Which is a better major for me, Business Admin or Organizational Leadership (both with a logisitcs/supply chain emphasis/concentration)?

2017-11-13T14:14:21-05:00

I am currently attending excelsior college and although it seems to be a good school I am not sure I would like to go that route. My major is Business Administration with logistics concentration, with all the class that I have taken up to this point it is really killing my moral with every class. I came across Organizational Leadership at brandman university and that degree seems to be filled with soft skill courses. Im not looking be the next VP but I am looking for a degree that can help me out when I get out and it seems that OL with a supply chain emphasis will be able to help with that. I still have hopes to take up a trade when I get out in 2021 but this degree will help me also to become a better leader.
Any thoughts.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 13 at 2017 2:18 PM

2017-11-13T14:18:35-05:00

You can always do the other classes that are hanging you up at a later date.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2017 3:28 PM

2017-11-13T15:28:13-05:00

I think you may need to look at your statement and read it a few times to get the answer. You are taking classes to learn X because you want a job in Y. Why not first figure out what you want to do when you get out first. Get up on LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster, ect and start targeting jobs and companies that excite you. Look at the education requirement for these jobs and the education level and experience of your connections on LI. Right now, where you are, you have the finest global logistical organization in the world. Go and study it. // Pro Tip: Logistics is always changing so everything you learn has an exportation date till the next new shinny technology comes along. Visit with your aviation brothers and hang out with the UAV team. Distribution via UAVs is the next thing in transportation. Artificial Intelligence, the Army is testing driverless vehicles now. There are two emerging logistical items that you could be doing now in the Army. Best of Luck

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Nov 13 at 2017 6:05 PM

2017-11-13T18:05:17-05:00

I suggest that you first determine the job that you'd like to have, when you get out. Then research the training/education you'd need to accomplish that end goal. It might turn out that one degree or the other is better suited for different career paths. Side note: if you're considering changing majors due to difficulty level, you might not want to do that. A class even a difficult one is only teaching you the basics. It only gets harder and running from the challenge now might haunt you down the road.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2017 6:51 PM

2017-11-13T18:51:49-05:00

Much respect SGT.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2017 7:29 PM

2017-11-13T19:29:49-05:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member I have a Business Degree, and I chose the hardest degree plan that I could. Pick a degree plan that will challenge you, and provide you with the skills for life after the military.

Response by CPT John Sheridan made Nov 13 at 2017 9:21 PM

2017-11-13T21:21:58-05:00

My thoughts having spent many years in the corporate world. Hard skills matter more than all others. People who understand math & science are predominant in leadership roles and high paying and high influence individual contributor roles. Whether it's finance, systems engineering, logistics, or whatever, it's important to to take calculus and and other classes, such as statistical analysis for which calculus is a prerequisite.

So, I recommend the BS degree versus the BA. If the hard skill classes are making it tough, then slow down, take fewer credits and more time. For the other classes, take the ones that work the communications skills. Do a lot of writing. Learn how to formally research a topic.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2017 10:10 PM

2017-11-13T22:10:01-05:00

Both are very versatile degrees. I have a business administration degree and it basically fits in with any skill set or job.

Response by PFC Lisa McDonald made Nov 14 at 2017 12:37 AM

2017-11-14T00:37:48-05:00

I went for a dual degree in psychology and human services.
It sounds like there would be a fair amount of overlap between the degrees.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Nov 14 at 2017 1:45 AM

2017-11-14T01:45:18-05:00

From both a life learning and job obtaining perspective, Business Administration is a good base. I got through the program but I took it slower than most and stuck with 12 credit semester loads vs 16-18. Try it that way and see if it goes better for you. I always felt 16-18 credits a semester with BA was too much too fast. Also, I have to tell you that what makes Bus Admin so marketable is so many in the Business Community lack the fundamentals of Business Admin that it is sad at times. Good Luck!

Also, if your attempting this path while on Active Duty as a Infantryman.....I can see why you would have issues. It would be more difficult then. Again though try it in smaller bites first before changing altogether.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2017 1:56 AM

2017-11-14T01:56:43-05:00

What do you want to be, a business administrator or an organizational leader? I started an MBA and got to accounting and statistics. While I aced both of those classes, I asked why it's important for someone in a leadership role to take these. I got the typical answer about having a baseline of knowledge so you could do these things. Then I realized I didn't want to do these things. I don't want to be an administrator...I want to be a leader. So I changed my masters program to Organizational Leadership and Change. It was a much better course structure that fit what I wanted to understand about business and leadership. I'm about as impressed with an MBA as I am with any other degree. Take the classes you want in order to be better at what you want to do...not to have something that says you did what everyone expects you to do.

Response by SGT John Schumacher made Nov 15 at 2017 12:48 PM

2017-11-15T12:48:39-05:00

I will say from my personnal experience that unless you have a degree in the cyber field or something related to it that if you plan on retiring in the military do that first. I spent 10 years in the communication field thaen went to college and was only able to use my degree for 4 years. Think about your long term goals.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 17 at 2017 1:16 PM

2017-11-17T13:16:15-05:00

Your profile is a little light for me to give much advice. First, you need to think sincerely about where you want to go with your life in 2021--I assume that's after your current enlistment is up. If you want to get into supply chain management, then my advice is to stick with the business degree. Concentrate on supply chain management, but take the statistics and accounting courses necessary to support being a business analyst. There is always a demand for people who can handle numbers and think critically. The bottom line drives all for-profit private sector businesses. If you aren't contributing to the bottom line, then your value is suspect. If you like soft skills, but are oriented toward private sector business, you might consider Human Resource Management. HR is much more than the personnel clerks you see in the Army.

I had a similar dilemma in my college days. I wanted to be a pilot, so I knew I needed a bachelors degree to get an AF commission. I started in the college of engineering. The higher math ate my lunch--I struggled out of Calc I with a D. I was making As in history, humanities, and English. Because the AF didn't much care what your degree was in at the time, I changed to a History and Political Science major in the school or liberal arts. Worked out great and I graduated with a 3.1 GPA, was commissioned, and went to pilot training. The rest is history of a 22-year Air Force career.

Response by SSG Dave Johnston made Nov 19 at 2017 9:38 PM

2017-11-19T21:38:09-05:00

Sarge; What "trade" do you want to pick up, 'sparky', 'tinner', plumber, fitter...? In manufacturing or construction the "High Art" of Logistics Management vs. bookkeeping, logistics wins. Talk to some local businesses in both Construction and Manufacturing and you'll get a good idea as to what they'd be looking for. As to leadership, what you learned in BLS/ALS is a more efficient leadership tool than what a civilian school has except maybe finesse. Union shop though you'll have to wait until you reach journeyman level. Mr. Woody's and Jims Neighborhood have a good mix of blue and white collar patrons; have a seat, talk, learn.

Response by CPL Geoffrey A. Pfister Sr made Nov 22 at 2017 10:42 AM

2017-11-22T10:42:04-05:00

Leadership skills are always good to have...whether you choose to stay in or get out in 2021...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2017 10:27 AM

2017-11-29T10:27:18-05:00

You can’t go wrong with a good business degree. With that said if you feel the need to specialize in a certain degree, go for an advanced certificate after or a Masters. My 0.02 cents

Response by SSG Jd Huckeby made Dec 3 at 2017 7:43 PM

2017-12-03T19:43:05-05:00

Speaking for DoD civil service here. Both are business oriented and can get your foot in the door (org leadership myself). I am former 11B, and am now a contracting officer for the AF (the government's signature authority for contracts, not a contractor)(GS-1102-12). Once you cut your teeth in my field (successfully awarded enough contracts on behalf of the govt), you can pretty much go work for whoever you want within the govt. Thinking about applying to some park service contracting gigs in the near future. If you can get into civil service in DoD, theyll pay for your masters after you run out your GI Bill on your bachelors. Youre more or less stuck at no better than a GS-12 (75-90k/yr) without the masters, which in this day and age, isnt too darn bad of a living for us former grunts. Most of us who were in the infantry are destined for blue collar work the rest of our lives unless we go get a degree. Hard lesson learned, but learned well.