Business Administration, Associate of Science Degree (A.S.)

Program Outline and Course Descriptions

The Associate of Science degree in Business Administration equips students with a broad-based foundation in business administration by preparing them with the necessary skills to contribute to the overall success of a business or an organization. A variety of courses in accounting, introduction to business, management, marketing, human relationships, business startup strategies, business law and communications provide students with the fundamental theories and principles of business and to prepare them for entry-level positions and/or provide knowledge and skills for entrepreneurship or small business ownership.

Course Number Course Titles Lecture

Hours

Lab

Hours

Quarter Credits
BSM 100 Introduction to Business 50 10 5
BSM 110 Introduction to Word Processing 50 10 5
BSM 120 Financial Accounting 50 10 5
BSM 140 Introduction to Spreadsheets 50 10 5
BSM 150 Business Start-Up Strategies 50 10 5
BSM 160 Digital Presentations 50 10 5
BSM 210 Principles of Management 50 10 5
BSM 220 Principles of Marketing 50 10 5
BSM 230 Human Relationships 50 10 5
BSM 240 Business Law 50 10 5
BSM 255 Project Management 50 10 5
BSM 260 Personal Finance 50 10 5
CSC 100 Student Success Fundamentals 50 10 5
ENG 100 English Composition I* 50 10 5
HUM 140 Introduction to Psychology* 50 10 5
HUM 200 World History* 50 10 5
MTH 101 Introductory Algebra* 50 10 5
WDD 101 Internet Fundamentals 50 10 5
WDD 110 Digital Graphics 50 10 5
PHY 200 Physical Science* 50 10 5
Totals: 1000 200 100

*General Education course

  • Explain: the fundamental principles of business, including the role of regulations, economics, ethics, and social responsibility.

  • Examine: various approaches to management and leadership.

  • Analyze: the role that human motivation and relationships play within an organization.

  • Demonstrate: an understanding of the principles of marketing and the impact of technology.

  • Plan: and create entrepreneurial collateral, including a comprehensive business and marketing plan.

  • Create: analyze and interpret communications in business applications.

  • Demonstrate: an understanding of contemporary issues, theories, and applications of business administration.

The Business Administration of Associate of Science Degree program is 100 quarter credits and can be completed in two (2) years if the student attends all terms full time and consecutively.

BSM 100: Introduction to Business

This course is designed as a survey course that explores the functions of modern business, including an overview of marketing, management, ethics, social responsibility, and human resources management. The course introduces common terminology, concepts, topical readings and current issues in business, while fostering critical and analytical thinking skills.

BSM 110: Introduction to Word Processing

In this course students gain an understanding of the word processing software Microsoft Word. Students in this course create numerous Microsoft Word documents, and apply various techniques such as editing and proofing, formatting text, cutting and pasting, saving and deleting.  Students use tables, styles, and graphics to build documents such as business letters, letterhead, envelopes, and flyers. Students also learn how to perform a mail merge using Word’s powerful Mail Merge feature. This course gives students the foundation to work effectively with this software and to market their acquired skills to potential employers.

BSM 120: Financial Accounting

This course covers the fundamentals of financial accounting, including double-entry accounting and the accounting cycle. Other topics include cash, receivables, inventories, plant assets, liabilities, partnerships, corporation, investments, statement of cash flows, and interpretation of financial statements.

BSM 140: Introduction to Spreadsheets

This course covers basic Microsoft Excel skills that include creating, modifying, and formatting a worksheet, and turning the data into highly functional charts.  Students begin to experiment with basic functions and formulas and learn to automate spreadsheet tasks.  Students build and edit worksheets, work with cells and cell ranges, format cell contents and values, and manage workbooks.

BSM 150: Business Start-up Strategies

Students in this course are exposed to basic issues in starting a business. Topics may include capitalization, staffing, subcontracting, permits, facilities, and basic business planning. The course offers students practical exercises to begin strategic development of a business and offers practical problems and issues in the startup phase of building a successful organization.

BSM 160: Digital Presentations

Students in this course gain an understanding for creating electronic presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint. Topics in this course may include working with template slides, formatting slides, working with layouts, working with graphics, creating charts, and adding animation.  Students also study methods and techniques for giving presentations using this exciting software.

BSM 210: Principles of Management

Students in this course study the responsibilities for managing a business. Topics studied in this course may include making a business plan, cost planning and budgeting, development of the business and the business accounts, and the basics of buying and selling a business. This course introduces students to the foundations of business management, and how to apply those foundations to open a new business or to improve upon an already existing business.

BSM 220: Principles of Marketing

In this course, students study the nuances of promotion, advertising, and consumer spending, and how those concepts can be applied to getting the word out about a company, product or service. Students learn about planning effective advertising campaigns by analyzing public demand for a particular product or service, and the products offered by the competition. Students also learn about the different methods of marketing, and how technology has impacted the way marketing is handled for both big and small companies.

BSM 230: Human Relationships

In this course, students study the nature of Human Relationships. This includes group and individual behaviors, improving productivity and quality through correct motivation, developing employees, correctly rewarding employees, and dealing with a variety of job related conflicts. Students learn about the human element related to the work environment and methods to achieve an effective fit between people and the organizational systems.

BSM 240: Business Law

In this course, students study the nuances of the legal environments including law, business strategy, and business ethics. Topics covered in this course include administrative law, international law, business crime, torts, contracts, and business-related legal issues. Students also learn about antitrust law, intellectual property, agency law, employee regulations, business associations, and securities law that apply to small and big business alike.

BSM 255: Project Management

This course prepares students to develop and implement project plans when working to complete assigned projects. Topics in this course may include defining project goals and objectives, specifying tasks or how goals will be achieved, establishing needed resources for project completion, and associating budgets and completion timelines. Students study the major phases of project management including project feasibility, planning, implementation, evaluation, and support. Project management software will be used by students to gain an understanding of how to best organize and delegate their project. Students gain an understanding of how to manage projects and how these skills may be applied to an individual project or a group project.

BSM 260: Personal Finance

This course focuses on the management of personal finance.  Broad coverage of personal financial decisions, including basic financial planning, use of credit, purchasing an automobile and home, insurance, tax issues, investing, retirement, and estate planning.

CSC 100: Student Success Fundamentals 

This course serves as an introduction to the necessary core skills needed to be successful at an academic, professional, and personal level. Students will identify core skills, values, and interests to assist in their path to success. Topics covered in this course may include time management, effective study skills, written and oral communication, improving critical thinking to enhance problem-solving skills. Other topics may include job search techniques and job etiquette, and on-the-job behavior. Students will work towards building their professional development through various assignments and topics throughout the course. Students will explore Laurus College resources for success inside and outside the classroom.

ENG 100: English Composition I

English provides students with the basic rhetorical foundations to prepare them for the demands of academic and professional writing. Students in this course will learn and practice the strategies and processes that successful writers employ when communicating information. These strategies include reading analytically and strategically, improving reading comprehension, writing persuasively, writing for investigative purposes, problem-resolution, evaluation, explanation, and refutation.

HUM 140: Introduction to Psychology

Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. In this class, students will dive into what makes themselves and others behave the way they do. Topics covered in this class include Neuroscience, Sensation and Perception, Learning, Memory, Thinking and Intelligence, Developmental Psychology, Personality Theories and Assessment, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Workplace Psychology. This class will be focused more on behavior as it pertains to the workplace rather than the clinical side of Psychology.

HUM 200: World History 
Students will explore common challenges and experiences that unite the human past and identify key global patterns over time. This overview of world history covers political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military history in a chronological story that will help students gain an appreciation and understanding of the distinctive character and development of individual cultures in society.

 

MTH 101: Introductory Algebra

This course provides students with a conceptual understanding of algebra by using problem solving applications in context to real-world application. Students will integrate meaningful applications with relevant data, graphs, tables, charts, colors, and diagrams.

WDD 101: Internet Fundamentals

This course introduces students to the World Wide Web. Students examine the history of the web and how its development has shaped the ways people do business and advertise. Students gain an understanding for the complexity of the web and how servers, users, and databases all work, search, access information, and download simultaneously.  Topics in this course may include the basics of HTTP, FTP, HTML language and tags, coding styles, links, image placement, and image maps. Students learn the importance of web page appearance and navigation. Students are introduced to the basics of initial web page planning and production, and learn key terminology applied to web page creation and implementation.

WDD 110: Digital Graphics

This course introduces students to Adobe Photoshop, the fundamental graphics application and image editing software used in the computer graphics industry. Students learn the fundamentals of this software, and will study topics including selections, layers, masking, filters, image manipulation and correction, composition, painting, and optimization for the web. Students examine techniques for efficient editing, processing, and file handling. Topics in photo editing may be studied, including color enhancement, lighting correction, and overall retouching.

PHY 200: Physical Science 
This course introduces students to physical science. Students will learn about physics, chemistry, astronomy, meteorology, and geology. This will give students the ability to understand and interact with their physical environment in a more engaging way. Some of the knowledge students gain includes Newton’s Laws, chemical elements, the universe, and geologic concepts. masking, filters, image manipulation and correction, composition, painting, and optimization for the web. Students examine techniques for efficient editing, processing, and file handling. Topics in photo editing may be studied, including color enhancement, lighting correction, and overall retouching.

Program Outline
Course Number Course Titles Lecture

Hours

Lab

Hours

Quarter Credits
BSM 100 Introduction to Business 50 10 5
BSM 110 Introduction to Word Processing 50 10 5
BSM 120 Financial Accounting 50 10 5
BSM 140 Introduction to Spreadsheets 50 10 5
BSM 150 Business Start-Up Strategies 50 10 5
BSM 160 Digital Presentations 50 10 5
BSM 210 Principles of Management 50 10 5
BSM 220 Principles of Marketing 50 10 5
BSM 230 Human Relationships 50 10 5
BSM 240 Business Law 50 10 5
BSM 255 Project Management 50 10 5
BSM 260 Personal Finance 50 10 5
CSC 100 Student Success Fundamentals 50 10 5
ENG 100 English Composition I* 50 10 5
HUM 140 Introduction to Psychology* 50 10 5
HUM 200 World History* 50 10 5
MTH 101 Introductory Algebra* 50 10 5
WDD 101 Internet Fundamentals 50 10 5
WDD 110 Digital Graphics 50 10 5
PHY 200 Physical Science* 50 10 5
Totals: 1000 200 100

*General Education course

Program Outcomes
  • Explain: the fundamental principles of business, including the role of regulations, economics, ethics, and social responsibility.

  • Examine: various approaches to management and leadership.

  • Analyze: the role that human motivation and relationships play within an organization.

  • Demonstrate: an understanding of the principles of marketing and the impact of technology.

  • Plan: and create entrepreneurial collateral, including a comprehensive business and marketing plan.

  • Create: analyze and interpret communications in business applications.

  • Demonstrate: an understanding of contemporary issues, theories, and applications of business administration.

Program Length

The Business Administration of Associate of Science Degree program is 100 quarter credits and can be completed in two (2) years if the student attends all terms full time and consecutively.

Course Descriptions

BSM 100: Introduction to Business

This course is designed as a survey course that explores the functions of modern business, including an overview of marketing, management, ethics, social responsibility, and human resources management. The course introduces common terminology, concepts, topical readings and current issues in business, while fostering critical and analytical thinking skills.

BSM 110: Introduction to Word Processing

In this course students gain an understanding of the word processing software Microsoft Word. Students in this course create numerous Microsoft Word documents, and apply various techniques such as editing and proofing, formatting text, cutting and pasting, saving and deleting.  Students use tables, styles, and graphics to build documents such as business letters, letterhead, envelopes, and flyers. Students also learn how to perform a mail merge using Word’s powerful Mail Merge feature. This course gives students the foundation to work effectively with this software and to market their acquired skills to potential employers.

BSM 120: Financial Accounting

This course covers the fundamentals of financial accounting, including double-entry accounting and the accounting cycle. Other topics include cash, receivables, inventories, plant assets, liabilities, partnerships, corporation, investments, statement of cash flows, and interpretation of financial statements.

BSM 140: Introduction to Spreadsheets

This course covers basic Microsoft Excel skills that include creating, modifying, and formatting a worksheet, and turning the data into highly functional charts.  Students begin to experiment with basic functions and formulas and learn to automate spreadsheet tasks.  Students build and edit worksheets, work with cells and cell ranges, format cell contents and values, and manage workbooks.

BSM 150: Business Start-up Strategies

Students in this course are exposed to basic issues in starting a business. Topics may include capitalization, staffing, subcontracting, permits, facilities, and basic business planning. The course offers students practical exercises to begin strategic development of a business and offers practical problems and issues in the startup phase of building a successful organization.

BSM 160: Digital Presentations

Students in this course gain an understanding for creating electronic presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint. Topics in this course may include working with template slides, formatting slides, working with layouts, working with graphics, creating charts, and adding animation.  Students also study methods and techniques for giving presentations using this exciting software.

BSM 210: Principles of Management

Students in this course study the responsibilities for managing a business. Topics studied in this course may include making a business plan, cost planning and budgeting, development of the business and the business accounts, and the basics of buying and selling a business. This course introduces students to the foundations of business management, and how to apply those foundations to open a new business or to improve upon an already existing business.

BSM 220: Principles of Marketing

In this course, students study the nuances of promotion, advertising, and consumer spending, and how those concepts can be applied to getting the word out about a company, product or service. Students learn about planning effective advertising campaigns by analyzing public demand for a particular product or service, and the products offered by the competition. Students also learn about the different methods of marketing, and how technology has impacted the way marketing is handled for both big and small companies.

BSM 230: Human Relationships

In this course, students study the nature of Human Relationships. This includes group and individual behaviors, improving productivity and quality through correct motivation, developing employees, correctly rewarding employees, and dealing with a variety of job related conflicts. Students learn about the human element related to the work environment and methods to achieve an effective fit between people and the organizational systems.

BSM 240: Business Law

In this course, students study the nuances of the legal environments including law, business strategy, and business ethics. Topics covered in this course include administrative law, international law, business crime, torts, contracts, and business-related legal issues. Students also learn about antitrust law, intellectual property, agency law, employee regulations, business associations, and securities law that apply to small and big business alike.

BSM 255: Project Management

This course prepares students to develop and implement project plans when working to complete assigned projects. Topics in this course may include defining project goals and objectives, specifying tasks or how goals will be achieved, establishing needed resources for project completion, and associating budgets and completion timelines. Students study the major phases of project management including project feasibility, planning, implementation, evaluation, and support. Project management software will be used by students to gain an understanding of how to best organize and delegate their project. Students gain an understanding of how to manage projects and how these skills may be applied to an individual project or a group project.

BSM 260: Personal Finance

This course focuses on the management of personal finance.  Broad coverage of personal financial decisions, including basic financial planning, use of credit, purchasing an automobile and home, insurance, tax issues, investing, retirement, and estate planning.

CSC 100: Student Success Fundamentals 

This course serves as an introduction to the necessary core skills needed to be successful at an academic, professional, and personal level. Students will identify core skills, values, and interests to assist in their path to success. Topics covered in this course may include time management, effective study skills, written and oral communication, improving critical thinking to enhance problem-solving skills. Other topics may include job search techniques and job etiquette, and on-the-job behavior. Students will work towards building their professional development through various assignments and topics throughout the course. Students will explore Laurus College resources for success inside and outside the classroom.

ENG 100: English Composition I

English provides students with the basic rhetorical foundations to prepare them for the demands of academic and professional writing. Students in this course will learn and practice the strategies and processes that successful writers employ when communicating information. These strategies include reading analytically and strategically, improving reading comprehension, writing persuasively, writing for investigative purposes, problem-resolution, evaluation, explanation, and refutation.

HUM 140: Introduction to Psychology

Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. In this class, students will dive into what makes themselves and others behave the way they do. Topics covered in this class include Neuroscience, Sensation and Perception, Learning, Memory, Thinking and Intelligence, Developmental Psychology, Personality Theories and Assessment, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Workplace Psychology. This class will be focused more on behavior as it pertains to the workplace rather than the clinical side of Psychology.

HUM 200: World History 
Students will explore common challenges and experiences that unite the human past and identify key global patterns over time. This overview of world history covers political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military history in a chronological story that will help students gain an appreciation and understanding of the distinctive character and development of individual cultures in society.

 

MTH 101: Introductory Algebra

This course provides students with a conceptual understanding of algebra by using problem solving applications in context to real-world application. Students will integrate meaningful applications with relevant data, graphs, tables, charts, colors, and diagrams.

WDD 101: Internet Fundamentals

This course introduces students to the World Wide Web. Students examine the history of the web and how its development has shaped the ways people do business and advertise. Students gain an understanding for the complexity of the web and how servers, users, and databases all work, search, access information, and download simultaneously.  Topics in this course may include the basics of HTTP, FTP, HTML language and tags, coding styles, links, image placement, and image maps. Students learn the importance of web page appearance and navigation. Students are introduced to the basics of initial web page planning and production, and learn key terminology applied to web page creation and implementation.

WDD 110: Digital Graphics

This course introduces students to Adobe Photoshop, the fundamental graphics application and image editing software used in the computer graphics industry. Students learn the fundamentals of this software, and will study topics including selections, layers, masking, filters, image manipulation and correction, composition, painting, and optimization for the web. Students examine techniques for efficient editing, processing, and file handling. Topics in photo editing may be studied, including color enhancement, lighting correction, and overall retouching.

PHY 200: Physical Science 
This course introduces students to physical science. Students will learn about physics, chemistry, astronomy, meteorology, and geology. This will give students the ability to understand and interact with their physical environment in a more engaging way. Some of the knowledge students gain includes Newton’s Laws, chemical elements, the universe, and geologic concepts. masking, filters, image manipulation and correction, composition, painting, and optimization for the web. Students examine techniques for efficient editing, processing, and file handling. Topics in photo editing may be studied, including color enhancement, lighting correction, and overall retouching.

We Have a Lot to Offer You

We Have a Lot to Offer You!

We offer Associate and Bachelor of Science Degrees. The courses at Laurus College are taught online by experienced professionals from the field, and our college is known for its friendly learning environment and supportive staff and instructors who will feel like family.

You can even connect with faculty, classmates, and staff in person by visiting one of our locations: Atascadero, Chula Vista, Las Vegas, Oxnard, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Maria.

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