Program Overview
Successful completion of this one-year program leads to a Business Administration Certificate. In addition, six specialized certificates, ranging from 15 credits to 20 credits, are also available.
Program Length: 3 Quarters
Program Code: BAMBFC45
Career Opportunities and Earnings
Graduates with business management skills have found employment opportunities in a variety of business settings. The greatest expansion in the job market over the next decade is expected to occur in the small business sector. The demand for persons trained in this field should remain strong over the next several years.
- Accounting
- Management
- Customer service representative
- Data entry
- General office assistant
- Retailing sales representative
For current employment and wage estimates, please visit and search for the relevant occupational term: bls.gov/oes.
Program Outcomes
When this program is completed, the student will be able to:
- Prepare and analyze company financial statements
- Prepare budgets for a company using Microsoft Excel
- Demonstrate an understanding of management principles
- Demonstrate proficiency in Quickbooks
- Apply qualitative and quantitative methods for critical thinking and problem solving
- Demonstrate competency in written and oral communication
- Utilize electronic technology, including accessing information from various sources
- Formulate a personal code of ethical behavior as it relates to a modern business environment
- Demonstrate competency in written and oral communication
- Demonstrate an understanding of marketing principles to promote a company
Special Features
- Interactive training, skill-based assessments, and online digital learning solutions provide timely feedback to enhance learning
- Short-term certificates of proficiency, which include courses within the program, are offered to provide students benchmarks of achievement leading to degree completion
- Students can work closely with their advisor for individualized advising to create a personal plan for degree completion
- Students can continue their academic studies at Peninsula College in the Bachelor of Applied Management degree (BAS). Please contact the BAS advisor for additional prerequisite requirements at BAS@pencol.edu.
Program Goals
- Prepare students for a variety of business related job opportunities
- Prepare students for a rapidly changing business environment
- Measure and assess student learning and implement improvements to ensure a high quality program
- Monitor the needs of the business community and maintain the relevancy of program curriculum through advisory committee meetings and program reviews
Approximate Additional Costs
- Books, supplies and miscellaneous fees (per quarter): $200 - $500
- Calculator (recommended): $30
- Tuition and fees: $5,088.75 total based on 2022-23 WA resident tuition rates (additional fees may apply)
- First quarter (15 credits): $1,696.25
- Second quarter (15 credits): $1,696.25
- Third quarter (15 credits): $1,696.25
Sample Schedule
This sample schedule is provided as a guide for a full-time student starting in fall quarter whose goal is to earn a certificate. The typical student schedule is based on entering the program during the fall quarter, however some programs allow students to enter in the winter or spring as well. Since not all do, please confirm with an advisor whether this program must be started during a specific quarter or not.
First Quarter (Fall)
Emphasis on nature of accounting as a system of information for decision making. Specific topics include basic financial statements, the accounting cycle, forms of business organization, financial assets, inventories, and depreciation. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)
Credits: 5
A study of current payroll and Washington State excise tax laws, record keeping requirements, preparing payrolls, payroll reporting, and accounting procedures. Addresses such issues as excise tax and business taxes, employee vs independent contractor, Fair Labor Standards Act, and statutory federal and state reporting requirements. Uses computer-simulation software. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 5
Examines the role of marketing in general business activities. Students will learn the marketing process that develops products and services, methods and techniques of market research, target markets, market segmentation, product planning, distribution, pricing, and promotion. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 5
Second Quarter (Winter)
Study of accounting is continued through specific topics, including liabilities, stockholder’s equity, statement of cash flows, financial statement analysis, and global and management accounting. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)
Credits: 5
Learn the fundamentals of Quickbooks Pro, a popular general ledger software package for small and medium sized businesses. Coverage of vendors and customers transactions, inventory activities, bank transactions, financial reports, end of period procedures, payroll and other key accounting procedures. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 5
Third Quarter (Spring)
Designed to present operations management tools that can be used to develop a competitive advantage in commercial environments. Topics will be studied using an operations management framework: Introduction to operations management thinking, strategic and operational planning, ethical issues, organizational controls and tools, risk management, and the role of technology in operations management. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 5
Active reading, effective writing, and critical thinking, using subjective and objective approaches. Introduction to research techniques. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Communication Skills)
Credits: 5
Your personal educational plan will vary based on many factors including:
- The quarter you begin
- How many classes/credits you plan to take in each quarter
- Your math and English placement; Learn more about placement options by visiting the Assessment and Placement website.
- If you start in our Transitional Studies program