Associate pathway and certificate options
Program overview
Build a foundation in accounting, management, marketing, and entrepreneurship with transfer-ready coursework.
Who this pathway serves
This pathway is designed for students exploring management, entrepreneurship, marketing, operations, or a future bachelor’s degree in a business-related field.
Program focus areas
- Business foundations: Management, accounting, marketing, economics, and operations are introduced as connected parts of an organization.
- Small-business thinking: Assignments ask students to consider customers, costs, staffing, service, and local market conditions.
- Professional communication: Students practice short reports, presentations, and recommendations for workplace and transfer settings.
What students learn
- Explain core business functions
- Prepare basic financial and market analyses
- Present business recommendations
Courses in this pathway
| Course | Title | Units | Prerequisite | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT 101 | Financial Accounting | 3 | None | Introduces accounting cycles, statements, internal controls, and financial reporting for small and mid-sized organizations. |
| BUS 101 | Introduction to Business | 3 | None | Examines business organizations, management, ethics, economics, marketing, and entrepreneurship. |
| BUS 210 | Business Analytics and Decision Making | 3 | MATH 115 recommended | Uses spreadsheets, basic statistics, and case studies to support business planning and operations decisions. |
| ECON 101 | Principles of Economics | 3 | MATH 115 recommended | Introduces supply, demand, markets, public policy, and economic decision making. |
| MKT 120 | Marketing Principles | 3 | BUS 101 recommended | Introduces consumer behavior, branding, promotion, pricing, digital channels, and market research. |
Program and schedule planning
Students commonly begin with Introduction to Business and Financial Accounting, then add economics, marketing, communication, and analytics according to transfer or certificate goals.
Applied work students may complete
Students may prepare a business brief for a small organization, compare market segments, review basic financial information, and present a recommendation that can be defended with evidence.
Questions to discuss with advising
- Are you preparing to transfer into a business major or seeking a shorter certificate?
- Do you need accounting, marketing, or entrepreneurship first?
- How much writing, math, and presentation work can you manage in the same term?
Career and transfer direction
- Administrative coordinator
- Small business assistant
- Sales operations associate
Support for program students
Students in Business Administration should use advising before registration, tutoring or lab support when assignments become difficult, and library or technology help when projects require research, data, writing, or digital production.
Students should contact an instructor or advisor early if the pathway workload, schedule, language demands, field expectations, or prerequisite sequence becomes difficult to manage.