Classes that you should be paying attention in: BBA edition

BBA graduates end up as Jack of all trades, and master of some. To ensure that they are capable of managing any conundrum thrown at them, gaining a bare-minimum knowledge in a multitude of subjects may be a well-devised way of ensuring that. This article compiles the core and relevant business courses that you should segregate to put extra emphasis on, because mastery in these will make a difference for you after graduation.

Tier #1: The subjects in this set are the central areas of focus in any BBA program. They are directly related to core-commerce and imparts to you the validation that you know the ABCDs of business studies.

1. Accounting: Accounting is to finance what math is to physics. Without having a good grasp of this subject, you won't be able to understand business and finance at all.

2. Marketing: While it's a bit difficult to learn this in the classroom, if you have a competent teacher, you'll pick up invaluable tips and tricks on the art of marketing. Don't disregard this course thinking it's too easy, because it really tests your creativity.

3. Finance: There is a ton of calculations and formulas that you need to master, but it's absolutely essential to take these classes seriously if you want a career in finance. Unlike marketing, just street knowledge won't take you far in this field.

4. Operations/Supply chain: Whatever organisation you end up working for, its core operations are at the heart of everything. There's heavy competition with engineers when it comes to getting jobs in this field, so you must be an expert on this if you want to stand a chance against them. You can even become a Certified Supply Chain Analyst (CSCA) by completing a separate course offered by ISCEA during your undergrad.

5. Human Resource Management: HRM isn't something that can be learned perfectly in a classroom due to its highly subjective, vague nature. But if you think you have an inherent talent in managing people and want to work as an HR executive, you'll need to have these courses in your transcript.

6. Entrepreneurship: This course should teach you the exact steps on how you can establish the start-up of your dreams. From trade licensing to initial operations, you will learn the basics of building a business up from scratch.

7. Economics: Understanding the economy helps you figure out the bigger picture. All individuals and firms operate within an economy, so you'll find that micro and macroeconomics not only help you in your job, but also in your everyday life.

8. Statistics: You'll find out how necessary statistics is even before you graduate. There are surveys you have to conduct for every other course, and all of it requires you to know regression, distribution, probability etc. You'll have to keep doing this for the rest of your career, especially if you work in research. SPSS is a magical software that you can learn to use through this course.

9. Research Methodology: This course is based on statistics, and it will take you through the specific steps of conducting procedural research, and making reports that are perfect in terms of content and format.

10. Business Communication: Effective communication and mutual understanding in business are two most basic aspects of developing a strong organisational culture and falls under its scope.

Tier #2: These courses should have a dynamic curriculum to keep up with the ever-changing world. If taught right, these are as crucial as the core BBA courses.

1. Management Information Systems: MIS is purely technological. It teaches you how to use data to make your business more efficient. It's perhaps one of the most useful courses you can take in this day and age.

2. Computer Applications: This world runs on tech. You might have to manage a tech company, and you need to know the basics of programming to know what exactly the employees of your company are doing.

3. Business Law: Firms exist in a legal system, and it's important that their employees don't end up breaking the law. Also, you can have a career in business law by getting a relevant post-grad degree, so having this course in your undergrad will prove to be useful.

4. Ethics and Leadership: This course won't work out unless you have a teacher who knows how to inspire students. If you have such a teacher, this course might just help you become a better person.

5. Quantitative Analysis: Big Data is key for businesses, and this course teaches how to use that data to your advantage. It will also teach you the basics of Excel, a software that saves jobs and lives.

6. English: It's the international language, so that pretty much explains why you need to speak, read and write English perfectly.

Apart from the ones mentioned here, there are a bunch of other courses like geography, biology, history, philosophy, environmental science, and many more that you can take in order to expand your knowledge base. Often times, these courses just seem like a hindrance when there are other courses like statistics or marketing that push you to your limits. But you should think of your liberal arts or science courses as an excellent opportunity to learn. Besides, it's easier to get As in these courses. So pay attention in class and switch off your cellphones, kids.

Eshanee is a junior at IBA, DU. Reach her at eshanee333@gmail.com.