Your path to a career in business
There is no one path to a career in business because the business world attracts college graduates from a range of academic backgrounds. Each year at Ohio State, more than 5,000 graduates begin careers in business and nearly two-thirds of those graduates come from the arts and sciences, agriculture, education and human ecology, and nearly every other discipline at the university.
And contrary to popular belief, choosing a major and deciding on a career are not the same thing. When you choose your major, you are not limiting yourself to one career. Likewise, choosing your career does not limit you to one major. Browse the majors in this pathway to see the many routes you can take at Ohio State to a career in business.
Major
Career possibilities
- Accountant, auditor, financial analyst (near term)
- CEO, CFO, senior executive, partner (long term)
- Banks, investment firms, public accounting firms
- Insurance industry
- Government
- Strategic management
- Commodity broker/merchandiser
- Financial analysis/planning
- International trade
- Loan officer
- Marketing/sales management
- Public relations
- Sales, advertising
- Grain handling operations supervisor
- Industry business management
- Marketing and merchandising representative
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
Aviation Management specialization in Fisher College of Business
- Business analyst
- Flight operations and support
- Logistics analyst
- Transportation management
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
Strategic Communication track
- Advertising
- Communication campaign and information management
- Communication consultant
- Corporate communication
- Media consultant/buyer
- Public relations
- Sales/marketing
- Project management and scheduling
- Purchasing, sales, estimating
- Residential and commercial construction
- Banking
- Customer relations specialist
- Financial planner
- Financial analyst
- Investment advisor
- Loan officer
Economics major in the College of Arts and Sciences
- Actuary
- Banking
- Benefits administration
- Economic forecasting
- Financial analysis/planning
- Insurance underwriter
- Market research
- Real estate
- Retail
- Retirement and estate planning
- Stock/commodities brokerage
- Stock market or credit analysis
Economics specialization in the Fisher College of Business
- Banking and financial services
- Consulting
- Government
- Insurance industry
- Non-profit organizations
Business Education Teacher Education track
- Business education (grades 7–12)
- Computer technology instruction
- Marketing/accounting education
- Workforce development and education
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- City or regional planner
- Corporate sustainability manager
- Economic development specialist
- Green business entrepreneur
- International nonprofit development
- Environmental attorney
- Environmental consultant
- Environmental policy analyst
- Lobbyist
- Non-profit program coordinator
- Buyer
- Fashion/interiors consulting
- Product development
- Retail management
- Technical design
- Visual merchandiser
- Commercial, investment banking
- Financial management
- Stock brokerage/investments
- Consumer affairs specialist
- Food safety management
- Market research
- Marketing/sales management
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Catering management
- Club/hotel/restaurant/resort management
- Conference/meeting sales management
- Food and beverage management
- Guest services
- Special events planning
Nutrition in Industry specialization
- Government policy/regulation/lobbying
- Nutrition marketing
- Public relations
- Sales for nutritional, pharmaceutical and other health care products
- Compensation and benefits
- Employee relations
- Human resources
- Organizational development
- Recruitment and staffing
- Application development
- Database administration
- Information systems management
- Systems analysis
- Technical sales
- Claims administration
- Estate planning/investment
- Insurance sales, brokerage
- Risk management
- Underwriting
- Commercial banking
- International finance
- International marketing
- International trade
- Sales
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Distribution/logistics analysis
- Logistics consulting
- Management consulting
- Transportation/warehouse management
- Customer service
- Marketing research
- Merchandising
- Product development
- Promotion and advertising
- Sales
- Sales/brand management
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Environmental and naturalist educator
- Land manager
- Outdoor recreation and leadership coordinator
- Park ranger
- Sustainable foods organizer
- Urban food system analyst
- Business planning
- Management and supervision
- Process analysis and design
- Purchasing management
- Quality management
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Food and beverage management
- Golf course management
- PGA professional
- Sales
- Business development
- Government administration
- Lobbying
- Management consulting
- Non-profit management
- Project management
- Budget analysis
- Financial analysis
- Government auditing/accounting
- Non-profit financial management
- Policy advising
- Polling and research
- Property management
- Real estate appraisal, brokerage/finance, development, sales
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Editing, publishing, advertising
- Industrial research and development
- International business representative
- Radio and TV broadcasting, journalism
- Speech, language and information technologies specialist
- Translator
- Writer
- Agri-chemical sales
- Agronomist/horticulturist
- Molecular biology
- Plant science
- Research in breeding and genetics
Students pursuing a business degree at Ohio State have many learning and social opportunities beyond the classroom.
Learning communities are residential experiences in which students of the same academic program or interest reside in the same residence hall. These communities feature faculty interaction, special programming and community service. Ohio State offers the following business-related learning communities:
The Ohio State Scholars Program brings together high ability students in academically stimulating, close-knit communities. Each program emphasizes its own specific academic program, career or special interest. Scholars programs designed for students interested in business include Business Scholars and Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Scholars.
At Ohio State's regional campuses, students receive the same comprehensive education that they would receive on the Columbus campus. Courses at regional campuses are offered to meet the needs of traditional and nontraditional students, and students can begin any Ohio State degree at any campus. Some programs — like the bachelor's degree in business administration — can even be completed at a regional campus.
Learn more at fisher.osu.edu/undergraduate/regional-programs.