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
-
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
-
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 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 Part-time Online Curriculum
Semester 1 - Fall Online Course # Course Title Credits 10-102-109 Business Law I 3 10-102-105 Introduction to Business 3 10-103-105 Beginning Microsoft Word 1 10-801-136 English Composition 1 3 10 Semester 2 - Spring Online Course # Course Title Credits 10-801-198 Speech 3 10-804-123 Math with Business Applications 3 10-809-195 Economics* OR * 3 20-809-287 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 10-102-131 Developing a Business Plan 1 10 Semester 3 - Fall Online Course # Course Title Credits 10-101-111 Accounting 1 4 10-102-130 Management Principles 3 10-104-130 Marketing Principles 3 10 Semester 4 - Spring Online Course # Course Title Credits 10-809-143 Microeconomics 3 10-102-110 Business Law 2 3 10-102-129 Human Resources Management 3 10-102-151 Personal Finance 1 10 Semester 5 - Fall Online Course # Course Title Credits 10-102-115 Business Management Strategies 3 10-104-105 Selling Principles 3 10-102-108 Risk Management 3 10-103-106 Beginning Microsoft Excel 1 10 Semester 6 - Spring Online Course # Course Title Credits 10-102-132 Operations Management 3 10-102-104 Principles of Finance 3 10-102-133 Career Planning in Business 1 10-809-199 Psychology of Human Relations * OR * 10-809-198 Intro to Psychology 3 10 Total Credits: 60 Cost of Attendance (COA) 24-25
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 $4,820 Living Expenses (Housing and Food) $9,148 Books and Supplies $1,466 Personal Expenses $3,608 Transportation $4,018 Charger Tech 360 Fee $600 Loan Fees $84 Yearly Total (Living Away from Home) $23,744 1 Semester Total (Living Away from Home) $11,872 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.
- Requirements
-
Admission and Program Requirements
- Submit Application
- To 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 High School Transcripts, College Transcripts, and Test Scores to: Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
- Admissions Meeting: After applying and submitting transcripts, work with your advisor to begin or continue your student success plan to talk about your career interests and goals, develop a plan for paying for college, learn about various funding options, create an academic map, and discuss supports and services. Schedule an admissions meeting by clicking "Make an appointment" with your program advisor.
Requirements for Online Students
Chromebooks are not compatible with some testing features within Schoology (our Learning Management System). Southwest Tech recommends not to use Chromebooks for classes.
Cable/broadband/DSL internet with a minimum speed of 1.5Mbps. You can test your local internet speed at www.speedtest.net. Run this test from the location you will be working from.
Higher bandwidth and speed will greatly assist you in your online learning environment, so where possible, a faster internet speed is recommended. Cable internet tend to be faster than DSL or 4G wireless, although DSL or 4G wireless may also work depending on other factors. Your computer, other software (such as anti spyware), other users on the system, and system configurations can all influence your ultimate line speed. Many instructors use videos as a part of their instruction, as well as synchronous meeting times (Skype, Adobe Connect, etc). Having an acceptable internet connection speed will be important to your success.
-
Convenient access to a computer that has one of the following current versions of Internet Browsers:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Mozilla Firefox
- Google Chrome
- Safari
- An active e-mail account (all Southwest Tech students are issued a free email account)
- Word processing software (Microsoft Word is the recommended word processing software at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College). Free Microsoft Office software is available to all Southwest Tech students at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office
- Availability of 10-15 hours per week for each 3-credit course
- Self-motivation and self-discipline
Helpful Academic Background
- Good math, communication, and writing abilities
- Accounting or bookkeeping
Program Fees
- This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
- Estimated cost for each semester can be found under the Curriculum tab. Please note that costs are approximate and are based on the current academic year.
- Please discuss additional fee questions with the program advisor or instructor.
- Outcomes
-
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
-
Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.
- Transfers
-
- Prior Learning
-
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 10-103-105 Beginning Microsoft Word 10-103-106 Beginning Microsoft Excel Any Microsoft MOUS certification (even an old certification) will also be considered for CPL 10-801-136 English Composition 1 CLEP Test - College Composition 10-804-123 Math with Business Applications 10-809-195 Economics CLEP Test - Principles of Macroeconomics 10-809-198 Introduction to Psychology CLEP Test - Introduction to Psychology