Professional Certificate in Small Business Administration
Want to learn what it takes to manage the day-to-day operations of a small business? With this online certificate program, you can gain the necessary skills in marketing, accounting, contracts, and more to run a successful business.
- Overview
- Courses
- How to Register
- Resources
About the Program
SDSU’s Professional Certificate in Small Business Administration is a fully online program designed to equip students with all the necessary skills to build, launch, and run their own business. Whether you want to open a new cafe on your block, or start your own marketing agency, you’ll be ready to build and maintain a customer base.
You can become your own boss and create something unique to you. Small businesses are a vital part of the U.S. economy, generating over 40% of total GDP. They’re also a massive source of job creation, so you’ll be creating employment opportunities for others.
When starting something new, flexibility is important. You can choose from an instructor-moderated format that runs for six weeks with monthly start dates, or you can select the self-guided format with on-demand course access for three months and complete the eight courses at your own pace. If taking the self-guided program it is recommended that you take one course at a time.
Meet Your Instructors
Brad Semp
Brad Semp, Ph.D., is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at a global corporation, a lifelong entrepreneur, and a former professor of Bachelor and Master of Science Courses in Internet Marketing. Dr. Semp is active on social media platforms to engage with prospects and customers, expand relationships, and grow businesses. He routinely coaches other entrepreneurs and business owners and consults with Fortune 500 organizations on how to design and implement effective social media systems, strategies, and tactics.
Scott Paxton
Scott Paxton is a Certified Public Accountant and holds master’s degrees in business administration and accounting. His background includes experience as a public accountant, a manager in the banking industry, an entrepreneur and a college business instructor. Paxton has also spent much of his career helping small business owners successfully optimize their business operations, budgets and strategic plans.
Lisa Adams
Lisa Adams is a web development expert specializing in marketing, user experience, and e-commerce. With a wealth of experience building and maintaining websites, Lisa’s expertise extends beyond the digital realm. She is also a published author, showcasing her passion for writing and sharing her knowledge through engaging nonfiction books.
Lisa’s notable works include “S’mores: Gourmet Treats for Every Occasion,” published by Gibbs Smith, and “Why We Read What We Read: A Delightfully Opinionated Journey Through Contemporary Bestsellers,” published by Sourcebooks.
Lisa’s accomplishments as a published author, combined with her expertise in web development, make her a well-rounded professional with a distinctive perspective. Her ability to effectively communicate ideas and share knowledge through her writing adds an extra layer of creativity and insight to her work in creating attractive, user-friendly websites for her clients and students.
Nancy Koenig
Nancy Koenig is an experienced industry professional with over 40 years in the workforce, including decades in finance. Nancy has worked in various finance roles in banking, insurance, and a hospital billing office. For the last 27 years of her career, she was an administrative assistant at a technical school, which involved running and overseeing the entire budget, amongst other duties. Nancy has also held part-time jobs as a bookkeeper for an auto parts store and a cable company, where she used QuickBooks computerized software. Over the past several years, she has also co-taught the Accounting Fundamentals and Accounting Fundamentals II courses with Charlene Messier.
Is This Program Right for Me?
The skills gained in this program prepare you to create the business of your dreams. You’ll be ready to start businesses in all areas including:
- Retail
- Consulting
- Restaurants
- Cleaning services
- Manufacturing
What Can I Learn
The Professional Certificate in Small Business Administration program at SDSU Global Campus offers a wide range of skills within business practices. Having this knowledge allows you to be better prepared to manage a successful small business.
Some of the core competencies include:
- Planning & Budgeting: You’ll take several courses in the program that give you the knowledge to create an effective business plan.You’ll be able to find the best opportunity for a new business, securing financing, and support long term success.
- Marketing: There are two marketing courses in this program. The first focuses on giving you marketing strategies that are within your budget as a small business. The second looks specifically at digital marketing tools such as SEO, social media, and email marketing.
- Accounting & Legalities: Accounting and legal knowledge are less common than other aspects of this program. However, basic bookkeeping and contract skills are very important to the management of your business.
Career Outcomes
Labor Analysis
Small Business Administration Occupations—Nationwide
- 942,500Projected small business administration job openings through 2034.
- $80,920The median annual wage for those in small business administration occupations
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), small business owners often earn 16% more than the national mean wage.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why Choose SDSU?
Versatility
This program allows you to take classes in a range of subjects relating back to small business administration. The knowledge that you gain in budgeting, marketing, and contract management can be applied in other roles as well though. You’ll gain a widely applicable toolset that can get you started in multiple sectors of the business profession.
Expert Instructors
The courses are guided by highly qualified members of the business and management professions. If you choose to take the courses in the instructor-led format, you’ll be learning the content from experts in the field with multiple high-level degrees and years of experience.
Accessibility
The 100% online format of the program allows you the flexibility to balance your studies with your other commitments. The choice between two different formats gives you an extra level of customizability. Whether you learn better going at your own pace or following along with an instructor, you can set yourself up for success.
Course List
To earn the Professional Certificate in Small Business Administration credential, you’ll need to successfully complete seven core courses, each addressing a necessary tool needed to operate your own business.
Choose the learning style that is best for you: Instructor-moderated courses are six weeks in duration with monthly start dates. The self-guided format includes on-demand course access for three months, allowing for additional flexibility to complete coursework on your own schedule.
| Course | Instructor Moderated (6 Weeks) | Self-Guided (3 Months) |
|---|---|---|
| Start Your Own Small Business | $159 | $159 |
| Creating a Successful Business Plan | $171 | $171 |
| Business Budgeting for Beginners | $157 | $157 |
| Small Business Marketing on a Shoestring | $160 | $160 |
| Growing Your Business with Digital Marketing | $165 | $165 |
| Accounting Fundamentals | $159 | $159 |
| Legal Aspects of Contracts | Not offered | $190 |
| Total | $1,161 | $1,161 |
Finished all the required courses?
Click the button below to receive your certificate.
Registration Instructions
To register for courses in the Professional Certificate in Small Business Administration, please complete the following steps:
- Choose your course in the “Courses” tab.
- Click on the red course links to register.
- Select your desired enrollment option (instructor-moderated or self-guided)
- Click “Add to Cart.”
- Add more courses to your cart or click “Checkout.”
- If enrolling in the instructor-moderated option, select your desired start date.
- Click “Begin Checkout”
- If you are a returning student, you will Sign In with your existing username (email address) and password. If you are a new student, you will enter your email address, then click “Create Account” and follow the prompts.
- Pay for your course(s).
- After you have successfully completed the checkout process, the following screen will include an Enrollment Confirmation as well as a link to “Enter The Classroom” to access Orientation. You will also receive an emailed Enrollment Confirmation, which serves as your receipt of payment.
- Until the first day of the session, your course(s) will be listed to the left under the Upcoming Courses section of their Classroom homepage. You can access the Orientation for any Upcoming or Active courses. On the first day of the session, your course will be moved to the Active Courses section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Our program is designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge to excel in leadership and management roles across various industries. Whether you’re looking to move up the corporate ladder or embark on a new career path, this certificate can significantly enhance your career prospects.
Login to your Ed2go account to view your course progress and to access any earned course completion certificates.
The program comprises eight core courses that cover a range of business administration topics. These courses can be completed at your own pace, providing flexibility to fit your schedule and needs.
All courses in the Professional Certificate in Small Business Administration program are offered online. This format ensures you can access course materials and participate from anywhere worldwide. Courses are available in two learning styles: Instructor-moderated or self-guided. Instructor-moderated courses are cohort-based and six weeks in length with monthly start dates, while self-guided courses provide three months of course access.
The program curriculum typically includes all necessary materials. While some courses may recommend supplementary readings, there is no requirement for expensive textbooks.
Once you’ve completed all the program requirements, fill out and submit a certificate request form. SDSU Global Campus will verify that you’ve completed all the required courses and assignments. Once you’ve been verified, you’ll receive a digital copy of your certificate.
Getting started is easy! Simply click on the Courses tab to browse our courses and register for each individually. If you have any questions about the program, our Welcome Center can help. Fill out the form at the bottom of this page to get in touch.
Instructor-Moderated: A new session of each course begins each month. Please refer to the session start dates for scheduling.
Self-Guided: Your course begins immediately after you enroll.
Please note that although it is possible to take more than one course concurrently, we do not recommend taking multiple courses at the same time.
Instructor-Moderated: Once a course session starts, two lessons will be released each week for the 6 week duration of your course. You will have access to all previously released lessons until the course ends. You will interact with the instructor through the online discussion area. There are no live sessions or online meetings with the instructor.
Self-Guided: You have 3 months of access to the course. After enrolling, you can learn and complete the course at your own pace, within the allotted access period. You will have the opportunity to interact with other students in the online discussion area.
Instructor-Moderated: The interactive discussion area for each lesson automatically closes two weeks after each lesson is released, so you’re encouraged to complete each lesson within two weeks of its release. However, you will have access to all lessons from the time they are released until the course ends.
Self-Guided: There is no time limit to complete each lesson, other than completing all lessons within the allotted access period. Discussion areas for each lesson are open for the entire duration of the course.
Instructor-Moderated: Students enrolled in a six-week online class benefit from a one-time, 10-day extension for each course. No further extensions can be provided beyond these 10 days.
Self-Guided: Because this course is self-paced, no extensions will be granted after the start of your enrollment.