1

The Skills Acquired from a Business Degree

Landon Smith
College of Business, Athens State University
Seminar in Business (31348)
Dr. John Wells
July 9, 2021
 2

Abstract

This paper discusses the skills I learned as part of my college education and the growth

that I have made as a college student. The importance of college education is also noted for the

benefits that a degree can provide for all citizens as well as the long term benefits for society as a

whole. Notably, this paper discusses what I personally plan to do with my degree as well as my

plans for continued learning and personal growth utilizing the skills I obtained throughout my

undergraduate career.
 3

Introduction

Throughout my academic career, I have been challenged in ways that I never expected

when I transitioned from high school to college. These challenges have been mostly positive, as

they have helped me to grow as both a global citizen, and a lifelong learner. Notably, the

challenges of learning to communicate effectively with peers, utilizing technology to learn, and

meeting deadlines have all benefited me in my journey of growth throughout my undergraduate

career. The skills I have learned in college will benefit me for my entire life, as they are skills

that cannot be taken away from me, and will set me up on a path for a successful and meaningful

career no matter what industry I chose to get into. The opportunities that higher education

provides to citizens is endless, higher education allows students to explore a large variety of

perspectives and topics that they may have otherwise overlooked, and even perfect existing skills

by applying them to new ideas and topics. I have gained many different opportunities as part of

my educational journey and I hope to encourage younger members of society to follow in my

footsteps and pursue a college degree in order to better themselves as well as society as a whole.

Finally, I will continue to be a lifelong learner using the skills that higher education provided me

such as research and writing skills, as well as the critical thinking skills that are so important for

college students.

Skill Acquisitions in Undergrad

When fresh high school graduates enter their freshman year of college in August they are

given the opportunity to attend a multitude of orientation seminars with keynote speakers from

around the university. These seminars introduce new students to the university as well as inform

them about the challenges they will face on their journey ahead. For me, these speeches seemed a

little unnecessary and farfetched because I had no idea what I was in for. I did very well in my
 4

high school programs and took several AP courses, so I thought I was well prepared for college

and would not be challenged as much as my parents and high school teachers told me. I certainly

look back now and am very pleased that I had to attend these seminars, because not only did they

provide insight into how universities function and what to expect from courses, but they also

provided insight into the non-academic growth that all students undergo during their

undergraduate careers. For me, these skills developed throughout my coursework and definitely

changed my perspectives that I had come into college with, for example, my teamwork skills

improved drastically by working with others as team assignments were not very common at my

high school. According to Neville Bennett, for example, the skills students gain from completing

team assignments helps to create more efficient workers in the business world because nearly all

business is conducted with multiple team members. The communication skills students develop

from working on team assignments helps in all facets of adult life from personal to professional

relationships (Bennett).

Additionally, my technology skills improved as well, from the simple skills of learning

how to use blackboard, to using specific content related software to complete coursework I used

a computer every single day. This was very different from high school where computers were

only used for word processing and not on a daily basis for all course content. Specifically, during

the Covid-19 pandemic students were forced from their in person classes to take courses

exclusively online. This change gave me a lot of anxiety, but the confidence I gained from

having to use a computer for all aspects of my coursework is certainly something that will help

me to succeed in all aspects of life later on. Technology skills are seen as one of the most

important skills for citizens in the 21st century, according to Neville Bennett, the computer will

become so ubiquitous for the new generation of students and business leaders that the generation
 5

of technology natives will know of no time in their educational journeys that computers and

technology were not used (Bennett).

The skills that I have gained during my college career will help me to propel my career in

more ways that I can imagine. For example, the communication skills will help me find

employment in the first place by understanding how to communicate effectively during job

interviews and job applications. The technology skills are paramount as I foresee myself using

computers on a daily basis in my business career- from making spreadsheets to sending emails to

clients and business partners. Notably, the soft skills that I developed throughout college will

also be paramount to my future success. According to Dr. Heather Allen, the soft skills students

learn throughout college, such as critical thinking and communication, are what create the

success of business leaders in our globalized economy (Allen). Critical thinking skills, for

example, cannot be directly taught in the classroom, but are gained throughout college courses

through assignments involving research and analyzing topics for a better understanding. These

skills come naturally for many students, myself included, because they are present for everyone,

but are exercised during all college courses. To me, the critical thinking skills I have developed

will be important to improving my career because they will allow me to quickly make important

decisions in the business world such as staffing requirements, budgetary constraints, and

customer orders; without critical thinking skills I would be unable to function in the business

world because these skills are required for everyday activities throughout a career in business.

Higher education is important for everyone, no matter what type of degree or major one

pursues. The benefits of higher education go beyond the skills students develop in the sense that

higher education builds more understanding global communities and allows commerce to

flourish through cross-cultural understanding. Additionally, higher education provides incredible

 6

opportunities to individual citizens because those with a college degree make, on average, 40%

more income throughout a career compared to non-college education citizens (Machado).

Finally, studies show that a more educated society has lower rates of crime. According to Enrico

Moretti, cities with more educated citizens, be it better public high schools or cities with more

college graduates, have less crime than other cities (Moretti). Though this fact is based with

research, my interpretation of it is that the skills learned in higher education help citizens to

become more globally and locally aware and thus have a better understanding among other

citizens. The crime statistics aside, higher education allows citizens to earn more income

throughout their careers and thus cities have more tax income to help provide opportunities for

marginalized citizens. Therefore, the benefits of higher education are not just seen by the

individuals who obtain college degrees, but also by the communities they inhabit.

My educational journey has taught me a lot, from the actual coursework of the business

classes to the time management and soft skills that all students form throughout their college

years. I would encourage younger citizens and peers to also pursue a college degree because the

benefits I have gained and the opportunities that my degree will provide me will benefit me for

the rest of my life. I went to a high school where most students end up pursuing college

education, but many who chose not to do so chose not to for financial reasons, or because they

don’t see the benefits of higher education. I would like to help these students to see the benefits

by explaining the return on investment that college degrees provide, as well as the personal

benefits that one gains simply by continuing their educations. Obviously, financial constraints

are a big factor as to why many students don’t pursue college degrees, but opportunities for

scholarships, financial aid, and student loans are present for nearly any student seeking a degree,

so financial reasons are rarely a legitimate issue to stop a student from learning. Additionally,
 7

even when a student has to take out student loans in order to complete a degree, the increased

earnings that a degree can provide allows students to pay off their loans quickly and begin to

invest money in their own futures. According to Robert L. Moore, a college degree is the best

way to end generations of poverty because degrees have the greatest return on investment for

citizens (Moore). This shows that the financial aspects of college should be a non-issue, but

students who would be first generation college students are often unaware of the long term

financial benefits of completing a college degree. Additionally, the skills developed in college

don’t just help students to earn more money during their careers, but they also enable personal

achievement at a greater level. The communication, technology, and critical thinking skills that

students develop can be used in all areas of one’s life and are not just applicable to the

workplace. Therefore, I would encourage younger peers and citizens to at least consider pursuing

a college degree even if they feel like they cannot afford one or feel that it will not benefit them

in the long run.

Remaining a Life-Long Learner

Finally, one of the most important aspects of being a global citizen is to be a lifelong

learner. My educational experience has helped prepare me to be a lifelong learner by giving me

the skills I need to continue to learn throughout my life. I am not just limited to learning about

academic topics, because the research and writing skills I have developed throughout my degree

will enable me to research and learn about topics that I find interesting regardless of academic

merit. For example, I am very interested in fishing and the critical thinking and research skills

that I have developed throughout my college career enable me to be a better fisherman because I

can think more in depth about the type of fishing rod I should use on a particular day, and even

make more informed purchasing decisions when buying fishing gear. According to Valamis,
 8

lifelong learning includes diving into learning more about topics that one is passionate about, and

not just topics of academic or professional interest (Valamis). The skills that I acquired as part of

my undergraduate experience have prepared me to be a lifelong learner because I learned how to

learn effectively. Effective learning involves trial and error, research, and failing before

succeeding. This skill is invaluable to every citizen, and improves quality of life by creating a

more diverse and globally aware workforce and general population. I plan to spend the next few

years starting my career and continuing lifelong learning by learning more about the industry I

chose to enter into, as well and spend more time discovering my passions and interest by trying

out new hobbies to spend in my freetime. During college, I was often studying for several hours

per week and working a part time job so I had very little time left over to pursue my hobbies, but

now, as a graduate, I have more time to devout to learning about topics that interest me and

pursue exciting hobbies. I hope to continuing learning throughout the remainder of my life and

credit my undergraduate experience with giving me the skills necessary to do so.

Conclusion

A college education is a valuable asset for anyone who pursues one. The skills learned

during college are not limited to specific career orientated skills acquired through specific

courses, but also include communication and learning techniques that can improve one’s quality

of life in all regards. The challenges I have faced as an undergraduate student have prepared me

to become a better global citizen and have also taught me a lot about myself. The growth I have

made in these last few years will help propel me further in life than I ever knew was possible and

will help me to build a successful career in any field that I might be interested in. I plan to

continue my educational experience by remaining a lifelong learner and encouraging others to

 9

take on the challenge of pursuing higher education as well, because of the benefits that a college

education gives to anyone who pursues one.

 10

References
Allen, Heather. (17 August 2020). Why is Higher Education Important?. CrossWalk. Web.
Bennett, Neville; Dunne, Elisabeth; Carre, Clive. (2000). Skills Development in Higher
Education and Employment. (1 June 2000). Society for Research into Higher Education.
Machado, Christiane Tolentino. (05 March 2020). Concept Mapping: Benefits and Challenges in
Higher Education. (Vol 68, Issue 1).The Journal of Continuing High Education.
Moore, Robert L. (4 May 2020). Developing lifelong learning with heutagogy: contexts,
critiques, and challenges. (Volume 41, Issue 3). Distance Education Journal.
Moretti, Enrico. (01 September 2005). Does Education Reduce Participation in Criminal
Activities? UC Berkeley. Web.
Playdon, Jane. (4 March 2021). Benefits of Higher Education: Graduate Salaries and more. Top
Universities. Web.
Valmamis. (17 June 2021). Lifelong Learning. Valamis.com/hub/lifelong-learning web.