The Associate in Business degree is designed as a Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program (DTA/MRP) for transfer with junior standing to baccalaureate institutions. It is generally pursued by students who plan to transfer to a four-year university as a business major after completing their first two years at Peninsula College.
Students are responsible for checking specific requirements of their intended transfer institution, including overall minimum GPA and course choices. A higher GPA in a selected subset of courses or a specific minimum grade in one or more courses, such as math or English, may be required. Students are urged to consult the catalog of the institution for which they plan to transfer. To earn this degree you must complete a minimum of 90 credits in courses required by the DTA.
View the Associate in Business DTA/MRP document for specific university requirements and confer with your advisor.
Program Code: BUCBUAA
Communication Skills
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
Reading and writing using analytical and critical approaches. One or more research papers. Builds on concepts introduced in ENGL& 101. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Communication Skills)
Credits: 5
Quantitative Skills
The study of linear, quadratic, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions, and solving their related equations; systems of equations; matrices; linear programming (graphically); and the mathematics of finance. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Quantitative Skills, Natural Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Limits, rates of change, graphing, differentiating, optimizing, polynomials, integration, logarithmic and exponential functions, implicit differentiation, business applications. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Quantitative Skills, Natural Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Humanities
Introduction to moral theory and its application to contemporary moral issues. Potential topics include nihilism, relativism, utilitarianism, Kant, legal punishment, distributive justice, terrorism, abortion, animal rights, and euthanasia. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)
Credits: 5
Natural Sciences
Introduction to methods and applications of elementary descriptive and inferential statistics; summarizing data graphically and numerically, probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation and linear regression. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Quantitative Skills, Natural Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Ten credits in two areas.
At least one course must be a lab.
Social Sciences
Promotes use of critical thinking to explore an individual's relationship to the supply and demand of goods and services. Tools of economic analysis are used to investigate management of environmental systems. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Social Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Presents economic theories used as tools for critical thinking to show how the U.S. economy operates. Emphasis on causes and consequences of unemployment and inflation and how they affect the well-being of Americans. The use of government spending, taxation, and the monetary system to promote full employment and stable prices will be examined. Explores role of energy and natural resources in shaping our economic future. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Social Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Introduction to science of behavior. Emphasis on biological foundations of behavior, cognition, learning, intelligence, motivation, memory, personality, and psychological disorders. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Social Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Accounting/Business
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
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
Managerial concepts are explored through accounting systems, management reports, and special analysis for decision making; cost volume-profit analysis; incremental analysis; responsibilities accounting; operational and capital budgeting; and standard cost systems. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)
Credits: 5
Introduction to the fundamentals of business law and the principles of the American legal system including criminal, tort, and business law, contracts, sales, Uniform Commercial Code, and employment. Familiarity with Washington’s RCWs (Revised Codes of Washington) and WACs (Washington Administrative Codes) emphasized through researching regional business law cases. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)
Credits: 5
Program Outcomes
Communication Competencies
- Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively utilizing the language, tools, concepts, and models applicable to business and/or management disciplines.
- Exhibit an ability to communicate business and/or management concepts to diverse audiences through visual presentation.
- Display professional written and oral communication skills as a team member.
- Apply effective written and oral communication skills as a team leader.
Quantitative Reasoning
- Develop and evaluate options to problems using quantitative analysis and decision making skills.
- Devise solutions based on the outcomes of the quantitative data analyses.
Information Competencies
- Identify relevant information to develop, evaluate options, and implement solutions.
- Recognize the relative costs and benefits of potential actions.
- Research and demonstrate proficiency in assessing and selecting information technology.
- Demonstrate proper citations from reference information.
- Evaluate the credibility and authenticity of research information.
Critical Thinking
- Identify complex problems and review relevant information.
- Exhibit critical thinking using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Demonstrate judgment and decision making skills to assess the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to select the appropriate solution.
- Analyze key legal principles that apply in organizational transactions.
- Demonstrate an understanding of legal risk management.
Personal and Interpersonal Competencies
- Interact collaboratively and engage respectfully with team members to successfully achieve team goals.
- Demonstrate an understanding of management and/or team member roles.
- Exhibit effective interpersonal skills.
- Formulate and articulate a code for ethical behavior.
Sample Schedule
First Quarter (Fall)
Introduction to business systems, processes, and the general business environment. Students explore marketing, management, finance, accounting, business law, information technology, human resources, entrepreneurship, and emerging business topics. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)
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
Natural Sciences + Choose a lab course.
Second Quarter (Winter)
Introduction to the fundamentals of business law and the principles of the American legal system including criminal, tort, and business law, contracts, sales, Uniform Commercial Code, and employment. Familiarity with Washington’s RCWs (Revised Codes of Washington) and WACs (Washington Administrative Codes) emphasized through researching regional business law cases. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)
Credits: 5
Reading and writing using analytical and critical approaches. One or more research papers. Builds on concepts introduced in ENGL& 101. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Communication Skills)
Credits: 5
Introduction to science of behavior. Emphasis on biological foundations of behavior, cognition, learning, intelligence, motivation, memory, personality, and psychological disorders. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Social Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Third Quarter (Spring)
Interpersonal communication theory and practice is explored in this class in regards to both dyad and group settings. Communications process is explored through analysis of several areas, including: perception, listening, self disclosure, speech apprehension, ethics, nonverbal communication, conflict, power, and dysfunctional communication relationships. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)
Credits: 5
Introduction to methods and applications of elementary descriptive and inferential statistics; summarizing data graphically and numerically, probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation and linear regression. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Quantitative Skills, Natural Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Fourth 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
Promotes use of critical thinking to explore an individual's relationship to the supply and demand of goods and services. Tools of economic analysis are used to investigate management of environmental systems. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Social Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
The study of linear, quadratic, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions, and solving their related equations; systems of equations; matrices; linear programming (graphically); and the mathematics of finance. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Quantitative Skills, Natural Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Fifth 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
Explores classic and modern elements of persuasion and applies that understanding to assemble, deliver, and evaluate extemporaneous speeches. Eligibility for or concurrent enrollment in ENGL& 101 is recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)
Credits: 5
Limits, rates of change, graphing, differentiating, optimizing, polynomials, integration, logarithmic and exponential functions, implicit differentiation, business applications. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Quantitative Skills, Natural Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Sixth Quarter (Spring)
Managerial concepts are explored through accounting systems, management reports, and special analysis for decision making; cost volume-profit analysis; incremental analysis; responsibilities accounting; operational and capital budgeting; and standard cost systems. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)
Credits: 5
Presents economic theories used as tools for critical thinking to show how the U.S. economy operates. Emphasis on causes and consequences of unemployment and inflation and how they affect the well-being of Americans. The use of government spending, taxation, and the monetary system to promote full employment and stable prices will be examined. Explores role of energy and natural resources in shaping our economic future. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Social Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Introduction to moral theory and its application to contemporary moral issues. Potential topics include nihilism, relativism, utilitarianism, Kant, legal punishment, distributive justice, terrorism, abortion, animal rights, and euthanasia. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)
Credits: 5