Business

In this program, courses focus on how communication shapes relationships within organizations, communities and society. You’ll engage with faculty whose expertise spans interpersonal and intercultural communication, organizational communication, rhetorical studies, performance studies and health communication.

The curriculum blends liberal arts and social sciences to prepare you for roles in various fields. Upon graduating, you can use your ability to analyze and interpret communication patterns to drive meaningful change in business, international relations, nonprofit organizations, social services, human resources, advertising and more. Beyond the workplace, you’ll also be equipped to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively in personal contexts.

The skills you’ll develop as a communication major

This humanities-centered communication degree will transform your understanding of complex human interaction into practical applications. Ideal for problem-solvers, you’ll learn how to address communication challenges in various contexts. You’ll also expand your qualitative research skills using interviews, focus groups and ethnography to analyze and interpret data.

Additionally, you should expect to develop management skills in group communication, conflict resolution and leadership development. Graduates are equipped to convey information across diverse cultures and contexts, tailor strategies for different audiences and present confidently. Participating in experiential learning opportunities such as internships and research allows you to apply these skills in real-world settings.

How our BA and BS in communication compare to each other

Our BA and BS in communication foster global awareness while building skills in interpersonal communication, data analysis and critical thinking. However, there are key differences. The BS emphasizes using quantitative research methods such as surveys, data visualization and other tools to tell compelling stories through data. You’ll also complete a science and society elective.

In comparison, this BA takes a humanistic approach, exploring communication in culture and society. You’ll develop expertise in synthesizing qualitative research and engaging with diverse audiences. Additionally, the two-year foreign language requirement will enhance your global communication skills and increase your marketability for roles in the U.S. and abroad.

Both programs offer the opportunity to participate in our Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master's degrees include:

• Master of Arts in communication.

Digital media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, create and use digital media. This includes everything from knowing how to find credible information online to being able to communicate using digital media. A few examples of digital media literacy include knowing how to use digital media technology, spotting misinformation, creating digital content and evaluating the social, cultural and historical impact of media.

Digital media literacy goes beyond digital literacy and using digital tools. Instead, digital media literacy is the ability to use digital media to understand and interact with the world around you. Upon graduating from this program, you’ll have the skills needed to interpret digital media and produce digital content in a way that can benefit society.

Why is digital media literacy important?

Digital media is all around us. Nearly every message is created or distributed using digital technology, making it easier than ever to access important information. While this is generally seen as a positive, the rapid spread of misinformation can threaten our democracy. Being able to navigate these digital media challenges is fundamental to being a well-informed member of society.

Digital media literacy is not only important on a personal level, but also in the workplace and community. Understanding how people interact with information is essential in many communications careers. If you want to further develop your digital media skills, you can pair this degree with an online Bachelor of Science in digital audiences or further your education with the Master of Science in digital audience strategy.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

If you’re interested in content creation, digital humanities, representation in media and education communication or other related fields, this online digital media literacy degree may be a great fit for you. Preparing you to be at the forefront of strategic digital media decisions with a deep understanding of how information and technology affect our daily interactions, you’ll graduate with the skills and knowledge needed to advance your career or pursue master’s, PhD or other professional programs.

One thing that sets this degree apart from other communication degrees is its focus on what happens after the content is made and distributed. You’ll learn how to examine who saw the content, who trusts it and what the audience did with it. This degree aims to help you become a professional communicator and understand how digital content helps or harms your audience and their communities, so you can create content that has a positive impact. 

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), this program delivers the critical thinking, team-building, communication and information technology skills needed to thrive in your career. All of that, plus close ties with major local, national and international accounting firms, provide a competitive edge in the job market. Upon graduating from this program, you’ll be prepared for careers in public, corporate and governmental accounting or personal financial planning and portfolio analysis.

Additionally, this bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master's degrees include:

• Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MACC)

Please note, this program is not available to students with BA, BS or MS degrees in accountancy, and the courses are not available to non-degree students.

Will this degree support me in becoming a CPA?

The CPA designation isn’t critical for all accounting career paths, but becoming a CPA could be advantageous in the accounting profession. CPA requirements are set by each state, and all states require a minimum total of 150 credit hours. Students are encouraged to review the requirements of the state(s) in which they intend to seek a CPA license. Each state has a board of accountancy that can provide this information. Visit the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) for additional information.

The skills you’ll gain in this bachelor’s in accounting

This program explores authentic business processes and strategies, including the latest software and technologies. In your courses, you’ll study database analysis, financial reporting and analysis, federal income taxation and ways to use accounting data for internal decision-making processes. You’ll also gain a range of transferable skills, such as:

• Critical thinking
• Ethical decision making
• Problem solving
• Written and oral communication

You’ve probably heard about data breaches at major businesses or maybe your personal information has been compromised. Cybercrimes such as these are a threat to most every organization and business. Thus, information security officers who can recognize and prevent these crises are in high demand. 

This information security degree concentration equips you with the skills needed to organize, manage and safekeep a business’s cyber infrastructure. Businesses will turn to you to understand privacy regulations and keep their data, and that of their clients, out of the hands of others.

What is information security?

Information security is the process of keeping private information safe from unauthorized users, thus preventing information theft, manipulation or destruction. Information security is vital to businesses as unauthorized access to private data can lead to revenue loss, loss of client trust or even the eventual end of a business.

How this degree prepares you to be an information security analyst

Today's organizations rely on cyber infrastructure to conduct business transactions with their customers and business partners. Throughout this information security concentration, you’ll develop the requisite digital expertise needed to assist these businesses in finding solutions to cyberthreats and minimizing risks within their organizational processes and transactions. 

You’ll graduate with the core business, critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary in understanding how digital infrastructure should be organized and managed within business policies and frameworks.

Join the next generation of financial planning professionals by gaining the knowledge and skills needed to develop solutions for your clients’ personal financial needs. This program’s curriculum prepares you to assist clients in navigating life’s most important personal financial decisions, including financial investments, insurance needs and estate and tax planning.

This program is best suited for those seeking client-facing roles in the financial services industry. Students interested in working in corporate finance should check out the corporate accounting degree concentration, whereas those looking to become accountants should check out the bachelor’s in accountancy.

Personal financial advisor: An in-demand and high-paying career

As the population ages and life expectancy rises, the demand for financial planning services will increase. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of personal financial advisors is projected to rise 13% between 2022 and 2032, with 25,600 job openings projected each year, on average, during that time. That’s much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.

These roles are well-paid, too, with the median annual salary being $95,390 as of May 2022, per the BLS.

What you’ll learn in this program

Throughout your coursework, you’ll become skilled across multiple dimensions of the financial planning process. You’ll learn how to value financial assets and assess portfolio risk and performance. You’ll also become familiar with tax strategies and calculations around income realization, exclusions and deductions, passive activities, considerations of business forms, property transactions and the taxation of gift and estate transfers. Additionally, you’ll gain a variety of transferable skills, including:

• Communication.
• Critical thinking.
• Data analysis and quantitative reasoning.
• Management.
• Problem solving.

In this program, you’ll build a strong foundation in business while gaining a specialized understanding of legal considerations. You’ll study how laws shape business formation, daily operations and strategic decisions. Courses explore the U.S. legal system and key areas of business law, including contracts, compliance, human resources, intellectual property and taxation.

You’ll also examine the broader legal and regulatory climate that impacts business policies and risk management. Through coursework, you’ll strengthen skills in logic, negotiation, case analysis, critical thinking and problem solving. This concentration prepares you to evaluate legal issues, navigate complex challenges and lead with confidence where business and law intersect.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

This program is ideal for those interested in bridging passion for business and law and who want to stand out when applying for future roles. You’ll graduate prepared to navigate regulatory challenges, reduce risk and contribute to strategic decisions in a wide range of industries.

This program is also a great fit if you have experience or interest in areas such as administration, legal support, policy, compliance or management. Entrepreneurs and professionals seeking to better understand how legal regulations shape business operations and decision-making may also find it to be a good fit for their goals.

Note: This is not a pre-law degree ideal for those looking to become lawyers. Although ASU Law does accept students who graduate from this program, this degree was designed for law needed for business use, such as case studies and negotiations.

In an increasingly interconnected and competitive world economy, it’s vital to understand business, leadership and management in a global context. When you earn an international trade bachelor’s degree, you’ll learn how global trade and finance influence business, the public sector and world markets. You’ll also develop a digital global mindset and future-ready skills, including:

• Communicating and negotiating across cultures.
• Employing data-driving decision making and problem solving.
• Improving the flow of goods across borders.
• Leading and managing global economic dynamics.
• Optimizing global supply chains.
• Utilizing Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
• Understanding how global business and public policy intersect.

What can I do with a degree in international trade?

Going beyond managing the exchange of goods and services from one country to another, this program prepares you to lead global organizations in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Upon graduating, you can pursue roles ranging from maximizing an international enterprise’s supply chain operations to managing international government relations.

Additionally, an international business degree gives you the management and business expertise needed to pursue a global career, allowing you to work and live abroad.

How does an international trade degree compare to an international business degree?

While there may be overlapping topics, an international trade degree program differs from an international business degree online. An international business degree encompasses a broad overview of many business topics in a global context.

By comparison, an international trade degree program allows you to deepen your knowledge about global trade in relation to transnational business and public policy. Courses focus on quantitative skills, so this program may be an ideal fit if you have a technical background.

Does ASU Online offer a master’s in international trade?

No. However, this bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Leadership and Management.

Project management involves guiding projects through a comprehensive process from start to finish, including initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and closing tasks. In this BAS in project management, you’ll gain the technical abilities needed to manage each of these aspects, as well as interpersonal skills such as:

• Cross-functional communication.
• Leadership.
• Conflict resolution.
• Project scope management.
• Resource management.

Upon completion of this program, you can pursue project-related roles across a variety of industries ranging from health care and business to engineering and construction. While this degree doesn’t result in Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, it does follow a curriculum based on the standards developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI).

How is a Bachelor of Applied Science degree different from a BA or BS degree?

Bachelor of Applied Science degrees are designed specifically for students who’ve earned an Associate of Applied Science.

• Students who’ve earned an AAS from a regionally accredited institution may transfer 60 credit hours toward their BAS.
• Students who’ve earned an AAS from a regionally accredited Arizona community college may be eligible to transfer up to 75 credits toward their BAS.

Please connect with an academic advisor to ensure your courses meet degree requirements.

If you don’t have an AAS and aren’t planning to earn one, you may be interested in ASU Online’s Bachelor of Science in project management.