Online Undergraduate Certificate in Business Essentials
By the year 2029, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that business and financial roles will grow by 5% – faster than the average for all other occupations.1 While many higher-level roles in this industry may ultimately require a bachelor’s degree, earning your certificate is a great start. A certificate can help demonstrate to employers that you have a solid foundation in core business skills and are eager to take the next step toward your career goals.
If you’re taking the first step toward a career in business or are looking to add a credential to your current experience, our Business Essentials certificate is designed to help you jumpstart your future, one that’s full of possibilities at the rate the business world is growing. By honing your core business knowledge, you will have the ability to demonstrate proficiencies in many entry-level business functions, such as accounting, marketing fundamentals, analytics and more. In addition, these skills are often transferable across many industries.
Through this program, you’ll be equipped to:
- Engage and inform decision-makers within an organization.
- Work effectively in a modern business setting.
- Utilize business and management principles to solve problems within your organization.
- Effectively perform tasks involving basic computing, marketing and data analysis.
Classes Start Every 8 Weeks
Earn your Undergraduate Certificate in Business Essentials in as little as 8 months*—or even more quickly with qualifying transfer credits.
*Not including breaks. Assumes year-round, full-time enrollment.
Availability
What You'll Learn
In addition to gaining a strong foundation in business, our Business Essentials courses will also cover these key topic areas:
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Budgeting and Forecasting
Learn to design and implement a long-range budget forecast and assess its impact on departmental planning. -
Computer Applications
Get hands-on experience with common business programs including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. -
Financial Accounting Concepts
Learn how to analyze accounting records and financial statements to inform business decisions. -
Data Analysis and Decision-Support
Leverage spreadsheet software and data from real-world business situations to organize, analyze and present information.
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Business Technology and Technological Applications
Examine major functional areas of business while exploring the organizational theories and technological factors affecting organizations. -
Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Learn how to identify and solve common business problems.
Stack Your Credits into a Degree
Once you earn your certificate, you can come back at a time that is right for you and apply all credits toward an applicable DeVry University associate or bachelor’s degree program, helping you prepare to pursue more advanced roles.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of DeVry’s online Business Essentials Certificate program may consider the following careers:
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Administrative Services Manager
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Office Clerk General
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Customer Service Representative
Business Essentials Courses
Our Business Essentials Certificate program is made up of 8 courses totaling 25 credit hours. Of that, 18 of the credit hours you complete will be in Business Core courses, with the remaining 7 hours being electives. You can choose the electives you want to help you hone specific business skills or follow our suggested path. Either way, you’ll receive real-world, hands-on knowledge in a variety of relevant subject areas.
Core Courses
Business Core
| ACCT212 | Financial Accounting |
| BIS155 | Data Analysis with Spreadsheets with Lab |
| BUSN115 | Introduction to Business and Technology |
| BUSN219 | Marketing Fundamentals |
| COMP100 | Computer Applications for Business with Lab |
| MGMT303 | Principles of Management |
Suggested Electives
Budgeting and Forecasting
| ACCT360 | Managerial Accounting |
| BUSN278 | Budgeting and Forecasting |
General Business
| GSCM206 | Managing Operations Across the Supply Chain |
| MGMT210 | Human Resource Functions |
Healthcare Business
| HIT111 | Basic Medical Terminology |
| HSM310 | Introduction to Health Services Management |
Retail Management
| BUSN258 | Customer Relations |
| MGMT230 | Contemporary Retail Management |
Business Essentials Coursework Preview
DeVry’s Business Essentials certificate includes these courses:
Financial Accounting
This course focuses on ways in which financial statements reflect business operations and emphasizes use of financial statements in the decision-making process.
Data Analysis with Spreadsheets with Lab
This course focuses on analyzing real-world business situations using current spreadsheet software.
Introduction to Business and Technology
In this course, students examine the roles of major functional areas of business and interrelationships among them.
Marketing Fundamentals
This course introduces the theory, systems and processes of communicating the value of goods and services to satisfy needs and wants, while considering business goals and social responsibilities.
Computer Applications for Business with Lab
This course introduces the basic concepts and principles of productivity tools widely used in business, such as word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.
Principles of Management
This course examines fundamental management theories and traditional managerial responsibilities in formal and informal organizational structures.
Build Skills With Stackable Degrees
Earn a Credential at Every Step
You don’t have to wait four years to show a credential on your resume. At DeVry, several programs are designed to stack.
- Start with a shorter credential that takes less time so it’s more affordable
- Flexible online classes build your professional skills right away
- Almost all courses count toward the next degree level2
How Do Credentials Stack?
Here’s an example: When you earn an Undergraduate Certificate in Business Essentials, all courses you complete in the program apply to your Associate Degree in Business. When you complete the associate, you can stack those credits into a qualifying bachelor’s degree. Build your confidence – and your resume – when you start your journey at DeVry.
Take Business Essentials Classes Online
Our Business Essentials Certificate program is offered in an engaging, 100% online format. Each 8-week business essentials class you take is taught by an experienced professor. You’ll engage in weekly discussions with your classmates and get hands-on experience finding solutions to real business problems.
As an online student, you’ll also have access to a wide array of student resources such as:
- 24/7 Live Tutoring – Get help when and where you need it.3
- E-Library – Access books and resources and get support from DeVry librarians.
- Mobile App – Submit assignments, manage your tuition and more.
- Community powered by GetSet – Engage with peers around the country.
- Career Services – Including support from certified career coaches and resume writers.4
FAQs: Business Essentials
Why should you consider earning a business essentials certificate?
Earning your undergraduate Business Essentials certificate can be a great first step toward achieving your goals. Depending on the career path you choose, both the skills and credential gained in your certificate program may be required by your current or future employer.
What is business essentials?
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1Growth projected on a national level. Local growth will vary by location. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm
2The figures displayed represent the minimum credit hours required for graduation. At the time of application to the next credential level, an evaluation of qualifying transfer credit will occur and the most beneficial outcome will be applied.
3Each student is allotted 13 hours of tutoring per academic session through www.Tutor.com (available 24/7). Additional tutoring services are also available through www.DeVryTutors.com.
4Our Certified University Career Coaches are certified by The Academies (www.theacademies.com). Our Certified Professional Résumé Writers are certified by the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches (https://parwcc.com/page/CPRW).
