The Associate degree program in Business Administration provides a foundation in business that will prepare students for direct entry into the workforce or to pursue a baccalaureate degree. The Business Administration curriculum helps students comprehend the underlying business principles and develop the ability to analyze and solve problems faced by managers whether in corporations, small businesses, government agencies or nonprofit organizations.
The program provides an introduction to business and its global connections. It addresses business law and ethics, corporate social responsibility, social enterprise, business planning and development, effective leadership, as well as the fundamentals of accounting, budgeting, and marketing principles. Students also explore the basics of business communication, economic theories and effective forecasting.
Each student builds a business plan relevant to his or her career aspirations that integrates skills and knowledge learned in the various courses. An optional 150-hour internship may be undertaken at the end of the student’s program where classroom experiences will be applied in a real business environment. Wherever possible, the specific business chosen for the internship will reflect the student’s desired career goal.
Entrepreneurship Concentration
Entrepreneurs are people who would like to start and grow their own business. Their satisfaction comes from creating, advancing, and ultimately transforming an idea into a thriving business. Success demands knowledge of, and experience in, a number of factors, including initiating the start-up process, maintaining a competitive edge, gaining market share, making financial decisions, adapting to change, and developing products and services. In the United States, approximately 600,000 - 800,000 new businesses are started each year. These businesses form the basis of our economy. They allow their owners to work for themselves and to be self-sufficient. Many entrepreneurs build on their success by taking personal and financial risks to introduce new types of businesses based on current and projected needs.
The purpose of the Entrepreneurship concentration is to provide students with the general knowledge to launch, operate, and grow their own business or operate and grow an existing business. This option focuses on innovative, hands-on business practice and small business management. Foundation and advanced courses expose students to the principles of business development, including strategic planning, marketing, advertising, business law, accounting, and information systems.
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates of the Associate of Science in Business will be able to:
- Students will prepare a business plan, including sections around; executive summary, budget/projections, marketing, and management team. Students will be able to explain the importance of all aspects of the business plan.
- Students will be able to communicate concisely, articulately, and professionally in writing and verbally about various aspects of business, including the importance of a business plan and it’s sections, financial information, management and leadership, as well as marketing. Students will be able to display through communication understanding of these aspects within business.
- Students will be able to evaluate external factors affecting business; local, regional, national, and global. Students will be able identify external factors influencing the business environment.
- Students will be able to identify critical data to aide in business decision making. Students will be able to acquire and summarize business data for decision making.
- Students will be able to differentiate between what is meant by leadership versus management. Students will be able to apply leadership and management principles in a business environment. Students will be able to realize the importance considering all stakeholders in business decisions.
- Students will be able to determine and explain the importance of corporate social responsibility and ethics in the business environment.
Graduation Requirements
Students must complete all graduation requirements as stated in the catalog. In addition, students must maintain a GPA of 2.3 in the major.
