleges and universities come into play.

Schools from every region of the United States have outstanding business programs and faculty that continually guide national and international students through the waters of the business world, smoothly and confidently.

Some 1,600 United States universities have business programs in their curriculum, but only a select number can boast an accredited program. The International Association for Management Education (formerly the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business), the premier accrediting agency for college degree programs in business, has awarded accreditation to 355 programs, including noted institutions such as Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Pennsylvania State University, and Widener University. Business is business, right? Wrong. Once students decide on a college to attend, choosing a major becomes the next significant decision.

Business administration is the most popular field of study for foreign students, according to statistics provided by 'Open Doors 1997/98', published by the Institute of International Education. More than 21 percent of foreign students in American colleges are pursuing business degrees. The business major in the United States is broad, and encompasses specialized fields of knowledge; depending on which major students select, they can expect to learn the basics in accounting, management, economics and finance. Besides the primary majors, colleges all over the United States offer degrees in other areas, such as advertising, health care administration, hotel and restaurant management, real estate, banking, international business and insurance.

The increased popularity of and dependence upon computers and the Internet has influenced just about every United States university to incorporate business technology programs into its curriculum. Courses in E-commerce, information systems, data mining and other technology-based areas are giving business majors more opportunities to choose the most suitable field of study.

The Company Way
One of the biggest advantages for studying business in the United States is the close proximity to the many large, well-known corporations with headquarters in metropolitan areas such as New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, and Washington, D.C. These companies are constantly offering job opportunities to college graduates with business degrees.

Some companies offer internships and co-ops for students to gain experience in business and industry. A college degree is invaluable to an individual searching for a good paying job, but experience is just as important. Students in the United States who use an internship or participate in a cooperative education while in college will have a leg up on the competition when it comes time to sending out resumes and pitching credentials to prospective employers. United States colleges encourage students to take these opportunities by offering them a full gamut of internship and co-op possibilities to help them acquire the skills necessary to enter the competitive job market. Not all students with undergraduate degrees are heading straight into the work force. Many are taking the next step to success in the business management field - an advanced degree or a master's degree in business administration (MBA). Many colleges and universities in America offer graduate-level programs that offer a wide range of business facets.

More than the Basics
The primary purpose of an MBA is to provide theoretical and practical training in general or senior functional management. An MBA is a career accelerator, indicated by the huge number of MBA graduates who are commanding high-paying jobs after graduation. About 100,000 MBA students graduate from business schools each year. More and more companies in the United States are encouraging their employees to pursue master's degrees. According to 'Training Magazine', employers in the United States with more than 100 employees are spending a record $60 billion annually on education and training of their work forces.

Those pursuing MBAs in the United States aren't just aspiring accountants, economists or Wall Street employees. Many students in other areas of study - including hospitality management, psychology, human resources and engineering - are attaining MBAs to broaden their experience and learn the business side of their trade. Basically, an MBA is invaluable in increasing a student's position of power, expertise and earning potential.

Learning without the classroom
Another trend that is gaining steam in the United States is distance learning. Working adults who want to earn either bachelor's or master's degrees in business do not have the same flexibility as younger students - balancing time on the job and time in the classroom can be extremely hectic. Colleges across America have realized this strain on working adults and have jumped into the realm of on-line education.

Now, students can earn their degree online rather than trying to schedule classes around their busy lives. Rather than engaging in direct classroom interaction with a professor, students can receive their assignments on the Web and e-mail them back to their teachers. Not all universities and colleges offer distance education, but in time, just about every institution will.

Deciding to pursue a business degree in the hustle and bustle of the United States is a major decision, but the rewards are numerous. Once you take the plunge into the waters of its business world, you may never want to get out.

Author
John Mantino
Widener University