Business plays a pivotal role in our world today, and having some understanding of it is useful in many regards. But for some, a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) might feel too big, too broad, or like too much business. So why not boost your Bachelor’s degree with a majors, minors, or courses from business rather than doing a full Business degree?

My personal experience of boosting my Bachelor’s with business has been amazing. I am currently in my second year of a Bachelor of Communications (BC), majoring in Marketing Communications and minoring in International Business. Coming out of high school I knew I wanted to do something related to marketing. However, I was also interested in the topics of media and communication, so I thought about doing a conjoint degree with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and BCom. But after a discussion with a student advisor, I decided that a BC with a minor in International Business would give me the flexibility I wanted and align with my interests.

The structure of the BCom can seem daunting, with seven core courses usually done in your first year. If you aren’t quite sure what you’re interested in, this is a great way to experience the key subject areas within the BCom. However, if you already have a clear interest in a certain area of business, it may not be the best fit for you. Doing a minor along with my BC was a great fit, as it gave me more flexibility without needing the other commerce core papers and helped to stimulate interest in what I was interested in.

So, what are the benefits of boosting your degree with business?

Adding business to your degree can unlock career opportunities, as employers often seek well-rounded employees who can show critical thinking skills. Business is everchanging, resulting in new ideas constantly being presented and taught to students, who then gain a fresh perspective on the other areas of study that they are interested in. For example, if you are studying ethics and philosophy, taking a minor in Business Ethics and Sustainability Management in addition can make you stand out in a lineup of candidates and unlock potential new outlets in your career. Other minors offered at the Wellington School of Business and Government (WSBG) include Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Econometrics, and Banking.

Many skills used in other disciplines can be extended further with an understanding of business, such as management. Project management is important in jobs such as health care, construction and, engineering. Understanding business can help strengthen the skills and capabilities needed to do well with project management such as prioritisation of resources and problem solving. Having both sides present within your learning can help you to consolidate ideas and find interesting and compelling links to explore.

Boosting your degree with business is an opportunity to gain perspective, consolidate knowledge, and focus on a topic that interests you. Using business alongside my Bachelor of Communications will allow me to open doors into a wider variety of career opportunities not only in fields of social sciences but also business. I’ve gained a broader, more diverse understanding of the world we live in and how it functions.