Leaning toward a career in business but not sure which area to focus on? With so many options, it can be hard to find the one that best aligns with your strengths, interests, and future goals.
After all, you can specialize in anything from managing financial data and ensuring regulatory compliance to optimizing logistics and safeguarding workplace health.
In this post, we’re comparing three specialized business programs: accounting and payroll administration, supply chain management and logistics, and occupational health and safety. We highlight key factors like skills gained, job demand, work environment, and career prospects.
By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of which business program is the best fit for you based on your personal interests and career goals.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- The Advantages of Choosing a Specialized Business Program
- Accounting and Payroll Administration
- Supply Chain Management & Logistics
- Occupational Health & Safety
- Choosing the Right Path: Factors to Consider
THE ADVANTAGES OF CHOOSING A SPECIALIZED BUSINESS PROGRAM
While a general business administration program can provide a solid foundation, a specialized program can offer a more focused and targeted approach to your business education.
Specialized programs allow business students to delve into specific areas, providing in-depth knowledge and skills. For instance, an accounting and payroll professional will have a strong understanding of tax regulations and payroll processing, while a supply chain management professional will be well-versed in logistics and procurement.
These specialized skills can open up more targeted career opportunities—employers often prefer candidates with specific expertise in areas relevant to their business needs.
The bottom line: If you know which specific area of business you want to work in, a specialized program offers more direct, practical, and industry-relevant training. A general business administration program is more versatile, but you may need additional training to compete in specialized markets.
But what if you don’t know what sort of specialized business training to choose? Let’s compare three options from Herzing.
ACCOUNTING & PAYROLL ADMINISTRATION
Program length: 10 months or less
Curriculum focus: The accounting and payroll program focuses on the recording and reporting of financial transactions. You can expect to learn how to:
- Understand the accounting cycle
- Produce financial statements
- Organize and manage financial records
- Calculate wages, deductions, and taxes
- Use standard office software as well as Canadian accounting and payroll systems
- Adhere to federal and provincial regulations
Career paths: A diploma in accounting and payroll administration prepares you for entry-level roles like accounting technician, bookkeeper, and payroll clerk. You can work in finance, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, education, or any other industry. You can also start your own bookkeeping business, depending on your career goals.
Work environment: Accounting and payroll administration is typically office-based, with possibilities for remote work. The work tends to be routine and follows a monthly or annual cycle.
Job outlook: Businesses always need skilled professionals to handle financial records and payroll processing. According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, accounting technicians and bookkeepers have a positive outlook in most areas. Ontario, Quebec, Yukon, and Nunavut even get a full five-star rating for employment and growth for these occupations. Payroll administrators also have strong prospects, with a four-star rating in Manitoba, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces.
Choose this program if:
- You enjoy working with numbers and organizing data
- You have an eye for detail and like structured tasks
- You want the ability to work in any industry
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT & LOGISTICS
Program length: 12 months
Curriculum focus: The supply chain management program focuses on planning, executing, and controlling the flow of goods and services from the point of origin to the point of consumption. This program teaches you how to:
- Optimize inventory levels to balance supply and demand
- Coordinate the movement of goods from suppliers to customers
- Source materials and negotiate with suppliers
- Manage warehouse operations
- Identify and resolve supply chain challenges
- Develop and implement strategies for efficient supply chain operations
Career paths: The supply chain field offers a host of career opportunities, from operations management to procurement, logistics, and data analysis. You can pursue roles such as:
- Materials handler
- Procurement agent
- Logistics clerk
- Warehouse manager
- Supply chain coordinator
Many types of organizations need people to help get goods to customers quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively. Supply chain professionals can work for manufacturing companies, transportation carriers, retailers, construction firms, government agencies...the list goes on.
Supply chain management is about getting goods and services from point A to point B quickly and efficiently
Work environment: The work environment can vary greatly—from office settings to warehouses and manufacturing plants. You may work at multiple locations, handling operations at factories, distribution centres, or logistics companies. International travel is also possible.
Job outlook: This field encompasses so many roles that it’s difficult to pin down an overall employment forecast. The Job Bank says shippers and receivers have a good outlook in Manitoba and Nova Scotia but a moderate one in all other provinces. Purchasing managers have good prospects in Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia and moderate demand in B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec.
Choose this program if:
- You have an interest in global business
- You thrive in a fast-paced environment
- You like thinking strategically and solving problems
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY
Program length: 12 months
Curriculum focus: Occupational health and safety (OHS) focuses on protecting and promoting the physical and mental well-being of people in the workplace. Your training will teach you how to:
- Understand and apply relevant health and safety laws and regulations
- Identify and assess potential hazards in the workplace
- Develop and implement strategies to control and mitigate risks
- Investigate workplace accidents and incidents to prevent recurrence
- Conduct safety audits and inspections
- Deliver safety training programs
Career paths: OHS graduates typically start out as health and safety officers or advisors, although you could also pursue roles in ergonomics or disability management, depending on your career goals. And while you might think of OHS as being only in construction or manufacturing environments, the truth is that opportunities can also be found in hospitals, educational institutions, government agencies, and other settings.
Work environment: Fieldwork is common, as you’ll likely be inspecting job sites, conducting safety training, and auditing work environments. You’ll need to be comfortable enforcing rules and engaging with different stakeholders, including workers, management, and government agencies.
Job outlook: The Job Bank gives occupational health and safety officers a four-star rating in Ontario, Quebec, and Yukon. All other provinces have a three-star (moderate) outlook for employment and growth.
Choose this program if:
- You’re passionate about safety
- You enjoy working with people
- You want a role that directly impacts the health and well-being of employees
The OHS field is all about keeping people safe
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PATH: FACTORS TO CONSIDER
Think about your own strengths, interests, and personality. The right program is the one that aligns most with what you enjoy and where your skills naturally shine.
Consider which industries are expanding and where job opportunities lie. Also, think about the type of environment you want to work in—whether it’s office-based, hands-on, or a mix of both.
Here’s a quick comparison summary:
- Accounting and payroll administration: Choose this if you prefer a structured, stable environment focused on financial processes and compliance.
- Supply chain management: Opt for this if you’re drawn to logistics and operational efficiency and want a career that’s dynamic and global in scope.
- Occupational health and safety: Select this if you’re passionate about creating safe work environments, prefer hands-on work, and enjoy solving problems in safety and compliance.
GET YOUR BUSINESS CAREER STARTED
Herzing College’s specialized business programs can be completed in a year or less and include internships for real work experience.
Want to learn more? Reach out to admissions. You can ask about courses, application requirements, tuition costs, and schedules. An advisor will discuss your background and career goals and guide you toward the best training program for your needs.
Click below to learn more about the programs and chat live with an advisor. We’re here to help!
