
Small Business Management
Small Business Management
Learn the skills you need to start or operate a small business with our Small Business Management Specialty Certificate.
-
About the Small Business Management Certificate
Small businesses and start-ups are the lifeblood of the American economy, providing essential community functions, adding variety to a town’s retail landscape, raising awareness and funds for important humanitarian issues, or even growing to become national corporations (Walmart started as a small-town grocery store!).
Having business management skills is critical to helping these businesses thrive. Our Small Business Management Specialty Certificate will teach you everything you need to do just that.
In this program, you’ll learn basic accounting and personal finance principles to keep your business on a solid financial track. You’ll learn how to manage business operations and employees as well as how to market your organization to raise awareness and help it grow. You’ll also develop professionalism skills to help you handle your role with confidence.
This program is a specialty certificate designed to equip you with basic business management skills. It can be combined with additional coursework to earn an associate degree. Some courses may transfer to four-year schools for the completion of a bachelor’s degree.
Smart Idea: Earn a certificate while working toward a degree to gain professional employment (and likely a better income) while still in school.
-
What You’ll Learn/Courses and Curriculum
View the full curriculum guide for the Specialty Certificate in Small Business Management.
-
What Can I Do With a Small Business Management Specialty Certificate?
With this certificate, students may be equipped to start or run a small business of any kind.
Small business managers are often tasked with supervising every aspect of an organization. They may supervise employees, perform Human Resources functions, ensure compliance with laws, issue press releases and maintain public image, market the organization, and more.
Careers and Salaries Career Option Salary Administrative Service Manager: $96,940
Clubs and Honor Societies
Business Club
The Business Club is open to students of any major. The Business Club allows students to engage with each other and professionals in various industries. The Business Club also hosts various events on campus and typically participates in a field trip each semester to various businesses/industries so that students can see first-hand the experience of what it is like to work in that business/industry.
Alpha Beta Gamma
Business and accounting students have the opportunity to join SMC’s chapter of Alpha Beta Gamma, the international business honor society.

Flexible Course Offerings
Courses are offered on the Dowagiac and Niles campuses in day, night, and online-hybrid formats, giving you the flexibility to earn a certificate while working.
Learn More About Online-hybrid Courses