What Are the Math Requirements for a Business Major?

Degrees in business administration cover all aspects of a business ranging from marketing to accounting.

Because each degree is specialized to unique business units, each degree comes with varying requirements for math.

The math requirements for a business major will also change depending on the degree level a student is working towards.

For most business degrees, the math requirements reflect the end use of math.

Most programs include business math-related classes like accounting, finance, and other career-related courses.

However, you might still need to take trigonometry, statistics, and even calculus in some cases.

Types of Business Majors

For people pursuing a business degree, the concentration they select will greatly impact the math requirements for a business major.

These degrees are also available at different levels, ranging from associate to doctoral level.

As degrees increase in difficulty, the requirements for math classes will also change reflecting the level of degree.

Math Requirements by Concentration

There are several different concentrations that a student can choose to focus on in their studies.

Because each one has a different focus, each will have a different curriculum.

Nearly all concentrations will have some form of math, but most business degrees stick to simple math based on the day-to-day responsibilities of a person working in that field.

Accounting

Because of the day-to-day work associated with being an accountant, both corporate and personal, there is more math required for this degree than many other business degrees.

Accounting students can expect to see math-related classes about business accounting, finances, tax preparation, and more.

Some schools will also require college algebra or other similar classes as prerequisites for the more specialized business math classes.

Marketing

Although marketing is often viewed as a more creative side of business, there is a fair amount of math involved in data analysis, metric interpretation, and calculations like return on investment.

The math requirements for a business major in marketing are usually included early in the program as non-business-related classes to prepare for a few business math-focused courses, such as Accounting I or introductory finance courses.

Economics

Much like accounting, economics majors use math regularly, but they also need the skills to interpret data and draw conclusions that can impact their company.

Math requirements for economics majors are among some of the most advanced and sometimes include advanced math courses like calculus as a prerequisite for more specialized classes.

Business majors that are focused on economics need a good understanding of math even in their non-math-specific courses.

Human Resource Management

Human resource management (also called HR) focuses on soft skills that come with coordinating employees.

In some companies, they are also in charge of calculating payroll and benefits, which requires at least base levels of accounting skills.

A degree in Human Resource Management will often have fewer math requirements than other business majors.

Finance

Much like economics and accounting, finance majors take a lot of math-based classes, but they are usually highly specialized in the role of a financial professional.

Statistics and analytical mathematics will provide the focus of math-based classwork.

Are There Schools That Don't Have Math Requirements for A Business Major?

Business is an industry driven by numbers, regardless of which concentration your business degree has.

Even though they vary based on program and degree level, all schools have math requirements for business majors.

Suppose you want a degree with as little math as possible.

In that case, you can still work towards a degree within business as selecting a different concentration or degree level can alter the math requirements for graduation.

Math Anxiety and Business Degrees

For people who suffer from math anxiety, there is a fear that they won't be able to achieve a business degree.

Research indicates that people with severe math anxiety are less likely to complete STEM and business degrees because of math requirements.

Although math requirements for a business major might seem daunting for someone with anxiety, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Business math is usually a form of algebra and not as advanced as calculus or advanced trigonometry.

In the modern day of business, even in college classes, much of the actual math is done by programs, applications, or calculators.

The advantage and purpose of math requirements for a business major is more about understanding the theory behind the math as opposed to the practical application of the math.

Finding The Right Business Degree for Your Needs

Finding the right degree for you isn't always easy.

Luckily, Learn.org has a vast database of tools to help you review the math requirements, as well as all other requirements, of a wide variety of degrees from top universities.

If you're ready to start your college education, begin by looking into some of the general course requirements for various business degrees, or any other degree that you think might fit today.