The Business Management program provides students with the tools needed to meet the challenges of managing a business. Students receive a background in business operations, accounting, marketing, service operations management, human resource management, team building, problem solving, and business law. Business managers are found in every sector of the economy, in nearly all work settings. Graduates may find positions as an entry-level manager, assistant manager, office manager, team leader, or may start their own business.
The Business Management program may be completed in-person, online, or through a combination of these options.
- Overview
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Is This Program for You?
If you set goals for yourself and strive to accomplish them, prefer working with others rather than alone, enjoy serving as a leader even if it means more work, and want to improve your skills and promotion potential, then a career in business management may be a good choice for you.
Students entering the Business Management program should:
- Enjoy working with numbers and details.
- Enjoy working with people.
- Be able to make decisions.
Program Basics
- Associate degree, requiring a minimum of two years to complete.
- Classes are offered in-person, online or any a combination that works for you.
- High school articulation courses accepted.
- Financial aid available.
- Program starts in August or January, and is available in online as well as modified plan formats.
- Curriculum & Costs
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Curriculum Options
Full-time Online Curriculum
Semester 1 - Fall Online Course # Course Title Credits 10-101-111 Accounting 1 4 10-102-109 Business Law I 3 10-102-130 Management Principles 3 10-103-106 Beginning Microsoft Excel 1 10-104-130 Marketing Principles 3 14 Semester 2 - Spring Online Course # Course Title Credits 10-102-105 Introduction to Business 3 10-102-131 Developing a Business Plan 1 10-102-151 Personal Finance 1 10-103-105 Beginning Microsoft Word 1 10-801-136 English Composition 1 3 10-804-123 Math with Business Applications* OR * 3 10-804-195 Introductory Statistics 3 10-809-195 Economics* OR * 3 20-809-287 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 15 Semester 3 - Fall Online Course # Course Title Credits 10-102-108 Risk Management 3 10-102-115 Business Management Strategies 3 10-104-105 Selling Principles 3 10-801-198 Speech 3 10-809-199 Psychology of Human Relations * OR * 10-809-198 Intro to Psychology 3 15 Semester 4 - Spring Online Course # Course Title Credits 10-102-104 Principles of Finance 3 10-102-110 Business Law 2 3 10-102-129 Human Resources Management 3 10-102-132 Operations Management 3 10-809-143 Microeconomics 3 10-102-133 Career Planning in Business 1 16 Total Credits: 60 Cost of Attendance (COA) 25-26
Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.
Category Amount Tuition and Fees $4,932 Living Expenses (Housing and Food) $10,305 Books and Supplies $1,463 Personal Expenses $3,065 Transportation $4,103 Charger Tech 360 Fee $700 Loan Fees $85 Yearly Total (Living Away from Home) $24,653 1 Semester Total (Living Away from Home) $12,327 Based on Wisconsin Residents.
Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.
Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.
These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.
- Admissions & Requirements
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Admission and Program Requirements
- Submit Application
Most programs admit students as applications are completed. For certain high-enrollment programs with limited space, applications are reviewed in order of residency and review dates. Programs currently in this category include Radiography, Electrical Power Distribution, Midwifery, Cosmetology, and Nail Technician. Learn more about our Admissions and Wait List Policy.Academic Preparedness Requirements
- Log in to your MySWTC account, go to My Profile → Document Center → All Programs to complete the following:
- Send your transcripts and scores to Southwest Tech: While not required, sending your transcripts and test scores helps us make sure your classes are the right fit. We consider any previous college credit you’ve earned, Accuplacer or ACT scores, high school GPA, or an assessment at your registration session. Submit your high school transcripts, college transcripts, and test scores by emailing admissions@swtc.edu, or mailing them to Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
- Career Assessment Plan
Start your Student Success Plan by exploring your career interests, talking through your program choice, and confirming your path feels like the right fit. This step can be completed either by setting up a One-on-One Career Assessment Meeting with a recruiter or as part of your Student Success Plan Meeting with an advisor. Schedule a Student Success Plan Meeting by clicking “Make an appointment” with your program advisor. - Academic Map + Supports & Services Plan
Continue building your Student Success Plan by planning your courses, reviewing funding options, and connecting with resources. To complete this step, schedule a Student Success Plan Meeting by clicking “Make an appointment” with your program advisor.
- Submit Application
- Outcomes
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Program Outcomes
At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:
- 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
Technical Skill Attainment (TSA)
This TSA scoring guide will be used to document your attainment of technical program outcomes for the Business Management Degree. To meet the requirements on the scoring guide, you will be asked to draw upon the skills and concepts that have been developed throughout the program and are necessary for successful employment in your field. Results will be used to inspire continual improvement of teaching and learning in Wisconsin Technical College System. In addition, this assessment will provide feedback to you about your performance.
If you are unable to access documents here, please contact Technical Skill Attainment Team (tsa@swtc.edu, 608.822.2464) - Career Opportunities
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Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.
- Transfers
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- Prior Learning
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Credit for Prior Learning
Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!
Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.
For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.
At any time, you may Request Credit for Prior Learning.
Business Management Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:
Course # Course Title Challenge Exam
(Demonstration)Challenge Exam
(Standard)CLEPCredentialPortfolio10-101-111 Accounting 1 CLEP Test - Financial Accounting 10-102-104 Principles of Finance CFP (Certified Financial Planner), CFA (Chartered Financial Analysts), CPA (Certified Public Account), FINRA Series 7 Securities License 10-102-105 Introduction to Business 10-102-108 Risk Management CLU (Chartered Life Underwiter), CFP (Certified Financial Planner), ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant), CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) 10-102-109 Business Law I CLEP Test - Introduction to Business Law 10-102-129 Human Resources Management PHR (Professional in Human Resources), SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) 10-102-130 Management Principles CLEP Test - Principles of Management 10-102-132 Operations Management APICS test - CPIM 10-102-151 Personal Finance CFP (Certified Financial Planner), CFA (Chartered Financial Analysts), CPA (Certified Public Account), FINRA Series 7 Securities License 10-801-136 English Composition 1 CLEP Test - College Composition 10-804-123 Math w Business Apps 10-809-195 Economics CLEP Test - Principles of Macroeconomics 10-809-198 Introduction to Psychology CLEP Test - Introduction to Psychology