Practical Entrepreneurship (Certificate) Curriculum

This introductory course provides students with a practical and concrete explanation of the concepts and techniques they will need as managers in today's new organizations. The sequence of topics follows the familiar pattern of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Throughout the course, the manager's role in leading and accommodating change is emphasized. The course also introduces the student to the issues of managing global businesses, especially the ways in which managers need to develop a global perspective in order to be successful. Issues in strategy, diversity, and entrepreneurship are covered extensively.

This introductory financial accounting course introduces the student to the important role of financial accounting in modern business. The key role of financial accounting is to provide useful information to external users in order that a wide variety of economic decisions can be made. The course covers the theory and practice of accounting applicable to the recording, summarizing and reporting of business transactions. Topics include the different types of financial statements and accounts, asset valuation, revenue and expense recognition and appropriate accounting for asset, liability and capital accounts.

This course will assist the student in assessing his/her desire to become an entrepreneur, assist the student in formulating a business opportunity and assist the student in completing a feasibility study. At the end of the course students will be asked to determine whether they believe they have the knowledge, skills, abilities and resources to continue on in their journey to become an entrepreneur.

This course will assist the student in completing a marketing plan and an operations plan including market research and regulations impacting the small business owner. At the end of this course, students will have the completed marketing plan and operation plan to insert into their final business plan covering the processes, procedures and policies to move forward.

In this course, students learn the basics of accounting and financing for the entrepreneur and how they may guide informed decision making. Topics covered include how numbers are entered in the accounting system and how the system produces important financial reports. Students will gain an appreciation for the importance of knowing the standard set of financial statements and learning how to interpret: the balance sheet, the income statement, the statement of cash flows and the statement of owner's equity. Finally, the course discusses start-up and growth financing.

This course will assist the student in gathering their materials together and completing a full comprehensive business plan. At the end of the course the student will be asked what their next steps will be should they wish to pursue opening up a business.