Business

Small Business Development

Certificate

The 17-credit Small Business Development certificate gives you the fundamental knowledge you’ll need to start a new business venture and/or better manage an existing small business.

2023-2024 Required Courses

Small Business Development Certificate Curriculum

Course # Course Name Credit(s)
  BUS 1100
Introduction to Business Applications and Computing
4

Course Outline
Credits: 4
Introduces software applications designed to increase personal and organizational productivity. Applications include Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Other topics include a survey of open-source content management systems, relational databases, web analytic tools, computer security, safety, ethics, and privacy concerns.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering:

  • Summer 2023
  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

  BUS 1160
Entrepreneurship And Small Business Management
3

Course Outline
Credits: 3
Explores the journey of business creation from an initial entrepreneurial idea to the successful management of a small business. Students develop practical, hands-on marketing and financial skills designed to increase the chances of success of an entrepreneurial endeavor. The final project is the creation of a business plan which may be used to help secure initial financing of a small business start-up.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering:

  • Spring 2024
  • Spring 2025

  BUS 1131
Legal Environment of Business
3

Course Outline
Credits: 3
Introduces business students to legal topics that impact business. This course addresses legal reasoning, legal procedures, constitutional law, torts, contracts, the sale of goods under the uniform Commercial Code, business organizations, unfair competition, consumer protection, bankruptcy and employment law.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering:

  • Summer 2023
  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

  BUS 2320
Project Management and Planning Skills
3

Course Outline
Credits: 3
Presents a systematic approach to managing and integrating the work of individuals and teams in their pursuit of organizational goals. Topics include defining project purpose, analyzing task and resource requirements, understanding behavioral dimensions, and using common tools for planning and controlling projects. Note: It is recommended that students take BUS 2021 (Principles of Management) before this course.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering:

  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

  ACCT 2101
Financial Accounting
4

Course Outline
Credits: 4
Focuses on basic accounting concepts with emphasis on how financial information is used in decision-making, primarily by creditors and investors. It focuses on what the financial statements reveal about the credit worthiness and financial performance of companies organized as corporations. Topics covered include preparation, analysis and interpretation of financial statements including income statements, balance sheet, statement of owner's equity, and cash flow statement. Additional topics include processing accounting information, end of period adjustments, closing entries, cash versus accrual accounting, receivables, inventory, income measurement, current and fixed assets and liabilities, stockholders? equity, ratio analysis, cash flow, merchandising operations, and internal control. Meets lower-division transfer requirements for accounting and business administration majors at most 4-year institutions. Require completion of Math 0840 or assessment into Math 0940 or higher; recommended concurrent enrollment in BUS 1100.

Prerequisites:


Corequisites:
  • BUS 1100 Introduction to Business Applications and Computing

Future Offering:
  • Summer 2023
  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

Total Credits in Small Business Development Certificate Curriculum 17