Administration, business, and economics provide a broad base of understanding commerce. While administration is more focused on management issues, business examines the different disciplines involved such as distribution, accounting, marketing, human resources and operations. Economics is the study of the factors driving business, like supply and demand.

Many students earn associate degrees during their first few years of higher education. Since they usually require about two years of study, these degrees can act either as job qualifications or as precursors to more advanced degrees.