An associate degree in organizational management can pay off

A well-organized company is often a successful company. That means that the organization is divided into groups or teams that support overall productivity, efficiency, employee satisfaction and leadership. This arrangement reinforces teambuilding and a well-structured chain of command. Organizational management professionals study the theories behind successful company management and apply them in the real business world.

While organizational management tends to be a particularly hot topic among large companies or organizations, those with organizational management degrees can work in a wide breadth of environments, including the following:

• Large businesses
• Small businesses
• Non-profit organizations
• Government
• Law enforcement

Because their efforts can really enhance a company or organization's success, organizational management can be a promising and well-paying field. Earning your associate degree in organizational management is an excellent way to get your feet wet.

What careers best suit a degree in organizational management?

Because of the nature of their work, organizational management graduates tend to get work as human resource directors. The truth is, however, that there are a number of positions that can benefit from organizational management training. The following are a few examples of organizational management-oriented careers, their career outlooks, and their mean annual earnings as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

• Human resources managers tend to supervise several departments within an organizations, overseeing employment and placement, compensation and benefits, training and development and more. Employment for human resources managers is expected to grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018--much faster than the national average. These professionals earned a mean annual salary of $105,510 in 2009.
• Police chiefs oversee and manage law enforcement officers, serving as a liaison between the department and state or national departments. The BLS projects average employment growth for police officers and detectives between 2008 and 2018, amounting to a 10 percent increase in jobs. Police chiefs earned a mean salary of $90,570 in 2008, the most recent BLS data available.
• Medical and health services managers plan, direct, coordinate and oversee the delivery of health care services in hospitals and other medical centers. Positions for these professionals are projected to grow by 16 percent between 2008 and 2018--much faster than the national average. Health managers earned a mean salary of $90,970 per year in 2009.

What can I expect from an associate degree in organizational management?

While earning your associate degree in organizational management is an excellent way to break into the world of business management, advanced positions (and therefore salaries) are often reserved for those with higher degrees. In this case, your associate degree in organizational management serves as a great first step toward earning a higher degree--one that gives you the credentials to work within the field while you study.

While organizational management degree programs vary from one school to the next, most cover the following courses:

• Communications
• Ethics
• Dynamics of group behavior
• Leadership theory
• Organizational structure

Can I earn an online associate degree in organizational management?

Because business-oriented disciplines are often less hands-on than many other majors, they are particularly well suited for online learning. Earning an online associate degree in organizational management can help you hone the skills you'll need to succeed in a promising, lucrative profession with all the additional benefits of online study, including convenience, flexibility, and the potential to maintain your full-time job and family obligations while attending.

What about financial aid?

Note that many schools offering organizational management degrees accept financial aid. Another excellent, but often overlooked, source of financial support is your employer. Many employers maintain employee tuition assistance or reimbursement programs, particularly when workers are garnering education that can benefit the company.

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