Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a Concentration in Small Business Management

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies is a 42-course, 126-credit degree. It is not designed to overlap with existing degrees but rather to provide qualified students with an academic program that meets their unique needs. Offering students flexibility, independence, and academic rigor, this option provides undergraduate adult learners with the opportunity to draw on the resources of the entire curriculum, across disciplines while building an academic focus in areas they find most important.

Concentration in Small Business Management

The Small Business Management Concentration is a 6 course, 18 credit concentration that focuses on issues relevant to individuals who are currently, or are interested in, leading their own small business. This concentration will give students writing, communication and business development skills that assist them to lead a profitable small business within the context of their community.

Curriculum Requirements - Total Credits Required: 126

Required Curriculum

World Cultures Course (3 Cr.)
Aesthetic Awareness & Creative Expression Course (3 Cr.)
Literary Perspectives Course (3 Cr.)
Individual and Society Course (3 Cr.)
Values & Ethical Reasoning Course (3 Cr.)
Science & Technology Course (3 Cr.)
Global Issues Course (3 Cr.)
Liberal Studies Elective* (3 Cr.)
General Education Electives (12 Cr.)
Core Electives (Must be 300 level or higher) (6 Cr.)
Open Electives (28 Cr.)

BUS 120 - Business Fundamentals I (Cr: 3)
CMM 306 - Social Impact of the Media (Cr: 3)
EC 201 - Experience, Competency and Belonging (Cr: 3
EC 355 - Career Transitions (Cr: 4)
ENG 111 - Critical Reading and Writing I (Cr: 3)
ENG 112 - Critical Reading and Writing II (Cr: 3)
LST 305 - Applied Research Methods (Cr: 3)
LST 489 - Senior Research (Cr: 3)
LST 490 - Senior Thesis (Cr: 3)
MTH 126 - Applied Statistics (Cr: 3)
Satisfies the Quantitative Reasoning General Education Requirement
POL 113 - American Government and Politics (Cr: 3)
PSY 100 - General Psychology (Cr: 3)
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology (Cr: 3)

*Liberal Studies Electives

Foreign Language Course - 3 cr.

LST 121 - Introduction to Gender Studies (Cr: 3)
LST 210 - Gender and Science (Cr: 3)

Total Number of Credits Required for Concentration: 18

BUS 309 - Project Management (Cr: 3)
BUS 328 - Sales Management (Cr: 3)
BUS 380 - Small Business Management (Cr: 3)
BUS 415 - Business Negotiation (Cr: 3)
BUS 460 - Brand Management (Cr: 3)
CMM 203 - Public Relations (Cr: 3)

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will:

Effectively communicate in writing and through oral communication.
Demonstrate the critical inquiry and analysis skills needed to engage constructively in intellectual discourse in various disciplines.
Recall and apply the basic foundational knowledge of educational studies as delivered through the Baccalaureate Core.
Articulate the connections and distinctions between and among liberal arts disciplines, and their contemporary relevance.
Design, execute, and present a personal project, which synthesizes and applies, selected knowledge, skills and experiences appropriate to the students’ personal and professional goals and/or their chosen area of specialization.

In addition to fulfilling the outcomes of the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program, students completing the concentration in Small Business Management will:

Understand how to manage the financial, sales and public relations issues associated with small business ownership.
Demonstrate the writing, critical thinking, presentation and business development skills necessary to succeed in promoting and managing a small business.
Demonstrate capacity to communicate and negotiate with suppliers, potential investors, customers and employees.
Recognize the role of promotion, customer service and public relations in profitability running a small business.
Understand the role of effective project management and delegation to meet small business needs.