Small Business Management Specialist (SB41)  Technical Certificate of Credit


Campus Locations: Vidalia, Swainsboro

The Small Business Management Specialist Certificate prepares individuals to manage and direct day-to-day functions of a variety of small businesses. Learning opportunities will introduce, develop, and reinforce students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention, and success in small business management. Graduates will receive a Small Business Management Specialist Technical Certificate of Credit.

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, small businesses make up more than 50 percent of all business in the country. Small businesses generally employ less than 500 people and are privately owned. Many small businesses fill their management positions by promoting from lower levels as job openings arise. Many employees of small businesses have a high school level of education or lower. Competition for supervisory or management positions can be very competitive and management education can provide a competitive edge. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment to be sustained, applicants with management experience, along with a college degree in industrial engineering, management, or a related field, will enjoy the best job prospects. A manager is one who supervises others, decides the daily priorities of the small business or office, delegates projects, and coordinates teams to meet the goals of the organization. Managers must have persuasive and clear communication skills, analytical minds, and the skill to evaluate complex relationships among numerous factors. Managers also should exhibit personal qualities such as leadership, determination, motivation, self-confidence, and sound business judgment.

The standard curriculum for the Small Business Management Specialist Certificate program is designed for the semester system. Students may enter the program any semester. The Small Business Management Specialist Certificate takes approximately three (3) semesters to complete and is online. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 19 hours.

Requirements

  • Submit a completed application;
  • Be at least 16 years of age;
  • Submit official high school/high school equivalent transcripts;
  • Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
  • Satisfy Placement Testing requirements.

Program Costs

Costs are estimates and are subject to change.

  • Tuition/Fees: $2,286
  • Books/Supplies: $500
Curriculum Outline (19 hours)
Occupational Courses 19
ACCT 1100

(Prerequisite: Program admission) Introduces the basic financial accounting concepts of the complete accounting cycle and provides the student with the necessary skills to maintain a set of books for a sole proprietorship. Topics include: accounting vocabulary and concepts, the accounting cycle for a personal service business, the accounting cycle for a merchandising business, inventory, cash control, and receivables. Laboratory work demonstrates theory presented in class.

4
MGMT 2140

(Prerequisites: None) Develops a working knowledge of managing a retail business from a variety of perspectives with an emphasis on store management. The emphasis is on contemporary issues in retailing, particularly the process of supervising customer service and dealing with the changing demographics of retailing. An application focus on the use of information technologies, the internet, and electronic retailing is intended to give the student hands-on experience in retail management. Topics include: strategic retail management; store, non-store, and non-traditional retailing; retail human resource management; developing a customer-focused service strategy; managing customer service; retail operations and financial management; merchandise management; buying and inventory management; global, cataloging, and electronic retail management, information technology applications in retailing.

3
MGMT 2125

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Develops an understanding of how fostering employer/employee relationships in the work setting improves work performance. Develops legal counseling and disciplinary techniques to use in various workplace situations. Topics include: the definitions of coaching, counseling, and discipline; importance of the coaching relationship; implementation of an effective counseling strategy; techniques of effective discipline; and performance evaluation techniques.

3
MGMT 2150

(Pre-requisites: None) This course introduces the essentials of starting, managing, and growing a small business. Topics include: the role of the entrepreneur, pricing, advertising, financing, and layout of facilities, inventory control, staffing, purchasing, vendor selection, and relevant laws affecting small business.

3
MGMT 1110

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Develops a working knowledge of the laws of employment necessary for managers. Topics include: Employment Law, the Courts, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Discrimination Law, Selecting Applicants Under the Law, OSHA and Safety, Affirmative Action, AT-Will Doctrine, Right to Privacy, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Worker's Compensation, Unemployment Compensation, and National Labor Relations Act.

3
Choose One (3 hours) 3
COMP 1000

This course introduces the fundamental concepts, terminology, and operations necessary to use computers. Emphasis is placed on basic functions and familiarity with computer use. Topics include introductions to computer and digital terminology and usage, operating systems, Internet and digital communication, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, and presentation applications.

3
GUI 003Guided Elective (3 hours) 3
Faculty
Advisor

Business Management Instructor
Vidalia Campus - Gillis Building, Office 807

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