Business Management

Business Management

Associates of Applied Science

Management activities occur in service, retail, manufacturing, government, not-for-profit, and tribal sectors of our economy. Business managers and owners implement the plans of an organization by coordinating and optimizing basic operations. The Business Management program provides the skills and knowledge managers and business owners need to guide organizations in reaching goals by working with people and other organizational resources. The program is ideal for those wanting to pursue a career in business, start their own business or for students who are looking to progress in their business careers.

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  • Instructor teaching class

Program Outline

Term 1
Course # Course Title Credits
1010210100 Introduction to Business
Description

Introduction to Business is a high-level overview of the business world. Students will explore different types of businesses, how the economy affects them and current trends in business. Students will learn about their own personality preferences, entrepreneurial mindset and different types of business leaders. Students will discover skills needed for business careers and will formulate a career plan.

1.00
1080119500 Written Communication
Description

Develops writing skills which include prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. A variety of writing assignments is designed to help the learner analyze audience and purpose, research and organize ideas, and format and design documents based on subject matter and content. Also develops critical reading and thinking skills through the analysis of a variety of written documents.

3.00
1010210600 Business Essentials
Description

This class helps new Nicolet students make a successful transition to the College. The course is a chance for students to learn College resources, practice pacing and time management, grit and the learning management system. Students also receive an introduction and have opportunities to practice professional business communication.

1.00
1010210800 Operations Management Role and History
Description

Students will discover the critical roles managers play in organizations and explore how managers plan, lead, organize and control. This class will also explore the origins of management and review major developments in business through the centuries and how they are still relevant today.

1.00
1010212100 Customer Service
Description

This course is intended to teach students ways to take care of their customers and add value to customer interactions. They will identify the difference between internal and external customers, and develop verbal, nonverbal, and listening communication skills. Students will develop problem-solving techniques and the ability to lead and expand the customer service process, learn how to deal with customers, and build skills for analyzing and prioritizing customer needs. Students will learn to use the phone, email and other communications methods effectively and efficiently in the world of work.

1.00
1019616000 Leadership Qualities of Leaders
Description

This course covers the importance of effective leaders and leadership to the success of organizations. Students will explore the critical differences between managers and leaders.

1.00
1019616500 Leadership Emotional Intelligence
Description

This course introduces emotional intelligence and its importance in leadership. Leadership qualities and best practices are also covered. Students will assess their emotional intelligence level and leadership acumen and create action plans to leverage and strengthen these skills.

1.00
1019617000 Leadership Organizational Culture
Description

This class will cover what the leader’s role is in creating the optimal workplace. Students will learn the components of a great workplace and how to improve corporate culture. Students have the opportunity to assess their workplace and provide recommendations for strengthening.

1.00
1010311500 MS Word Beginning
Description

This course will cover creating a flyer, research paper, and business letter using Microsoft Word.

1.00
1010312600 MS Excel Beginning
Description

This course will cover creating a worksheet and chart; application of formulas, functions, and formatting; and working with large worksheets, charting, and what-if analysis using Microsoft Excel.

1.00
1010314100 MS Powerpoint Beginning
Description

This course will cover creating and editing presentations with pictures; enhancing presentations with shapes and SmartArt; and inserting WordArt, charts, and tables using Microsoft PowerPoint.

1.00
1015110500 Digital Literacy with Cyber Security
Description

This course will cover identifying and differentiating between major computer components, Microsoft Windows operating system and application operations, computing environment issue troubleshooting, making connections between office network devices, file management, and basic cybersecurity threats and best practices.

1.00
Term 2
Course # Course Title Credits
1080119600 Oral Interpersonal Communication
Description

Focuses upon developing speaking, verbal and nonverbal communications, and listening skills through individual presentations, groups activities, and other projects.

3.00
1080413400 Mathematical Reasoning
Description

An activity based approach is used to explore numerical relationships, graphs, proportional relationships, algebraic reasoning, and problem solving using linear, exponential and other mathematical models. Students will develop conceptual and procedural tools that support the use of key mathematical concepts in a variety of contexts. This course is not designed for Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) students and/or others who require calculus. Prerequisite: 7785478000 Principles of College Math (C or better) or Accuplacer Algebra score >=35 or UW Math Placement Basic Math Skills score >=250 or ACT Mathematics score >=18 or Tailwind Math College Math Fund score >=16.

3.00
1080919900 Psychology of Human Relations
Description

Focuses on improving personal and job-related relationships through understanding and applying sound psychological principles. Topics include self-concept, motivation, emotions, stress management, conflict resolution, and human relation processes.

3.00
1010410100 Marketing Fundamentals
Description

This course examines the business function of Marketing. Students will learn how marketers deliver value in satisfying customer needs and wants, determine which target markets the organization can best serve, and decide upon appropriate products, services, and programs to serve these markets.

2.00
1010410500 Marketing Plan Development
Description

Students will create a marketing plan for a business. They will examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the business, and then analyze target markets, customers and competitors. Students will create a marketing strategy and budget, then determine metrics to judge its success. The final project will be a Marketing Plan formatted for presentation to a customer or management team. Prerequisite: 1010410100 Marketing Fundamentals (C or better) (concurrent enrollment allowed).

1.00
1010211300 Human Resources Roles and Laws
Description

This class reviews the role and importance of Human Resources in organizations. Current challenges Human Resources contends with are covered. Students will learn about major employment laws and how to ensure that company programs, practices and policies align with those laws.

1.00
1010211600 Human Resources Recruitment
Description

This class will cover how to develop job descriptions and competitive salary packages for open positions. Students will create effective recruiting and interview programs so the best candidates will be selected.

1.00
1010211800 Human Resources Employee Evaluation
Description

This class covers onboarding new employees and providing informal and formal feedback. Students will also learn how to mentor and coach employees. Students create onboarding and performance evaluation plans.

1.00
Term 3
Course # Course Title Credits
1010210900 Operations Management Business Operations
Description

This course introduces how to manage processes within organizations including supply chain management and quality assurance. Students will also learn how to manage discrete projects and the basic tenets of project management.

1.00
1080919500 Economics
Description

With a focus on contemporary issues, this introductory course covers cost-benefit analysis, economics systems of the world, globalization, supply and demand, market structures, the labor market, economic growth, unemployment, inflation, business cycles, money, and government economic policy. The course strives to help students improve their individual and household decision-making, understand business decision-making, comprehend the current national and international economic issues and policies, and critically evaluate government response to economic concerns.

3.00
1010110200 Introduction to Accounting
Description

Students learn to apply debit/credit theory in preparing basic journal entries. Also includes financial statement ratios, bank reconciliations, and payroll.

1.00
1019617500 Leadership Change Management
Description

This class covers best practices in effecting change in organizations. Students will learn why people resist change and strategies to make change happen effectively. Students will apply an eight-step change model to a situation at work or in their lives.

1.00
1019618000 Leadership Team Development
Description

Team development is critical to success. This class will cover setting expectations for your team, motivating them, providing feedback and resolving conflict.

1.00
1019618500 Leadership Employee Coaching
Description

Coaching and developing employees are important strategies for retention. In this course, students will learn a coaching model and apply it in a real-world situation.

1.00
1010315500 QuickBooks Basics
Description

Students will process routine accounting transactions including company setup.

1.00
1010220100 Business Law Foundation and Torts
Description

This course examines law and the ways it impacts business operations. The student will learn sources of business law and be exposed to jurisdiction, the adjudication process and the framework of the court system. Torts and intellectual property are also covered.

1.00
1010220500 Business Law Contracts
Description

This course will cover the basic requirements of contracts, how they may be breached and the process of collecting damages in a breach. Student will be exposed to The Uniform Commercial Code and the relationship between it and contract law.

1.00
1010221000 Business Law Entities and Real Property
Description

This class covers typical business entities such as sole proprietorship, partnership and corporation along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. Students will also learn the critical elements of real property and personal property laws.

1.00
Elective Elective
Description
3.00
Term 4
Course # Course Title Credits
1010211100 Operations Management Global Business
Description

This class reviews the characteristics, opportunities and challenges of the global business environment including how to identify and describe forces that affect global trade. Students will select a country outside the United States and research the viability of conducting business in that country.

1.00
1080119700 Technical Reporting
Description

Teaches preparation and presentation of written, oral, and multi-media technical reports. Prerequisite: 1080119500 Written Communication (C or better) or 2080121900 English Composition I (C or better).

3.00
1010222000 Strategic Management Vision and Innovation
Description

This course introduces the concept of strategic management through case analyses and considers the basic direction and goals of an organization including vision and mission statements. Students will learn the importance of applying strategy throughout the organization to mitigate and solve problems.

1.00
1010222500 Strategic Management Analysis of Competition
Description

Students will conduct environmental analyses of companies including assessing social, political, technological, economic and global factors to define strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in organizations. Risk management is also addressed.

1.00
1010223000 Strategic Management Social Responsibility
Description

Students will learn how to identify and promote opportunities of organizations to engage in corporate social responsibility activities and the importance and competitive advantage of doing so. This class will cover the importance of ethics and how to apply them in decision-making. Students will explore ethical dilemmas and determine how to deal with them.

1.00
1089010300 Professional Career Management
Description

This course will cover identification of individual interests and the occupations they align with, finding employment, creating a resume and cover letter, participating in an interview, and best practices for maintaining professional employment.

1.00
1010224000 Business Finance Financial Statements and Budgeting
Description

Managers use financial statements to gauge the health of their organizations. In this class, students will review and create balance sheets, income and cash flow statements. They will then analyze the statements by calculating and trending ratios. Students will learn capital budgeting and break-even calculations. Prerequisite: 1010110200 Introduction to Accounting (C or better).

2.00
1010224500 Business Finance Personal Finance
Description

Personal Finance is a course designed to help students understand the impact of individual choices on financial goals. Topics covered will include income, money management, spending and credit, as well as saving and investing. This course will provide a foundational understanding for making informed personal financial decisions. Students will create personal finance goals and action plans. Prerequisite: 1010110200 Introduction to Accounting (C or better).

1.00
1010219200 Business Internship
Description

Internships are off-campus experiential learning activities designed for students to earn academic credit by connecting the job experience with the concepts, theories, and ideas learned through their program. Internships are powerful resume builders, offer application of concepts, and expand employable skills.

2.00
1014510100 Entrepreneurship Fundamentals
Description

Students learn about key elements, risks and rewards of entrepreneurship and paths to developing the entrepreneurial mindset. Students use research and case studies to develop an idea for a new business and determine its viability. Prerequisites: 1080119500 Written Communication (C or better) and 1010110200 Introduction to Accounting (C or better) and 1010410100 Marketing Fundamentals (C or better) and 1010410500 Marketing Plan Development (C or better).

1.00
1014511000 Entrepreneurship Business Plan Development
Description

Students create a business plan using a proven framework to guide them through the process. They discover what it takes to identify an opportunity and refine their strategy with instructor feedback at each step. Final project includes a finished business plan and presentation for other stakeholders to prepare them to start a new venture. Prerequisite: 1014510100 Entrepreneurship Fundamentals (C or better) (concurrent enrollment allowed).

2.00

At A Glance

How You'll Learn

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100% Online

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Multiple Start Dates

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Flexible Pace

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Optional Lab Support

2024 Start Dates

January 8 June 3
February 5 July 1
March 4 August 26
May 6 October 21

Program Tuition*

$9,378

Books & Supplies*

$555

*Total cost for degree completion is estimated by current course requirements, books, and supplies. Tuition and fees are set by the Wisconsin Technical College System and subject to change.

Financial Aid Eligible

What You'll Learn

  • Plan the operations of a business across functional areas.
  • Organize resources to achieve the goals of the organization.
  • Direct individuals and/or processes to meet organizational goals.
  • Control business processes.

Transfer Opportunities

Take a look at our transfer agreements to seamlessly transfer your degree to a 4-year university.

Your Potential Careers

  • Line supervisor
  • Department manager
  • Program manager
  • Business owner

Median Annual Salary

$66,917 $77,897 $81,458
Local State National

Lightcast 2023.1

Get Started

Your application can be submitted online, it takes just a few minutes to complete.

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