Small & Home-Based Business

The School of Professional & Continuing Studies offers classes and programs focused on buiding and operating a small or home-based business.

Our classes and programs cover small business entrepreneurship, startup, management and marketing.

Our Small & Home-Based Business classes and programs seek to extend the values and resources of a liberal arts education into small business entrepreneurship and business planning.

The selections listed in the tabs below represent a portion of what we have to offer. Additional listings are available and include a wide range of classes.

Registration

In the tabs below, classes and programs include a registration link. For specific information on how to register for online classes, review the information in the Online Partner Registration page. Procedures differ slightly by partner, but may all be completed online.

Programming Levels

In our Professional Education & Enrichment areas of study, we seek to provide a selection of coursework and programs that meet different enrichment and workforce levels of study. Each is described below:

  • Career-curious and enrichment: Designed to explore a career or expand an interest
  • Career-level: Designed to build skills or shift to a new career
  • Professional-level: Designed to deepen or widen knowledge and experience
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  • Career-Curious & Enrichment Programs
    Accounting Fundamentals for Small Businesses

    Online: Following basic accounting principles is an essential and necessary part of any business, regardless of size. This course will introduce you to fundamental accounting concepts and develop your ability to record and analyze business transactions, and prepare the four major financial statements. Self-paced (three months access) with MindEdge.

    Budgeting and Financial Analysis for Small Businesses

    Online: Many small business owners find creating a budget to be an intimidating process. However, creating and maintaining a budget for your business is a crucial component of success. This course will introduce you to the budgeting process and financial analysis. Self-paced (three months access) with MindEdge.

    Introduction to Small Business Management

    Online: Introduction to Small Business Management is designed for prospective and current small business owners, entrepreneurs, and managers who want to understand the basics of running a successful small business. This course provides an overview of small business operations, including business planning, legal issues, financial management, human resources, managing people, marketing and customer care. Self-paced (three months access) with MindEdge.

    Small Business Marketing

    Online: This course is designed for small business owners, entrepreneurs, managers, and other professionals who want to understand the basics of small business marketing. After completing this course, small business owners and marketers will be better prepared to promote their services and products in the highly competitive virtual world. Self-paced (three months access) with MindEdge.

  • Career-Level Programs
    Certificate in Entrepreneurship

    Online: This online certificate program introduces key issues in entrepreneurship for those looking to start a business on their own. This certificate is suitable for new business owners, as well as anyone considering the challenges of entrepreneurship. Self-paced (one year access) through MindEdge.

    Certificate in Small Business Management

    Online: In a single day, a small business owner may be required to do any number of varied tasks, like approve a project plan budget, train a new employee and develop a marketing campaign. This certificate will provide students with a fundamental understanding of the most critical areas in small business management. Self-paced (one year access) through MindEdge.

    Home-based Business Boot Camp

    On-campus: Designed for first-time entrepreneurs who want to bring their business ideas to life. Coursework guides participants through identifying the steps and learning the skills they need to create and develop a home-based small business. The program offers a practical, hands-on approach to developing a small, home-based business, including writing an effective business plan and marketing the new business. Instructional-team led (start dates vary) through SPCS.

    Leading and Managing Small Businesses

    Online: VThis course will prepare you to lead and manage employees in your organization, whether you are navigating through periods of change, growth, or stress. You will learn about some of the qualities and values shared by successful leaders, like decisiveness, adaptability, and humility, as well as common managerial challenges and techniques, strategies, and best practices to overcome those obstacles. Self-paced (three months access) through MindEdge.

    Project Management for Small Businesses

    Online: This course introduces fundamental project management concepts, reviews common project pitfalls, and explains the importance of each of the five stages of the project life cycle: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing. Self-paced (three months access) with MindEdge.

    Small Business Suite

    Online: Suite provides training to prepare you to start, marketing and manage a home-based and online business and consists of three courses: Start and Operate Your Own Home-Based Business, Start Your Own Online Business and Small Business Marketing on a Shoestring. Instructor-led (start dates vary) through ed2go.
Certificate Program This program guides first-time entrepreneurs through identifying the steps and learning the skills they need to create and develop a successful home-based small business. Home-Based Business Boot Camp