Think of this career area as a continuum of positions and not simply an entry level. For most receptionist jobs, no college education is needed. Office managers and administrative assistants increasingly require a bachelor’s degree due to the advances in technology over the past few years.

Several majors are well suited to the future administrative manager (the proper name for the higher level jobs).

Business Administration

Communication

Information Technology

Liberal Arts (General Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies)

at the bachelor’s degree level

Administrative Office

Business Administration

Information Technology

Liberal Arts (transfer)

at the associates degree level

MBA at the graduate level

Are you interested in an associates degree or a bachelor’s degree? If you want an associates degree go for an administrative assistant (sometimes called secretarial science, or both) major at your local community college. If you do that, since associate degrees take two years to complete, you can come out in two short years with a leg up on the competition for the jobs you’re interested in. If you’re going for a bachelor’s degree, you can major in English, business, international studies, etc.. However, with a bachelor’s degree, you can aim much higher and go for better paying jobs. It’s up to you. I’m not putting down any of those positions – I’ve been a receptionist and an administrative assistant before, one with a bachelor’s degree and the other when I was in college). Both were great work experiences. Good luck.

B.S. in Business Administration

Human Resource Management Walden University

This concentration will help you develop insights into recruitment and selection, performance evaluation, compensation and benefits, job design, training, retention and turnover. In addition, you’ll explore how economic, social, psychological, legal and cultural forces influence employment relations