Starting and Managing a Small Business

The Small Business Management area prepares individuals for a variety of employment opportunities in business. Coursework includes starting and managing a small business, entry level positions in the financial services industry, and the development and management of community service projects.

Coursework in Starting and Managing a Small Business Requirements:
Core
Certificate of Achievement (Some courses may be repeated in the certificates and/or core but only need to be taken once)
     Management and Team Building
Certificate of Performance
     Starting a Business Certificate of Performance
     Business Communications Certificate of Performance
Other Requirements
     Biology 101
Many general education and district requirements are already included in the degree requirement. For additional requirements for an AS degree, see the Academic Requirements section of our catalog.

Certificate of Performance: Management and Team Building*

This certificate is designed for persons who currently own, operate or work for a small business and want to strengthen business skills.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the certificate will be able to:

  • Students will apply human resource management techniques, marketing for a small business, and knowledge of current legal issues to successfully own or operate a small business.
  • Students will develop leadership, decisionmaking, communication, motivation, and personnel management skills and techniques necessary to own or operate a small business.
  • Students develop marketing strategies including product planning, development, pricing, distribution, and promotion necessary to operate and own a small business.
  • Students analyze, organize, and compose various types of written and oral business communications.
Courses Units
BUSE 155, Managing the Small Business
 3
BUSE 119, Business Communications
 3
BUSE 150, Human Relations in Business
 3
MARK 100, Principles of Marketing
 3

Total: 12

*A Certificate of Performance is a departmental award that does not appear on the student’s transcript. All courses must be completed within the San Diego Community College District.

Certificate of Performance: Starting a Business*

This certificate is designed for persons planning to start or operate a small business who want a “quick start.”

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the certificate will be able to:

  • Students accurately prepare and organize accounting records and produce financial statements for a small business.
  • Students accurately prepare all the state and federal payroll tax forms required by a small business in California.
  • Students analyze, organize, and compose various types of written and oral business communications.
  • Students apply human resource management techniques, marketing for a small business, and knowledge of current legal issues to successfully own or operate a small business.
  • Students develop a business plan for a small business.
Courses Units
ACCT 128A, Small Business Accounting-Recordkeeping
 1.5
ACCT 128B, Small Business Accounting-Payroll
 1.5
BUSE 119, Business Communications
 3
BUSE 155, Managing the Small Business
 3
BUSE 157, Starting a Small Business
 3

 Total: 12

*A Certificate of Performance is a departmental award that does not appear on the student’s transcript. All courses must be completed within the San Diego Community College District.

Certificate of Performance: Business Communications*

This certificate is designed to enhance communication skills for individuals working in a business environment by improving speaking skills, negotiating skills, presentation skills, and multicultural awareness.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the certificate will be able to:

  • Students analyze, organize, and compose various types of written and oral business communications.
  • Students develop leadership, decision-making, communication, motivation, and personal management skills and techniques necessary to own or operate a small business.
  • Students learn to choose a topic and specific purpose; outlining, listening, organizing a speech; delivery; small group communication; informative and persuasive speaking; speaker credibility; and effective use of language.
  • Students learn the relationship between culture and communication emphasizing social psychological variables, verbal and nonverbal language systems, cross-cultural communication breakdowns and conflict resolution.
Courses Units
BUSE 119, Business Communications
 3
BUSE 150, Human Relations in Business
 3
COMS 103, Oral Communication
 3
COMS 180, Intercultural Communications
 3

Total: 12

*A Certificate of Performance is a departmental award that does not appear on the student’s transcript. All courses must be completed within the San Diego Community College District.

Certificate of Achievement: Business Studies

Small Business Management Emphasis

Coursework in starting and managing a small business. This program is designed for persons planning to start, operate or work in a small business. The focus is on managerial, marketing, financial, legal, communication and practical day-by-day decision-making concerns in small business.

Courses Required for the Major Units
Certificate of Performance, Management and Teambuilding
 12
Certificate of Performance, Starting a Business
 12
Certificate of Performance, Business Communications
 12
BUSE 101, Business Mathematics
 3
BUSE 140, Business Law and the Legal Environment
 3
CBTE 180, Microsoft Office
 3
Select 6 units from:
BUSE 245A, Small Business Internship-Marketing
BUSE 245B, Small Business Internship-Operations
BUSE 245C, Small Business Internship-Accounting
BUSE 245D, Small Business Internship-Buying and Inventory
BUSE 245E, Small Business Internship-Marketing
BUSE 245F, Small Business Internship-Operations
BUSE 245G, Small Business Internship-Accounting
BUSE 245H, Small Business Internship-Buying and Inventory
 6
Less courses already applied in one or more certificates or core
 (12)

Total: 39

NOTE: Some courses may be repeated in the certificates and/or core but only need to be taken once.

Associate in Science Degree: Business Studies - Small Business Management Emphasis

Coursework in Starting and Managing a Small Business.

Courses Required for the Major Units
BIOL 101, Issues in Environmental Biology 4
BUSE 101, Business Mathematics 3
BUSE 119, Business Communications 3
BUSE 140, Business Law and the Legal Environment 3
BUSE 150, Human Relations in Business 3
BUSE 155, Managing the Small Business 3
CBTE 180, Microsoft Office 3
CISC 181, Principles of Information Systems 4
COMS 103, Oral Communication 3
COMS 180, Intercultural Communication 3
ECON 120, Principles of Macroeconomics 3
ENGL 101, Reading and Composition 3
MARK 100, Principles of Marketing 3
Complete six through twelve units:
BUSE 245A, Small Business Internship - Marketing 3
BUSE 245B, Small Business Internship - Operations 3
BUSE 245C, Small Business Internship - Accounting 3
BUSE 245D, Small Business Internship - Buying and Inventory 3
BUSE 245E, Small Business Internship - Marketing 1
BUSE 245F, Small Business Internship - Operations 1
BUSE 245G, Small Business Internship - Accounting 1
BUSE 245H, Small Business Internship - Buying and Inventory 1
Complete six through twelve units:
BUSE 158A, Students in Free Enterprise - High School Projects 3
BUSE 277A, Service Learning - High School Projects 1-3
BUSE 158B, Students in Free Enterprise - Elementary and Junior High Projects 3
BUSE 277B, Service Learning - Elementary and Junior High School Projects 1-3
BUSE 158C, Students in Free Enterprise - Community Projects 3
BUSE 277C, Service Learning - Community 1-3
BUSE 158D, Students in Free Enterprise - On-Campus Educational Projects 3
BUSE 277D, Service Learning - on Campus 1-3
Complete the following:
BUSE 090A, Learning Skills 1.5
BUSE 090B, Work Success 1.5
BUSE 090C, Business Internship Seminars 1
BUSE 090D, Workplace Competencies 1.5
Total: 58.5-70.5

NOTE: Some courses may be repeated in the certificates and/or core but only need to be taken once.

Additional general education and graduation requirements for the associate degree are listed in the Academic Requirements section of the catalog. Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university should select the Business Studies San Diego State University Transfer option. The associate degree requires a minimum of 60 units.