The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway. It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.
The courses have been intentionally placed and should be prioritized in
the order
in which they appear. If you are unable to take all the courses in
a semester, you
should prioritize enrolling in the courses in the order below.
Some courses have
been noted as “Appropriate for Intersession” 
. Should you need (or want) to take
classes
in the summer and/or winter intersessions,
the program recommends these courses as appropriate for the condensed
schedule of
the intersessions.
Some pathways combine a “Certificate of Achievement” and an “Associate
Degree”. If
you are pursuing only the Certificate of Achievement, you are only
required to take
the courses marked “Program Requirement” 
.
All pathways include at least one “Gateway Course” 
which introduces you to the program and/or field of study and helps you
decide if you want to continue with this Academic and Career Path.
Most Associate degrees (though not Associate Degrees for Transfer)
require satisfying the SMC Global Citizenship requirement. If the Program
Requirements do not include a “Global Citizenship course” 
, be sure to select a General Education course that also satisfies Global Citizenship.
With the constantly growing variety of businesses in the world, business management career opportunities are vast and diverse. SMC’s Management/Leadership program prepares students for this unlimited field with solid analytical skills, training in methods for resolving problems, and the managerial skills required for planning and executing strategies in pursuit of organizational goals.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate coherent and comprehensive analyses of business issues, identify and resolve ethical dilemmas in the domestic and global business environment, and apply managerial skills in planning, organizing, directing and controlling business enterprises in the domestic and global environments.
Icon Key
-
Gateway Course
-
Program Requirement
-
General Education -
Appropriate for
Intersession
-
Available Online -
Global Citizenship
Semester 1
15-17 Units
An overview of the functional areas of business in a global society. Students will complete the course with knowledge of the general business environment, economic systems, business ethics, operations and project management, and technology and information systems. In addition, students will learn the fundamentals of economics, business ownership, entrepreneurship, finance, management, leadership, and marketing. Key themes woven throughout the course include exploration of career options and development of business problem-solving skills.
- Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences
This course provides students with an overview of the fundamental legal principles pertaining to business transactions and related topics. It also encompasses introductory subjects concerning the U.S. legal system such as the court structure, sources of law, legal reasoning and case analysis. To give students a broad perspective on the various laws and areas impacting business, the following topics are also explored: criminal law, torts, civil procedure, administrative processes, contract law, ethics, constitutional law, agency and the legal principles pertaining to business entities.
SMC GE Area 2 Course 3-5 units
ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGL 1) recommended for transfer options
See the full list: SMC GE Area 1A Course
This course provides an exploration of intellectual, psychological, social and physical factors that impact lifelong learning, well-being and success. Topics include motivation and self-efficacy; critical thinking, academic integrity and active study strategies; health issues and lifestyle choices; relating to others as a global citizen; written and oral communication; time management; career exploration; and educational planning.
Semester 2
15 Units
This course introduces the student to management concepts and strategies used by modern businesses. The course is designed to familiarize student with the accepted standards, procedures, and techniques employed by top, middle, and supervisory level managers. Further, the course provides students with an understanding of the role of management and how to develop plans and execute strategies in pursuit of organizational goals.
This course surveys the principles and techniques of current and evolving business communication as a process in a variety of business situations. The course emphasizes planning, organizing, composing, and revising business documents using appropriate utilization of a variety of technological platforms, business related internet writing contexts, and web resources. Also, this course will incorporate a variety of internet-based communication tools relevant to doing business in today's world. This course is designed for students who already have college-level writing skills.
- Prerequisite: BUS 31 or
- Prerequisite: ENGL C1000
- Area 1B. Oral Communication and Critical Thinking
COMM C1000 (formerly COM ST 11) or COM ST 21 recommended for transfer options
ENGL C1001 (formerly ENGL 2) recommended for transfer options
See the full list: SMC GE Area 3 Course
Elective Course 3 units
Program Electives
12 Units
This course is designed to heighten awareness of culture and its impact on successful business enterprises. The student will develop skills to identify areas where culture and business intersect by focusing on four subsets of American culture (European Americans, Chicano/Latinos, African Americans and Asian Americans) as well as on international cultures. Emphasis will be placed on how a firm's success is affected by both domestic and global issues influencing intercultural communication.
- Area 7: Global Citizenship
This course focuses on the identification and analysis of processes and challenges of communication as affected by different cultures, especially as it affects communication among the various cultures found within the United States (e.g. African American, Asian American, Latino/a, Middle Eastern, Native American, European American and Gay/Lesbian cultures) and among the various cultures throughout the world. The course focuses on the principles of communication theory as they apply to the intercultural setting with an emphasis on the effects of differences in beliefs, values, attitudes, socio-political organization, role expectations, language and nonverbal behavior, etc.—all of which are interrelated.
- Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Area 7: Global Citizenship
- 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences
The world of customer service is constantly evolving. This course highlights the key strategies, principles, attitudes, and techniques needed to provide excellent customer service in today's business environment. Customers are digital and on the move and expect the same from their interactions with companies. As customer behavior changes, so do their expectations of the type of interaction that is appropriate to address their concerns. Considerations for omni-channel customer service, the impact on call centers, and the art of customer service will be examined.
This course is designed for students who want to learn the fundamentals of marketing while leveraging the Salesforce Marketing Cloud platform. Salesforce Marketing Cloud is a tool that allows businesses and organizations to communicate with customers using multiple channels. It develops a personalized digital experience with clients, it collects data from multiple sources, and it is also capable of managing data from social media interactions, advertising campaigns, email marketing, email content, design, delivery and tracking. At the end of this course, students could pursue the next step towards the Marketing Cloud Email Specialist Credential.
This course focuses on issues faced in international management. Techniques and strategies for leading business activities in the world marketplace are examined. The course is designed to promote an understanding of global trends and the decision-making process involved in all aspects of the multinational organization, such as planning, organizing, and human resource management.
This course provides concrete guidance in using human relations skills in the workplace that will promote working effectively with others. Strategies are integrated throughout the course that will enable students to apply human relations theories and applications to the real world of work. Ethical issues in business are addressed where students will learn an explicit process of ethical reasoning that will aid in defining and dealing with dilemmas in the workplace. Current events and case studies will be used to develop critical skills as students apply theories and principles.
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the "management of strategy" in the business enterprise. A case-oriented format has been adopted to focus attention on what a firm should do in an actual business situation, and to provide students with numerous opportunities to develop and exercise their analytical and decision-making skills.
This course examines the special case of detailed planning and implementation of management decisions in strategic business units. Attention is focused on three areas: developing action plans and implementation strategies; developing awareness of the contingencies to be considered in taking strategic actions, and investigating how different academic disciplines interpret the leadership phenomenon. This course highlights key criteria used in assessing the viability of an organizational action plan, and the role of leadership in managing constructive change processes.
Human resource management encompasses those activities designed to provide for and coordinate the human resources of an organization. This course is fashioned to emphasize both the theoretical and practical aspects of human resource management. Topics of special interest include equal employment opportunity; staffing the organization; training and developing employees; employee compensation; understanding unions; and organizational maintenance, communication, and information systems.
This course teaches modern day strategies needed to make conscious decisions when negotiation is required to reach a desired outcome. Creating mutually beneficial situations for both parties involve understanding key concepts covering the basic understanding of ways negotiators can exert and gain power in a discussion. Managers, executives, students, and other potential dealmakers will learn the essential skills to conduct successful business negotiations. Through interactive role-play, videos, case studies, and other engaging content students will move through modules exploring ways to settle workplace and interpersonal disputes by the application of proven negotiating principles and strategies.