DESCRIPTION:

Students discover the true meaning of entrepreneurship and identify key characteristics and skills demonstrated by successful entrepreneurs. They analyze their own entrepreneurial skills and abilities. Students also research a variety of North American entrepreneurs and develop an understanding of how business opportunities are identified and seized by successful business people.

  REQUIREMENTS:

The curriculum for this certificate consists of the Foundation Module (6 required courses listed below) and the Advanced Module of specific Case Studies  All coursework must be completed within 18 months (including up to 12 months for Module 1).

  REQUIRED COURSES:

AC002 Intermediate Accounting (see ACCOUNTING courses)

MG005 Competitive Intelligence

MK001 Principles of Marketing

EM001 Introductory Microeconomics

BA002 Entrepreneurship

MG001 Principles of Management

  Course description:

This continued study of accounting theory and practice reviews the accounting cycle and preparation of accounting statements. Topics include the conceptual framework of financial accounting, statement of income and expenses, balance sheet and cash flows statements, the time value of money, cash and receivables, valuation of inventories, acquisition and disposition of property, depreciation, and current liabilities. The course is designed for anyone interested in business management and economics, as well as for accounting majors.

Prerequisites: Principles of Financial Accounting or equivalent.

   COURSE OUTLINE:

Unit 1. An Introduction to Financial Accounting and Reporting.

Unit 2. A Theoretical Basis of Financial Accounting and Reporting.

Unit 3. A General Overview of The Accounting Process.

Unit 4. Income Statement.

Unit 5. Balance Sheet.

Unit 6. Cash Flows Statement and Statement of Changes in Financial Position.

Unit 7. Revenue Recognition and Income Determination.

Unit 8. Cash, Current Receivables and Payables.

Unit 9. Determining Cost and Using Cost Flow Assumptions for Inventory Valuation.

Unit 10. Departures from Historical Cost and Methods of Estimating Inventory Cost.

   Course description:

This course is concerned with issues relating competitive intelligence and how they can be of benefit to managers in a competitive business environment. The course will provide students with an understanding of competitive intelligence and how it fits into the external industry environment. The course will be based upon a solid theoretical foundation as well as on a variety of real-life business cases, which describe competition and driving forces in the modern business world. The students will be assigned to research an industry and identify the firms competing in the industry. A Competitor Analysis Paper will be the result of this research, which will account for 50% of students’ final grade.

Prerequisite: No previous study of strategic management and its components is assumed.

Unit 1: Introduction to Competitive Intelligence as a Part of Strategic Marketing.

Unit 2: Industry and Competitive Analysis. Business and Market Definition.

Unit 3: Airline Industry Analysis. Sources of Information. Company Situation analysis.

Unit 4: Athletic Footwear Industry Analysis. Value Chain. Strategic Group Maps.

Unit 5: Susan’s Special Lawns Case. Specific Industry and Competitor Information.

Unit 6: Work on Competitor Analysis Paper.

Unit 7: Presentation of Competitor Analysis Paper.

Unit 8: Summary and Conclusions.

   PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING

  Course description:

This course covers role of marketing in business decision-making, marketing methods, market segmentation, consumer buying behavior, and effects of marketing on company’s profitability and image. It explores the complex interrelationships among product, price, promotion, distribution, customer service, packaging, and market research.

Prerequisite: No previous study of marketing and its components is assumed.

Unit 1: Introduction to Marketing and Its Environment.

Unit 2: Selecting Target Markets Using Market Research.

Unit 3: Demographic and Behavioral Dimensions of the Market.

Unit 4: Product Planning, Management, and New Development.

Unit 5: Distribution Channel Systems.

Unit 6: Introduction to Promotion, Personal Selling, and Advertising.

Unit 7: Pricing Objectives and Price Setting.

Unit 8: Ethical Questions and Challenges.

Unit 9: General Overview.

   INTRODUCTORY MICROECONOMICS

  Course description:

Economics exists as a discipline due to one fundamental fact – resources are scarce, which means that they are given to people in fixed and finite supplies. Economics is the social science that examines how people make choices in order to satisfy their desires for goods produced from scarce resources. This course focuses on individual economic behavior, that is, the behavior of consumers, firms, particular industries, particular markets, and price determination in these markets.

Prerequisite: No previous study of economics and its components is assumed.

Unit 1: Introduction to Economics and Its Environment.

Unit 2: Production Possibilities and Opportunity Costs. Demand and Supply.

Unit 3: Elasticity. Marginal Utility and Consumer Choice.

Unit 4: Price Ceilings and Price Floors. Business Ownership and Organization.

Unit 5: Cost of Production. Market and Market Structures. Profit Maximization.

Unit 6: Price and Output in Different Market Situations (Monopoly, Monopolistic Competition, Perfect Competition, and Oligopoly).

Unit 7: Antitrust Regulations. Market Failure and Public Choice.

Unit 8: Wage Rates and Employment.

Unit 9: Interest and Profit. Income Distribution and Poverty.

Unit 10: International Trade. Exchange Rates and International Debt.

Unit 11: General Theoretical Overview.

  ENTREPRENEURSHIP

  Course description:

This course focuses on the nature and role of the entrepreneur in contemporary business society. Emphasis will be directed towards learning through theory and the development of a workable business plan. Real-life business cases will also be introduced.

Prerequisite: ACC002, MK001.

Unit 1: The entrepreneurial Process. New Venture Ideas.

Unit 2: Opportunity Recognition. Screening Venture Opportunities.

Unit 3: The Entrepreneurial Manager. The New Venture Team.

Unit 4: The Family Venture. Personal Ethics and the Entrepreneur.

Unit 5: Resource Requirements (Finance, People, Information, etc.).

Unit 6: The What, Whether, and Why of the Business Plan.

Unit 7: Entrepreneurial Finance. Obtaining Risk Capital.

Unit 8: Structure and Negotiation of the Deal. Obtaining Debt Capital.

Unit 9: Managing Rapid Growth. The Success and Beyond.

Unit 10: Creating a Personal Entrepreneurial Strategy.

   PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT

  Course description:

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of management with emphasis on individual and small group behavior, the design and structure of organizations, the relationship between the organization and its environment, and the statistical and quantitative skills used in the examination of management processes. This course also covers interpersonal communications, ethics, and international management.

Prerequisite: No previous study of management theory is assumed.

Unit 1: Introduction: The Challenge of Management. Pioneering Ideas in Management.

Unit 2: Introduction: Social Responsibility and Ethics in Management.

Unit 3: Planning and Decision Making: Establishing Organizational Goals and Plans. Strategic Management.

Unit 4: Planning and Decision Making: Managing Innovation and Change. Managerial Decision Making.

Unit 5: Organizing: Basic Elements of Organizational Structure. Strategic Organization Design.

Unit 6: Organizing: Human Resources Management.

Unit 7: Leading: Motivation and Leadership.

Unit 8: Leading: Managerial Communication. Managing Groups.

Unit 9: Controlling: Controlling the Organization. Managerial Control Methods.

Unit 10: Controlling: Operations Management. Information Systems for Management.

Unit 11: Across All Functions: International Management. Entrepreneurship and Small Business.