Advance Your Career in the World of Business
Interested in business, but not sure which area to pursue? Then the Business Administration Management associate’s degree program¹ may be right for you by laying the groundwork of business practices and professional skills.
By taking courses in economics, accounting, sales and contract law, human resource management, organizational management and leadership, marketing and principles of management, you will gain a broad view of business fundamentals. The business administration management associate’s degree program will give you the opportunity to test the waters of the business field before choosing your next education or career path. You’ll also gain a sense for which industries hold the most promise, and which areas of specialization (such as finance, product development, or marketing) may interest you most.
After completing this program, you can choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree program or join the workforce in positions for which there is a need for foundational business skills.
See also our Business Administration Management bachelor’s degree.
Your Learning Experience
- Learn the use of accounting practices in today’s business world – beginning with individually owned businesses, then to financial reporting and corporate accounting.
- Get ample hands-on experience using the latest accounting software programs while learning the basic principles and procedures of accrual accounting.
- Understand the role and function of topics such as financial, management, valuation of investments, cost of capital, capital structure, dividends and capital budgeting.
- Learn the fundamentals of business, management strategies and organizational structures.
In addition to the program outcomes listed, students will take the Certified Supervisor certification exam offered through the Institute of Certified Professional Managers as part of BUS117 Supervision.
Throughout the business administration management associate’s curriculum, your program will focus on critical thinking and technology skills; those skills that are key to the success of a business professional.
American National University promotes a progressive learning format, so as earn your associate’s degree you can immediately use your training to advance your career as you continue your education in high-demand fields at the bachelor’s degree level – areas such as Business Administration–Accounting or Management and Health Care Management.
See also our Business Administration Accounting bachelor’s degree.
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - MANAGEMENT – ASSOCIATE DEGREE REQUIRED COURSES
96 credit hours required/192 quality points required. All courses are 4 credit hours
Program Core (Required) 44 total credit hours required
ACC210 Accounting for Non-Accounting Majors
4 Credit Hours
Designed for the non-accounting major, students examine the accounting cycle, fundamental accounting structures, account maintenance, and financial statement preparation.
BUS101 Introduction to Business
4 Credit Hours
This introductory course in modern business focuses on basic business terms, business concepts, organization structures, and the functions of business.
BUS120 Introduction to Finance
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ACC101, ACC102 for ACCT programs; ACC210 for BUS programs)
This course is designed to provide students an introductory awareness of financial concepts and financial statements.
BUS121 Principles of Economics
4 Credit Hours
This course provides students with a study of how individuals attempt to satisfy their wants through consuming goods and services. Topics for discussion include: the U.S. economic system; government finance, and the consumption and distribution of the national wealth.
BUS123 Practical Law
4 Credit Hours
Students taking this course will discuss the United States Constitution as it relates to the business community, commercial paper, negligence, criminal law, bankruptcy, and employment law.
BUS125 Principles of Management
4 Credit Hours
This course focuses on decision-making, strategic planning, organizing, and job organizational design aspects that are essential to the field of management.
BUS130 Introduction to Business Information Systems
4 Credit Hours
The purpose of this course is to introduce information systems and its impact on organizational decision-making. Students examine how to use information systems for process improvement to achieve organizational goals.
BUS225 Business Communications
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq.- ENG090) A comprehensive course in business communication, that includes the study and practice of concepts and skills as they apply to business and professional settings including written communication, business and professional presentations, interpersonal and group dynamics. Special attention is given to learning to communicate effectively in multiple formats as professional in today’s digital, social, and mobile world.
BUS227 Human Resource Management
4 Credit Hours
This course examines the principles of employee selection, job design, performance appraisal, compensation, training and development, safety and health, and labor relations. Upon completion of this course students are eligible to sit for the Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR) certification exam through Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI).
BUS228 Principles of Marketing
4 Credit Hours
This course focuses on the concepts and practices of the marketing function. Students taking this course will examine both macro- and micro-environmental variables as they influence the marketing function.
COM235 Spreadsheet Applications
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – COM151) Students taking this course will learn how to use Microsoft® Access and Microsoft® Excel to prepare databases and spreadsheet applications.
Career Support (Required) 28 total credit hours required
BUS110 Business Mathematics I
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – MAT090 if applicable) Students will learn basic business math concepts, including number systems, fractions, decimals, the metric system, and problem solving.
BUS117 Supervision
4 Credit Hours
Students taking this course will learn how to be effective supervisors. Topics for discussion include how supervisors inspire, empower and develop people so that they become more effective in their working roles, the supervisory function for employee and workplace safety, and the supervisor’s responsibilities for planning and decision-making.
BUS217 Organizational Behavior
4 Credit Hours
Students taking this course will learn how interpersonal relationships develop in an organization and how the organization deals with both formal and informal power structures. Topics for discussion include motivation, leadership, organizational environment, and communication.
BUS218 Customer Service Management
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq.-BUS101) The focus of this course is Customer Relationship Management (CRM), a strategic methodology emphasizing the centrality of customers to an organization’s existence. The course examines best practices in enhancing customer relationships over time which enhances an organization’s competitive position and increases its profitability.
Through case studies, class discussion, projects and presentations, the student will gain a firm understanding of the key decision variables required to successfully adopt and use the CRM methodology in marketing environments. Strong customer relationships also rely upon personal selling and sales strategy, featured in the second part of this course.
BUS270 Introduction to Project Management
4 Credit Hours
Students will be guided through a four-phase systematic approach to project concepts, study, design, and implementation. Course work will include real world case studies that emphasize aspects of the project phases.
BUS350 Managing the Small Business
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – BUS101, BUS228) This course examines the various aspects of starting, acquiring, and operating a small business enterprise. Students will discuss various problems encountered by small businesses.
BUS386 Money, Banking and the Financial Marketplace
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – BUS121) Students who take this course will learn the structures and effects of commercial banking and relationships, the Federal Reserve System, monetary theory, and the impact of regulatory agencies.
General Education: 24 total credit hours required
Written and Oral Communication
ENG102* English Composition
4 Credit Hours
(Prereq. – ENG090 if applicable) Students taking this course will study and discuss rhetoric, style, and composition, with special emphasis on written communication skills.
Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic
LOG215* Thinking Critically
4 Credit Hours
This course introduces students to the process of critical thinking and offers knowledge and experience that can be applied to academic, professional, and personal growth. Students will learn to examine and evaluate the information they are exposed to, confidently select appropriate evidence from conflicting data, and craft that evidence into viable answers or solutions. Material will be drawn from examples and scenarios based on actual academic and professional situations so that the application of knowledge will easily transfer to events outside of the classroom.
Arts and Humanities
ETH205* Ethics
4 Credit Hours
Students taking this course will study ethical thought and ideals, with emphasis on the central assumptions of personal and social morality. Students will also investigate ethics and related problems in industry, civil society, and the typical American community.
Social and Behavioral Sciences
PSY127* Psychology
4 Credit Hours
This course provides students with an overview of the fundamental principles and methods of psychology. Topics for discussion include biological basis of behavior, sensory and perceptual processes, learning, motivation, developmental changes, personality, social behavior, and behavioral disorders.
PRO453* Parliamentary Procedures/ Group Dynamics
4 Credit Hours
Students taking this course will study the rules that govern the proceedings of many businesses and civic organizations. Emphasis is placed on effective group interaction and communication skills to include group dynamics, group structure, and group roles.
Physical/Natural Science
PER330 Personal Health
4 Credit Hours
This course provides students with an introduction to contemporary health concerns and issues. Students will discuss mental health, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, physical fitness, nutrition, and disease.
For all courses: See course description for applicable prerequisites.
* This program requires this General Education course or equivalent
Note: Based on availability and department chair approval, students may substitute course BUS299 Business Externship for a course listed under Career Support
