Practical Entrepreneurship Certificate of Completion

Program Description

Thinking about starting your own business, but don't know where to start? Entrepreneurship has become a fast-growing field of study as many individuals contemplate starting a new venture or establishing their own business, especially during these turbulent economic times. The Practical Entrepreneurship Certificate prepares you to start, run, and manage a new or existing business and addresses basic issues potential entrepreneur’s encounter. This certificate identifies methods for developing an individual’s business idea(s), its feasibility, the process of starting a business, how to acquire necessary resources, and the key parts of a business plan (development and execution). You will develop an understanding of legal issues, marketing, financing, entrepreneurial resources, and complex tasks faced by individuals engaged in entrepreneurial activities. 

The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program.  Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway.  It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.

Division

Mathematics, Business & Computer Technology

Department

Business Administration

Career and Academic Pathway (CAP)

Business, Information Technology, Hospitality

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the business legal structures and the laws and regulations for start-up businesses.

  2. Apply basic marketing techniques to develop simple promotion, pricing, and distribution plans, and to identify markets.

  3. Demonstrate knowledge of accounting principles and techniques essential for managing the operations of a small business.

  4. Demonstrate knowledge needed to create and effectively pitch a business plan to prospective lenders and investors.

  5. Identify and apply the key managerial roles of planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling applications in entrepreneurial settings.

Program Map

GE General Education
O Available Online
Program Requirement
P Program Prerequisites

1st Semester

BUSAD 620
Creating a Business Plan
In this noncredit course, students evaluate the many aspects and potential hurdles of the business and build the Business Plan, one step at a time. This practical, hands-on approach encourages students to immerse themselves in the vision and planning aspects of a business. Focusing on the most critical components of the Business Plan, and enables students to uncover hidden risks and assess a business from a marketing, management, and financial vantage point.

Course Details:

BUSAD 621
Strategic Marketing for Entrepreneurs
This noncredit course provides an overview of successful marketing strategies for small start-up businesses. Students will learn to examine and analyze consumer behavior, identify target market segments, price for profitability, and select promotional tactics. The course emphasizes the integration of these marketing functions into an effective marketing plan.

Course Details:

BUSAD 622
Funding and Financing for Entrepreneurs
This noncredit course will provide a practical application of basic financial management principles that apply to entrepreneurs. Emphasis is placed on developing useful financial information used in small businesses and business plans. Specifically, this will be accomplished by providing the tools necessary to maintain proper financial records to make budgetary decisions related to cash and financing needs, pricing of products or services, the payment of taxes and loans, and determining profitability to help students become successful entrepreneurs.

Course Details:

2nd Semester

BUSAD 623
Legal Issues for Entrepreneurs
This noncredit course provides students interested in entrepreneurship with an understanding of the common legal issues encountered from the perspective of the business owner. It reviews legal structures, intellectual property, employment law, contracts, government regulation, and personal and real property. Students will apply the concepts learned to select their business structure, learn contract law, properly navigate government regulations, and understand legal parameters related to the management of human resources.

Course Details:

BUSAD 624
Accounting for Entrepreneurs
This noncredit course is an introductory study of the basic accounting required to manage the financial documentation related to running a small business. Emphasis is placed on the practical application of recording, summarizing, and reporting business transactions for internal purposes as well as for completing federal, state, and local reporting requirements.

Course Details:

BUSAD 625
Leadership and Management for Entrepreneurs
This noncredit course explores the leadership and management issues entrepreneurs face as they create and establish successful new ventures. It reviews the key managerial roles of planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling and their application in entrepreneurial settings. Further, the course addresses self-management for the entrepreneur and how an entrepreneur can manage their own time and maintain a proper work-life balance.

Course Details: