BBA vs BA Math/Econ/CS

College Majors
1

is BBA worth more or it is better to study subjects a student like and then deciding to get an MBA or a PhD?

Not many top schools offer BBA so it really limits choices.

2

*bump

3

Follow your real interests: if an MBA or PhD becomes a relevant part of your path, great.

Do a BBA (or, more commonly in the US, BA or BS in Business) if that’s what you really want to do.

4

I found an informative thread on this topic. It’s worth reading.

http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/257006-economics-or-business-major.html

5

So your question is about business v economics? From your heading I thought you were focused on the specific degree of BBA, which is not common in the US.

6
  1. Business major vs Economics Major
  2. Why most top colleges with their own business schools, doesn’t bother to throw in a BBA like few others who does offer it?
7
  1. Personal choice. Business is a pre-professional degree. Economics is a social science.

Economics will offer you more depth as a discipline, and frankly it’s probably better preparation for a PhD than a business major is. You will write more, do more math, and think more critically (probably). An economics major can do a business PhD, but a business major would need a lot of additional/elective coursework to properly prep for an economics PhD.

Business has more direct applicability and probably an easier route into jobs that look specifically for a business major (although econ majors can probably compete for those, too). Business majors may also have access to more career and internship supports through special programs or a business school.

  1. Because degree programs are expensive, and undergraduate programs require different support and infrastructure than graduate programs. It's not as easy as tacking on a program. All the graduate faculty would have to agree to teach undergraduates (who are far more time intensive than graduate students). They'd have to develop a new curriculum for a BBA, or at least turn their graduate classes into undergraduate level coursework. They'd have to get approval from the regional accreditation board, which takes time and money. MBA programs are cash cows, but undergraduate programs tend to award need-based aid. Even things like finding the extra physical space in the university to offer these classes, and making deals with companies that will give students internships and recruit on campus, cost time and money.
8

Note that undergraduate preparation for PhD study in economics requires or prefers substantially more math and statistics course work than the basic economics major degree requirements at most colleges. See https://www.econ.berkeley.edu/undergrad/current/preparing-for-grad-school .

The same goes for PhD study (not MBA study) in business: https://haas.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/quantitative_coursework_preparation_handout.pdf

9

That is true. Usually economics majors are advised to take more than the bare minimum of math their major requires. Additionally, a business major would be missing both the math AND the social science/theoretical foundation in economics that they would need to succeed in an economics PhD program, unless they took substantial elective coursework.