Finance
Associate Degree

A broad overview of the business world for both business and non-business majors. An introduction to the business environment, business ownership, management, marketing, technology and information, and finance.

Basic principles of communication that are particularly applicable in business and industry, providing a foundation for more effective communication skills. Focuses on the proper use of English grammar in business settings.

Surveys the field of psychology, including the development of behavior, physiological mechanisms of behavior, perception, motivation and emotion, consciousness, learning, memory, personality, and mental health.

A comprehensive review of mathematical skills and concepts commonly used in academic and vocational applications. Covers whole numbers, fractions, decimal notation, ratios and proportions, percents, statistics and measurement, geometry, real numbers, and algebra.

A consumer-oriented overview of the practical application of economic concepts. Emphasizes decision making about budgeting, savings, consumer strategies, insurance, investing, retirement planning, and estate planning.

Introduction to macroeconomic analysis and policy. Examination of the foundation and nature of economic principles as they apply to national output, money and banking, and monetary and fiscal policy. Course also focuses on employment, inflation, and economic growth.

Introduction to microeconomics, with emphasis on the functioning of individual markets and their effectiveness for resource allocation. Includes price and production theory, competition, labor, the distribution of income, and the theory of household behavior.

A study of monetary economics with an international slant. Complete coverage of the financial system, behavior of interest rates, financial institution management, the banking industry and its regulation, central banking and the conduct of monetary policy, international finance, and monetary theory.

Designed to assure a basic level of computer applications literacy. Includes word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, and the Internet. Also covers various types of computer hardware and networking methods. (This course has been designed so that access to a computer is helpful, but not required.).

The basics of written communication in business. Explores differences in approach and format for various business documents. Also covers techniques for planning, researching, organizing, and writing reports.

A focused look at the management of capital in a business firm. Emphasis is placed on policies and actions relating to asset structure, risk, income, and cash flows. Operating and financial analysis is also explored.

Overview of the structure and operations of the federal government, including constitutional principles, rights and liberties, the political process, and the relationships among the three branches of the federal government.

A detailed look at the various types of organizations that make up the financial industry and the markets within which these organizations operate. Complete coverage of Federal Reserve monetary policy, bonds and interest rate risk, money markets, mortgage markets, equity markets, derivatives markets, international markets, commercial banking, international banking, thrift institutions, finance companies, insurance companies, pension funds, investment banking, venture capital, investment companies, and hedge funds.

The fundamentals of double-entry bookkeeping and the debit/credit method of recording transactions. The bookkeeping cycle, from recording transactions to preparing financial statements, is included. Emphasis is placed on service concerns operating as sole proprietorships.

Basic principles of business law as applied to contracts, personal property, sales, negotiable instruments, agency and employment, business organization, insurance and bankruptcy, and real property.

Basic principles of financial accounting are studied as a foundation for more advanced study and vocational skill. Areas of emphasis include cash, payroll, and accounting for merchandizing businesses.

An introduction to the principles and practices of management, with emphasis on the management functions of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling. Topics covered also include effective leadership and motivational techniques, communication, social responsibility and ethics, managing change and conflict, and control.

A continuation of the study of basic financial accounting principles as a foundation for more advanced study and vocational skill. Areas of emphasis include acquisition, depreciation, and disposal of long term assets; receivables and payables; inventory; partnerships; corporations; long-term liabilities; the statement of cash flows; financial statement analysis; and manufacturing accounting.

The art of analyzing financial statements and the accompanying notes to identify the current financial health of a business enterprise in addition to identifying trends indicating an improved or weakened financial condition. The four financial statements required by generally accepted accounting principles are thoroughly analyzed and the techniques of detecting financial statement fraud are introduced.

In-depth coverage of investment alternatives, securities markets, risk/return tradeoffs, portfolio theory and selection, asset pricing models, common stock valuation and analysis, economy/market analysis, sector/industry analysis, technical analysis, bond yields and prices, options, futures, portfolio management, and evaluation of investment performance.